Skuit

I thought Oliver looked a little pale today.

I think you need to go back and read the initial post. All went missing (shots on goal).

Match summary: See 2017

5.30am in Amsterdam. I pick a random t-shirt off the shelf in the dark to put under my blue jumper. It's red! But it's inside-out. I also nearly sat on my cat and have run out of milk for my coffee? Even the omens have no idea what to expect today.

I was just out running some errands Jumbo.

Even with JV and Tmac out there's still a huge amount of arm-chair selection pressure. Our club is in a pretty good place as a reflection of such. But I'm confused - we have eight named on the bench with three to be omitted? Did I miss something re. interchange numbers?

Jack Watts kicks some goals in a pre-season game - a gazillion posts within the day. The player with probably the greatest potential I've seen in my time supporting the MFC signs on for a few more years after a basically unparalleled sophomore season at the club - a couple dozen minor congrats. I'm afraid that Schwab and co. did some serious psychological damage to a large swathe of our supporter-base.

When we snag the flag in the next year or so I'm going to mighty excited and then incredibly miffed - in that all it really took after fifty-plus years in the wilderness was a half decent administration rather than some magical on-field formula. Go Dees.

To the right of the logo: Jack Viney next to either Pebbles Flintstone/some random Asian lady/or possibly Daisy Pearce.

Funny that - we beat 10 individual teams last season and lost exclusively to 7.

Was hoping this was about Jack Viney not playing round 1.

Wait - I thought your full-time job and calling in life was baby-sitting us lot?

I'm staggered by this. There are actually two people named La Comedia who support Melbourne? What are the odds?

Is it okay to be disappointed that Ruggles no longer plays for the Cats? Although I'm sure he's happier running free in his new home in the country.

Everything in life comes down to $$$. It'll likely be congloms like our front-of-jumper benefactor who will eventually force the issue.

Pedo. The problem with Pedo is he's basically Stefan Martin mk2: not a key forward, not a mid, and not a tap ruckman at a time when we’ve had a premier one in stock (although it shouldn’t be forgotten that Cam is just 1.93cm, over an inch shorter than that brave Jack Watts fellow who battled away so ‘manfully’ in Max’s absence last year). He and Martin are effectively both utilities, but (unfortunately) ones who need to start in the middle to have any sort of genuine impact. But Pedo did exactly that last year, and, if it weren’t for existing prejudices, would be recognised as having delivered as much as if not more than what Max offers around the ground – especially last year, when from the very start of preseason Max’s marking completely dropped off. The obvious trade-off in having a utility start in the ruck – should Gawn go down – is in tap-ascendency, and Max, who is probably the best in the game, showed his worth in this respect just on the weekend. As a completely speculative figure, my rough estimate would be that this attribute of Max’s is worth perhaps two-to-three direct goals per game. However, while it’s hard to compare in terms of last year (because Max’s return coincided with the collapse of our midfield to injury), I made the argument at the time it’s easier to plan for either a probable tap win or a loss in the centre, rather than a 50-50 scenario – hence Spencer’s non-selection on return from injury – and that according to the contested and clearance stats our midfield adjusted perfectly fine to the loss of Max and the elevation of Pedo to the middle - with the added bonus of Pedo's contribution around the ground. TLDR: a) Pedersen, as both a personnel and pattern option.

The bolded has been my biggest concern. The compromise in all out forward pressure due to his lack of agility. But I've come think that it may contrarily be his best attribute relative to what what we need - in that he tends to lead in straight, open lines.

I took the train. By myself. With the folk from the Osbourne line.

I've bolded the bits that are wrong or just baseless conjecture. And now the nib of my marker is splotchy and ruined.

So I finally put two and two together re. your relentless defence of Oscar. Namesake, right?

As expected we have a sizeable roster of mobile medium forwards on the improve and keenly fighting for spots. Bodes well. Even better is that Max looks set for a big season ahead and we've barely yet fired up our engine room. Jones and Clarry both looked rusty and Dom and Viney were out. If we start crushing the contested and centre clearances with quick forward entries and plenty of forward pressure we're going to put on some big scores and be difficult to stop. Basically like the start of last year but with a bit of extra maturity and finishing touch.

I'm not sure how anyone could watch us a few years ago without a cocktail of various stimulants (and/or depressants).

. . . got up at 3.30am in Amsterdam on a Saturday morning in February to watch something called JLT. While it's -3 degrees outside.

I'd be happy enough with one Hunt for every five McKennas