Skuit

No look scroll pass: I know many a Portuguese who still expect his return: as a Bluey Truscott incarnate though he's ours.

Didn't watch game. Haven't read thread. - except for Petracca copping some flak from the outset. Watched highlights. CP5 had a hand in more than half of the goals. What did he do (or didn't do) to draw such ire? Or is it just a different perspective of what happens most weeks?

It's funny that you say this - for the very first time on the weekend I suspected that our players were hesitating kicking to Tom.

You're right Binman - Tim Smith didn't play against the Hawks. I did of course mean the Tigers, and that he took some very important contested grabs early on, but I busted a rib playing padel and the painkillers have made my brain a bit wonky. Nowadays they should read 'do not operate heavy machinery or post on the internet'. I still suspect however that your moniker 'bin-man' is an allude to Oscar the Grouch = Oscar MacDonald. The main problem is that Omac lacks grumpy. You're defence of the oft maligned Omac is admirable, and I'll try to meet you in the middle by admitting that I do have confirmation bias, but he continues to lose crucial ground-ball contests and that is definitely a part of his job. I don't have any confidence that Oscar will win the ball when it enters his vicinity. And I don't think he does either. But in all honesty, my biggest issue is with Tomald - and I think it's natural to search for any solution when a key player is so far down. Sending him down back isn't the answer however, even though I sincerely believe that if he played within Oscar's parameters he would be better.

T. Smith looks like our only player capable of taking a contested mark right now (up forward or anywhere on the ground), and almost single-handedly kept us in the contest early against the Hawks. Has to come in against West Coast. And Preuss at least makes the opposition back-line accountable and can bring the 'ball to ground' in a suitable manner. Also seems to pluck a goal at the right time when the rest of our team can't. Tmac meanwhile played one of the worst highest goal-scoring last-gasp match-winning games on the weekend that you're ever likely to see. And Keilty is maybe okay long-run but hasn't yet settled and isn't as mobile as required. Meanwhile, Weid is still Weid. Equals an up-front dilemma. I'm of the belief that of all our current shortfalls and failings - which are many, great and varied - Tmac's poor form is our most crucial right at the surface. I don't blame anyone - coaches, recruiters or Tomald himself, but he and our forward-line simply aren't functioning. Despite our obvious sh'ousness elsewhere, such as fumbling every [censored] ball through the mid-field, we're still generating enough inside-50s that we should be able to somehow put together far bigger scores than we have. But we are not, and it's right there for everyone to see. Check our single goal spree this season against Essendon - coinciding exactly with when Tmac was out of the forward-line. It's impossible to see on TV, but we're so bad with our entries forward right now - see Billy Stretch on the weekend - that I've almost come to believe that this inexplicable level of ineptitude is probably half-related to Tom. He has no confidence and can't move off his line to put pressure on. Previously this was of benefit, in that he was forced to lead and mark. Still: little brother Oscar offers not much other than some semi-reliable foot-skills, but can't win a contest to save himself, while for at least half a season (2016) Tmac was tracking toward AA as a defender but is horrible with ball in hand while rebounding from defense. Ergo: I feel confident that Tom could currently play Oscar's role to better effect, as long as all he had to was spoil and pass the ball on. Not a rebounder. Told not to make the play. Conclusion: In: Smith, Preuss Out: Keilty, Omac Plus injury considerations: unleash the chew-Baker for Hibberd, and if Meksham is down bring back ANB.

I wholeheartedly agree, but probably not in the way you were intending.

Channeling 2016 and 2017: We'll be given a run in the first half and then smash it open in the second. I will still be annoyed and mostly bored.

I think most MFC supporters would be fairly well informed on such matters.

