dee-tox

You wouldn't be a Melbourne supporter if you weren't seriously nervous about this one! One point or one goal, I'll be happy with any margin!

Both are restricted free agents at end of season apparently. Not questioning JvR's courage. Incredible attack on the ball and man!

Took a few decent marks last week and played his best game since bursting onto the scene. Still not convinced. We need someone with both X factor and courage. Better than what we have with JvR, Petty, and Jefferson. Naughton (despite his horrible kicking), Larkey or Todd Marshall could be worthwhile targets.

So you saw nothing when he kicked four goals in only his second game against the Swans?

Makes sense. Averages a goal a game which is decent. Still could have a few years left. Even better if we could offload Tomlinson. Might free up some cap space. Of course, he is relatively local hailing from the most magnificently named Mangoplah Kookardinia United. He may wish to be a one club player or head up to the Swans?

Apart from the goal that Fritta gifted him everything else was error ridden. Having another look at the replay, ANB gave him a run for his money as well. Both liabilities.

They are the real deal the Crows. Again it's the depth of midfield that does it. Gees I'd love Dawson cruising past Oliver and Petracca!

Couple of young guys being written off in this thread. Perhaps the same sort of posters that suggested in the off season that McVee be delisted?

We had a champion team in 2021. We don't have one now. We have a decent list with Oliver and Petracca masking big holes in our list. 1. Our second tier midfielders are bog ordinary compared to the top teams. 2. Our key forwards are a 20 year JvR and a washed up TMac. 3. Our other All Australians (May, Gawn, Hibberd, Grundy, Lever) are on the decline or struggling for form. 4. Our other 'stars': Salem, Fritsch, Kozzie, maybe Brayshaw have been subdued by their standards. 5. Our depth is shallow or untested. Tomlinson, Schache, Smith, Dunstan, Melksham, BBB can sometimes do a job but fluctuate in impact. The untested Howes, Laurie, Woey jnr, etc. have not been or have hardly been given the opportunity. 6. We have small forwards that are no longer impacting the scoreboard. It might be the game plan. Might be something else but this is not a 'champion' team.

Out: Harmes, ANB, TMac, Chandler In: Hunter, Brown, Woewodin, Jordon.

No he wasn't. His fumbling and poor disposal (44 percent) kill us every time. Oh but he lays tackles. Yes, but you need much more from your midfield rotations. A chain is only as good as its weakest link. And that's him.

It's a flawed plan when you don't have a forward that can take a contested mark or crumbers that can capitalise. Maybe Goodwin realises that our outside mids (Langdon, ANB, etc) don't have the skill to pass a ball to a bloke on the lead?

Yep. Amazing impact in only first year.

6. Petracca 5. Sparrow 4. Brayshaw 3. Fritta 2. May 1. Grundy (in the absence of no one else).

Harsh on McVee who was decent. Viney had a crack and tried hard to lift us in final quarter.

Correct. The list is overrated. The secondary midfield depth is bottom of the comp with ANB, Harmes, Jordon, Sparrow, etc.

Don't want to see ANB, Harmes, Tmac in this team ever again. Pathetic.

It's a scrap. Grundy's two shot should be goals. Similarly, Harmes. Midfield is ineffective with Viney being tagged, Tracc quiet that quarter. The secondary midfield not really cutting it.

Weitering and Curnow.

This is true as well. Its a week by week proposition. I'd love to see that manic, uncompromising attack on the ball and the man return.

Good original post. You could argue though that it is too optimistic an assessment. As with most things in life, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Couple of things to consider: It is a very, very tough competition. All teams have strengths and flaws. All things being equal, motivation is the element that can elevate one team over another. I'm not sure Melb. have the win at all costs mentality that it seemed to have in 2021. Sure there were doubts, but the steely determination was evident in most games. Personnel wise, the depth in Collingwood, Brisbane and Port's midfield is scary. On the outside, we cannot consistently match them which puts our numbers bolstered defence, under enormous pressure. I think we're about the fourth or fifth best team in it with Geelong being the unknown.

Toby Bedford can run but little impact. Gritty win by the Saints. Would gladly take Wanganeen Milera off their hands.

Langers should survive although he not providing anywhere near the drive he did on 2021. ANB on the other hand is a huge problem. The reason our mudfield mix is poor compared to the Power, Lions and Pies. We need outside midfielders that gain territory, don't fumble, stick tackles and dispose of the ball calmly and efficiently.

Maybe we're not that good? A 5th to 7th team that relies too heavily on Oliver, Petracca and Viney?