The Jackson FIX

What hasn’t helped is some of our more experienced guys have dropped off a perch quicker than we’d have liked (Nev, Jones) and the ‘prime’ of some of our maturing players didn’t last as long as you would have hoped (TMac, Melk, Hibberd)

The other thing to consider is the quality of our batch just above that age bracket. ‘22’ is just an arbitrary number really... I think the list is in a pretty healthy spot, they just need to fill in the gaps within the next couple of years and that is more likely to be with more experienced players as they’d be expecting to be challenging for a flag in May & Gawn’s time.

I think we had 3 of 18 rising star nominations to be fair... or maybe it was 2... cant recall if Rivers got the nod but he was thereabouts if he didn’t get it officially

I have an uneasy feeling that Goody thinks that Hooker IN / TMac OUT will solve our forward line issues. Personally I think a goal-kicking small is a bigger need and I think Pickett’s future is further up the ground. The more we focus on finding the mythical ‘quality mature tall’ the less we’re doing to get a Papley or Liam Ryan type in the door (nb I’m not suggesting I know how we get that type in the door just suggesting that solving for that is where our energy should be).

We have a reputation for being ‘gettable’ when we’re in the lead and these two blokes aren’t switched on at 3/4 time. I don’t care what they were doing, I care more about the fact they are anything-but focused on the task ahead of them for the next 20mins. Interesting off-season for Max - he needs to figure out how to remain popular but implement an environment where absolute focus on all areas of success is guaranteed. I would say ‘interesting offseason for Goody’ but I don’t think he has any hope of meaningfully changing much in that place anymore.

The human in me says keep him, far riskier future for Harley if we were to drop him now. The Football club administrator in me says cut ties with him. If we were a club with a strong culture that didn’t need much maintenance you could probably carry him but the reality is we’ve got a culture/environment that needs PLENTY of work so dedicating time towards getting a troubled 28yo right just isn’t a sensible decision. The risk for MFC is far greater than the upside now with Harley.

Sadly I think his form can no longer be called a ‘slump‘ and he has clearly entered the twilight. Like Nev. At least Nev still puts his body on the line... TMac barely giving a yelp.

How long has he got left on his contract?

No thanks: Soft as butter; teams have figured him out; is either dumb or dangerously disobedient off the field (probably both). There’s a reason he can barely get a game in a side that is desperate for forwards.

Here’s an interesting concept: move Goodwin, Mahoney and Richo on and tell Clarko he can have the salary of all 3 once they’re paid out and off the books. Throw him the keys and tell him nothing/nobody will get in his way. Big risk but clearly we need to take a risk.

Don’t rule out a direct swap: Clarko for Goodwin - there’s a whisper that the Hawks medical team are confident they can get Goody right

Well clearly we all agree we crapped the bed and put ourselves in this situation but the point was it has been West Coast on more than one occasion that seal our fate

This is all true, sadly.

Not the first time Wet Toast have f%#**^ our finals chances. What a pea-hearted team outside Perf. I wish them nothing but failure and misery.

Funny you posted this. Was thinking about it the other night too. I play tennis and am a basket case in the wind. The problem is part mental, part strategy. I get beaten by worse players in the wind because if/when they start to get on top of me I just revert to my strengths which don’t really suit windy conditions. And then I question myself more. The Dees are my windy tennis game and I am sad to say that being smart and resilient is the only way to get out of it (something the Dees and I lack!).

Generally not one to moan too much about this sort of stuff but we’ve certainly got the rough end of the stick fixture-wise after landing an easier draw pre-Covid. We’ve now hubbed in Cairns, Sunshine Coast, Sydney & Adelaide with a trip to Perth and Alice springs on top of that. Richmond, conversely, have only hubbed in one place (QLD) with visits to Adelaide and Darwin only. Pretty easy ride for someone who won the flag last year! edit: on top of that we were forced to take our bye when we were fresh!

Interestingly, in the Coll Melb 2s review HB was the only listed player who wasn’t mentioned. Nor has he been talked about much since being dropped. They are either carefully managing his PR, trying to quieten the supporter outrage about his non-selection until he gets into a spot they’re happy with. Or he is playing shabby, lazy football like his last game in the jumper

Less convinced we need fast players to contain Saints. Their ball movement has been exceptional, not their leg speed. Good structure can contain that.

All three ruckmen on the list injured. Not ideal.

Preuss injured according to Tom Browne

And, like Richie, does he get a capital V if he becomes an AFL captain?

Limited interested in bringing Harley in right now. Improved defensive pressure is the #1 reason we’ve put sides to the sword in the past few weeks and he instantly detracts from that if he comes in. (FWIW #2 reason is crap/undermanned opposition & #3 is more patience with ball in hand IMO).

Forgot Lockhart. I’d bring him in for Rivers. Rivers provides the run and looked ok last week but I think you’d want Lockhart to sit on Stephenson... he has been quiet of late but don’t want him getting off the leash. Hoskin-Elliot the other one you don’t want to give oxygen to if he gets up.

You win against Collingwood by crushing them on the inside. This is where Jackson out hurts a bit because he provides another number on the ground at stoppages. Also why I don’t think they’ll rush to bring Preuss in - would almost prefer a more mobile option like TMac/Brown rotating if Max doesn’t play. Tomlinson onto a wing in a more defensive role to help us shut down their spread. I think they’ll double down on the inside mids by keeping Sparrow in as Viney comes in. Hard to know who comes out. Probably the right answer is Melk out (for balance) to give us one more hard nut in the middle.

I don’t want to lose Brayshaw but I sense he is frustrated at not getting the opportunity he wants in the middle. I would be if I was him. Let’s hope a performance like tonight reminds potential suitors of his ability in the middle and we are compensated well ie enough to buy/recruit some outside class