old55

I never saw him reported as a Free Agent. Link to evidence?

Lever wasn't a Free Agent. With all the discussion associated with that trade last year it's difficult to understand how you came to think that?

No Martin no Richmond.

He was drafted in 2013 so next year is his 6th year so he's not an FA until 2021. He is out of contract next year.

This analysis is key to the selection of Smith. Roughead, Schoenmakers and Gunston - 3 talls and Gunston got away and was best Hawk. Kennedy, Vardy and Darling - even taller. The choice betwen say Tyson and Fritsch looks like a choice between the contest which is "our brand" and kicking efficiency. It's a trade off which focuses on what we value. I can understand the FD thinking.

I've never seen Joel Smith take a ruck contest. Are you confusing him with Tim Smith? I've never seen him "shat his dacks", which usually means fail to show courage. He is crazy brave in his attack on the ball and the man and partly why he has had impact injuries.

I think the selection trade offs revolve around these factors. We're trading contest and pressure for disposal efficiency with Tyson and Smith in and Fritsch out. The FD reckon it will be a super hot contest and that's our "brand" http://m.afl.com.au/news/2018-06-05/the-stats-files-the-three-keys-to-winning-games-in-2018

It's understandable. Match up with WC tall forward line and the step up of the contest from last week. JKH mised the finals and now it's Fritsch. If we get through it may be against Richmond who have a completely different structure so we could make a change there too. Or there could be injuries. Just a comment overviewing the system - taking MFC out of the equation - this is why at least everyone on the list who plays a game in the season should get a premiership medal.

I think everyone has their own MFC. His isn't mine.

He wins the ball in tight that's why he gets tackled. He's not Oliver - few are. He has improved his dosposal when tackled and gets his hands free now and looks for a creative handball which he generally achieves. He didn't get called HTB. But he doesn't win much outside ball and his kicking is well short of Fritsh's, that's why the Smith in has merit.

If we beat WC it will get very real. I went in 1988 and 2000 but we were really no chance in either and that's the way it panned out. If we can win this week we can definitely win the GF, I think degree of difficulty is about equal.

It was an unusual situation. Usually someone will try to ruffle the tagger i.e. Shiel rather than the star, and also unusual that it was their star who did it. Oliver was coping enough borderline tactics from Shiel, he doesn't need Mitchell getting in on the act too. Free was defn there.

Viney's acceleration and side step are truly elite. His foot injury does not seem to have affected them like say Trengove's. On numerous occasions his burst and his direction change were equal to the best ever. Let's hope the prognosis for his feet stays good. De Viney!

Ryan had 3 kicks 5 hand passes 1 tackle 1 goal for the day and the goal wasn't in the 3rd quarter. It's gonna be hard to limit him more than that. Rioli did kick 3.2 from 6 kicks which was a damaging return. One goal was in the 3rd. Maybe like BT you can't tell them apart?

That is so good to see Nathan enjoying the positive times after so much hardship. He really presented well too - relaxed, modest and happy.

The info has been easy to find on the club site for days. I linked to over the weekend here. You've got your personalised email 40 hours before you have to register. That seems like enough time to prepare. I'm not sure what you're complaining about?

OMac's kicking has been very good.

Better to be on the snow in Victoria than the ice in WA

Could be mind games to mess with our defensive set up too

I've bought GF guarantee for at least the last 10-15 years : )

I couldn't go to the semi and had to watch on TV which is very limiting. Who was on Gunston BRFE? It's a bit similar and he did get away so we may be looking to change that up.

I haven't got a letter. Don't worry about it. Go onto the MFC site here for the info: http://m.melbournefc.com.au/finals/grand-final-information You need to register Wednesday morning at Ticketek.

No doubt he's thinking about sacking Clarkson.

I just don't see Tyson's game that way at all in recent weeks. He wins contested ball and tries hard to give a creative handball when tackled not just dump it. He's been able to get this hands free and has not been caught holding the ball like he was earlier in the year. He didn't get much of it vs Hawthorn but I don't know if he had a role. I can see the argument for J.Smith and Tyson is on the fringe. I didn't think we played all that well vs Hawthorn and change may be warranted. I like JKH's recent work but he could only come in for Tyson too and I only see a marginal difference. There's no one else in the frame for consideration. No change is a quite possible. It is good we won the VFL PF, it would be good to win that flag and it gives those players another hit out ahead of the AFL GF if we can make it.

Wonder how many AFL emergencies we'll take to Perth and whether we'll fly them back for the VFL GF?