Bring-Back-Powell

We average 22 scoring shots a game this year. Imagine, in a parallel universe, if today we respect our set shots a little and end up with a score line of 13.9 rather than the 7.15 that we’ll actually score. The last quarter might end up interesting.

We average 22 scoring shots a game which is essentially what we managed last week against a good Hawthorn side. I wonder what would happen tomorrow if we pay a bit of respect to our set shots (after the player has had a 20 second breather) and end up with a scoreline of 13.9.87 I would imagine we‘d be looking at a very exciting last 10 minutes of the game.

Yes 100% agree. It’s purely on the umpires that JVR has gone backwards at a million knots an hour this year.

If we’re lucky enough to hold onto Kozzie next year, LJ won’t be with us IMO. Surely, Kozzie is the central piece in a potential Luke Jackson trade to us?

Definitely in the mix to win this year’s flag. However, I’m not sure they could win a prelim against Brisbane at the GABBA or Collingwood at the MCG (I’m assuming Demonland posters have moved past the absurd assumption that Collingwood aren’t contenders)

It’a called a coach that is at the top of his game.

I will never get over the Carlton semi final. Absolutely the one that got away, although we wouldn’t have beaten Brisbane in the prelim, particularly with no Kozzie, Melksham, Petty or Brayshaw. The Collingwood final was absolutely the one that did NOT get away. They lead for 100% of the game, and essentially lead by 4-5 goals throughout the third quarter. Just because we outscored them in the last quarter doesn’t make it one the got away IMO. They were the better team on the night. I wonder how we would’ve gone in a parallel universe had we finished third and played Brisbane at the GABBA in week 1 and potentially GWS at the G in week 2 rather than the 65,000 rabid Carlton and Collingwood supporters that we had to endure.

Amartey has to simply be suspended under the matrix. No ifs, buts or maybes. Careless, medium impact and to the head = 1 week. It has to be at least medium impact because Boyd was escorted off the ground by his doctor. Handy out, if he is indeed suspended.

"We feel we're building some form within our footy club but we got to do it for longer" Simon Goodwin, 16 May 2025. An obvious quote by Goodwin but why can't we do it for longer? Why has it taken almost half a season to still sort this out? Is it fitness? is it mental? Is the coach's 3 quarter time message not getting across to the players? Is the game plan too taxing to play 4 quarters? Answers that really need to be addressed by the coach if we're being realistic. Ps - surprised he even made the slightest comment about Luke Jackson other than the typical 'no comment' line.

I have no idea how Luke Jackson gets in the door if Kozzie isn't traded back to them unless Essendon kindly want to donate the first round draft pick that's tied to us. It would have to be our 2026 and 2027 first rounders (assuming 2 years in advance is coming in this year) or one first rounder and a proven commodity in Rivers or McVee. That's a lot of capital to give up for a known flight risk who appears unsettled from the outside looking in.

No issues with Lever having multiple weeks in the VFL. I assume a half this week, a full game next week and then back for the Alice Springs game V St Kilda. We seem to rush some players back (Tholstrup and Spargo and they don't perform well) while we're correctly patient with others (McVee and Lever).

I have no idea why he was rushed into the seniors after a very long stint on the sidelines. You're giving his development an absolute disservice and he should have been given a month at Casey.

Feels like we've got the bye this week. Most posters seem really flat about this one *game's out of town (although people travelling and the locals will be pumped) *it's a probable loss *people are livid at Goodwin, Griffiths and our overall season to date *people are gravitating towards the Luke Jackson news There's just such a meh feel about this game. Hopefully we're in for a nice surprise.

I think this is a good result for the rank and file MFC supporter and member. There's a nice variety of timeslots across Saturday and Sunday to suit most members, and we again avoid Sunday 4:40pm in Melbourne for many years running. I'm not fussed about attending Thursday or Friday nights. Prefer weekends. The club and its sponsors would think differently though.

How on earth was our Marvel game against West Coast not on a Sunday twilight? It’s actually at the civilised time of Saturday 1:20.

Tomorrow’s been reported as the big day for all the fixture nerds.

Training in an outer South Eastern suburb does not explain Fritsch missing a goal badly from 15 metres out on a slight angle and Windsor missing the most elementary 30 metre set shot directly in front on a perfect windless early afternoon game before the dew has set in. A lot of the boys couldn't handle the pressure on Saturday.

A player hasn't been suspended for years for a tripping offence.

True, but if fit and available he'd be their number 1 key forward. I'm sure Hawthorn are planning for Lewis in September. We had the biggest drop off members in 2024. Two years in a row is a massive concern.

The 7 Hawthorn players that would easily play in Hawthorn's first final that didn't play on Saturday are: Day, Scrimshaw, Nash, Lewis, Dear, McKenzie and Barrass. I've asked Hawthorn supporting friends and colleagues and then checked on the Hawks Bigfooty Forum. They were all in furious agreement that all those players are clear best 23, or in Lewis's case best 23 when fit.

Fair call for sure. We invested a high draft pick on Jeffo, so its fair to give him a block of games to see (a) whether he's up to it and (b) hopefully fast track his development with AFL rather than VFL experience. It's just that he didn't show a thing on Saturday. Perhaps he might perform better with more experienced forwards such as Petty and Melk along side him this weekend. (but he probably makes way and JVR retained)

I've been dead against dropping Fritta as it feels as though we're gifting the opposition by allowing them not to face a 50-60 goal a year forward (at his best) that can nail a devastating goal at any point of the forward arc. However, Saturday was one poor game too many in what's been a really poor season. 4 touches, 1 mark and 2 regulation misses - one an absolute joke of a miss. He was a liability on the weekend, needs to go to Casey and probably needs a new club next year as his form slump is now 12 months old (barring a nice fortnight against West Coast and Essendon in July 2024) In - Melksham, Petty, and one of Laurie or Sestan (to debut) Out - Fritsch, Jefferson, Kolt

A loss to the Hawks with 7 of their best 23 players out, all of whom would absolutely be in their side if a final was played tomorrow. Another last quarter fade out. Continued inept inaccuracy on the most perfect day of footy. The same old deficiencies rearing their head on our biggest test of the year to date. He's simply out of form as a coach and has been for a long period of time.

Our accuracy has been an absolute disgrace this year, headed by the best player in our side. Real bush league standard garbage. Interesting that in 4 games where we've kicked more goals than behinds, we're 3-1 and that loss was a good effort V GWS. Conversely, when we kick more behinds than goals we're 0-5. Clearly a coincidence right?

Harvey Langford received 8 coaches votes if you don’t mind.