CHF

When is the team announced for the game?

Dreadfully disappointing game on Sunday. I hope that the Selectors sit down with a blank sheet of paper, a list of all the available players and a clear idea of how the Tigers will play and how we want to play and then select a side to play. After Sunday, no one on the team should assume that they will play on Tuesday. A second week of rubbish will really impact the supporters and the club.

I am in the camp that says to give him more time to develop before pointing him to the door. I think he has the potential to become a handy player for us. it is great that he has the opportunity to develop at the proper pace rather than be thrown into a 'sink or swim' situation. The context I put his situation into is to look at the development of Gawn. He was drafted 6 years before Wied and is 6 year older. it is not until 2 1/2 years ago in mid season 2015 that it clicked for him that he may have the game to be something above average. I could see the same sort of development profile for someone like Sam Wiedeman. To me he just looks like a person that is going to take longer to mature.

It is strange not to be worried about injuries this season as much as I have worried about them in the past. Last season we had a raft of longer term injuries to critical players and only just missed out on the 8. After a good solid off season we seem to have developed a group of players that are very flexible in the way they can play. there is also as evenness about the group. Viney did not play any JTL but our midfield stood up well without him. TMac did not play JTL2 and we had 13 goal scorers. I think we have the players and game plan to cover a few injured players.

I am not fussed about injuries. I, of course. would prefer that we did not have any but it is an unreasonable expectation to go through the season without any. We are going to have injuries right through the year from Round 1 through to Round 23 and beyond. Looking at our, list and the development we have invested in the players and the coaching group I am confident that we will be able to put competitive teams out each and every week. No Viney in the JLT and we have a more than competitive midfield in both games. TMac not there in JLT2 and we have 13 goal kickers in a strong win. We have a good group of players that have the flexibility and desire to cover for one another. Looking forward to this season and do not see R1 as defining the season.

From the highlights package this kids looks to move really well. Seems to have plenty of time to get to the right places and knows what to do when he gets there. Will be interesting to see how he develops. If we get a good run with injuries I can see us running deep into finals in both seniors and Casey.

As a follow up to my original post I am happy that Frost has signed up for a couple more years and is off the trade table. I do think, however that it may mean that Hulett is a little less certain to stay on the list. I think it also means that we need to look a ,littlwe deeper into our list for trade possibilities if we are going to go seriously after Lever and/or Gaff. I could see the likes of Stretch, Neal-Bullen, Wagner, Harmes and Tyson being asked if they would be interested in looking elsewhere? I do not see the likes of Salem, Watts and Garlett as untouchable but I feel we would need to get an excellent outcome in the trade to contemplate moving them on. The rest of the list, to me either has no trade value or are untouchable. As with all trades and delistings the Footy Department has to take into account the impact of the moves on the medium to long term attitude of the rest of the list. This is an important aspect of list management.

My understanding is that the following are out of contract in October and unsigned at the moment. · Frost · Vince · Hulett · Kennedy · M. King · Trengove · Spencer · Vandenberg Rookies · Filipovic · White · Maynard Frost – Has trade value and seems to be on the outer after spending the last few matches at Casey. As a lot have speculated, may end up as part of the play for Lever. If we cannot get lever or there is no value for money to trade him, I would keep. Vince – Would sign up for another season. Play him as required but give him a mentor role with a few of the young players on the list. Hulett – is a tough one for me. Not seen him play but I do like his size. Borderline delist. If they can see an upside then persist but he has been on the list long enough for the coaching team to know what they have got. Kennedy – Delist. If we cannot play him in any game this season after the injuries we had and the numbers he racked up at Casey then there is a problem. M.King – Sign him up for 2 more Trengove – Delist Spencer – See what happens with his RFA status. We managed without him after his injury and do not see value in keeping him. We know exactly what he might bring to the team and we worked around it. Vandenberg – another year to see how he comes back from his injury. ROOKIES Filipovic – sign on for another year for development White – Delist. Has not seemed to develop this season. Maynard – Elevate to main list. Of the players whose contracts end at the end of next season, Kennedy-Harris and Kent might have some trade value. Johnstone and McKenna will have to develop and show something. The rookies contracted till the end of next year Keilty to develop further and seems to be tracking well. Tim Smith had an unlucky year with injuries and will need a good run at it next season. Garland? No idea what they may do with him. If it was up to me I would look at buying out his contract and delisting him. Summary; Delist – Kennedy, Trengove, White (R), Hulett (possible), Vandenberg (possible), Garland (Possible) Elevate – Maynard, J Smith Trade value – Frost, Kent, Kennedy-Harris (?) Bugg(?)

Maybe Gil can get the Fat Lady to perform as the half time entertainment

Lot to like about this kid and how he plays the game. Overload of skill and vision, looks to enjoy himself out there and if you watch him when he lines up at centre bounces he is always into his player and giving him a little to think about and go on with. Always a nudge,a bump or a bit of a push but when the ball goes down he is all eyes for the ball. Another preseason and I can see him being one of the best,if not the best, in the business. The only thing I fear is that by doing the extraordinary week after week the extraordinary will be accepted and the ordinary. I have watched replays just concentrating on him to watch how he moves when off the ball and he always just has eyes for the ball and looks to get to where it is going to be. His goal was a good example. He contested the ball and then when the play moves to the boundary he trails the play at a jog. As soon as he saw the opening and that it was his turn he was so decisive.

Loved when he took a mark inside the 50, loved that Petracca broke quickly towards goal and loved that Oliver did not hesitate to honour the run and delivered a beautifully weighted kick to him for a goal. Great combination I want to see more of.

This kid is the best I have seen in over 50 years of following the MFC ( fully acknowledge that only been a semi intelligent footy follower for the last 30). He Has such a quick footy brain. Once his team mates learn to play off him we will be a much better team.

Loved the coaching he got from Macca, I think it was, before his first game. He was told "See ball, Get ball". He has really taken it to heart. Not only does he see ball, get ball he also has added "deliver ball". Very simple really but he does it better than just about everyone else around him.

This kid has great vision and wonderful hands. He has the ability to drop the ball into a passing runner's hands in just the right way. Looking forward to watching him for many seasons.

One problem I foresee is that if he is seriously injured in a tackle where he has dropped his knees and the tackler ended up going high it will be the tackler that is vilified and not the ducker.

I believe there needs to be something done about this otherwise we will either have 30 or 40 of these 'high tackle' decisions given a game or there will be no tackling at all. If this becomes the SOP of the man with the ball I will stop watching and supporting.

Ahhh..... The French.... they have a word for everything