BDA

How many wins to get Top 4?

We've beaten all the teams put in front us. Comfortably. Can't do any more than that. I've no interest in talking us up but i don't want to talk us down either. Do you see any positive signs OD? Any changes in us compared to prior years? Anything that would suggest this group is different?

It's the MFCSS. It's deeply embedded in our DNA / psyche. I reckon BB will play on Anzac eve which will give us a lift and our pressure game has been top notch. It'll be a battle against Richmond and a 50/50 call i reckon. No need to be fearful at all. Gotta focus on the Hawks game first mind.

We're 4-0 and travelling nicely but let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Hawks are laying in wait to ambush us if our attitude isn't right on Sunday. Let's just focus on that game and worry about Richmond next week.

Richmond are not setting the world alight. Very beatable imv. We can cover the May and Fritta injuries.

St Kilda are not very good. Will finish in the bottom 6 i reckon and have traded all their picks away.

Life is never plain sailing. He’s not out for the season just the couple of games. Not ideal but we’ll be able to cope. Melksham to step into Fritta's role. No dramas.

Agree. just when everybody gets used to the idea they decide to can it. makes no sense.

AFLW grand final. AFL don;t want to over-shadow the showcase womens game hence re-scheduled the arvo game avoid a clash

Mullets are the exception. They're so bad, they're good.

I understand the government are still a key stakeholder in the project which suggests the MGC precinct is the most likely site. I, like others, am losing patience. Just confirm a site somewhere centrally whether it be Port Melbourne, Caulfield wherever, just as long as it doesn't end up being Casey. Get on with it. This has the appearance of too many cooks in the kitchen.

List cloggers and plodders don't make good click bate

Great interview. It's always been hard to get a read on Clarry but signing the contract so early in the season suggests that it was never really in doubt. This is a great outcome for the club and brings more feel good factor and positivity to what has been an excellent start to the season. Listening to Trac the other night on 360 i wouldn't be surprised if he'll follow suit pretty soon as well. P.S. he needs a haircut badly

He was very good at the weekend and was back to his bullocking best. Hopefully the foot doesn't flair up and he can maintain this form for the rest of the season.

I might have suggested, at some stage, on another thread, that we consider trading JV. Please forgive me.

The same arguments were made for not trading Jack Watts. Very popular person, with a reliable kick so obviously still had something to offer the team. He still has plenty of friends at the club. But the trade was the right thing to do. I agree culture is a huge part of the equation in terms of the decision to trade, which of course none of us can really see, but if the club decided to put him on the table I would understand and trust their judgment. I have no axe to grind with Gus, in fact I think he is doing an admirable job in an unfamiliar role this year. So if he stays I’ll have no issues with that either. But anyone saying he is untradeable is letting emotion get in the way. Great bloke, playing his role at the moment and happy if he stays but if the club make a considered decision come trade time then I’ll support it.

I wasn't in favor of his move back to defence at all so happy to be proven wrong. Shaky against Freo but has found is feet. Very good against the giants and excellent against Geelong. Hopefully this isn’t just a purple patch and he can sustain this level for the season. I think he will.

Glad this is sorted as it could derail the season if there was uncertainty around Clayton. Any idea of lenght of extension. Presumably takes him to FA?

I'd move heaven and earth to get Merrett. Brayshaw is the obvious candidate to trade but he's playing well at the moment. You never know he might have found his long term position in the team. If he's on the outer come trade period a midfield role might be attractive to him even if it is with Essendon. We'll have a surplus of tall forwards so reckon TMac might attract interest. The Weid perhaps but if he shows form i'd want him to stay. There's a long way to go in the season so who knows will be odd one out come trade period but no question we'll have to sacrifice a reasonable player to trade for Merrett

I agree we should manage the older players In addition to risking form I’m not sure resting players this early sends the right message to the playing group. Resting players against the Hawks could encourage complacency and subconsciously the team could switch off. Classic Melbourne. The group has shown a lot more maturity this year so maybe they can handle rotation without impacting attitude but I’d be very nervous. The players were spent at the end of the game but that’s as it should be. The good teams back up week after week. We should as well. As I said the old legs of Jetta and Jones will need to be managed (so i agree with you there) but unless players have niggles they should not be rested this early imv.

Never tinker with form. Jetta and Jones are the only players that will need to be managed during the year but neither showed any signs of weariness Our fitness levels are good with the best in the business Burgo overseeing the conditioning of the players. We’re 4 games in, players can’t be tired yet. They can rest during the mid season break.

You should take a look at on the couch from last night. Our pressure stats are off the charts. No way Mitchell or Hawks are allowed to saunter around the G nest weekend. We'll bring the heat. I've no worries on that score. What i do worry about is our goal kicking. We're not putting teams away so may keep the Hawks in the game due to poor conversion. Despite that i reckon we'll win by 5 goals or thereabouts

Settle down P2J. Don't you realise we're trying to keep a lid on things ?

Give him another game to see how he goes. Play poorly again Hawthorn and i reckon he'll have to go back to Casey. Can't pick him for Richmond on the back of 2 poor games.

I agree. If the brains trust want to bring Hibbo back in for some gametime then Rivers is the most likely candidate for mine. Been reasonable thus far. He has looked a little unsure at times so a few games with Casey might help build his confidence. Never understood the Hibbo for Jetta calls.