Jjrogan

Defence need to pay the Hawks forwards one-on-one respect today imo. Lewis, Nash, Breust and to extent Ginnivan are no slouches. Watson is an unknown but I haven't forgotten Rankine getting off the chain in his first game against us. Chol will prolly play a defensive role on Lever.

Devils advocate. I'm not suggesting he is being gifted a game but these sort of decisions would definitely be memory banked by a player and his management during contract decisions. He is only human. Being selected this week is a massive sign of faith by the FD towards him which may get paid back in spades in the next 12 months or so. Hmm, maybe I am suggesting he is being gifted a game but if he turns out to be the forward conmection we are looking for I'm ok with it.

How good was the way they used Wanganeen-Milera as much as possible. Watching him kick is like watching a Federer backhand or a Warnie leggie. Skill and execution just sublime. Not to the same extent, but I'd be keen to see McVee freed up a little bit to be getting that kick from the back half into the forward half. But we seem to be trending in that direction anyhow.

I quite like the NFL model where you can swap draft picks for coaches. In 2000, the Pats gave up 1st, 4th and 5th round draft picks to the Jets for Belichick. Hmmm what's Goody worth? (Kidding)

Forget about the players. Get a proper coach. Longmire will be out of contract at end 2025.

This. This will be the longest season ever and player management for mature lists like ours is paramount. Dogs aren't a top 8 side with that backline imo. Coffield, Khamis were absolute passengers if not liabilities. Add in Lobb and they are playing with 3 fewer players every other week.

As others have mentioned. This is a great test for our forward line. Brambles has played 30 games Coffield has played 50 games Khamis has played 10 games. It's a great test because if our forward line isn't able to win one on one match ups, find separation and take marks against this lot I'm not sure when.

TMac on Lobb is going to be box office entertainment. I can't wait.

It was pretty tough conditions for forwards but there needs to be less focus on intensity and contest, and more on getting seperation and space. Fritta says hi. 4 marks a game this year to take the next step. Below this bar and the odds of being a bona fide AFL forward is quite low. He has the hands, so perhaps his positioning is NQR but hard to tell when not at the ground. Having said all that he has an appetite to jump and impose himself physically which as we know is very desirable trait. 2nd year, just needs time. Not easy playing on the best key defender also.

There is no question our forwards don't move enough. But equally, if we have a 3 on 2 or 4 on 3 with a 'fast break', I still not confident we score. We don't make the right decisions or run to the right spots. I'm sure they do a lot of work on this at training but imho it's a 'skill' that you either have or you don't. If you're going to run with an undersized forward line you simply have to be able to take advantage of 3 on 2s. Conversely, our back line is excellent at defending when outnumbered or out positioned.

Good. I don't want him suspended.

Yep. A bit of patience is needed now. I thought Salem was ok and did some nice things but the lack of leg speed was very evident. Pickett was sorely missed. Also, I'm not sure in what world Charlie Spargo offers more than Jack Billings. Spargo offers nothing overhead and when you're struggling for a mark inside 50 it essentially become 5 on 6. Billings also can take a pot shot from 45 and nail it. Again, not the reason we lost but watching the same players struggle with the same limitations is just frustrating.

You didn't give votes to a midfield that got smashed and couldn't hit a target inside 50?? This is not the Demomland way.

Not the reason we lost as we were putrid at the start of the last quarter. But until Judd McVee (or if Petracca kicks well) gets midfield minutes nothing is going to change. His handball fake and then kicking into the space the FORWARDS ARE MEANT TO BE LEADING TO cannot be taught or trained. Name one other player on our list that does that through instinct (Jake Melksham says hold my beer). Enjoy the season.

Did you just clone Kossie Pickett? Works.

Yep. And the snake was for Dayne Zorko.

I know everyone has Petty pencilled in as a forward after his 6 good quarters last year (admittedly so did I) but if our delivery into 50 is improved and Schache/Fullerton can put up 10 touch, 4 mark, 2 goals stat lines. Petty down back is an amazing thought. Carlton don't kick 40 points last night. Not a knock on Tomlinson, he played on the best 2nd tall in the comp so it can only get 'easier'.

