old55

Lewis could've punched Fyfe, Mundy or Neale in the head and we would've won. It's the golden ticket though, we can only use it so many times a year. Hogan could've punched McCarthy and Blakely just because they deserve it.

In the AFLCA, Bernie was equal 2nd with Max on 5 votes, behind Clarrie on 9. It's fair to say he was very good. He made some crucial errors yesterday but he wasn't Robinson Crusoe there.

Weed's positioning is a puzzle. He's often in a place the ball just cannot get to. At stoppages in our forward half he's 20-30m direct goalside of the stoppage, the ball is not going to get there, it goes over his head if we win the clearance. When the ball is in our back half and we win possession, Weed is too often running away from the ball carrier with his back to the play. The only possible explanation I can think of is that he's drawing a KPB out of our F50.

I don't like the changes, I think we're too short at both ends. I'd be happy to have Frost, Oscar and Smith all in, Frost and Smith provide a lot of pressure and aren't liabilities in this area. Jake will play less minutes than Max normally does, particularly at the MCG and that will mean we're even shorter when Watts is rucking for longer periods. I'd have Spencer and Frost for Gawn and Harmes.

It would be fascinating to see who makes up the back 6 or 7 if Salem, Hibberd, Frost, Melksham, Garland, Vince, TMac, Omac, Hunt, Jetta, McKenna, White, Wagner, J.Smith are all fit to play.

Except that he's an unrestricted free agent.

Pleased to see Mitch King ready to go.

If we can make finals I'll be keen to see us up against the Cats again. We're better than them.

A good year for Jake to have his best pre-season.

Royce at CHF? He'll take the shot from 60 yards out and Maxy just has to shepherd it through.

"Rest" forward. What is it 1977? Forward pressure? Is he going to stand in our goal square when it's in Geelong's forward 50?

Except for "Kent for Hannan"

Jetta has been superb. It's going to be fascinating to see the make up of defence when Hibberd, Frost, Wagner and J.Smith are all available.

Yeah maybe Goodwin picked Smith because we can only win at Etihad with someone called Smith in the team, or maybe it was Capricorn Goodwin's natural affinity for Pisces Smith. Or maybe my analysis was right and we do want to retain 2 tall forwards on the ground for the majority of the time.

Yeah, you were saying? http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-04-06/smith-to-debut-against-the-cats

I'm with you. But I think we need as many avenues to score as possible so I want Kent in and Hannan retained because he's capable in the air and on the ground and he's a reliable shot. I'm on record - I'm a Brayshaw fan but he goes out for me - ANB and Harmes are providing more right now. If we win this the lid is right off.

Some nice highlights from Dec too

It's a long road to the flag, paved with opposition players. Hot kitchen.

Good luck with that, they'd have to trade for him and their 1st pick is GWS 2nd rounder - likely to be 36+

I don't see the glaring need - TMac, Omac, Frost, Hibberd - we could groom Keilty back there too but we're choosing to groom him fwd-ruck - there's a message there.

Even on those figures, without the extra tall, Watts and Weed are together in the forward line only 50% of the time. Watts in the ruck 16% of the time, off 20% of the time, forward 64% of the time. Weed is off 14% of the time while Watts is forward (unless you're going with no tall forwards) therefore Watts and Weed are only together 50% of the time. Weed by himself 36% of the time. Watts by himself 14% of the time.

Give me an alternative model. There is no "rest forward" these days.

A second grader could understand it. If Watts and Weed are our only talls they'll only be in the fwd line together 30% of the time.

EVERY contest 30% of the time?