BW511

I have a feeling over the last few weeks that Viney is trying to do a bit too much, slipping back into old habits. This was an absolute howler and I also felt like he tried to take on Cripps a couple of times and the big body just swallowed him whole. I think big mids will be what we see teams employ often as it negates the strength our guys have (strength in contest). Geelong did it very will with Blicavs and we were much less dominant with Cripps around the ball

On the night I felt like Cripps, Docherty & Setterfield gave our mids a real touch up. Cripps is covering the ground very well.

I have no knowledge of the inner sanctum but haven't really heard much about Chocco this year. Does anyone know if he is still having an impact or has the novelty worn off?

I'm of the belief the crowd gave Collingwood and Carlton a little leg up in the last quarter of each game. It's not like they get any fitter or stronger but psychologically it definitely helps them push a little longer, faster, harder etc. Even a 'huge' Melbourne crowd is still fairly reserved compared to any of the big Victorian clubs. Obviously that is shifting away from the metrics supplied so bringing things back to that, I think we are still a very good team and very hard to play against, we are just not quite getting things to gel 100%. Given how even things are this year and with the metrics all showing we are still going well, there's every chance we can find another gear over the next 4-5 weeks and repeat last years blitz.

I'd contemplate Gunston in closer to goal as a third tall and then get Fritta up on the HFF roaming around. I know defensive pressure is very important to our game plan but we don't have enough consistent avenues to goal or strong marking players at Half Forward. ANB, Kozzie & Spargo would very rarely team up for 4-5 goals between them and none of them are a concern for contested marking - I will add I haven't actually looked at the stats. From an opposition coaching point of view, if you have 3 blokes solely there to chase and 'corral' opponents, it means you can have 3 players assigned that don't need to think too hard about their defense. How many times have we been cut to pieces through attack out of the Half Back line.

Reckon Jayden Hunt is the only reason we won that game and it was due to a bit of dare - be nice if collectively we could employ that mindset across more than the last quarter

That was daylight robbery

Geez I’d love to see a Dees player storm out and take a grab like McKay

Seems like a spoilt brat, no thanks

Regardless of who is better (Naughton by a long way), two of them is better than one.

Is his ground work enough to warrant $800k+ a year for the next 5 years? His rucking & forward craft are not (yet)

Our current second ruckman could net 2, so buying a better ruckman for half that price seems pretty reasonable. Having said that, there is no reason this deal would warrant a first rounder if Collingwood are actually dumping his salary

Fair call. In simpler terms, Grundy is a little more useful than just a ruckman and we would hope that for Jackson. Jackson gets manhandled in the ruck, Grundy doesn't. It's a net positive for me.

I think when we drafted Jackson, Grundy would have been the prototype for what we hoped. Grundy was doing it to an AA level over multiple years and Jackson has had one good burst in a GF. If I was an opposition coach, Grundy as a 2nd ruck would be terrifying.

Agree. Jacko may become a star but for now, Grundy would contribute much more - on the proviso his body is right to go in 2023. I’d much rather 3 years solid service from him than 2 more years of patchy cameos from Jackson before he leaves anyway (would also be happy to see Jacko flourish at my expense)

I had a look through the other contenders and where their goals were coming from. Interestingly, Geelong & Brisbane were running with 2+ Big forwards and we have Fritta (45) Kozzie (32) & Brown (25) while Collingwood have Mihocek, Elliot, Ginnivan and Henry all over 20. Carlton have 100 goals between Curnow & McKay but I left them off as they are not contenders (this year) We do not have dependable goal kickers and I think that’s our true issue. Ideally for me, Fritta is our 3rd forward, rather than our only reliable forward (45)

I’m sure we do but I think it’s probably based more on the people delivering the ball.

The dogs with Darcy, Lobb and JUH another year older would be as close as us for 2023

Of all the clubs a key forward would want to get to, you’d have to think our style would have us at the bottom of the list. Not many would want to go somewhere and be expected to get smashed by 2-3 defenders every contest and have all their shots from deep in the pockets.

The entire Melbourne supporter base would be lining up to drive Jacko across the Nullarbor

Fair bit more talent though, so you’d hope so

It’s interesting that so many people can’t comprehend loading (fatigue) effecting performance but also think us not being fit enough (fatigue) is why we lost.

Collingwood crowd is worth an extra bloke on the ground.

Degoey and Elliot have almost beaten us on their own, just a hell of a lot more desire

No plan B No grunt in the forward half Horrific skills by foot