Wylie D

What was the difference between Q1 and Q2? From a stats perspective Freo had nearly 50 more posessions, 18 more inside 50s etc. but watching it - in Q1 we looked completely gassed, our kicks fell short, we werr rushed when we had it, and they had free players everywhere on the turnover. In Q2, they suddenly seemed no longer to have free players up the ground, and the Dees were able to retain possession and control the game. Its hard watching from TV in a pub with no audio - but was there a structural shift, was our pressure better or did we simply start winning the ball and stop turning it over? I was greatly impressed with our comeback (albeit Q3 was a disaster) but hoping to get your analysis on anything King did or players changed. Cheers

I just signed up - amazing deal and perfect timing. I didn't think i could afford a membership this year (sacrilege to admit!) - but will be there with the kids on the weekend.

When players move clubs, many (not all), have a high motivation to prove themselves to their peers, coaches and the football public. Obviously Trac - given his ego and desire to be a hall of famer - was very motivated. Its frustrating that Trac was seemingly playing at 80% since he returned from his injury, and that the player we saw in the 2021 GF hasn't really re-emerged until Opening round 2026 for another club. He wasn't going to be that player at the Dees in 2026, he also couldn't hit a target inside 50 and is not a defensively minded player - which made him something of a liability in a midfield alongside Oliver and Viney, which struggled with kicking skills or the foot speed/drive to run both ways. Oliver was a culture killer as a loose cannon, but so was Trac as a massive ego. They both had to go - and we need to kove on. Jack Steele's pre-season form suggests to me he will also he making St Kilda fans squirm, so these things go both ways. We now have Kosi, Steele and Windsor lining up at the centre square this season, different but no less dynamic. Can't wait for Round 1 so we can start talking about our players.

Harmsy was another Jason Taylor Gem - pick 2 in the Rookie Draft. I was never confident when he had the ball in hand that it would hit a target, but, like many of our midfielders, he had the capacity to lace out kicks, but more often it was long and indirect, which under Goodwin was okay. Taylor always talks about character when considering his draft choices, but he also loves competitiveness. Those two traits don't always go hand in hand. For me - his kick to Fritsch in the GF after bursting from the contest was his highest point (cough...on field). I remember seeing him on stage in Perth the day after the GF - he was still up from the night before and seemed to be in his comfort zone. Seems as though he liked it too much in that zone. As others have noted in relation to the Eagles, but also the Pies (rat pack), success can turn a loose culture into an unstoppable malignent force within the club. A bit like May - its disappointing he's gone out on a low - but he bled for the team and was a major factor in our premiership. I hope he too finds what he is looking for and am grateful for his service to the Dees.

The gameday thread doesn't turn into a mix of utter despair at our skills, umpiring travesties, arguments about selection and bemoaning of coaching strategies within the first 5 minutes of the game - with no mention as to whether we are winning or losing.

Having Steven May at the Demons was a novelty - he could take contested marks, was quick and strong, fearless and could actually kick the ball. In my time i've seen an array of KP defenders at the Dees with a few of these attributes, but never in the one player. I'll be forever grateful that he came to our club - a premiership may have otherwise eluded us. Go well Steven and hope the next part of the journey takes you where you want to go.

This is a really curious trade. Like both Trac and Claz, Steele was one of the best players in the comp in the early 20s. I haven't followed his trajectory over the past few years, but clearly his form dropped and he fell out of favour. The odd thing is that unlike Trac and Claz, he is being shown the door despite being, from all accounts, an excellent clubman and leader - their captain! While it hurts to lose Claz for a third round pick and to pay out half is salary - I fully understand it. For St Kilda to do something similar for the club captain - I don't fully understand it. Some strange Saints down Moorabin way. If he can get his fitness right - I think this is a fantastic trade. I have more faith in this trade than any of Billings, Schache, Fullarton, Sharp, etc. Steele has played at the highest level - he is tough, can mark overhead and his kicking his solid. There is also the motivation that comes with being rejected. I suspect that will be driving him all throughout the pre-season and beyond. Welcome Jack

Clayton Oliver is one of the greatest to play for the Red and the Blue. One of the greatest contested ball players of all time. Not unlike many of those who are gifted with rare talent, it came at a price. His history caught up with him, as it does all of us, and he couldn't navigate it and ran off the rails. I have many friends in the same category - so I won't judge - but I'll still be disappointed and genuinely sad that it all fell apart when he was at the peak of his powers. I respect him greatly for getting back on track - so to speak - but I also agree with the club that his time was up. Some things can't be undone and a fresh start benefits everyone. Thanks for the wild ride Claz, and for the greatest moment of my sports supporting life - Bang, Bang, Bang!

Trac will always be a Melbourne legend. His Performance in the GF was one for the ages. Hard to choose between his first goal from outside the 50 or his second goal which he dribbled through from the forward pocket - his power and finesse on full display. Things really went pear shaped - his mind, body and ego after his near death experience on the operating table. He returned - but to me, not the same Trac. I would have been devastated had he left at the end of 2021 - but I'm not devastated now. He gets to move on, we get decent draft compensation and salary cap space to target players coming out of contract in the next few years. I honestly wish him all the best, and will be eternally grateful for his epic contribution to the club.