So not specifically 2019 stats-file but the reminder that Jones was set to become our joint second-most MFC-capped player this weekend had me diving quickly into our other games/seasons' records. Although the sport has of course evolved, of our current squad: Most disposals in a season (average in brackets): 1) 2018: C. Oliver 734 (29.36) 2) 2017: C. Oliver 659 (29.95) 3) 2016: N.Jones 617 (28.05) 4) 2018: N. Jones 614 (24.46) 6) 2014: N. Jones 610 (27.73) ................................................... 11) 2018: A. Brayshaw 574 (26.09) 16) 2016: J. Viney 548 (26.10) Next most recent top 10: (10) 2000: S. Powell 579 (23.16) Most kicks in a Season: no current player in the top 20 Most marks in a season: 14) 2015 T. McDonald 155 (7.05) 19) 2016 T. McDonald 148 (6.73) Bonus stat: Post-forward TMac average marks: 2018 - 6.7 / 2019 - 3.7 Most handballs in a season: 1) Oliver (2017) 2) Oliver (2018) 3) Jones (2018) 4) Jones (2016) 5) Viney (2016) 7) Tyson (2016) 8. Jones (2014) Most goals in a season: 19) Tmac - 53 - 2018 (2.65) / bonus stat - avg. goals: 2019 (0.43) / 2015 (0.23) Most behinds in a season: no current player in top 20 (but bless A. Jakovich's cotton socks for his 4.07 average) Most hit-outs in a season: 2018 M. Gawn 1119 (44.76) - next closest non-Gawn: 2010 M. Jamar 561 (29.23) Most contested marks in a season 2) 2018 M. Gawn - 55 (2.2) Most tackles in a season: 1) Oliver (2018) 2) Oliver (2017) 3) Viney (2016) 5) Harmes (2018) 8. Viney (2017) 11) ANB (2018) 12) Jones (2016) Most clearances/contested in a season: 1) 2018 C. Oliver Most free in a season: No current player in top 20 . . .

As the oldest and first real dynasty club we have a rather comparatively poor record when it comes to long-time club servants, with just the one 300-gamer. Nat's relative achievements are as great or better than anyone in the past fifty years, but without any real outstanding brilliance I'm afraid his legacy will be dented by serving for the majority throughout our darkest recent years, such as other top two-dozen club stalwarts J. McDonald, Brad Green and Bruce Cameron from the same era. Even Davies - who displayed brilliance - has been largely forgotten. Well done Nathan, and good luck on the weekend.

You're right P-Man. Two games doesn't tell us anything. Watching almost his entire career and the fact that he can't make the depleted Port team-sheet however tells us that he wouldn't be a massive upgrade on the likes of JKH as contended - who, if I recall correctly, had a crazy patch of state-level form leading up to those two matches. We all saw what happened to Trenners. He lost his pace, and he didn't have much penetration on his kick to begin with. Without any elite skills, he doesn't now have the physical attributes to successfully step up to the next level. It's the same case with JKH I'm afraid.

Well he just so happens to have played a couple games alongside JKH in 2017 so we have some ready-made comparative data we can turn to - Jack picking up a collective 29 possessions (3 contested, 1 clearance) to Jay's 33 (14 contested, 3 clearances), with 4 tackles compared to 10. Yes, they played in different positions. No, Trenners wouldn't be a massive upgrade - and I think little of JKH as a footballer. Corey Maynard, in his last two games, also has Trengove covered on the stats-sheet across every column.

Hey Wrecker - I'm struggling to comprehend this post. Can you rephrase and switch out some of the pronouns? Or just like if my assumption is correct: I’ve said in other posts I have a cousin who played at GC in same era and May was told by the MFC that May knew what May was doing as a professional footballer and given no training program by Melbourne?

The one thing this article has done is clarify my understanding around May returning unfit. May's own words: “I came back in what I usually do if not a bit better,” May told Fox Sports News’ AFL Tonight. “And I got to the Dees and their standards were a lot shorter: everyone had to be under certain skinfolds and time trials had to be elite. “After that first time-trial and after the first couple of sessions I went: ‘Wow, these guys are flying, I need to get up to speed here". “I went and saw the dietitian, saw the strength and conditioning coach, saw the coaches and put in a plan and executed that and got myself in good condition. “That was my first pre-season (at Melbourne) that can’t happen again and certainly won’t because I’ve educated myself and the club has educated me on what’s required at the Demons" Not sure what the hanging offence is here on May's behalf? The club obviously didn't make it clear what shape he needed to be in when he started his new job. He arrived, found out the standards, and rectified the short-coming.

