Lord Travis

Smith was absolute rubbish today. One of the worst games by a player I can remember. The only decent football he’s played at AFL level was up forward in a preseason match. We lack forward targets. Try Smith up forward or drop him.

Two first round picks was overs. No one can argue that was a good trade at this point, even if he never got injured. Worrying that May looked shaky, Smith was absolute trash, and TMac is a witches hat. Our tall stocks are in the dumps!

Wait where has this stuff about Jackson playing in defense come from? We are crying out for quality tall forwards and avenues to goal. Why would you take a talented young tall who has trained ruck and forward and then stick him in the backline?! What a stupid decision that would be. Very Melbourne!

The OP explains the last few years ?

Viable option. Ruckman are a dying breed who have little influence on matches. Grundy is overhyped to the moon. Wouldn’t have been in the top 15 players on the ground last night playing against a plodder in Soldo. For Gawn to have an impact on games he needs to flunk marks around the ground either intercepting across halfback or contested as a bailout up the ground. We’ll likely see more makeshift ruckman used in future. If they nullify ruck contests then they’re an extra runner around the ground.

As if our forward line wasn’t [censored] enough! Now we lose Pickett... fmd. Reckon Carlton will win tomorrow. Just a feeling. Probably mfcss.

Lowest scoring game this century I believe. Rubbish game of football to watch. Pies lucky not to get overrun after not scoring a goal after the 6 minute mark of the second quarter. Pathetic. Hopefully our match on Saturday is more enjoyable to watch!

Disappointed to see Lockhart out, but exciting selections none the less. Best of luck to new demons Rivers, Jackson and Bennell!

He’s struggled with injury and been developed poorly, as is tradition at Melbourne. He needs a settled position and role, not being thrown around the ground and played in the ruck etc. Develop him as a stay at home tall forward, a lead up CHF or make him a defender. He’s got the athletic ability and intensity to be a good AFL player if he gets his body right and is developed properly. He’s still only 22 years old as he was a young draftee we drafted early to get time into him. Without injuries, he would’ve been a top 5 pick in his draft. You don’t lose natural talent. Develop him properly. You can just picture him getting traded to Collingwood for a pick in the 20s-30s, then developing and going close to winning a Coleman.

Rivers is an exciting prospect, good pace, good kick, good hardness. Reckon he takes Hibberds role on the half back flank. Bennell huge in. Hope his body holds up and he can build his way into being an explosive damaging player again. