Lord Nev

No you don't... ;)

Just to clarify, we're talking centre clearances here. For the record - Merrett 0 centre clearances, Parish 2 centre clearances.

Let me know when the actual stats are out.

Again, I agree he dominated his opponent, I just can't agree he 'dominated the centre' when clearly that's not reflected in the team's performance in that area. Probably semantics, but i just think Gawn is a little off in the centre bounces this year. I'm guessing it's his leg but not sure.

How many were Gawn's? How many did Essendon have?

Hitouts on their own are a useless stat. What are the hitouts to advantage stats from tonight? I haven't seen them loaded yet, sounds like you have.

I agree Gawn was far better than Draper, no argument. My point is, if you're going to say a ruckman 'dominated the centre' then that should translate into winning the centre clearances. We didn't. I'll be interested to see the hitouts to advantage once they come out.

Sure, but if you're "dominating" the hitouts you would think you wouldn't lose the clearances yeah?

Had more hitouts and was better around the ground for sure, but if he "dominated" him wouldn't we have won the clearances?

Not by much. Averages 2 goals a game as the '2nd tall'. Averages 2.16 goals a game as the '3rd tall'.

Centre clearances - 9 each (They beat us for stoppage clearances) Not sure I would say 'dominated'.

Viney played 16 games last year, had a full preseason Brown played 9 games last year, had barely any preseason.

Not sure that's true, Goodwin has talked about wanting to improve it for weeks. This is about stoppage setup, not about Max's ruck work though. It's not new that teams try to combat Gawn's ruck strengths, but what is new is how much we're getting beaten at clearances. Then it wouldn't be classed as a 'hitout to advantage'. A hitout to advantage isn't one that gains territory, it's defined as one that goes to one of our players. This is irrelevant to Max's ruck work, unless you're saying Max intentionally loses ruck contests so that we can have the ball in the hands of our defenders? If losing clearances is our strategy according to you, then: - Why the difference when Jackson rucks? - Why has Goodwin spoken of wanting to fix that? - Why would we rush Viney back in? Sorry mate, but just can't agree. It's pretty clear from both stats and observation that Gawn's ruckwork is nowhere near the level it normally would be this year. I think he's doing more than enough around the ground to still be one of our best, but all the factual evidence says he's not dominating it like he has in 2021.

I think where the split is though, is that his ruckwork seems a bit 'off' this year. His around the ground work is still absolutely unmatched for a ruckman, but his hitouts to advantage are only rated as 'average' this year. Statistically this year, only half of the hitouts he wins are going to advantage. I'm guessing that perhaps he's carrying a niggle that is affecting his ruck work, especially at centre bounces. Anecdotally he seems to protect that leg/shin/knee kinda area so I wonder if that's what it is and why it's more prevalent in the middle rather than around the ground. In a handful of games this year, usually later in games, we've gone one a run of goals (from the centre) when Max was on the bench and Jacko in the ruck, and in a couple of them the opposition has clawed back goals (form the centre) once Gawn came back on. Could be that teams have worked him out, could be he's not 100%, could be form - but I don't believe it's coincidence. He's still playing good footy overall because his contribution around the ground is amazing, but the centre ruckwork is definitely not firing like it normally would be for him.

Averaged 90.7 points per game with this kinda setup. Averaged 86.6 with the three talls.

All clear. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQM3kBXht83/

I hope our footy department thinks more holistically than that. (And I'm pretty sure they do)

Maybe the footy dept don't just look at total goals as far as what they want from a player and how their section of the ground functions? And really, all Brown had to do was kick a couple of goals at Casey to get back in and he didn't get anywhere near it. Unfortunately from him that was followed by the lockdown and no opportunities at VFL level.

Brown's first year was always going to be a bit hit and miss after his injury, he has 3 more after this one so settle. I thought Sparrow would miss this week, but I don't mind the idea of ramping up the pressure in the forward half with him and Viney both rotating through there.

IN: Viney OUT: Weid https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/963535/round-15-team-viney-returns

But there was Paul Stewart... ;)

Centre line: The High Rise Bombers. Paul Kelly and Chris Dyson connection.

Disappointed you couldn't find a spot for: Stewart Loewe, Mark O'Connor and David Mundy

Reckon you might find that's not the case. There's a lot of education around the use of social media, but it's integral to their earning potential now. A quick look at a few of our own players and their brand ambassador roles will tell you that.