old55

Well we've lost by more than 40 pts once in the past 4 seasons and by 30 or more twice so I'd say you've done your dough.

You gave examples of 18, 19 and 18 goals last year. I like fact corrections with more actual facts in them.

Cats had one vs Carlton and 8 players over 31yo.

The facts are you gave 2 examples of 20 goals against the Premier from 7 years ago. The other example you gave is actually from the 22 GF, so yeah the Swans weren't winning it that year giving up 20 goals ...

TMac myths - he's a horrible field kick. According to Wheeloratings he's mid table for turnovers per match and disposals per turnover for key defenders and better than May and Lever on the first and better than Lever but worse than May on the second, probably because May takes some point kick-ins. Ironically Frosty is pretty close to best KPD in both categories.

Young, Vlastuin and Grimes each took one contested mark last night. That’s it for Richmond tall defenders and they weren't all vs Petty. You're making stuff up.

Agree there's plenty of criticism of Petty, who is out of form, and even JVR in the post-match thread who is competing very well in the air. But how and why do people think Fritsch and Disco get off the chain? Maybe it's because Petty and JVR are doing the heavy lifting. I don't mind your suggestion of Hore in and agree that's the only change I'd consider but I'm happy to persevere with Woey.

Is TMac "one goat"? Seriously, one shanked kick trying to create attack through the corridor in a season of excellence so far and some people are calling for his head. He played well again last night too. I thought Woey was good and I'm pretty sure he'll make it. He's very strong, nails his tackles - ask Dusty, and he's got a bit of toe. Part of a great back seven with Salem and Bowey out. ANB was great again last night, he's everywhere and has somehow become hard to tackle - an amazing transformation. He also sticks his tackles which he didn't used to. Lingers is back to his motoring best. We're a work in progress with a lot of youth in our side and it's an interesting season. Heaven help us if Max gets injured though - what an awesome player and captain - the best in the league IMO.

It's just a zephyr

There's a bit to like there with Laurie hopefully building confidence that he's too good for this level. Great to hear that Verrall, Brown, Sestan, Fullarton and Turner all had good games. There's a good spread of roles there. I'm hopeful for AMW too and I think it's good they are trying him at HB, I think there's more of a logjam of contenders up forward and we could do with some creativity in the backline. We need one of Adams or Jefferson to make it.

Oliver was incapacitated against Brisbane but was influential against Adelaide and delivered twice to Fritsch for important goals.

Jake Lever disagrees. He said Woey has been playing well at HB for Casey and he was "very good" against Brisbane. https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1527823/rd-5-jake-lever-post-match-interview?videoId=1527823&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1712842403001

Insightful analysis, thanks. Simon says we need to improve our game and win stoppage and i50 because while it's great that we have found other ways to win, it's not sustainable in the long run. It will be interesting to see where we go from here.

Maintaining the rage on the Maynard incident and advocating that Kossie avoids suspension are incompatibly hypocritical for me. Maynard should have got 4-6 weeks.

... reminded the boys that they're flat-track bullies.

We kicked for goal exceptionally poorly in the losses and exceptionally well last night.

Ben Brown just loving his footy. So wonderful to see.

We were fortunate to win IMO. Port were generally better across the match but we hung in which is no small thing. The Fox Footy [censored] were chipping Max about Goody talking about Expected Score in last year's finals - would he mention it last night when we clearly lost it? But there’s a lot of truth in that. I was as [censored] off as anyone to lose last year when we should have won, I'm going to eat my own dog food here when the boot's on the other foot. Very happy to win though.

We hung in and stole that one. Impressive...

I'm inclined to go for Petty back and Fullarton forward/ruck. We're defence focussed and Petty is far superior to Tomlinson and he makes for a better mix with TMac and Lever. Petty is likely far superior to Fullarton forward too, but Fullarton and JVR could take a bit more ruckwork and spell Max for the short turnaround.

I'm keen for you to explain again why retaining BBB and TMac was a terrible list management decision.

Far too inflexible and unable or unwilling to make in-game moves. Must have been Mini's idea.

McKercher and Sanders.

I especially liked the one where you said we might go well this year and win the flag but you were also worried that we might bomb out. Groundbreaking!

Brisbane has the bye next week and Collingwood have the Saints. If the Saints can win then it will be Grand Finalists Collingwood 0-3 vs Brisbane 0-2 in Brisbane the following week.