wisedog

I've been hoping to see Tomlinson in defence and Petty forward since last year. I know many already regard Petty forward as a fail but I'm very interested to see how it plays out. Out of all the KPFs we've tried over the past 2 years - the combinations of M Brown, Ben Brown, Wiedemann, McDonald, Gawn, Jackson, Grundy - very little seems to have worked but Petty and Van Rooyen gave me the most confidence and just seemed like a really exciting, young combination. Forward connection has improved in recent weeks with ANB, Pickett and Chandler all returning to some good form. Hopefully this is the week we solidify our forward structure moving into the finals.

Agreed, legend. Flawed in the sense that off-field indiscretions would often overshadow his performance. Ultimately that had little bearing on people’s affection for him. It probably enhanced it.

I think in America, a certain swagger and showmanship is expected from their athletes, they sort of lap it up. But that's never really played well to an Australian audience - particularly if it's not backed up. We have sportsman who are shockingly arrogant people, and we have our flawed heroes like Warnie who endear themselves to the public through being atypical athletes. Americans also seem to speak with a mild contempt about Australia from time to time (although I think we can be a overly sensitive about it) and I think both of these things come through in Cox's on-field and off-field behaviour. I mean, compare it to the dozens of Irish imports who seem largely grateful for the opportunity to play AFL. As for the incident itself. Who knows? I trust Petracca wouldn't have crossed a line. I don't like that Cox felt the need to disclose that Trac had apologised. I also don't like his carry on after he kicked a goal on Gawn or his history of putting a knee into Gawn's back in marking contests. That all being said. I respect what he's achieved. I won't ever abuse him but I also don't like watching him and would prefer it if I didn't have to. So that's my thesis on why I find someone annoying. Goodnight people.

Viney was amazing. McVee so clean. The defence has clicked with Tomlinson back and May and Lever playing freely. The question is, where does Petty go when he returns? Gawn on his Instagram posted a single picture of Tomlinson without a caption. I’d say it’s going to be very hard to omit him. Smith added tenacity and aggression to our forward line. Can we play Smith, JVR, and Petty together? I feel the writing is probably on the wall with Spargo being subbed. I’ve felt for a while Spargo, Chandler, and Pickett is playing too many smalls. A note on Trac. The commentators went on about his disposal efficiency today, but he did some great work in close and as usual seemed a class above. His finishing was clearly off and it’s really only his goal kicking that is preventing him from being regarded in the same way as Dustin Martin. Final note. I’ve always had a soft spot for the international players but I’ve had enough of Cox. Not just the stuff after the siren but after he kicked his goal, it looked like he screamed at Gawn as he ran past (like fast bowlers do to batsman). The arrogance to think you’re anywhere near the class of Max Gawn. A very important win.

Ugly game. Umpiring ordinary again. The high tackles paid and not paid frustrating as ever. There we’re definitely positives. Defence looked much better. Posters who wrote about the structure failing in Petty’s absence were on the money. Even though Tomlinson struggled at times, the defensive unit so much better when it allows May and Lever to play their natural games. Great to see Lever’s intercept game return. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tomlinson keeps his place if Goodwin continues with Petty forward. McVee and Bowey are so clean and composed. Rivers great again. Van Rooyen has a great temperament. He impacts the contests even when not scoring. Surprisingly composed. Hates losing. (All four of the above are 21 and under. Pickett now 22. We’ve done really well to work some youth into the side.) Gawn looked out of sorts but took it upon himself to kick a clutch goal and seemed to regain some confidence towards the end of the game. What a complete game from Petracca. I like Sparrow. I feel his power and speed make up for him being a bit untidy sometimes.

I understand both points of view and also realise that little more than a straight kick in both of the last two games and the atmosphere around here would be markedly different. We desperately want to achieve the success of Richmond, Geelong, and Hawthorn and not fade away like St Kilda and the Bulldogs. Gawn is 31 and has just had the worst run of form in probably five years and other key players have shown concerning signs this season. Our once in a generation midfield, is inexplicably being beaten and we are once again resorting to the same McDonald/Brown/Smith dilemma. Goodwin is clearly a coach who prefers to prepare a team for long term success - and it seems to me he feels any deviation from the plan is a sign of weakness and panic. It's as though he believes that in time the poor form will self correct. As others have noted, it's a strength and weakness and I'm a little in both camps. I like that Goodwin keeps losses in proportion and has faith in the team and the system that delivered our first premiership in 57 years. But I also feel frustrated and sense that the team is stagnating, becoming complacent, and even bored. I know others bemoan the loss of Petty from the backline, but in some ways it's the most exciting structural change Goodwin has made in a long time and I hope we persist with it for a while longer. In short, I understand the frustration and I hope Goodwin does to learn to become more dynamic as a coach and also as a list manager. Keep in mind, however, it's round 11 and we're 4th with a great percentage. St Kilda and Bulldog supporters would also be livid that they spoilt the chance to climb into the top 4 after unexpected losses of their own. Geelong, the reigning premiers, also dropped one unexpectedly and are a game out of it.

