Rohstarrr

6: Milkshake 5: Kozzie 4: Trac 3: Gawn 2: Rivers 1: Bowie

Well another week goes by and another tough watch. Just an impotent first quarter which cost us, we can say we could have got closer if we took our chances, or even pinched it but that is not the Melbourne DNA this season. We always seem to miss the set shot to gain the momentum and get back in the game and unfortunately it seems too easy for us to give our opposition the chance to take the momentum off us. I just cant see how we change the script with the same ball butchers in the middle. Rivers is wasted if not in the guts, he did not attend 1 Centre Bounce this week. He has been attending 50-60% of Centre Bounces in the previous weeks. DO you know why they would do this? Did Rivers perform another role for the side? We seem more dynamic with him in the Centre Bounce and obviously have more polish. Once again I really liked Tholstrups Energy, the essence of youth. Although JVR hasn't shown much this season, he has shown us he is a much better backup Ruck than Jeffo. What's the plan from here, everyone always says blood the kids, but we already have been. With Petty and Howes Out this week, here's what id like to see. Lever back in to take Howes spot and JVR back in for Pettys spot. Would be good to see JVR and Jeffo together for a few weeks and see how that goes. Look Forward to another Carthartic Poddy. Thanks guys

How disappointing was that game. Seemingly no interest in manning up the short hitup kick we just let them have it all day. Teams have done that to us before and just waltz their way from back half to forward 50 with little or no pressure. I thought we’d changed that after seeing the intense pressure we would put on the ball carrier and the next possession getter in the previous weeks. I’m not sure where we go from here now. If the boys all lose faith and the hunger for the win we could fall off a cliff in 2025 which was pretty much over before it started. I was so bullish about our finals chances but that took a hit when we lost to the saints, then the 1 point loss to Collingwood I managed to wrestle with that internally and say we probably weren’t going to win that anyway, but I saw a way in which we get on a run now, go into the bye on the back of a good win and build some momentum in the back half of the season, but now that opportunity is gone. We will be a bottom 6 team again by the looks this year which just breaks my heart. This list is so much better than that and that is what’s hurts the most. Same old issues, same personnel making the same mistakes, it’s so hard to fathom how this is not getting looked at inside the club and getting worked on. Where to from here. Well at least we won’t lose this week.

@Random Task Love this. Give the kids a good rest.

Port played their good game for the month last week so we should be able to get over the top of them.

As you’ve said time and time again. It’s needs to be a profession. These guys need the umpiring and improvement of it to be their full time job. Not a part time one. Adding the fourth umpire unfortunately means your just adding substandard umpires into the mix.

I’m a massive fan of Kolt. Really brings energy to the side. Can’t all be superstars you need some guys who bust a gut to apply pressure and do the 1 percenters.

I am never one to blame umpires for a loss but cmon. That was horrendous. Would’ve have made it all the sweeter to pip them for the win. But now I just look like a sore loser if I mention the umpires.

Hmmmmmm. That hurts. That really hurts. Should’ve won AGAIN(I see why the Poms take moral victories for some solace after a heartbreaking loss like this). We just lacked composure up forward. Yes you can look at moments in the last quarter, Kozzy giving away a 50, Fritsch playing on without looking but once again this could’ve been put to bed with more accurate kicking for goal. How much we all would’ve loved beating the filth and walking out of the G without having to see that arrogant smirk on their faces. I don’t quite know how to take this one - we came within a point of the ladder leaders and maybe if we had beaten the Saints last week I could’ve dealt with it, but we also had many chances to win, we won a lot of key areas but again not the one that matters. i reckon the young players are keen for a rest, having Windsor as sub( who has been below his best for a month now) and subbing off Lindsay after a quiet game. Also Langford although had some great moments, was down on his usual performance. Although I feel 2025 can now be put down as a development season, can’t see us making finals. But we’re so close. Yes we lost the first 5, we’ve then beaten 2 top 8 sides, come within a kick of 2 others and then we’re poor against 2 others. It’s more the results against the Saints and Roos which have killed this season. I’m exceptionally buoyant for 2026 and can’t wait to see more games in the younger brigade. Unfortunately it’s over a month till we play at the G again. Loved it yesterday for the Big Freeze, glad the rain stayed away and how good to see all the blue beanies, although a little surprised at the 77,000 crowd. I thought it looked like 85-90000 at the start of the game Thanks again boys. Love the pod.

Time for another one of Andy’s sprays after that performance. Thoughts for the pod should we continue the Alice Springs experiment? Has halted momentum again. Binman- we looked really lethargic, do you think a big week on the track to prepare for Collingwood next week? I also think we were out coached- all week Goody was saying Ross would bring a dour defensive game style but he then double bluffed and was playing the run and gun style. By the time we figured it out we were 5 goals down. We should have run that lead down but couldn’t convert How do we get rid of this inaccuracy? 1.12 for the second half of footy is embarrassing for under 10s let alone an AFL side. I now know what it feels like when other teams just keep kicking it to May or Gawn. We just kept kicking it straight to Wilkie. Really frustrated by this game, just did ladder predictor for the second half of the season and have us finishing 10th.

