old55

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.

But they always win the close ones ...

Assuming Gus' contract is out of the cap we'll have a lot of extra cash to splash on Petty and JVR. I think we can match anything Adelaide or WC can offer.

KB is a Collingwood home game. I can't go but my daughter tried to by tickets on the day they were released and very few were available - the only options were $90 each. There'll be 80,000 Collingwood fans there - good luck booing Maynard.

I think the FD must prefer TMac to Tomlinson because TMac is more versatile, he can go back, forward and do ruck minutes. He did have a good pre-season. Good to see Hore for Bowey, if so that means Salem stays in the midfield. Interesting to see whether it's BBB or Fullarton for Love Shack.

Selection conundrums ... Bowey is out. We could move Salem back but that would disrupt the new midfield set-up. If we do then the logical replacement appears to be Woewodin. The other backman choice is Hore but they may be worried about a lack of pace with Tomlinson and Lever. The left-field alternatives backline replacements are headlined by Billings who is experienced and could learn the system quickest and is a lovely kick. Woewodin and K.Brown are punts. Spargo sounds injured, apparently seen hobbling in duress at the Sydney airport and in the rehab group at Monday's training. The logical replacement is the ubiquitous Woewodin. Longer odds on Tholstrup, AMW, K.Brown or Sestan. Laurie was subbed but IMO, given Spargo's situation, is likely to be retained in the 23. Assuming Woewodin replaces Spargo then again the candidates are Tholstrup, AMW, K.Brown or Sestan. Schache - it seems "the hate Shack is a little old place that we can get together". The replacement candidates in order of longest out of rehab but shortest on recent proven record are Fullarton, BBB and Petty. I think TMac is a backline replacement these days. They may stick with the love Shack. I left out that Kosi is an automatic in. C'mon and bring your jukebox money ...

I think you're having an arithmetic problem. Backs against Sydney: Bowey + McVee = 2 Your plan for backs against the Dogs: 1/2 McVee + 1/2 Salem = 1 You're still short one small back.