wisedog

Sorry to be unclear. By set up, I mean the 1 permanent tall forward and 1 resting ruck/forward.

The 3rd week in a row with this forward set up. I’m interested in what metrics the football department is watching that encourage them to persist with it. I felt slightly lucky to get the win last week. I suppose if we can’t predict where most of our scoring is going to come from, the opposition will be similarly confused. Either way, the result will probably decide if we bring back the 2nd permanent tall or take this setup into September.

Is there any way Tomlinson holds his place when Petty returns? I suppose there simply isn’t a position left for him - unless we tried him as a forward. And honestly, at this point, it seems as good a suggestion as any. I don’t really know how often he was played as a KPF at GWS. From what I gather he was played mainly as a wingman - although he did kick 9 goals at the end of 2018. If somehow, he rose to the challenge like McDonald in 2015? it would also give us the flexibility of having a capable defender to cover any mid-game injuries to Petty, May or Lever. Wishful thinking. Either way, I hope we at least bring back a tall forward. IN: Petty, Oliver OUT: Bedford, Sparrow

I think one of the reasons we hold out hope for Sam were his performances at the end of 2018 season - the finals in particular. Elimination final against the Cats is by far his best game. 24 disposals, 7 marks, 3 goals, 4 tackles, 1 HO He’s athletic and mobile and comfortable playing up the ground. IF Luke Jackson is to leave, perhaps Weidemann serves the club best by working on his ruck craft over the Summer and taking over this role. Given Gawn’s recent comments about his best position being a ruck/forward it’s probably his best opportunity to extend his career in a meaningful way. I like Sam. The way the players talk about him suggest he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body - and perhaps that’s part of the problem.

IN: JVR, Laurie, Hunt OUT: Bowey, Bedford, Spargo From reports, JVR has outperformed Weideman over the last two weeks at Casey. If we’re at the point of playing three small forwards ahead of Mitch Brown or Weideman, then we really have nothing to lose. Laurie also seems to have earned his opportunity. Eager to see what these two can do.

Massively satisfying win. It genuinely felt like every marginal decision would be called or not called in Adelaide’s favour. Has there ever been a player as likeable as Tex Walker? When he started leaning into tackles like Weightman, it took my affection to a whole new level. - Petracca looking much more confident and dynamic. -Langdon’s run was massively important responding to Adelaide in the last quarter.

This is the season defining game. We've had a really bad run lately - leaks from the top, senior players punching on, contract delays with Jackson and 3 losses in a row to top 8 sides. The media is keen to push the narrative of the season coming off the rails. During our 10 game streak, I was quietly hoping we would drop a few games, simply to allow the side to recalibrate and and surge towards the end of the season. I also felt it would be incredibly difficult for us to sustain mentally. Having said that, the losses have gone beyond what I was expecting, and we desperately need to right the ship. So this week I can handle a close loss, particularly if we look to be working through our issues forward of centre. However a bad loss would be devastating as we dispatched the Lions easily last season. It will really be undeniable indication of where we're at. Out: Turner, Gawn In: Weid, May Whatever the result, I predict an absolutely massive game from Viney. His on field leadership in the absence of Gawn will be huge.

Out: M Brown Turner Sparrow In: Weid May Hunt Weid playing higher up the ground. Ben Brown close to goals. We simply have to make this work. They are the most experienced and the most capable. I don’t think we can afford to experiment with defenders or throw a teenager down there and expect him to hold down a key position for the remainder of the season and finals. Ben Brown and Weid are our best options and they need to figure out how to play together and play within the team. Salem as the best field kick in the side higher up the ground too - given the abysmal entries into the F50 recently. Brayshaw stays in defence. Hunt on a wing. The fringe players pre-2021 seem to be reverting. Harmes, ANB, Sparrow, Hunt all took a big step last season but haven’t looked like it recently. I don’t know what can be done about that but I’m relieved this is happening now and not round 17. We have time but we absolutely need a plan.

