dimmy

I just hope things improve for the kid. He has been blessed with enormous natural talent, but in the last couple of years things have not fallen his way. I feel this thread should be shut down because this is a Melbourne FC forum and not a social discussion that is beyond our remit.

I have railed ad nauseum in relation to Jack's impact on the midfield efficiency. I would never ever doubt his commitment level (especially to hi face). However our best run last year came when Jack was out, and the midfield worked brilliantly. When he returned this year he was under done ,yet demanded a mid field role. The chemistry and quality disappeared . I must admit lately he is getting some of his "zing"back insofar as strength and pressure. A lift in quality would bring more players into the game and the quality would go up markedly. For instance last week Max dominated the ruck, clearances were down and connectivity was down for a good part of the game. Yet, we nearly won it !! Somehow I still feel JV presence would be most advantageous would be as a pressure small fwd . He may perform Cyril's role by just being in the area. (* You would still have him up our sleeve if our opponents midfield get above their true status )

No....but maybe laying off the kid may help. DL have a habit of finding a kicking dog. Now that Omac is not AFL and Watts is gone, and Petracca has shown a bit, we have to cast our eyes around.

18 negatives. And we only went down by 8 points. ????? ANB : Lacks Pysical Strength Lewis : Provided some leadership Jones : the wicket was too bouncy Preuss: the ball was too slippery Hunt : Think and move Dunkley : Learning Lockart : Learning all the time. Make tackle stick Brayshaw : Out of position Viney : Improving Clarrie: When giving ball by hand ,important to stay around the contested area. Frost and Fritsch : Costly brain fades Hibberd, May, Salem : Nucleus of our defence

I would agree wholeheartedly. This time last year he was part of the AFL's most potent midfield with Max, CLarrie & Harmesy and they were clicking well together. Now he is seemingly the 6th option and has been asked to play as a HFF, WInger, Fwd Pocket . He is not getting the consistent minutes to gel with the system. We have a midfield today with Preuss, Jones,Lewis and Viney and Clarrie was pushed out at times. We complain about our lack of connectivity. It all starts in the middle .

Lockart had a job on Johannesen and puts in., Dunkley is learning. Jetta ....should he have played....looked a bit slow. ANB lacks physical strength. Preuss had a nearly day. Somehow we funbled a lot on ground ball. Maybe the surface is a little firmer than other grounds. I do not think we can afford to carry ANB and Hannan in the same team at the moment. Why is it that Footscray are able to kick it to moving players. We could do it a year ago, somehow we have lost the art of leading. As a result a kick is going to a flatfooted player (ala Hunt ex Gus in the dying minute, which epitomises our malaise.

Have to agree. How come they can take the ball the full length of the ground by kicking it to each other, when we suffer a concentration lapse after one short kick.

Are you watching !!!! ANB is struggling for strength, but Gus has been off with an injury and has been far from the worst.

I really do not think he has been a disappointment this year at all. He seems to be used as our "swingman"The benefits will soon come through.

The reson he did not have many clearances is because he is not in there as much as last year. Pretty hard to get a clearance when you are told to be 30 m away

I think lgical football people would drop a few before Gus. Otherwise agree wtrh post.

Bit harsh on Brayshaw His possesion count was low by his standards (which may reflect his role) but I think he had the 3rd highest tackle count ,which is an area he needs to work on. He has been squeezed out of the midfield by rank in that Viney wants in there and oliver's natural position is as a ball magnet . CLArrie was magnificent in the last qtr. Whilst ANB did have a high tackle/pressure count, he misses too many shots (set and snaps) to be a really top small fwd. Pity, because his effort level is great.

Yes, sorry 6 Clarrie 5 for Tmac ( only because he went missing in last Qtr ???? 4 Trac 3 Fritshc 2 Harmes 1 MAy

WHen you consider it we gutsed it out in the last quarter even though I feel we were out on our feet. Sensational effort from Oliver, In just about every contest. Preuss was pretty handy actually

6 Oliver 5 Oliver 4 Petracca (first half in particular) 3 Fritsch 2 Harmes 1 May

I think DUnkley may be a bigger small fwd. Lockart shows enormous promisw. ANB epiomises one ,but lacks any confidence(rightly) in his goal kicking. Melsham is not playing Hannan does not get enough ball. SO I think we have got plenty, but just need someone to step up. Maybe Jetta /Viney to Fwd. Guaranteed they will provide a contest.

Set shots are our achilles heel. Surely Someone can get Tracd to lowere the ball drop < and Wieds A small fwd like ANB MUST be better around the goals. He is not confident at shooting,.. Agree we could have this shot to ribbons but for our goal kicking.

Agree whole heartedly.

No,,,I reckon he will be good. Thanks for background. We seem to have picked up a good couple of roughies as well in Marty Hore and young Lockart.

No, he would fit in really well. CAtchibg Gus'look-away handballs !!

Weideman will not be dropped. He is learning his craft. Last week we were lauding him for competing as a tall fwd. Yesterday TMac was our ruckman for half the game, so he cannot be everywhere. Lockart is developing as a smallish fwd. He has the hunger and a lot of times the skills. Oscar Baker is still learning the pace of the game. Only the real good blokes get away with the "shimmying". Petty is learning Preuss is a backup ruckman. He is NOT a GAWN before we criticise him to death by putting hime up as the next JC.

I liked it last week when we won and we kept all out players and were making a charge to the finals. The selectors stuffed it up this week by picking OMac (albeit as an emerg) He would have to be the worst Emerg in the AFL. so we should trade him for a better emergency. He got plenty of kicks and handballs ,but it was on the wrong day. Just when people needed an experienced whipping boy, they do not play him. Be fair , Zorko is an AAust, Neale was a bargain for them , Hipwood had better gets his pictures from today , because he is not as good as he thinks he is. because he was part of the Hogan trade. We could have made direct trade for May vs OMac (even though he is an Emerg) Gawny will probably ber out for a while )I reckon) so we will see what tak Preuss has.. Weid is only another week older so has not fully developed yet from last week. I hate to say this because he is one of my favourites, but Gus did three clanging hanballs (over shoulder without looking) and OMac did not read them. As a consequence 3 goals down. Our problem today is that we just did not execute to the standard that we set ourselves up to. WHat is the point in trading like no tomorrow our 4 year players to get someone who just appears to be better onl;y because we do not see them every gamne. I feel we will learn from 2019 and with very little change of personnel will improve drastically in 2020.

Well said, I am really glad the Club are taking this line with developing young players. Shows a bit more foresight than some people.

According to the Age this morning Petracca could be trade bait. It seems to be journalist nowadays you think you have to have a brainfart to get noticed.

Cale Moton, Jimmy Toumpas, Judas Sculley plus a few others went a lot higher than Oscar, but then he is the current target since Frosty has come good and Jack W has left us.