Vipercrunch

He played forward at AFL level in late 2018 didn’t he? So this isn’t entirely new or unexpected is it?

Great promotional work by Lingers.

It's like they're preparing Melbourne supporters for his selection as a tall forward this week or next....

I’ve been pondering exactly this. You’ve put it with much more clarity than I could have.

Absolutely horrific while also being mind-numbingly stupid. The Australia Army walked away from this sort of nonsense decades ago for regulars. If I was a Adelaide supporter hearing this stuff, I would walk away from them forever.

It's a very interesting situation and without 2 fit and in-form big forwards, we may not find out what the coaches preferred forward balancee is. I don't mind the current balance, but it certainly worked well with two talls last year.

I wonder if anyone in the media will make the link to the contents of this article and Melbourne's (and others) midseason form slumps in premiership years. I won't be holding my breath. Edit: Just saw the date of the article - 19/04/2022. Obviously had very little traction or care factor in the wider AFL media.

Very true. He’s made many of us eat our words before so could very well do it again.

I’m of the same view unless he gets up for the VFL scratch game that Goodwin mentioned was going to occur the weekend before finals start and plays well. If not I think it’s too risky to bring him in for a PF or GF.

I thought that was the case until I read in their article from Fridays game this beauty - "I'd argue that Melbourne simply wanted this one more."

As I've asked before, if you or others have a better explanation for the unique shape of Melbournes 2021 season (9W's followed by a 9 game stretch of 4W-1D-4L, then 7W straight), as well as how closely their 2022 season mirrors 2021 so far, than what loading provides, I and I'm sure others, are ready to consider it. None of the other vocal doubters have so far even attempted an explanation.

I 'd prefer to deliberately sit it on Moore's head and let Kozzy, Melksham and anyone else that wants a turn crash into his back and take a few screamers.

I only watched the stream on the AFL site. As far as I could tell he played forward all day. A little rusty early but got involved well as it went on. Flew for a few marks but I don't think he dragged any down. He would be behind Tomlinson and Turner for a gig in the seniors down back, so playing him forward to see how he goes makes sense. No VFL this week and I think needs another game there before being considered, but maybe he finds enough form at in the scratch matches. Just an option right now.

I'm quite confident JVR will be our number 1 or 2 tall forward in 2023, but also believe he is a preseason away from being ready to regularly do the 2 things the MFC demand from our tall forwards at AFL level. The MFC require them to have the aerobic fitness to get up to the wings and even half back to contest before rushing forward post turnover, and that they have the talent/technique/strength/competiveness to not be outmarked. I don't think JVR yet has the fitness required to do the first, and although he has talent and competiveness in spades, he still doen't have the strength or technique for the second. At least twice yesterday at VFL level, he gave away free kicks in marking contests and he was also outmarked a few times. I think for those reasons, although he isn't pleasing anyone outside the four walls of the club, Weids is ahead of him and also why I think Joel Smith played forward for Casey yesterday. Ideally we have a fit and in form BBB and TMac for the finals, but I think Weids and J Smith are the coaches preference ahead of JVR while those two are absent. JVR will be a star for us, but I think we're going to have to be patient to see it in the seniors.

Joel Smith played forward. He didn’t especially stand out but after such a long lay off and playing forward for the first time since (as a guess) late 2018, I doubt much was expected of him. Possibly the coaches are considering him as a forward option in the seniors if required. Right now, he’d be behind Tomlinson and Turner for a big back position. Didn’t see much of Howes unfortunately.

Unreal goal by Fogarty. He’s finally fulfilling his potential.

His (JL’s) comment that his team had become unpredictable to each other was a wonderful argument for why we didn’t try anything drastic during our loading phase even when we are losing. Allow the game plan to be instinctive and believe that when the fitness is there to execute it at a high enough level, it will be effective.

Lots of room for Weids to improve obviously but his key role would for him not to be out marked and he ticked that box. Similar story to ANB’s role which was to reduce the impact of Jordan Clark which he also achieved.

It got messy after the rain and the ground went to crap. Would have been a 12 goal win if it stayed dry. Hopefully Jackson is ok. Not in the song for some reason. Onwards to September we go.

He’s done his primary job closing down Jordan Clark. Has some things to tidy up but main job achieved.

If LJ goes and we get Logue as part of the deal I’d be ok with that. Plays forward the way we like our big forwards to play.

Booooo. Booooooo. Boooooo

Great start and great to see no strapping on Rivers knee. Nice new haircut also 😂😂

Did Gawn get a free when he got this shiner or did he duck?

No idea if he stays or goes but I just wanted to say he seems like an absolute jet of a person. I loved his interview of the Gus n Gawn podcast. Great sense of humour, respectful, hard working. On that basis, I hope he plays his entire career with us.