The greatest relief is the timing. We know the bones of the side are the best in the league. We have 10 weeks to find the right combination and for key players to find form. If I were an opposition supporter, I’d be annoyed this slump occurred now and not later in the season. The forward line is a big concern. We badly need Ben Brown to perform as he did at the end of 2020 - the question is whether you allow him to find form at Melbourne or Casey. This time last season, Weidemann and Brown were trading places and it looks like the same thing is happening. If McDonald is a longterm injury the equation is different and I wonder if Weidemann would play more freely if he knew his place in the side wasn’t so vulnerable. (Obviously, not the ideal mindset for an elite athlete). Petty seemed to drift to CHF last night and seemed comfortable: Perhaps not the answer but worth experimenting with in the same way we did with Tom McDonald 4-5 years ago. IN: Weidemann, May, Hibberd OUT: B Brown, M Brown, Hunt

Interesting after following this club for over 25 years how different it feels to be a Melbourne supporter right now. It's great to have success, but the success has also given rise to a new feeling - relevance. In the weeks after the Grand Final when I overheard footy conversations, I was struck that people not only knew the names of our players - but to hear the WAY they spoke about our players. To hear them speak about Petracca, Oliver and Gawn with that same reverence usually reserved for the likes of Judd, Ablett and Dangerfield, is not something I was used to. We've had many great players in my time supporting Melbourne, but I felt I always had to make a case for them and whatever I said about Yze, Robertson or Neitz would always be met with dubious eye rolls. Increasingly, Melbourne players are front and centre of newspapers, referenced in commercials and random media snippets, celebrities who never seemed to be footy fans are suddenly loud and proud Melbourne supporters. Obviously, this can't go on forever. And these stars will eventually retire, but I sincerely hope that something from this period can be captured and embedded into the fabric of the Club for a long time to come - so even when we do fall down the ladder, we know what it takes to climb up again and know we will. There is no real blueprint to attaining this level of success - it's really that mysterious thing we loosely refer to as 'culture'. It instructs people what to do and what to expect without having to say it. It's probably one of the most important thing there is.

I became a father a few weeks ago. Baby and a Granny in the same year. I think I need to consult an astrologist. I had to wait 34 years for a flag. This kid only had to wait 8 weeks!

I’d like to acknowledge my uncle Philip Thompson. He loved Melbourne dearly. When I was a boy we talked about Melbourne often. What I realise now is they were probably the first conversations with an adult where I didn’t feel like I was being talked down to. You wanted me to feel at ease and to hear what I had to say. That really is the epitome of a gentleman. You’re dearly missed Phil and I know you and Charles were with us in spirit.

I would hate to lose to Geelong more than GWS. But I would also take greater pleasure in beating Geelong. Losing to Geelong would be a souring footnote to the round 23 win and it would change the way I think about that game. As it was probably my happiest sporting experience in recent memory I sincerely hope that doesn’t happen. But part of me also says that’s a defeatist frame of mind. We should want to play the best team and expect to win. And we are that good that we should expect to win.

I remember a few years ago Taylor Walker trained in an Indigenous guernsey out of solidarity with Eddie Betts after he was abused by a spectator. It seemed like empty virtue signalling at the time and that appears to be the case. Reminds me of Eddie Maguire taking the AFL to task for allowing Tom Jones to sing Delilah at the Grand Final... only to then publicly joke about drowning Caroline Wilson.

I was disappointed Fritsch didn’t take the set shot late in the last. From memory we were a goal in front as he lined up. Even if he kicked a behind it would have probably been enough to get the win. It was a bit of worrying result but I’m probably more relieved than disappointed. The footy world wouldn’t have let us live it down if we lost and the 2 points will be important at the end of the year.

Anyone who grew up in male environments knows this sort of thing is pretty common. It's obviously an in-joke and I have no real issue with the act itself. However, as others have said, I would expect far greater professionalism on match day and given the way we dropped the ball in the 4th quarter, it's easy to connect the disrespect shown towards the coach and our performance. But surely, if there is a story here it's not about consent or predatory behaviour, the story is why it's a joke for straight males to pretend to have homosexual interests? To be clear, this isn't something that worries me (unless Twitter decides it's something that should worry me) I'm just surprised that angle hasn't been covered yet.