Worst I’ve heard. At one point, King kicked a goal from a free kick after the siren, which wasn’t replayed or discussed. Then Gawn is lining up after the reversal, and one of them moans, “You hope it’s not a touchy one, given the crucial point of the game.” Gold Coast kicks the next goal and he cries out, “The footy gods! They deserved that!” I understand commentators will cheer on the underdogs. But the repeated outcry over decisions against the Suns just felt like they were trying to paint our success as illegitimate. I know I’m being slightly precious but glad I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

You’re right. Lovett was by far the better player. A lot of this was based on hazy sentimentality and I loved Brown’s pace off half back and for some reason, I don’t remember Lovett all that well. Funny the players that stand out from your childhood. As soon as I saw the thread, one of the first players to come to mind was Sean Charles. (Might have squeezed him in on an extended bench.)

Started following the Dees in 1994 as a 7 year old. Whelan May Wight Davey Lever Brown Johnstone T Viney Tingay Yze Schwartz Robertson Farmer Lyon Neitz Fol Gawn Petracca Oliver Int Stynes Green Jones Fritsch Loving Neitz as the ‘third tall’! Tried to find a place for Jacovich - not actually sure I ever saw him play. Also, I had to pick the moustachioed Scotsman over Jetta. Fun thread.

A list came up on my Instagram feed yesterday. Goals kicked from 2018 - 2022. Fritsch is 8th on the list with 199 goals. Brown is next with 188. https://www.instagram.com/p/CmdzkaFO9a7/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Whoops. Yes, you’re right. Lazy journalism on my part. I still think he may have been one of our better defenders on the day, as I recall thinking he was unlucky to be dropped.

In Round 18, Tomlinson played a great game in Petty’s absence but was immediately dropped in Round 19. This was probably the last chance to move Petty or even Tomlinson forward to see what they could do. If we had more wins in the bank, perhaps Goodwin would have been more adventurous, but he is clearly uncomfortable with too many variables. It’s like he thinks 5 games at a time and can’t bring himself to change much from game-to-game or even quarter-to-quarter.

There was such a sense of disorganisation and panic this season, it’s not surprising we bowed out like this. Relationships between players also seemed strained at times: more than a few selfish acts in front of goal and seemed to be far more teammates spraying each other. We seemed so far off in the end, that it doesn’t even feel like we missed a golden opportunity at a Premiership. We just weren’t good enough this year and in some ways that makes it easier for me to accept what happened. Goodwin held it together after 2018, and while we were forced to endure two more disappointing seasons, there was clearly a plan in place. As inflexible as Goodwin seemed throughout the season, he’s thankfully quite proactive in the off season. He’ll realise the bones of the side are sound, and hopefully set about addressing our forward line and ruck problems.

I was only aware of him going forward after his mark and goal. From that point, the Lions only kicked a goal from Lever’s 50 metre penalty. Petty may have been there longer but that’s not the point I’m making - of course Petty would be missed from defence. I only mean to say it was disappointing it took until there was 3 minutes left in the season to consider a different tall marking option other than Brown and our rucks.

In the last 6 games of our season, Jackson kicked 1 goal and Gawn kicked 2. I don't understand how a resting ruck ever seemed a better alternative to a permanent key forward but Goodwin was clearly desperate to settle on a side and develop some cohesion before the finals. Watching Petty have an immediate impact forward in the last 3 minutes of our year felt like a slap in the face. It really seemed to demonstrate what we could have done if Goodwin was more open-minded and dynamic with the game day moves.

In some ways, I like the fact he doesn’t lose his cool in the face of poor short term results. Still, I would have liked to have seen a bit more risk in the forward line. I don’t think the one key forward/one resting ruck is potent enough but that appears to be what Goodwin wants to persist with. I would be blown away if JVR was played now, having not been played throughout the season when Weidemann was underperforming. I think we’ll see minimal changes. Melksham I would keep. He does go missing in some games but at his best is a genuine match winner.

May’s ill-discipline completely altered the momentum of the game. That being said, I also feel Franklin engineered the goal through sheer bastardry. Teams obviously know how easy it is to unsettle him. I hope May realises this and can learn to not take it so personally. Still don’t know what to make of the Gawn/Jackson forward setup. I wonder if Gawn and Jackson were one player in the forward line, whether they’d keep their spot in the team?

