BW511

If Bedford, T-Mac and Jordan aren’t getting games for us, they are not getting games elsewhere

I believe he is quite polished off field and his natural charisma is good for the public to see. On field, I’d like to see him take charge when momentum shifts. Get everyone organised and keep them focussed. Or get someone under him that will do that in tandem, my choice would be May

The difference with Richmond is their defensive forwards contribute to a whole team structure. They also regularly get their own ball. I guess where I differ is that if Kossie had 8 disposals and the stats you mention above, is 4 effective tackles enough to help us win games every single week. I acknowledge that 4 timely tackles could win us a game every now and then, but it won't turn us into a premiership threat because you have to win a lot of games to get there in the first place.

I'm often wondering whether Cyril was an out and out super star or slightly overrated. He definitely won some games for the Hawks, big ones too, but he was very quiet in a lot more games. I think there's less and less room for players like that as each year goes by

Think there is 2-3 blokes that go past him in 2021, the longer quarters will go against him and he doesn't win enough ball You can't afford to have someone in your starting 22 who is purely there to be physical and give away free kicks

@La Dee-vina Comedia I agree with your list, however I don't believe Baker finds a new home and am doubtful Hunt does either. Also think we are in serious danger of losing Clayton should we not become serious finals contenders this year. For everyone's sake, I hope this is the year where it clicks Nathan Jones (ret) Neville Jetta (ret) Michael Hibberd (ret) Kade Chandler (delisted) Austin Bradtke (delisted) Aaron Nietschke (delisted) Jayden Hunt (delisted/traded) Oskar Baker (delisted) Mitch Brown (ret/delisted)

5 or 6 bad games or 18 months? He didn't do much in 2019 either

Absolutely, you would think his management have been asking the question over the past 2 years. If there was interest, he would have gone. I'll just add, this is all an opinion based on how I think things would have played out, rather than any facts.

It would be easy for a player like Hunt to be pretty disgruntled, every year they seem to find a new role for him and then lose patience immediately when it doesn't work. Particularly when someone like Melksham gets games on zero output.

We nearly had more supporters at training, in Casey, than an MCG home game, well done all.

I appreciate the effort to get along @Tough Kent I don't think T-mac is the answer for us, but applaud him for his endeavor to trim down and put his best foot forward.

I agree with Kossie being a bit speculative. He will never be a 20+ possession winner, but he really needs to make his limited touches count. Defensive pressure won't always be enough

He's the only Melbourne player I would confidently agree

Even if he is raw, I'd love to see him get a shot opposite Langdon this year. His size and running power could create some serious headaches

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