old55

Totally amazing that he played 21/22 in 2019 and 16/17 in 2020 then

I think B.Brown is going to be great for us. His reach is so long it's very hard to defend - it contributed to each of his three marking-goals in different ways. I also thought his defensive intent when the ball hit the ground was fine - he stayed involved. He worked up and down the ground and I think at times we committed too many marking targets to the contest. I think it would be better to keep one of BB, TMac or Fritsch deeper and draw a defender away from the immediate contest and provide an ongoing one-out target if we win it. I think that synergy can come when they play together more.

Don't get me wrong - I am setting the bar extremely high because I think he has the attributes to clear it.

Kossie has been generally great but when the heat is really on against Richmond and Sydney in the wet he hasn't been able to deliver. It's not going to be any easier in big finals, he's applying pressure and laying tackles, but he needs to find a way to win those hyper-contested balls - he's often over-running and fumbling.

I'm not sure on the details but superficially it appears to be down to Max looking at the stats. Hickey had 3 centre clearances himself - Max 0. They each had 3 around the ground. Oliver had 10 total - 9 around the ground, 1 centre. Max just doesn't seem to be giving a 2nd effort at the centre bounce to block for the mids. He doesn't really jump so he should be able to follow up - he generally wins the tap so he knows where the ball is. As @Lucifer's Hero observed he's playing massive game time - 95% last week and 84% this week - that seems excessive with Jackson in the side and 3 tall forwards and 3 tall backs. He's just not holding his marks around the ground either - although it was slippery last night and only TMac seemed able to - Sinclair dropping 2 regulation chest marks and even Steven May spilling one. I think Max is beaten up and needs to play less minutes or have a week off.

A lot of things to take away from that game, not least that we won while losing the centre clearances 4-17 and that will be discussed in detail elsewhere. I want to focus on one thing here and that is the magnificent game by TMac. I have never seen a more complete game by an MFC key forward under very difficult conditions. Four goals himself - all in different ways - first a classic get separation on the lead in a congested forward line, next a run down tackle and goal from a very difficult angle, then a weaving collection and run in heavy traffic for a great left foot snap and the delicious icing - sure Bolton probably won the car on Friday night but for me Tom's pack mark from four deep to seal the match was the greater mark - just awesome - his confidence was up and his leap at the ball was majestic. And not forgetting that he gave two great goals away - an unselfish great vision spot up of Ben Brown and the other to rival his pack mark - a magnificent running with the flight spoil, clean gather and lightning handball to Trac. Massive kudos to Tom McDonald - match winner.

Cameron on fire

Tried to tell yas ...

Pretty accurate comparison of Scully and Trengove vs Dusty in there though - he was ahead of the curve.

We've got a premiership combination together now with Petracca, Oliver, Gawn, Viney, May, Lever, Salem, Langdon, Ben Brown all stitched up and able over the next 3-4 years. Add in Fritsch, Jackson, Pickett, Rivers, Jordon and a decent mature supporting cast. I'm going to put it out there now that we WILL win at least one flag in the next four years. I wouldn't have anywhere near that confidence without Petracca in that mix, so if it takes a 7 year contract to keep the band together over that period then so be it. It's been 56 years, quite frankly MFC supporters will not give a second thought to Petracca's contract length when this crew delivers the flag. I couldn't care is we gave him 10 years!

Sydney midfield last week was Kennedy, Parker, Rowbottom (20), Warner (19), Florent (22) https://www.afl.com.au/news/607621/secrets-to-success-every-club-s-cbas-kick-ins-for-r7 We'll have Petracca, Oliver, Jordon (20) - then you can add in your 2 preferred from Brayshaw, Jones, Harmes, Sparrow but note only 1 of those 4 were in the starting 22 last week. Someone has to go out and that could be Baker but then you've got to fill his wing spot so you're still only left with 4 primary mids in the rotation. Melksham, Pickett and ANB did cameos in there. I'd be going with Harmes and Brayshaw back to the wing. I could go with a midfield rotation of Petracca, Oliver, Jordon and Harmes. I'm just not comfortable with a midfield rotation of Petracca, Oliver, Jordon and Sparrow - there needs to be one more because of the inexperience and that would mean someone else has to miss. There'll be a significant number of combos where Jordon and Sparrow both have to be in there.

I can understand why we went for Brayshaw in the middle last week, with Viney out we've got a young midfield: https://www.afl.com.au/news/607621/secrets-to-success-every-club-s-cbas-kick-ins-for-r7 Petracca, Oliver, Jordon and we used Brayshaw and Jones If we go back to Brayshaw on the wing and Jones to sub (because Petty replaces Tomlinson) and bring Sparrow into the middle then we have a pretty young core set-up: Petracca, Oliver, Jordon, Sparrow ... I could see Harmes coming in for this reason.

Don't tell givemethenews

All true and I was in that mailing list too ...

I think TMac with only one year on his contract and much better form would be an attractive option for a number of teams.

They're not old, they're 28 this year and it's reasonable they'll both still play when they are 31 - that's another 3 seasons beyond this. Kennedy 33, Riewoldt 32, Hawkins 32, Dixon 30 - all still playing well in contending teams.

He'll be offered 4-5 years elsewhere and I don't know whether we'd go there - it's going to be interesting. I'm confident he'll carve out a successful AFL career, he'd make a good KPB if he doesn't make it forward - but whether or not that's a MFC remains to be seen. I really hope we can retain him - he's dynasty material along with Petty.

AKA old55 and Spunjy

I'll be amazed if you'll find a better mature alternative to Majak who's ready to go now. I don't think we need to waste picks on back-up in these areas, we already have Mitch Brown and Majak Daw, and we have Weid at Casey. IMO we should be trying to get ahead of the 2021 Draft curve and draft the best young talent we can. Right now our first pick is a 2nd rounder tied to Brisbane so likely to be late 2nd round.

Swans may have Rampe (189cm) back but have lost Melican (193cm). That leaves Tom McCartin (193cm) as their only tall back.

Fantastic news!

Ph.D in hubris, perhaps?

Sydney $4.20 at Sportsbet - get on!

You said he'd be sacked by Round 8 sunshine