Began a bit of a jazz odyssey last year. I found you sort of have to let the music wash over you rather than listen to actively like pop or rock. I also enjoyed going into record shops and picking up CD's without really knowing what I was going to find - just looking at the personnel and knowing who I liked. And there is really too much to every really get through. They were seriously prolific musicians back then. The first person I really looked into was Bill Evans - I was immediately drawn to the piano in Blue in Green on Miles Davis' Kind of Blue. (Bill Evans famously complained about the lack of credit for what was largely his composition. I believe in place of royalties, Davis offered him a $20 note he had in his wallet.) Evans was a chronic alcoholic and drug user, whose life was described as the "longest suicide note in history". Like a lot of white rappers these days (who are far less talented) he faced a lot of criticism from black audiences, who felt he was intruding on their own art form. But ultimately, he was one of the very greatest and distinctive jazz pianists from a golden era and made a very significant contribution.

Haha, I mean a little more complexity in the gameplay, not just flashing stumps and fireworks.

I agree - it would be nice if there was some added nuance, perhaps winning or losing a bonus point for a big win/loss. Still, I suppose there are games of footy that are over by half time. One other thing I'd like to see is a best of 3 final. Because it's such a short format, I think there's far more potential to get a result that doesn't reward the best team of the season, but I suppose all sports with a 'grand final' have that issue. First year, I've really taken an interest as well and I quite enjoy it - really benefits, like the A-league, from the novelty of the 'marquee player'. I still vastly prefer test cricket, but it has its place.

Yeah, I think he came in for the Sydney test and took some big wickets in the second innings. Those first two matches were probably the most frustrating games of cricket I’ve ever seen. Two extraordinary comebacks by South Africa...

I think it might have been against South Africa in Cape Town, 2009. From memory, the results of the series mirrored South Africa’s tour of Australia the previous year. Both home sides lost the first two tests and won the dead rubber.

From the MCC's Laws of Cricket - The act of making the catch shall start from the time when the ball in flight comes into contact with some part of a fielder’s person other than a protective helmet, and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control both over the ball and over his own movement. ... © the ball does not touch the ground even though the hand holding it does so in effecting the catch. I suppose this is where Gavaskar was coming from, but I'm sure there have been numerous instances of players taking diving catches when part of the ball has come into contact with the ground (a Symonds blinder comes to mind). It seems the only time a catch is ever referred to the third umpire is to check whether or not the ball had bounced before it was taken. It was an incredibly bitter test match. No doubt India were hard done by, but had it been the other way around, I think we all would have moved on fairly quickly. Although Ponting has never been renowned for his sportsmanship, he was widely praised for not making any exuses following our loss at Lords in 2009, despite 3 or 4 crucial decisions going against us (including a highly dubious catch by Strauss). I couldn't help but compare that to Kumble's petulant claim after the Sydney test match that "only one side was playing in the spirit of the game".

Out of interest, if the ball came in contact with the ground when he landed (which it doesn't appear to have done), would it be a legal catch? I only ask because I was watching a video the other day of Ponting taking a diving catch off Dhoni in the Sydney 2008 test. He controls the ball, but it touches the ground when he lands. Ponting appeals and the commentator (Gavaskar) basically calls him a cheat for doing so. It seems like a bit of a grey area.

I think it will too. One-day cricket lacks the prestige and significance of Test cricket, and has been surpassed as the hard-hitting, fast scoring form of the game by Twenty20. I have wondered if it was necessery as a bridge between Test and Twenty20, but I don't think so. It's become the mid-strength beer of cricket. I don't mind Twenty20, I think it has an important role in attracting people to cricket who may be otherwise put off by the idea of a 5 day game. Unfortunately, I've struggled to get behind the revamped Big Bash - I think it had more credibility when it was a state competition.