D Rev

The rapid deterioration of our "A Graders" (apart from Max) has been very concerning for me.... Clarry has turned into a pretty good tagger and a useful mid, but for the cash he is on, I'd expect more. I love the bloke, but I reckon its time to test his trade value and start prepping Langford to take his spot. Trac is probably still recovering from last year. Again, I hope that he is able to become more damaging next year. Maybe work on his kicking? Viney is probably in the same boat as Clarry. I dont think we can get rid of both though. Lever definitely looks crocked and isn't getting any quicker. May has probably played his last game for us (concussion + suspension + recovery). ... so that is 3 out of 5 likely gone. We have Kozzie who is already an "A Grader" and Bowey and Langford look very close to getting there. Turner definitely could get there. We do need more polish and another "A Grader" - but how or who for? As for the rest of our senior players: TMac is almost definitely gone at seasons end, unless May and Lever both go (maybe). Melksham looks super fit and has shown the importance of knowing forward craft and having a footy IQ. Should be kept on at all costs to teach the kids. Fritta has hit some good form and I hope he can keep it going for at least another couple of years like Breust. Petty seems to have plateaued, I hope he can rediscover form as a key defender in Mays absence. I hope Sparrow recovers. Langdon continues to be a role player. Hasn't been as damaging since being moved off the wing. Rivers & Chandler (not that senior) & Salem are playing roles, sometimes very well. Spargo has been out & McVee hasn't been accountable. Our young players are a bit of a mixed bag. My big concern is lack of player development this season, Windsor and Kolt seem to have gone backwards - though that may be due to interrupted pre seasons. JVR seems to be going well after a poor start. Shows application and is promising. Jeffo is building in confidence and obviously cares. More game time will help, as will time in the gym. We'll know more in a year. Same for Lindsay and Luker (who I'm very excited about). AMW will provide a small defender with pace next season. Howes too. Sestan is a quality distributor and a smart footballer - could play almost anywhere. Could definitely be a handy finisher. Mentha too. ....so yeah, we have the same supportive-senior playing group as a lot of clubs, though aging and not really developing. We also have some good young players, some very good, just need the right team to bring them up.

The Blues game really did feel like a kick in the guts. I understand Goodwins anger. Now we get more salt on the wound and have to play at bloody Colonial. Against the Saints. Cannot stand that team. Very likely we will continue to play the kids, so winning unlikely. That being said, shutting down NWM will help - a lot. Putting the short-term aside, I'd like to see Petty sent back to the backline and Spargo come in for Sharp. I think Sharp adds real value when the team is going well but a liability when things are tough. I'd love to see Adams get a go at some point. If we are going full rebuild, Id drop TMac and bring him in, but thats a little unfair to Tom. Alternatively, Howes for TMac or Judd. Judd has been getting a few touches and kicks well, but defends poorly. The small and mid size forwards have been killing us. I like the idea of dropping Kolt for AJ - or even Luker. Kolt just seems to be freaking out, out there. Needs to actually pay attention to his errors, address them, and get some confidence. That being said, I reckon Luker probably needs another pre season before he's cherry ripe. Still, no complaints if he got a go.

My only comment is that I'm so sorry Andy and share your pain.

You'd reckon the Doggies would be keen too

I heard he has already asked for another contract. We should throw in forward line coach or at least kicking coach with it.

I don't 100% agree with this. Lever has looked really slow and isn't a good man-on-man defender. The Blues are more of a contest-style team, which doesn't suit him. I'd have TMac, May and Petty ahead of him. Possibly Adams too, for a debut.

Comparison is the thief of joy

I'm really concerned about Windsor, he's gone from being in the starting 18 to barely getting a touch at Casey. He had 1 touch yesterday. That's like me at high school. Really not a fun place to be. I hope he gets his form back soon. For this week, I'd give TMac, May or Petty the job on Curnow. I'd be dropping Lever for Petty if he's fit. One of them is the future of the backline and I dont think its Rick. Carlton share our issue with kicking for goal and have some good small forwards, so I'd definitely be bringing Howes back in too. I'd love to be proven wrong, but I can't see Fritta having 2 vote getting games in a row so bringing in a Sharp as a bit of a burst player might be useful in the arsenal as sub. I wouldn't mind Culley getting a go for Sparrow. I also liked the idea of Rivers playing that role (can take a mark and kick long), so maybe Sestan into the backline if fit.