Rohstarrs Wrap What a cracking game against the Red and White I came into the game confident and thinking of what might I told my girls we’d be up for a 6 goal win But our poor kicking early was keeping the Swans in But then enter Kozzy, who kicked 5 goals 4 Geez if he’d have kicked straight, it’d be goals galore His poise, his speed, his deft of touch It proved for the Swannies it was just too much. The demon faithful were abundant at the MCG The result by itself filled us all with glee But what was more impressive was the love for our teams best They all got cheered off the ground when they came off for a rest A few short weeks ago people were calling for the head of Goody But as they always say it’s a long week in footy Fast forward 6 weeks later, the team is 5 and 6 We sit in 11th and and are finding the sticks Although accuracy not our strong suit, it was a barrage up front The relentless pressure was outstanding, the chase, the hunt We all thought Trac wanted out searching for a bigger brand and fame But he was his powerful best in his 200th game What he said last week showed he’s invested in the Dees If he can just get Kozzie to sign, that’d be much appreciated please We take on the Saints now up In Alice Springs Our recent record up there hasn’t been one the greatest things But momentum’s growing, this group is building belief If they could just kick straight that would be such a relief So let’s bring on the Saints and unleash our youth I think we’ll work harder and provide us with proof That we’re rising up the ladder with this form we have found And dare I dream and say we’re finals bound One last thing before I exit the mix Andy can you get the Voicemail fixed.

Flag😂😂

Wow what a game. Our desperation and want to compete in the last quarter was outstanding I was flummoxed by the choice of Fritsch as sub being such a one dimensional player and luckily he could be used as a tactical sub and we avoided any injuries. I thought he came on and played well. Tackling pressure and worked harder than we’ve seen so maybe he has got the message. Max what more can we say. Saved us in the last. Loved what Langford did in the last. I watched it back and noticed how desperate he was to win the ball and won quite a few 50/50 contests. I’m really excited by the youth. Langford, Lindsay and although he had an off day, Windsor. With viney and lever hopefully coming back next week. Will be interesting to see who comes out. Loving Disco in the backline. Competes hard. Trac was powerful and Clarry silencing the critics. Winners all over the ground and Melksham seems to be Brisbanes kryptonite. They were looking a class above for the first half, we would waste opportunities then they would spread hard, find space then hit a target inside 50. But we shut that down with our intense pressure In all honesty should have won by more but I’m super content with the win and our lounge room was rocking last night. My daughters and I were all screaming and we even got the dees flags waving late into the last. Thanks again guys for the pod. And Andy I contribute a lot of this success to your rant after the Bombers game. We’ve gone 4-1 since then.

Ins Milshake, Petty Outs Fritsch, Jefferson

Cant seem to leave a voicemail so ill jump on here. Overall I thought it was a great effort from the boys, and always knew (from years of MFCSS) that our inaccuracy would come back to bite us. Such clearance and midfield domination but once again cant translate that into scores. Just love the youth in this team, Langford, Lindsay and Windsor. If we can keep these 3 together and add them to McVee, Bowey, Kozzy(Hopefully) we will have some real talent in the coming years. Once again faded out in the last quarter so we really need to start asking serious questions about fitness. But as I just mentioned we have quite a few youngsters in the backline so give them another preseason it will help with playing out the 4 Quarters. There really wasn't much resistance from the middle and it just kept coming in to the Defensive 50. Hawks had 20 of the last 24 Inside 50s which I cant see any defence coping with and once they got 3 goals up everyone knew the game was done. To lose by 35 when controlling so much of the day was also disappointing. Would we have won if we kicked straight? who knows but we should've been 4 goals up at half time and kept the scoreboard pressure on. I haven't seen the pressure ratings of the game and look forward to Binmans deep dive into these stats, but felt we were all over them in the 2nd and 3rd. I also wanted to do some research on our past forwards and current forwards. As I wanted to know where JVR and Fritch stand against our past forwards of Hogan and Weidemann. I was hoping to see JVR stand equal with where Hogan was at a similar point in his career. But unfortunately Hogan had a better tale that what JVR Does. Hogan by his 3rd year was averaging around 2 goals per game. He'd played 50 games and kicked about 100 goals. He played 4 seasons for the dees averaging 2.1 goals per game. He went to Freo for 2 years but had medical issues and kicked 18 goals in 19 games. He then went to GWS and in his first 3 seasons there he played 50 games and kicked 104 goals. Then last year (Being his 10th year in the system) had a breakout year and kicked 77 goals and has kicked 18 this year averaging 3.1 goals per game. Weidemann took 5 years to get to 49 games and kicked 49 Goals. So 1 goal per game and although providing some great memories in the 2018 finals didn't really do much and deserved to be traded. Fritsch in his first 3 years played 61 games and kicked 59 goals. The next year he kicked 59 goals and averaged around 2 goals per game until this season where he has dropped back to 1 goal per game. JVR has now played 46 games in his 3rd season after being held back in Casey for a season as well. He has kicked 62 goals, averaging 1.3 Goals per game. But in 2025 he's played 5 games and kicked 4 goals. Not sure what all that means, but I really do feel JVR needs to get moving and start to get around the 2 goals per game this season, hone the craft, bulk up and get to that 3 goals per game that Hogan is producing. If he continues with his 1 or 2 a game he may find himself at Casey more often than not. Does he keep his spot this week - not if Petty is fit for a return I wouldn't think. Love him and want so much for him to succeed, but seems devoid of confidence. Haven't seen him fly at packs like he has in the past couple of seasons. What this means is similar for Fritsch. If you cant kick multiple goals a game, lets get Petty and Disco up Forward and persist with that for a few weeks. Or keep Jeffy in and keep Disco back(as he is pretty clean off half back) Look forward to the pod and 2 last things - Free Kick Hawthorn Bring back the trip

Id have to say Out Lindsay (Inj), Howes, Billings In Kozzie, Lever, Windsor (If available) But by all means after todays performance there could be another 10 on the chopping block.