OUT: ANB IN: MCDONALD If you believe we're our best side with Tom McDonald then we may have to expedite this. If it was any other team other than Brisbane, I would probably leave him out. But as as ludicrous as it sounds, I feel we can afford to carry him through this one if we have to. EDIT: Most of course would believe that a fully fit Tom McDonald makes us a better side. The question is how close he can get to that? Unfortunately, we won't actually know unless we play him.

If we decide to bring in Harmes to negate Neale, perhaps ANB or Spargo goes out. While I shouldn’t judge on one superb quarter - Hunt looked far more potent than ANB across half forward. Together with Harmes, they do offer run and unpredictability. Joel Smith or Van Rooyen probably need to kick 10+ Goals to force any kind of rethink on the forward line. IN: Hunt, Smith (contingent on snagging 10 goals for Casey today. OUT: ANB, Spargo

Enormously important win. Not just for Top 4 calculations but the spirit of the side. Carlton were on. Their pressure when the ball went to ground was better than ours. I’ve never regarded Hunt as a safe player but his coolness under pressure was the single greatest reason we were able to snatch it. Used his run to cut through and deliver repeat forward entries. I don’t think we have another player who offers what he does. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come. Both he and Melksham have played themselves into our Finals Best 22 and I’m really happy for them. I know people are saying we can’t do it this year… and I’ve had the same feeling at times. But when I look at the Top 6… Freo, Brisbane, Sydney have all been similarly erratic. Geelong and Collingwood are by far the most consistent sides heading into finals but have they made their run a bit too early? We’re still a decent chance.

I think we have been trying to pace ourselves, if not physically with training regimens, then certainly mentally. Having said that, it’s not advisable to spend too long in the cruising mindset. ‘Plan A, B, and C’ is a bit of an exaggeration. I really just mean the combination of forward sets ups we have trialled since Tom McDonald has been out.

I haven’t given it away. If we took our opportunities, we would have probably put the game away by 3 quarter time. We just beat Fremantle away from home, and it was only a few weeks ago that Freo were touted as Premiership favourites. #flagmantle Historically, it’s not as if the great Premiership dynasties have finished top of the ladder every year - that’s not what matters. They pace themselves. They do what they need to do to go top 4 and they don’t go too hard too early. I remember Alistair Clarkson rested half his team in one of the final rounds a few years ago. We’ll probably finish top 4 and from there, we know we can beat anyone. Pies are having a dream run. An 11-match streak with an average winning margin of 8 points? Are you serious?! Sooner or later their bubble will burst and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they went out in straight sets. I admit there are worrying signs and the fact that we’re trialling Joel Smith forward would indicate the Club are aware Plan A, B, and C have failed and we now need a better goal-scoring option.

When you're a poor team you probably enjoy the season as a whole. You find enjoyment in a promising young player, an unexpected win, the hope of playing finals. The losses aren't as consequential. The mindset is very different now. Instead of having everything to gain, I feel we have everything to lose. Every team comes at us looking to measure their best against ours and to boast about knocking off the reigning premiers. Supporters and hack journalists celebrate any sign of our decline. I find myself being resentful and petty about opponents - particularly the Bulldogs. I took last week's loss so personally and it gave me pause to consider the place of football in my life. As others have noted, you can also easily find yourself becoming resentful of the players themselves for having the gall to consider their post-football career ahead of glory for the Melbourne Football Club. So no, I haven't enjoyed this season as much as last year because winning the Premiership was so wonderful and I'm holding on for dear life. I hope we can go back to back, but in some ways it would be a relief to join the chasing pack.

I’m actually surprised the possibility of being part of a ‘Premiership dynasty’ has so little appeal for these guys. This is supposed to be the time when contracts sign themselves! We’ve all heard the stories of pacts and even players taking pay cuts to keep the dream alive! To an extent, I can understand a young guy like Jackson being seduced by the attention and offers being put forward by rival Clubs. But a player like Brayshaw? Smart, mature, courageous on field, popular at the Club and with supporters. If even he is considering a move, ostensibly because he’s unhappy with the role he’s been given, it makes me wonder at the culture of our Club. Of course, this is a surface analysis. But we can only go on the words and actions of the players.

The defence withstood immense pressure. Forward line was very effective. It’s a shame we squandered our opportunities forward in the last because that was really the difference. RE: Umpiring. It strongly favoured the Dogs in the 2nd and 3rd. But we pulled ahead several times throughout the night and just couldn’t put them away. It gives me no pleasure to say, but they earned that one.