Another summer in the gym will help. Maybe some reformer pilates for core strength too.

Oh yeah - was definitely better than last week and got better as the game went on. I think he will definitely better for a good run at it and another summer in the gym

Rivers in Sparrows role is a great idea!

I went with a neutral mate who commented that Jeffo looks like one of those inflatable figures that you see out the front of used car sales lots

Slightly sideways on this, but I thought this incident was coming about 5 mins before when Xerri had a swing at Jeffo in our forward pocket. This was right after the grapple involving Kolt broke out. The players were getting aggro and the umpires did nothing to get the game (or tempers) under control. I'll admit that the tempers are the players responsibilities, but pausing the game to get it under control would have restored some order.

Some good points here, particularly on the injury. Another pre-season will definitely help but his basic skills don't seem to be there, the fumbles were pretty poor. I'm not sure what his best position will be at this point as nothing really stands out. Perhaps more time with Melksham will help him learn forward craft and positioning. Then we just need someone to teach him how to catch the ball.

Sounds like an ideal candidate for the saints

Larkey is the big worry for mine. Realistically, we could turn it into a bit of a shoot out, which is a risk, but would be wild to watch. Would love to see Langford spend more time in the middle.

Looks like Petty won't be playing this week, so I think there will either be minimal change to the forward line - though I would like Fritsch to go to sub or the VFL and Luker to come in for a shot at it. Probably more likely that Spargo comes in and we go small.

I have serious concerns about Guerra. No footy experience and most of his recent experience is on NFP boards and such - not really a cut throat or results-based environment. He may be able to help with club promotion, sponsorship and membership - but that's only part of the remit for a CEO. Steven Smith I have more confidence in, so that's something. I think Jake Niall had a nothing article about Goodwin recently where he waxed on about his chances of being at Melbourne next year before throwing in a line similar to "he's contracted, so not going anywhere" - which (apart from being lousy journalism) indicates that he has spoken to the club and had it confirmed. Several other media folk have said the same too. I don't know if it's Goodies remit, but I believe we need an overhaul of the coaches and support staff. Fitness is not nearly what it was. Kicking and skills have not improved. As much as I love the man and think a statue should be made of him at our new training venue (calling Guerra), I dont think Nathan Jones is proven as a midfield coach. Resilience coach yes, strategy no.

It's always good to come on here to get the different views of different people watching the game, it's always interesting to see what different people picked up on. Then, it's GREAT to get this data to have an objective view of things. The pressure ratings were really interesting for mine. Their 3rd quarter really took it away from us. Amazing we were going so well in the 1st with a rating that low. The final quarter was pretty even and there were definitely times we could have got back in front, but poor skill and execution let us down (again). Thanks again Wheelo!

There were several moments in the Adelaide game where we made poor decisions going forward (chin, JVR etc) - though Kolts transgression was to absolutely spill the ball or not get control of it. It seems like he was too nervous, or, just not good enough. You hope that he works hard to pay back the pick we invested in him.

Good point, I wasn't sure if Petty was fit too play. He's definitely in front of Luker. Given his age, you'd like to think that Jeffo has more upside and potential than Fritta. Fritta as sub seems to be his best role and he is a better player than Sharp.

I've been pretty disappointed with him this season, but the pre season injury does explain a lot. I seem to remember him doing contested ball training with Viney, but he doesn't seem to be spending any time on the ball (in the VFL or AFL) - is this part of his recovery, or is it his development plan? We had so many chances that we fumbled across half forward today, so I'm not going to pin it all on a kid, but he did seem to fumble a lot.

To be fair, Jeffo did do a couple of nice things in the game and did put in a bit of an effort - he was generally out bodied and out positioned by a (more experienced) defender. Giving him more time at the top flight will help him learn and develop. There is possibly a correlation between his presence and JVRs best game in ages too. Honestly, I wouldnt mind Jeffo, JVR and Kentfield all in the team.

Met him once when I was much younger and working in a bar. He walked in as MC for a function. I asked him where the cheese was and he told me to F off in no uncertain terms. Then he laughed and spent an undeserving amount of time asking about me, my life and finally my football club. He gave me a huge hug when I told him Im Melbourne. A genuine lover of life and great bloke to boot. What a loss, what a legacy. Go Dees.

That was very surprising. I think pressure acts (1%ers) count a lot in the player ratings.