There can be a difference between a club rule and a team rule - the former a management stipulation and the latter more a player culture thing to likely refer to excessive drinking, clubbing etc. Possibly stemming from the four who got on it in 2017.

The culture in Australia is messed up beyond belief. The person taking a picture of someone having a beer knowing it will cause a stir. The media reporting it from a sensationalist angle. A good portion of the public getting up in arms. The football club forced to tsk tsk due to public perceptions. The (sensationalist) media personality then pointing the finger at club for nanny-state like behaviour. I'm not in Australia so I half don't give a [censored]. But it hurts seeing what has happened to my homeland. Here's a decent call to arms from Kerry O'Brien, upon his resignation from the ABC, be it for the left or right. From 2011, since proven to be so very prescient! See:

Captain of a premiership fancy going into round 8 with a 2-5 win-loss record.

Self-quote but the Jones' kick-starter goal in the 3rd is a fine enough illustration. Garlett had the ball out the back and a yard on his opponent. But he cut back in away from the goals rather than attempting a step on the outside toward the posts. It worked out well, but it demonstrates the mind-set.

Just watching the replay: for those heaping [censored] on Harmes for a couple of 50s - this rule is [censored] and not being adjudicated within the spirit of the game. Bruest wasn't even looking in Harmes' direction. And that one is on Oscar, who made no real effort at the contest while Harmes was involved at the contest at half-back leading up to that passage.

Someone raised the question somewhere herein but I've been saying it for the past couple of years: Jeff is stuck in two minds. A forward pocket of his talent needs to be selfish and instinctive. He's had it coached out of him under Goodwin and always looks first for the assist - then gets caught between shooting and passing. I'll see if I can dig it up but there was a perfect illustration I think from 2017; Garlett kicked a beautiful slow-running snap from the deep right pocket, but he only kicked for goal because he couldn't find another option after several moments. Unfortunately, I think he's now lost his touch - but contrary to most, I also think he's super valuable with his forward pressure and sets the tone.

I only saw the last half. Out: Omac In: Someone else Someone else: not Spargo

Cheers Cards - it happened over 15 years ago now so I'm fairly well adjusted - although, I have to be honest, while I grew up with my step-brother, the pain hasn't been as acute as it has for his full brother - or, I imagine, if it had been my own genetic brother who had perished. I delivered the eulogy at his funeral - at around the age of twenty - and for the first time recognised that I was coming to know less and less about the world as I aged, contrary to expectations. Affairs weren't getting blacker but more grey. My MFC experience has been the same.

This is how my step-brother died. It triggered a heart attack. He wasn't properly supervised, but if it can lead to heart failure (he was healthy and athletic) then I don't know if that's an acceptable risk for our players. I also don't know what the potential for heart failure is with other forms of hypoxic training - there was a delay in rescuing my step-brother from the pool, such that cause of death was ultimately drowning. I don't mean to be a downer - and joke away as you would - but I don't think it's fair if our players are criticised in the future for not engaging in especially risky exercises. Lastly, my step-brother saved two other lives through organ donation. For those unaware, it requires more than a tick on your driver's license to ensure your intentions are followed in this respect.

I was wrong on Salem - we did get to play with him and then he went haywire. I was thinking of those players that have specifically gone down for a year before or at the start of first season with us. Frost was another. And we've already had two more this year in Nietschke and Walker - although the latter is like the present you get from your eccentric aunt and only get around to once you're bored of the other toys.

The MFC is like getting toys as a kid at Christmas only to encounter the dreaded 'batteries not included'. And then all the shops are shut. Hogan, Petracca, Salem, Lever - the list goes on. Every time we get a shiny new toy.