ChaserJ

We’d already had a ripper trade period, this sounds like an absolute bonus to cap it off.

Our flights back from GC were changed from Saturday arvo on the 31st to Sunday arvo on the 1st, so my family and I got dudded twice.

Yep, same for my family. Miss 12 is ropable & I’m not far behind. This is rolling fixture gone mad. Impossible for travelling fans to plan and surely a contributing factor in crowds being down.

Defensive masterclass tonight. Looks like we really didn’t like losing and aimed to address that this week. Focused, fierce and just fantastic tonight.

And some analysis on our load management, which has us storming over sides in the last qtr (Burgo effect?): https://www.statsinsider.com.au/blog/afl/unmasking-melbournes-superhero-power

A nice analysis on what we’ve changed up in our structure and how it’s helped us get to 6 and 0: https://theshinboner.com/2021/04/29/melbourne-rising-whats-behind-the-demons-unbeaten-start-to-2021-analysis-shinboner-langdon-ben-brown-pickett/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Salem turned his back on FA when the 5 yr deal was put in front of him, Petracca may well do the same. Might have been clever sequencing from the Dees to sign up CP's two best mates at the club before putting the contract in front of him. It's been really good work by the club to lock Salem and Oliver away so early (and hopefully Trac soon), it takes the oxygen out of any speculation and allows the club to have singular focus on performing on the field. Brilliant.

You’re right. He was in Sandringham squad with those guys, but it was Kelly that was school mates with Salem & Hunt at Brighton.

I wouldn’t mind us giving a chance to Ryan Sparkes. Has looked pretty capable for Casey this year and think he was very unlucky to go undrafted in ‘19. Josh Green looked good for GWS in the VFL the other week too. Not in his brother’s class, but handy size and can play inside mid or up fwd.

Hopefully his old school mates Salem and Hunt can get in his ear, as well as Goody, Melksham and Hibberd, who would have been at the Bombers when Merrett was drafted. Would complement our midfield mix very nicely, and fill out our midfield. If the Dogs are one of our main contenders, I reckon their midfield bats 1 or 2 quality mids deeper than ours, and Merrett could help bridge that gap. I'm hoping we've spread our TPP's with our re-signings this year to give us some play to offer a competitive contract to Merrett, although it's clear that we won't be offering the biggest dollars. If Merrett's not chasing the money (nothing suggests that he is primarily motivated by this), we'd be offering as good an environment as any right now.

Possibly Lachie Ash as well.

Bumping this, Andy Moniz-Wakefield still attached to Dees NGA Academy. Not projecting as a top 20 selection at this stage, but early doors. https://www.afl.com.au/news/561218/nga-crop-revealed-freo-gets-first-call-on-son-of-power-roos-gun

I’m 3 mins down the road, so might pop in for a look.

Echo that. Take care McQueen.

Was in zone 1! Phew...