The hope is that the club has a plan, that we have a coach lined up and that sacking Goodwin now gives them the edge on other clubs in the market for a new coach. The fear is that internal politics and the fragile egos on the board have resulted in pulling the trigger. Whichever it is - Goodwin has been the best coach MFC has had in my lifetime. I've liked other coaches more in terms of the way they communicate and engage with fans, but Goodie created an environment of consistently high performance in the home and away for consecutive years, including overcoming 57 years of failure making us champions. Thanks Simon, I know you gave everything you had, and I will be forever grateful to you.

What I noticed at the game was Trac taking a short lateral pass to Salem in the first quarter when he was just outside 50, rather than blazing away long. Salem then hit a beautiful hit up pass to a leading player (maybe Sparrow?). It felt like a set play and Trac received plenty of high fives and encouragement for giving it off. In the third quarter Viney was in a similar spot and Mcvee was available for the lateral pass, but Viney chose to bomb long (and it ended up going a huge contest). Either way, I’m hoping we see more of this - getting the ball into the hands of the guys who can hit targets. I imagine if you are one of the stars and leaders of the team, it is not always easy to hand off the ball, but if we are going to succeed, sharing the ball and prioritising kicking roles is crucial with our current cohort.

We need some more teams to lose back to back finals to take the attention off us 🙂

My wondering relates to the striking difference between the Carlton pre-season game and the Sydney match, and how much the weather played in the results. The coaches have stated that they are looking for only a goal more on average per game - and the tweaks to the game plan appear to be faster movement out of defense, and bringing in a bit more speed (windsor) and footskills (salem) through the midfield, with the goal of better inside 50 scoring efficiency. The Carlton game would have left the coaches very happy - there were over 20 marks inside 50. But it was a dry night without much pressure and some room to move in the 50. Thursday was the opposite scenario. I agree that Goodwin was outcoached on Thursday, but Goody is known for sticking to his gameplan regardless of the conditions, with the goal of applying the strategy as much as possible for the players to become familiar with it. It often looks like stupid coaching when we are losing. Last year we had a woeful record in the wet, and that has carried on this year too. Our bread and butter used to suit wet weather - a pure territory game, high contest, defensive, low scoring. However the coaches understand the game has changed and we are evolving. It takes a long time for clubs to fully adapt to new gameplans and master them. This is a roundabout way of saying that the weather was for me the biggest factor in our poor performance. Gawn noted it was one of most draining games he had played. Not only was it slippery, but it was humid. That started our problems, and the stubborness of the coach, and the absence of half our best forwards only seemed to exacerbate the issue. However - we were level with them at three quarter time. Despite everyone agreeing we were woeful. My question is - do we simply write this one off as a a weather related aberration, or is there something deeply flawed in our gameplan (coaches) or the execution of it (players). I'm going with weather as the primary issue, but also think the adjustments to the gameplan will take time, and until we get Petty and Kosi back, we won't be executing to the best of our ability. Feel free to ignore this lengthy point/question/rant. Go Dees

Max is one of the best captains in the game - a genuine leader on and off the field. For a footballer, he is off the charts for social skills and emotional intelligence - which is increasingly important as a mentor for young players - helping them simultaneously figure out 'who they are' while working in a job that attracts a potent mix of relentless public scrutiny, idol worship, quick money and media vultures (hi Kane). Jack on the other hand is the quiet guy off the field who becomes a giant on the field, lifting everyone around him with acts of insane bravery and a monomaniacal desire to crush the opposition. This is one of the best mixes of leadership Melbourne have ever had and it is the right decision - for 2024. My sense for the future is that Petracca needs to reach his personal footballing ambitions before becoming captain - more flags, a brownlow, a B&F. He has set himself to be a legend of the game. Being a captain takes time and effort - I'm not sure he is yet in a place to let go of the all conquering desire to be the best player and team mate. Depending on what happens this year, he might be ready to to focus fully on the rewards of captaincy. He will be fantastic when he is ready. If you wanted a more conservative path, Lever is a ready made captain. If you wanted to be more strategic and long term? Rivers to me is starting to look like a man who can inspire those around him. My wife is getting suspicious about how long I've been 'checking my emails' - back to making hot cocoa :) Cheers

I actually agree that it would go against the logic of selection under Goodwin, and that right now Hunter and Langdon are proven performers. However, and while I'm a big fan, Langdon was completely dominated by Sidebottom in the Qualifying Final - so much so Hunter had to be moved onto his wing. I thought Hunter actually had a good finals series - but was interested to see how low he finished in the B&F. I just wonder if the club feels that some experimentation is warranted - especially if Langdon and Hunter aren't at their very best. Either way - having genuine competition for those spots can only be a good thing. Cheers