I haven't watched the other games but seemed to me the new ruck rule is going have a big effect on clearances and momentum swings of midfields. Starting rucks can basically shove and out weigh a second string match up now. lt will give a huge advantage to Max, but on the other hand our second ruckman is um, yeah, well. it's not just about intensity, you can be intense all you want but if the other guy has 15 kg on you. I say let Josh Schache eat all the meat pies he wants for a while.

Why exactly is Josh Schache on the MFC list if he can't get a game in the opening round? Is he not fit? Is he totally unable to follow any instruction? Is he a massive liability in game to the extent it means an immediate loss? He played in a grand final less than 10 games ago. This isn't a matter of 'hunger' or 'appetite' or 'insert your prefered metaphysical football term here'. He was presumably signed to be a break in case of emergency when he was resigned last year. Are we waiting for every player to be unavailable and selecting him last? We have no back up ruck, under30 3rd tall and he's kicked more goals than JVR and Petty combined, if the FD department can't fashion a role for him why bother even paying him. He isn't a project player.

Interestingly, we were 6-3 last year with Tomlinson selected and 2-6 record with Mcdonald (possessions of 6,8,6,7,6 in losses in his last 5 games with the significant game time forward). I'm not sure I'd want either one on the opposition 2nd tall but it will probably come down to the match up so I dare say we will be having this discussion all year. Oh, what fun.

I wonder if the playing group and coaching staff are privately messaging each other this morning about how the season is done and how they can't see a realistic chance of a flag now.

Fit enough but Billings historically hasn't done the hard stuff was my impression. As soon as the Saints stopped allowing passengers on defense he struggled to get a game. Personally I'd give up the extra 4 pressure acts and 2 tackle a game as the 2nd HFF if he can hit McAdam or BF inside 50 once or twice a game. We kick 1 more goal per game last year we have a percentage of 130+ and the number 1 offensive team, the margins are that slim.

I think Max averages well over 4 and is the better player in my view. Ben is around the JVR mark (pun intended) but not to data mine he did play for a very poor team in his first 2 years. Since then it's trended up with the team improving. Also Ben has had many matchwinning games, which JVR can hopefully replicate if he doesn't mark it consistently. I All i'm saying is JVR hopefully keeps finding more tricks in the bag other than simply filling out and providing a contest.

The most important metric for any key forward is simply marks per game. Averaging under 4 will not keep you in the system long. This is not a knock on JVR but if there was one thing he needs to focus on that's it. The rest is just icing. (That's not to say averaging more than 4 makes you a gun but it's fair to say 4 or below and you'll be struggling to get games or make an impact in the long run) Personally I'm not convinced. Yet. By his own admission he isn't a natural forward, and whilst he has impressive physicality, he needs to find the ball on the end of leads more. T Mac, Fritsch, BBB have all done this in recent years so it is possible with the current delivery system. I think he needs to get the 2nd or 3rd key back but having said that, those defenders are typically quicker so it's not so easy. Having Petty back and McAdam firing is going to be crucial so he can take either weaker or slower defender and then exploit it. As a related point Josh Schache averaged well over 4 marks a game in his first 2 years at Brisbane but then regresed at the Doggies, which tells me they didn't use or develop him correctly. I fear Melbourne holds the same view on his abilities, which imo are being harshly judged. His output isn't awful when he is given extended game time. If he doesn't play significant minutes in the early part of the year as a back up ruck and key marking target for a team that surely needs both, um, what exactly is he on the list for?

If our premiership window is to stay open, its fully on the coach and the football department. Teams that stay on the top for decade change their playing style as the mix of players change. The Hawks that won the 2008 premiership looked nothing like the 2015 premiership. Sydney for a decade looked different game to game let alone year to year. Geelong went from the dream team in 07, to hogging the ball for a few years (which almost worked), to some more run and dare. He adapted to his list and this list adapted to change. My biggest concern is we try and win 'the Melbourne way' consistently and exclusively. We have recruited some X factor in McAdam and Tholstrup. You cannot have them play like Spargo and ANB. Keep them inside 50, forego some structure etc. The game plan needs to adjust to the personnel. Speaking of which, May is a much bigger concern than Max imo. Max is the GOAT, but unless you find another one out there (you won't), just take anyone ffs, the position is massively overrated. Apart from us, none of the top eight had a match winning ruckman or even one that was that important to their game plan. They all have great key backs. The dude just needs to be competitive and neutralise the other guy. You need to change the game plan to adjust for life after Max, not go look for the next Max.