CHF

Whinging about the fixture is like whinging to the ump after he has given a free against you. I have never in all my years seen them change their mind.

Watched it live over breakfast. (Europe) Have to say it was the best I have seen the team play since the finals run in 2018. A very complete team performance with a general lift across the board from a number of players that allowed the likes of Gawn, Petracca, Viney and Oliver to perform at their best. The defence looks very well structured and settled. I like the way that Omac and May are beginning to work together and develop and understanding. May's disposal was better this week and Omac is getting to run out of defence a bit to hit up a link. All very encouraging. I thought Jetta was better than last week and Lockhart is developing. I was doubtful about him but he is showing a bit. Lever and Hibberd are travelling well. Lever hass been improving over the lat two weeks. The midfield is going to put the scare into a few more opposition teams in the future. Petracca had a day out with just about everything working for him. A couple of his kicks to team mates were as perfect as you could wish to see. I pass to Fritsch in the last was one that will live in the memory for a while. Also enjoyed Oliver and Viney's work at the feet of the Big Man. we have come to expect the way Gawn goes to work but I took the time to watch the replay and concentrate on his game. It was a beauty. Langdon on the wing had a good one and I want to see him produce that a bit more. Brayhaw, Harmes and AvB are worth persevering with. Brayshaw and AvB both seem to be going through delivery nightmares but, to me, do not look too far off. I think Harmes is doing ok but needs to be a bit more involved. It my be the way the coaches are playing him. The forward performance was a revelation for me and I hope that it is not a one off performance. I would like to see this structure given a chance to develop. Wiedeman playing deep and Jackson playing further up the ground with a couple of mid size in Melksham and Fritsch leading and providing a link is looking good. Add Bennell and Pickett for a bit of speed, imagination and variety and it has the makings of a hard forward line to match up on. Add in Petracca rotating through there for e 'rest' and it creates problems. No chnges for next week for me but it would depend on aches and pains after the game and also the fixture list going forward.

Look forward to seeing Jackson play again in this setup. A couple of our more seasoned players will need to lift a bit for the way they have been playing to ensure they are there next week.

It will be interesting to see how they structure the bench out of the 8 named. For me, Fritsch would be the only certainty to be there. Toss up on all the others.

If TMac gets up then I think there may be no changes. If that was the case I would be disappointed. I think there are a couple of adjustments that can be made so that we are improving the side and also looking to the future. In defence, while the structure of the three talls looked better, there were problems with the medium/small defenders. Hibberd and Salem were passable but I would like to see more out of Salem. Do we play him a little higher up the ground and look to link through him to the forward half? My two concerns are Jetta and Lockhart. Jetta because he seems to be half a pace off and not reacting quickly enough and Lockhart because he does not look to get much of the ball. if both stay in this week I would have Rivers on the bench to put a bit of pressure on them to perform and to be able to slot him in to either position to have a look at him as a direct comparison. Midfield I do not have any problems with and I think the moves made last week during the game may give Goodwin the confidence to be more proactive with his match day coaching. Petracca, Viney, Oliver, Harmes and Brayshaw as the inside rotations are excellent. Langdon's game was excellent last week. If we could stick a clone of him on the other wing I would be happy. As we cannot do that ( I am sure the AFL has a rule about that) I would entertain the possibility of Melksham having the run there. He needs to get a bit of confidence back and it would help if he got a bit more of the ball. In the forwards I would have Wiedeman playing the role he did last week. he looked to be playing a bit deeper than Tmac was playing and it looked to work for him. Another tall in Tmac required. If his eye is not right then Brown for mine as he might just give Wiedeman a bit more matue support. Fritsch., Bennell, Hannan and Pickett to all fill their roles. VdB, Jones and Tomlinson all to be considered if matchups required or if there is a coach's requirement for them.

After the weekend I think we could give it a shake this season. I have a few reasons for having some confidence. I saw a lot of improvement in the games of Harmes and Hannan. Both look to be building back to good form. Hannan is running well and free of any restrictions and Harmes is being used better by the coaching staff which is giving him confidence. Viney's game was excellent. I was hard on him last week but this game shows what he can do. his kick into the open for Pickett to run on to was very good. Petracca's kicking was off but he was in everything kicked the one that counted. OMac back in defence made a big difference to the structures and to the confidence of those around him. I liked Wied's game and liked that he looked to be playing deeper than what TMac was in the lat couple of games. Would like to see him paired up with another tall in the forwards. Tmac first preference, after that Jackson or Brown depending on form, matchups and player development strategies. Lat point.... I watched Petracca's interview after the game and saw a lot of maturity in the way he spoke and gave thoughtful answers. I am a believer Chook.... for this week at least.

