buck_nekkid

Either, Rusty. I seriously appreciate the effort you put in to advance the conversation.

Spot on with your comments, Rusty. For me, the interesting questions that emerge are around the number of ‘elites’ versus a real bolstering in the middle class. Take a team like Geelong this year, that have been outstanding. They might be the benchmark. Or Richmond of their premiership year. We can then keep an eye on the Melbourne team and see how far off this ‘marker’ we are. It is a historical analysis that may only be correlative, but it could give us some moderate predictive insight into where we need to improve to get to where we want to go.

Whilst we are on the bye, I wonder @Rusty Nails, how many players over a weighted score of 5 a team should have? We currently have 2, one at 4, then drop off into the threes pretty fast from there. It would seem that we lack elite talent (or elite performances), and a huge drop off to mediocre certainly describes our season.

Watching the players shoot on goal prior to the big slide thingy, I commented to my mate how few were goals. They were woeful in practice, and woeful in the game. It is a basic skill ffs!

May stood up and led the backline all day, as well as played his own role. He might be giving them a spray, and if he is, good. We lack leadership across the park, so to see him leading was one of the best things of the day.

Breathe...just breathe... I keep telling myself... 16 th vs 3rd, and we played like it. Honestly, we ‘tried hard’, but had no skill or finesse. We butchered the ball, and made terrible decisions. Goody slowed them down after half time, and that manic ‘play on at all costs’ improved a bit. We simply dont have the skills or talent to play this style ATM. Some players were simply awful: TMAC, Jeffy. Spargo not far behind. Jeffy is a compete liability, and is responsible for at least one 12 point turn around (his non shot on goal that transitioned too easily). Fritsch had 2 kicks in a minute from half back and missed both targets by >10 m. Hopeless stuff. We tried to switch when it wasn’t on, and got caught out. Stephenson should have kicked 6. What, we cant run someone with him to make a contest? We have to lag 10-15 m behind every time. I thought May and OBaker were good, Lever improved, Max was simply enormous. Harmes was good. VIney did some good things, and some pathetic things. He is in the clear and kicks it straight to a Puss-filth-scum defender all on his own. Really? We had players open of that could have made a contest. We are so far back at the moment. Time to cut out the crap and being in some new blood. Rest TMac if you have to (Goody says he will persist). Early umpiring was confusing both ways. Would have been better if the maggots had not decided that they needed to be important.

I have my reserved seat (expensive!), and will hope the boys can have a red hot crack. Have tipped us (nothing new there...) but also think we can be competitive. Hopefully for the whole game and not drop away. Go Dees! i like the event of the big freeze, but have no care for any of the people going down the slide this year. Zero interest.

The commentators were saying he was the steal of the draft. Others were recycled, trimmed from other lists. Kyle is a fresh up and comer.

Seemed to do really well early, and poorer later. His little dinky stuff didn’t work, but he got the ball and distributed it well otherwise.

Bradtke was a big lump of a kid. First game at this level, and not disgraced. Really good by hand and foot. Needs a lot of development needed, but I think worth the effort. Gonna be a monster when he grows into that frame!

9 Out of 10 of the banner are playing. now we need several of them to pick up their performances. onward and upward!

Cats making the Tigers look like Demons.... Gonna be a big blowout.

Weid on bench. Good to see Bradtke get a game. Omac not sighted. Like Darwin.

Absolute F$$$$ loser??????

Wow. Dr Kildare to emergency! Talk about pulling the proverbial pud. Sounded fine to me. Answered questions, stuck to his ‘talking points’, didnt fall over when he got up to escape. Imagine if he farted, people would think he was about to die! Come on.

Gawd! Imagine how many filthy holes that tongue has been in.

We have to play the best player in each position. We now have someone else for FB, so OMac no longer is the best available. Lets hope he redefine what his best role will be - or maybe its just backup to Maysie Mouse.

One of the big issues with goal kicking in the modern game is that instead of a forward resting on the fence with a ciggy until the ball comes down, forwards are running huge distances, doing repeat sprint efforts and being smashed in contests prior to needing to calm themselves, find their routine and do a different type fo skill. Think of Biatholons, where athletes have outrageous heart rates, then have to consciously calm themselves super quick to shoot accurately. It is more than just technique, more than just pressure (although the mental stuff certainly comes into play). It is being fit enough to be able to switch between high intensity and accuracy type skills in the 30 seconds, having a routine with replicable skills that can be deployed consistently, and the smarts to make a good assessment of the kick that is required (ie, Jeffie, not always some dribbler off the outside of the boot, but a drop punt FFS). Goal kicking is harder now than it has ever been with the nature and speed of the game.

Reported as a torn meniscus in the knee.

Did Hore and Salem train?

For those that wondered why he came to Melbourne, I can only assume that he will be developed by the best ruckman in the game to take over the mantle in a couple of years. For now, Max is king of the heap. Preuss is no challenger for the crown. Let him develop, get a few tastes, and really get to work on his game so that he becomes an absolute beast. There will be times he gets a run in the firsts with Max, but I think he is still 2 seasons away from really being the ruckman we want. Preuss will be mid-20’s and fit for purpose. Max will be ready to perhaps for the understudy to surpass him. He is also insurance (although, atm , not brilliant cover)

May did what Oscar cannot - straight swap. Salem immediate in if his gastro has settled, as is Hore. Would think there are a few who could go out, possibly Wagner, JKH, Spargo, Stretch. They could all make a case for another week, too. Weids stays in. He did enough to warrant a recall. TMac needs something (a rest, a foot rub, to be dropped??) Corey Wagner did well at Casey, but has claims behind Salem and ANB I would think. Hannan stays in. Didn’t do much, but hopefully will be better for the run.

Would be better if we played GWS or kangas. We could market it as our home game and not fall for the old 2 card trick of selling a game and having the crowd so far against us.

This is an important observation. Good to console the kid, but how about leading him to a better outcome beforehand?

Oscar has been the ‘whipping boy’ for all of this year. Most of the time he was exposed because the midfield defence was third rate. He had some good games, but was overwhelmed. In Darwin he was simply not good enough. Whether he is hearing May’s foot-steps, or whatever, but he was poor, panicked, gave up position, gave up free kicks and was generally looked spooked being out there. He has busted his guts for the club, and I will not call him a ‘spud’ or whatever. He has played some good roles and good games in his time. For that we should all appreciate him. However, with May available and dominating at Casey, I suspect OMAC should go back to Casey and get himself sorted out. He actually is a good disposer of the ball, and perhaps if he has a third man up role from the flank he could add real value. I see Frost acting as a rebounding half back or even winger, with his run, whereas OMac is challenging Lever and Hore for perhaps that role. Either way, I wish him well, and hope he puts massive pressure on top 22.