Bring-Back-Powell

Very fair prediction.

Listening to Phil Davis numerous times on SEN, he has continually said that he thought Melbourne’s 2021 was so dominant that he assumed we’d be untouchable for 5 years.

I wonder if Hunter, Fullarton, T Mac and BBB will be in full training next session. I originally posted about Brayshaw in the hope the rumour wasn't true.

Me thinks Carlton will be starting the season 0-1 if Waitering, Walsh and Martin are all missing.

9th - 12th. 10 to 12 wins. Worse if finals are looking unlikely by the mid season break. Every successful season (eg - prelim or better) starts with a strong and healthy pre season with minimal injuries and strong numbers on the track. Can anyone honestly say we've ticked those boxes this summer? As @george_on_the_outer often remarks "one week lost in the pre season is 1 week lost in the home and away season" Geelong's 2022/2023 pre season is a perfect example of this. How did a team that absolutely dominated the 2022 H&A, and finals series miss the finals in 2023? It was because they had injuries all over the place in the pre season and were under prepared for the season. I hope to be pleasantly surprised but I'm struggling to see many positive signs at the moment.

Being at the ground I thought Billings did some nice things. He was even better on the replay. Good inside 50 entries, took a courageous mark when he was expecting heavy contact and just looked like a smart and composed footballer who respects his disposal/puts a premium on his ball use. I would be shocked if he's not in the round zero side and ticks a box that we needed over summer. I'd expect him to get a lot of his ball between the arcs rather than as a small forward that plays deep.

He must have something going for him given he was awarded VIC metro's best player in the carnival. As for Langdon, I can't put my finger on it but he seems to have gone a bit down hill since 2021. What's the difference between 2021 Langdon and 2023 into 2024 Langdon? He was just meh on Sunday. Not good, not bad. However he's certainly in my side for round zero.

Just a random observation: In 6 of our last 8 games of footy including the weekend's game, this is how many behinds the oppo has kicked: Richmond 8 Carlton 8 Hawthorn 6 Collingwood 6 Carlton 7 Richmond 9 (praccy match) These behinds are below average for a game of footy and it's not helping us win games. Is this just a coincidence or the oppo getting easier shots at goal on us?

He's been worried about us since 2022 and is definitely not a fan of our football.

They certainly were but at the same time we all would've taken a 14.10 score line (2 less scoring shots than the Carlton semi) in the finals last year and ran with it. I thought our defence (the back line and overall defensive intent all over the field) was far more concerning. A Simon Goodwin team does not concede 120 points in a game of footy, much less against a middle of the road side. Nice to hear K Brown cracked a positive mention here and on Cornes and Buckley's SEN show.

Yeah fair enough. I guess I expected too much from a former highly touted pick number 2 that has a chance to revitalise his career and cement a spot in the seniors with Petty and BBB always injured and Grundy gone.

Good point.

He was one of my disappointments from yesterday. We're screaming out for a forward with Petty, BBB, Kozzie and McAdam out for round 0, but unfortunately he did very little aside from a nice set shot goal and attended a few centre ruck bounces. Contested marking is definitely not a strength of his, instead he requires silver service on the lead.

Happy to let today slide. It looked as though we were playing a (similarly depleted) team that is rejuvenated and clearly relished playing under a highly promising and anticipated coach after 8+ years of the same voice. I don’t expect Richmond to make the 8 but they have enough talent and premiership veterans to win 9-12 games. However, if we let through an obscene amount of consecutive goals next week and have 70 points kicked on us again by half time, then I think members of this forum are entitled to be concerned. I don’t have the stats to back it up but it looked as though their pressure was miles ahead of ours. We were easy to play against today. Defensive pressure and low scores are the hallmark of a Goodwin coached Melbourne. If we lose that strength, then we’re a bottom 6 side. Lastly, some of the dropped marks and failed 15 metre passes to a target suggested to me that their heads weren’t in it today.

And just kicked a lovely goal 👍

He was in everything that day and I finally could see why Taylor spent a first rounder on him. His disposal was outstanding and nailed 2 classy goals. Looked like a genuine AFL player (albeit not against a proper opponent) I know he’s clearly not going to win the rising star or make the All Australian but he’s my prediction for our most improved player.

He played most if not the entire game up forward against Sydney in round 3 and Richmond in round 6.

In wondered that too but I assume it’s round 2 v Hawks.

If the Australian day intra club game was any indication, Laurie’s not only wining the Rising star but he’s also making the All Australian 40 squad. I was blown away by the improvement from last year (aside from a promising rd 24 game Vs Sydney) to that January morning.

I don't think you could call him a champion forward in the slightest. He played 5 games as a forward last year in a very small sample space. When Goodwin threw him forward for the early Sydney and Richmond games last year he improved our forward structure and allowed JVR to hit the scoreboard. However he hardly dominated. He played a very good first half vs Hawthorn taking 6 marks and kicking 2 goals but as usual went off injured and missed a month. Undoubtedly he starred in the second Richmond game with 6.0 and then was busy the following week in Hobart before once against getting injured. Five games is a very small sample space to call him a champion forward, and Adelaide were understood to have been interested in recruiting him as a key back. Did we get excited after a couple of games, or does he have genuine 'key forward' star written over him?

Carlton beat us in the 2023 semi. North beat in the 1998 prelim. Hawthorn beat us in the 1988 GF. But we beat them all when it counted in this monumental 2018 tournament.

Any intel whether he'll be getting minutes in either the Richmond or Carlton praccy matches? Our round 0 side is lacking spark and potency without Petty and Kozzie so I'm hoping McAdam will be in the side.

Yes and Hunter too. I'd suggest the journo go back to his desk and re-submit a more realistic 22.

I watched last year's Port game the other day and it was the most obvious hammy strain that you'd see. How he received the green light to play out the game is just beyond me. Anyway the original diagnosis was 6-8 weeks for Fullarton which would have him available for the weekend we play the Dogs as a worst case/most conservative scenario.. Presumably he'd need 2 to 3 games at Casey from that weekend onwards, which would see a round 4 or 5 potential MFC debut if his form warrants it.

Optimistic having Petty, McAdam and Oliver in the side.