Same as Rivers this week

We were better that quarter but the umps have no idea how they should be calling HTB

So many stupid turnovers and fumbles that are turning what should be uncontested possessions into losing contested possessions

At either end of the ground..... Being killed by Umps

Selection still bothers me.... we should have brought in Sparrow to run with Swallow..... (tongue in cheek)

I agree with you re Viney's game last week. He looks as if he is off the pace fitness wise and is not sticking tackles or staying anywhere defensively near his man. Also is not getting to contests as he should. I gave him one more week.

I would have retained Tomlinson in the team ahead of VdB as he would give us more flexibility to cover ruck chop out. As it is, it looks as if Wiedeman will cover Gawn for a while in the ruck each quarter. that being the case I want to see Gawn out of the goal square when not rucking. In my view, the inclusion of OMac will allow Lever to play his natural game with a bit more freedom and confidence.

I like this team a lot more than I have liked the teams over the last few weeks. Good inclusions and a better overall structure. Will be watching VdB closely as he is the one in the team that I would have replaced.

Yeah. Thought long about that position. For me it all gets back to playing players in positions they have excelled in in a structure that allowed them to excel. Was a toss up for me between ANB and Salem on the bench. Would not mind either

It would be a tough gig being an MFC selector specially as they have managed to get it wrong so many times. in the last few seasons I think we have lost the game on Thursday evening when the team is announced. This season we seem to be going to extremes to highlight just how bad we are at selecting a side. One out tall forward with a game plan and skills that do not support such a structure. In no one's mind has this looked like working or even looked to have the potential to work. Part of this problem is the form of TMac and the other part of the problem is, as mentioned, the mythical game plan and lack of skill to deliver the ball properly into the forward 50. The MFC really needs to get back to the basics in selection to have a proper base line to work from. To my mind this means the following: Three key defenders - May Lever and OMac Three inside mids - Petracca. Oliver and Harmes Three key Forwards - TMac, Weideman and Pickett Ruck - Gawn Fill in the spaces around these keys. Backs: Lever, May, Jetta Half Backs: Hibberd, OMac, Hunt Center: Langdon, Oliver, Tomlinson Half Forward: Jones, TMac, Fristch Forwards: Pickett, Wiedeman, Melksham Ruck: Gawn, Petracca, Harmes I/C: Viney, Brayshaw, Bennell, ANB

Goodwin said at his presser that we are taking 33 players into the hub. Anyone know when we find out who is in and who is out?

OMac in for Smith and Jetta in for Rivers. Sparrow in for Viney with Harmes spending more time in the middle. Weiderman in for Hunt and Jones in for AVB. Bennell in for Lockhart. B: Jetta, May, Lever HB: Salem, OMac, Hibberd ? Langdon, Oliver, Tomlinson HF: Jones, TMac, Fristch F: Bennell, Weideman, Pickett R: Gawn, Petracca, Harmes I: Brayshaw, Sparrow, Hannan, Melksham

We make it so hard to even give ourselves a competitive chance with the team selection on Thursday evening. To my mind we have lost a number of matches with thoughtless selections the last few seasons. in defence, drop Smith and bring in OMac. This would have allow Lever to play the game he was brought in for and would give a lot more stability. Jetta for Lockhart? Not sure that would be an improvement on exposed form but we need someone that can get their ha dis on the ball a bit more than Lockhart did. Give Rivers another run. Midfield needs to give us more run back and forwards. I would shoot Bambi and drop Viney. Give Harmes a longer run in the middle paired with Oliver, Brayshaw and Petracca. Jones back or does Sparrow or Jordan get a look in? Tempted to give TMac a rest or, at least, bring in another tall to give the forward 50 a bit more structure. AVB Melksham and Hunt all rubbish. Bennell back in. just select a side that will give us an even chance to be competive

Trying to predict selection these days is a hard a trying to predict who we will be playing next weekend. It seems that every adverse decision that is taken at the AFL has an effect on us. The season is so compromised and chopped up for us I find it very difficult to be involved. No matter who we play next week I think we need a tall forward option and a tall back option. In Wiedeman and OMac. Out? take ya pick.

I’ll be watching over breakfast and coffee. Dees to win by 4 goals.

With the way that this season have been chopped up for us I am not surprised at any of the selections. I like the team and think it will be very difficult to coach against if we get a few goals early. Reasonable defence, a good deep midfield and a forward structure that will at least be interesting to watch. Oliver to run against Dangerfield and Harmes to spend all day with Ablett, No matter where he is. I would back them both to win their day against those two. TMac to play deep and run and launch at every pack with 3 or 4 at his feet.

Interchange to be Brayshaw, Pickett and Jetta plus one out of the rest for me.

OK. In the forward 50 do we go with Tom/Petty or Jackson/Brown?

Will this mean that Essendon will not be able to play for 14 days while they self isolate to ensure that no one else in the team has contracted the virus.