old55

From walking across it to get to Collingwood's training ground?

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2018-07-23/last-2-minutes-casey-win Nice mark by Weid and nice spoil by Hutchins.

Generally I think our strategy was reasonable in the last quarter, we tried to win the game and 3.5 to 8.0 is just a freak outcome. Stacking the backline and trying to hold on is not the way to win - we managed to level the momentum in the mid part of the quarter and keep scoring - if JKH kicks the goal we win. Yes we could have switched OMac and Frost a play or two earlier. The real problem was further up the ground - we were getting killed at the stoppages - Ablett 14 possession in the last. Specifically in the last two minutes, I think Petracca's torp was a reasonable play, he went deep down the line to an even contest and got the ball OOB inside our 50. I also don't think Jeffy did the wrong thing either, his kick went towards the top of the square again to an even contest, he didn't have a wild ping. Suggestions that he should have taken it OOB are ridiculous, he would've been pinged for sure. Bernie's spoil back into the 50 was a decent play as well - that's where we like to lock it in. I think there were three big factors, one out of our control and two in our control: Max having to go off - at the boundary stoppage after Trac's torp TMac is telling Max to go back deep and he'll take the ruck but Max has blood and has to go off. If Max is deep it's unlikely Geelong marks that last play. Lewis giving Menzel too much rope on the wing. I don't know the full team rules and Lewis was guarding the corridor but surely that's man-on-man time, he was miles off Menzel and knows he doesn't have the closing speed to make a contest. No-one running with Duncan from our forward 50 when he receives the handball from Hawkins - someone just had to go with him. I think there's great learning opportunity out of this loss, like the loss against St.Kilda - issues were exposed that cannot be ignored

Yeah that's generally pretty correct and I'm very comfortable with that.

I'm not an ANB fan but he was very good against Geelong. Generally clean ball winning and he used it well.

Saw on the Gameday thread that Stanley may be out, is Z.Smith playing in the 2s?

Wonder who will be the carry over emergency - probably Josh Wagner.

Sacking Norm Smith is more likely the cause.

Nathan Jones has had a very good year, is incredibly resilient and consistent, and has plenty more to offer. https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pg-melbourne-demons--nathan-jones He's had 2 down weeks which is very uncharacteristic and any reasonable deduction is that he's injured or sick. He was misused in a tagging role against the Hawks and look at the result. Some people don't know what they got until it's gone. He'll be back with a vengeance

Hogan is a great player and I hope he stays. It was absolutely vital that we signed him to his current contract. But if he left at the end of this contract it wouldn't be fatal. TMac has signed long term and Weid is going to make it. We can't currently fit all three in and retain team balance. We have Tim Smith as depth and we could get away with one true tall forward - Richmond-style for a period anyway if necessary. Hogan to Freo for Andrew Brayshaw and their 1st rounder - say pick 6 would be a very reasonable deal for us. Weid is not Hogan but a deal like that means for our best 22 - Out: Hogan, In: Weid, Brayshaw, pick 6. I could live with that.

Because our next best would have probably delivered less. With Viney out it was important he played. Who would you have brought in for him?

He was clearly either injured or sick. Get off his back!

Tom Scully gets a bad rap. He would have been totally insane not to take that GWS offer and stay at the basket case that was MFC at the time. in the AFL players still don't say they are leaving until they do - look at Tom Lynch. "...lied to dying Jimma's face" - spare me! I'm totally over it - Hogan is at the club as a result.

Good on you for following the under age footy and providing an insight. What this illustrates is how meaningless talk of "2018 super draft" is. No-one really knows. It's only now that there's some real insight into the quality of the 2015 Draft - Schache, Oliver, Francis etc ...

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and 2/10 for the top 10!

Should I value your judgement? Here's your post from earlier this year in the corresponding 2017 draft prospects thread (with their actual draft position in brackets added by me): How did that go for you? 3/10 in the top 10 9/20 in the top 20

Highlights package = grain of salt. But there is some tremendous judgement of the flight and one grab marking in that package - it's hard to fake.

Lever trade - IMO fair market value - but you said the Crows would eventually buckle Cameron trade - the Crows held firm and didn't buckle Fully consistent with my position and reality while you're tilting at windmills

The Crows didn't buckle. Another one to support my position. Keep them coming.

Very keen for you to quote where I mentioned Carlton in any post related to this topic? Look the trades are done and I'm very happy with them. You and @DeeSpencer can continue to sook and gnash your teeth about them. Let's see if PJ and TV agree with you and sack Mahoney ...

I've come to accept that clear thinking and analysis is not your strong point. The commonality in the deals is not that Adelaide is involved in both, it's that YOU think that both MFC and Adelaide paid overs. If Adelaide paid less then it would support your argument. The fact that picks 73 and 77 had to be involved in this deal shows what petty campaigners Reid and SoS are.

You don't know that. How's it going with the Gibbs and Cameron trades? Adelaide could have forced him into the draft on principle and North, Collingwood or St.Kilda could have selected him. They are crazy enough. Better to get the deal done for less than a 1st + 2nd and live up to our promise to Lever.

It's going to be interesting to see whether Adelaide can get the Cameron and/or Gibbs trades done.

Frawley is a very good player and was instrumental in the Hawks winning the 2015 flag - he had a tremendous final 3 finals when he was played in his correct position as key back.