BW511

Any reports on how Ben Brown looks at training or how he is fitting in with the group? North Melbourne supporters seem pretty happy to slag him off every chance they get, so would be good to shove it in their faces!

B. Brown Jacko Rivers Weid Bedford

Following on from this, I think a ‘game plan’ is reliant on strong leadership and direction from a couple of key players, rather than the whole group intending to play deliberately for 120 minutes. The Lions, Hawks and current Tigers side have/had a few very smart operators on field who control what goes on - when to attack, when to press defensively, when to grind it out. I’ve said a few times before that we don’t have enough on field generals directing traffic. I’m not the biggest Goodwin fan, but it must be infuriating having to hold the players hands all game to get a result. We are also very shaky at winning contests individually, so we have to setup defensively as our default. There’s so many important 1 on 1 contests in a game and I’d guess we would go at 40% or less in them. The only two players on our list I would be 100% confident of winning their position on any day, against any opponent are Steven May and Max Gawn. Even then, a Gawn win can be very hollow

The thing is, his bulk/fitness isn’t his only concern with making it back into the side. There’s a lot of things stacked against him now - new talls, decision making, skills etc

Good to see that a little help has been sought for Weid. Hope he gains the confidence to back himself in 100% of the time, he’s a good and dangerous player when he puts his mind to it

I thought everyone here had MFCSS, appears there is a fairly large contingent who are extremely optimistic

MFC Predictions Ladder position at the end of the H&A season: 7th Position at the end of the season (e.g. stage of finals): Lose first final B&F top 5 (1 point for correct inclusion, 1 point for correct place): 1. Trac 2. Oliver 3. Langdon 4. May 5. Brown Leading goalkicker: Big Benny Brown Most marks: Jake Lever Best first year player: Jake Bowey Most improved player: Rivers All Australian 40-man squad selections (1 point each): Trac, May All Australian final 22 selections (1 point each): May Big Ben Brown will kick his biggest goal tally against: Hawthorn Biggest winning margin (exact guess is 5 points, within 1 point margin is 4 points etc): 43 Biggest MFC story of the year (5 points): Ben Brown returns to form and helps push Dees into finals Other MFC predictions (1 point each): Ben Brown top 3 in Coleman Stephen May earns All Australian honours Melksham finally gets dropped for 2020’s poor form AFL predictions Premier: Port Adelaide Runner-up: West Coast Wooden spoon: North Melbourne Biggest improver: Gold Coast Biggest slider: GWS Giants Brownlow medal: Matt Rowell Coleman medal: Tom Lynch Rising star: Matt Rowell

I like Jacko on a wing, similarly had him on the HFF to roam as he pleases

My attempt; Lockhart, May, Lever Rivers, Petty, Salem Langdon, Oliver, Bowey Jackson, Weid, Viney Pickett, Brown, Fritsch Foll: Gawn, Trac, Sparrow Int: Harmes, Tomlinson, Spargo, Hunt Feel as though there could be a few young guys pushing hard after another pre-season - Jordan/Baker would be obvious ones. Went with Bowey over Baker on the wing because i think he may create a bit more action. Would be happy to swap Harmes and Hunt with Jordan,/Laurie/Baker if they are tracking well over summer.

No Salem? I'd have him over Hibberd every day of the week. Think one of Bowey or Laurie would be a chance given they are quick and can kick Think all of Melk, Gus, Hunt, Harmes & Jetta are all very lineball and Fritsch on thin ice depending on BBB's impact

Small highlights package shows he hits targets and is quick thinking. Both are serious deficiencies in our current squad

He could be the point of difference we need in our midfield mix, I like it. Speed and endurance are two things we don’t have near enough of

So we’ve pulled a swifty and drafted 2 half back flankers? I hope one of these two is prolific with goal assists and goal kicking, we need it

Will be interesting to see how quickly Bowey and Laurie push for a game and how long it’s deemed acceptable for Kossie to get under 10 touches and zero goals. Competition for spots will be hotly contested in 2021

Ooze must have skipped a lot of leg days

Can’t be too optimistic, we are Melbourne supporters after all

This off season it feels like the club has been tracking demonland and tried to tick off everyone’s ideas ? Think Chocco is exactly what Max/Clarry/Gus/Trac/Viney/Harmes all need. Someone to give them a few home truths and challenge them to be better collectively. I believe our midfield group could be 10-20% better with a bit more hunger and accountability in their performance.

Our list isn’t in the top 8 in the Comp

Melksham must incriminating have photos of @Werridee, like he does of Goody. Keeping him out of the side is very important for our chances next year

Interesting side @WERRIDEE

If you could live that life and play for a side (Geelong) that makes finals every year, you’d be on the first flight outta there too

Geelong appeals to those who surf or like that lifestyle. Being in Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Torquay, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet or even Moggs Creek is very different to Hobart. Let’s not forget, Tassie and particularly Hobart is bloody cold and wet in winter. Would take a very special type to want to relocate down there to play

I don’t disagree with you, but there’s no way on earth we are winning the flag next year. I’m as negative about our prospects as you, don’t worry

Saw a snippet of David King talking about Carlton’s chances in 2021, one remark he made stood out to me as very relevant to Melbourne. I’m paraphrasing a little, but he said building for a flag is more important than aiming to make finals. If your aim is to make finals, you’ll just be a middle of the road team indefinitely - I know King flops around depending on which way the wind blows, but we need to be working towards becoming ready to win a flag, rather than just making finals. The most important position for us to finish in this year is as a really genuine flag contender for 2022 (if not 2021)

I remember randomly watching a Sydney game and he looked good - think it was probably in his first 5 games too