layzie

Yeah, you can make that case too I guess. Maybe he was a good coach that wasn't good enough? Had a good apprenticeship under Clarko, but maybe he also could have been replaced earlier when they realised he wasn't quite getting enough out of the list to take the next step eg. Mark Harvey-Ross Lyon. A few schools of thought here, he's probably in the Brad Scott territory.

Sounds like the bridges were burnt between the two parties. He's been a good coach, plenty to offer the game elsewhere.

Unrelated but what is the difference between an extremist and a radicalist?

Great post, thank you deejammin

We're on the correct track, that's it.

Not an expert by any stretch but I believe they were commonly used in clubs for dance track singles? I'm sure someone knows more!

Agreed Macca, way too good. Perfect bounceback from the CL disaster. They just have quality all over the pitch and deserve to be sitting top, glorious to watch when they're playing that kind of football.

Haha yes I remember Footyana, great fun. I believe Austen is a Saints fan.

Hell yeah! Would have loved to have been there in person this week for the first return to this amazing place!

It's not ideal but what can you do? It is a reasonable point you make though. No-one wants the easy road to a top 4 spot, I’d much rather be battle hardened and I think this Melbourne team relishes being battle hardened too.

YEAH WHOOP WHOOP!

I'm not going to share an opinion on this right now other than I deeply hope Heritier can get to a stage where he finds peace with this. That's all.

As has been mentioned, we'll have a much better picture when the time comes.

Here, we, go... We were apparently meant to feel sorry for these guys.

When can we sound the 'everythings ok' alarm?

Encouraging.

Just a shame that Joel Smith is injured, but I think Tomlinson gets his chance has Jake can get some much needed healing. Other than that I wouldn't be throwing too much brain candy around in terms of resting guys at this stage. If you're ready to go you go.

Mr Incoherent strikes again. We are great, but are we that great that 3 opposition mids need to sacrifice their own game to stop us? It's hard enough getting one coach to apply a tag let alone 3. The one thing I will agree with him on is that no matter how good these teams think their system is, they are going to have to modify it on gameday when they face us. The things that have gotten them to a point aren't going to prevail against Melbourne. It means situations where guys like Jack Higgins may be having a great season so far but his main ambition probably shouldn't be trying to get out the back to kick a few sausages, he may have to contribute to some forward pressure. It means Max King can't just demand their mids kick it on his head, he might have to move around a bit and create some leads. This MFC is not only taking teams best weapons away from them, they are taking individual players best weapons away from them too. Hawthorn came with a plan that was probably never going to beat us but sure as hell came the closest that anyone has. Tagging one of our stars and moving the ball at every opportunity from the back and trying to catch us out. There's no real need to get the rocket scientists working on this Robbo, just figure out the best plan and execute as best as possible. Having said that I'm more than happy for these types of headlines each week!

Nice spot up Kent, can't believe I missed Harmes. Worked his backside off as usual and got some reward for effort with those goals.

I thought we were outstanding in the first half. The pressure was off the charts, little drop off in the second but we had our structure so dialed in that it really didn’t matter what the Saints were doing. And to be fair the Saints were doing everything they could, they had high pressure themselves and found some fortune with taking the game on more and using Hill off half back but in the end they were just not able to put it in the right place to get decent looks at goal, not enough anyway. This team has now played a quality opposition and brushed them aside. Highly touted weapons this year Max King and Jack Higgins had 3 goals between them with two of those being pretty bloopy decisions, they didn’t really get near it. This is the thing about this Melbourne side, we will take your best weapons away from you and make you beat us with your worst weapons. Not to mention running, spreading, all round pressure. We just do it that little bit better. I personally thought Gus was BOG. His workrate to get to every single contest was on display as he took 13 marks with so much courage. Quite often these were on St Kilda counter attacks that could have helped them back into the game. Ed Langdon take a bow son, not only did he get the leather poisoning with his 39 possesions but every time it was his turn to go, he went. Put his body on the line for the team and was sensational. I do wonder if Brett Ratten was emailed the answers to the exam but actually filed the email in the trash after we saw what Hawthorn did last week by tagging Langdon and forcing him back inwards. Ed was allowed to patrol down the wing freely with no-one checking his runs, he was often involved in plays that started at defensive 50 and then he’d pushed up to forward 50 unmarked. Clarry was consistent again, great contested game across 4 quarters. Trac put in another great shift and probably should have had a goal. Viney and Sparrow chipped in to make this a very good all round midfield effort. When you see Kozzie Pickett start a game the way he did yesterday, you know he’s going to be pretty hard to stop for the rest of the game. He’s the kind of player you just can’t afford to give any space to, even that extra inch is too much. All good goals from him, onya Kozzie! How about Charlie Spargo? He’s really the AFL version of ‘Rudy’. You can just see him at junior footy level constantly hearing “You’re too short, you’re too short” but his work rate is higher than the best kid in the team. He never gives up on a contest, even when he’s outnumbered he knows if he can just lay a tackle good enough to slow them down or force a scruffy kick he’s done his job. Thought Harry Petty played a good game, couple of errors here and there but I thought he had his eye in and really pressed the contest. He’s only going to get better. Steven May, well let’s just say Max King might as well have been standing next to a bulldozer. King wanted the Saints mids to kick it on top of his head and his this character leaning on him all game not allowing him to get a clean jump at it. King’s biggest strength was taken away from him. Across the board it was a huge team effort. Benny Brown and T-mac providing the targets up front, I don’t know what this means for Weid in the next few weeks now as it would have been good to see him get his confidence up against some battling teams. I do think Clarry puts a little mayonnaise on things too often. The Jones tunnelling incident was ordinary but I don't think Clarry needed to go down like that, come in and fly the flag for sure but you're too good to be doing that stuff. Great win Dees, hope all the mums had a great mothers day! Off to the west on Sun and hopefully lightening isn’t on the forecast this time!

Thought it was his best negating game for the year. Closed the space down for Higgins and their other smaller forwards instantly. They were never able to get clean looks at goal and Hunty was a big part of that.

Enjoying seeing Hunt's name come up in the votes. I thought this was one of his better negating performances and he was so quick to close down Higgins and other forwards in his vicinity. They couldn't get any space for decent looks on goal at all. On the flip side for the Saints I saw Paton (I think it was) just a split second late a lot and allowing Kozzie to get goal side too easily in that first quarter and often with a yard of space to work with. The task is hard enough with Kozzie as he is able to operate in very tight spaces as it is but he would have loved this game.

I think it's fair to say we moved a step closer to an EPL champion in 21-22. Was a tough game at Anfield yesterday morning and Tottenham came with a great game plan. Conte is a very good manager and has everyone playing their roles to perfection and working a little magic on the break, much like they did against us in December, obviously a bit gutted but Spurs very much deserved their point and would have been hard done by if they took nothing from that game. Mo Salah is off the boil at the moment, and not at a good time either. I don't know what it is but he is just, off. I know we've played a lot of games in quick succession and I did see us dropping one soon. Didn't watch this morning but City had an emphatic win over Toon 5-0. They now have a 3 point lead and 4 goals ahead on goal difference. In any other league it's fair to say Liverpool have 3 league titles in the last 4 years but this is the EPL and you have to take your hat off to City. They just know how to get it done and are the masters of the 'run in' period.

Loved his game yesterday, seems to relish playing against the Saints. Really hope we get something done soon.

I think it's Fritta's last three weeks that have been quiet, but that's ok. Not worried at all.