Dee Viney Intervention

Using their time in the exercise yard at sport Phillip Prison wisely, each to their own.

Makes his effort last Thursday night even more Herculean than it already was

Why would we not even try, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by at least contesting it. Everything about us is conservative. No stone will be left unturned they say, the forward line is the least of our concerns they say. Well our dysfunctional forwardline could see us eliminated in straight sets at the MCG again!!!! You can’t help injuries but at least show some fight Melbourne. Show some passion, play like Demons off the field and on the field FFS. Good on Carlton and no doubt Collingwood for showing some intent. We may have 70 000 members which is outstanding but we are not a big club yet.

Pre game luncheon at Entrocote might help. If that’s what it takes then Bonjour I’m all for it. # nostoneunturned

This is the part that is so frustrating because it’s not new. If we are to have “learnings” why can we not have them during the game and adjustments made during the game. Unfortunately this method of forwardline entry is our default. I don’t know if he has been asked or would even be interested but would love to have Mick Stinnear as a part of our coaching group (forward coach) our AFLW teams ball movement is fantastic. Two less players on the field which does create more space but their ball movement and forwardline craft is fantastic. It is a coaching issue. Either our method is wrong or players are not being held accountable if they are repeat offenders by dropping them back to Casey. But we keep hearing “learnings” and “no stone will be left unturned” Time will tell, but time is running out.

At least it would give Kossie a licence to jump

If their lawyer doesn’t win their best and fairest he’s been [censored] robbed.

Thanks, I think.

Kev, firstly thanks for all of your training reports and the detail you provide. Would you mind elaborating on the above “this delivering into a clump” I know it’s an open session and they may not want to give too much away. I hope we have something else up our sleeve as it sounds like more of the same.

Absolutely agree, the pressure is all on us now. Carlton are playing on a wave of emotion and have momentum as did we in 2021. I just hope we get off to a good start breaking the shackles a bit by playing some positive, attacking football.

If you were to sit Fritsch, JVR, Kossie, BBB, Chandler or any forward worth their salt down in a dark room with a tap dripping in the background some truth serum, shine a light in their eyes and ask them if they prefer the ball coming in slow into a mass of bodies I am tipping they will say no. We don’t get clean looks in good areas often enough to get value for our forward entry. It absolutely is the method. I don’t want to be the ungrateful kid on Christmas morning I am glad that we are playing finals compared to where we have been for most of my life. I am happy but not content, I want more. Our forward line and connection has been an issue for far too long. We should be better than we are, we are not. We don’t play to our forwards strengths it absolutely is the method. I hope I am wrong but I don’t think we can win a premiership playing the way we currently play. Not enough emphasis on offence for mine. Footy is a pretty simple game, if you score more than the opposition you win. I don’t think we give ourselves the best chance to kick a winning score.

Agree with everything you have said here. Watson plays with a chip on his shoulder almost. He is short but height or lack thereof-is not an obstacle for him and I think that internally he just wants to prove the doubters wrong. He is a star, he knows it but plays with a “healthy arrogance” that the true greats have. Genuinely hope we will call out his name as he will become a cult hero and immediate difference maker for us or wherever he goes.

Would be a great story to have him back and would fill a need but I think he is revelling in the relative anonymity of playing for GWS. Genuinely wish him well.

If we insist on continuing to play slow ball into a congested forward line then a player like Watson who is lethal around goals and creates something out of nothing should be our number 1 target. Followed by a Duursma/ McKercher I’d we can make it happen.

Inclined to agree, doesn’t have enough tricks for mine. Not slow but not quick either. If you are going to be an outside player you need a point of difference, don’t know what Laurie’s is yet. But in fairness hasn’t had a great deal of opportunity or continuity to show what he can do.

Not sure about Oakleigh but plays forward for Caulfield. Watson is a dead set star that can play midfield, could play back pocket but is lethal around goals. Quick, X factor, forward pressure, makes good decisions with the ball. Has a bit of Brent Harvey about him but I think with more tricks. For mine he is exactly what we need. Not ready to play AFL midfield now but would put him straight into our forward line. Would play front and square and compliment Kossie or allow Kossie more midfield time to give us a more dynamic look. Could allow Chandler to maybe play wing and put pressure on Langdon / Hunter who I think have been underwhelming this year until Howes and Woey Jnr are ready or the latter two could maybe transition into the backline.

He is year 11 this year so another year in the system. Would need to do more to make it, hope he does. Genuinely hope we draft his teammate Nick Watson though.

I wouldn’t get my hopes up too high with Noah. Didn’t stand out at school level with Caulfield Grammar, would be a romantic story to have him as a father / son but I think he will be another Kobe Farmer that is not quite good enough for AFL level.

Not so sure about Casey, Langdon hasn’t exactly lit the year up and I had hoped for a bit more from Hunter in terms of helping with connection into our forward line. While they are gut runners I wouldn’t say they have elite speed either would love him at Melbourne.

I have said it before and I will say it again we need to change the method to suit the personal. We will obviously missing first choice forwards for this game and beyond and that’s the way it is. What we do have left is good enough………but our method going forward MUST change. Our ball movement is way too slow and with little purpose other than to allow us time to set up behind the ball. It is quite frankly Auskick level stuff of winning the ball (contest) and bombing it forward with a more sophisticated defensive mechanism behind it to protect it. It is extremely conservative and I am over it. How about the defenders step up and do the job they should do and defend and we play a brand that allows our forwards the best opportunity to do their thing which is quick ball movement into an open forward line. It takes lights out at the Gabba or to be 4 goals down in the last 1/4 before we start to show some genuine attacking intent. I have been jealous watching the ball movement of the Collingwood, Giants and Lions over the last few days and I think what if. I don’t expect Bang Bang Bang every game but please Melbourne show some genuine attacking intent FFS and let’s see if we can create some magic in September.

Agree that our contest is our strength. However I would say our ball movement going forward is too slow which certainly does give our defenders a chance to set up behind the ball but doesn’t give our forwards the space, time and clean looks at goal that most forwards crave which I believe would allow us to be more efficient when going forward and give us more bang for our inside 50 buck. Would love to see a bit more of a value on offence as opposed to being so contest / defence. Just seems to be a negative mindset for mine.

Don’t disagree with anything you have said here. The million dollar question is are we playing to our strengths.

This and some foot speed

We are still not out of it yet but you could mount an argument to say that we have regressed. We finished 2nd on the ladder last year 4th on the ladder this year. Either that or teams are going past us or a combination of both. Hopefully there are learnings and no stone has been left unturned. Time will tell but hopefully our team can play to its true potential.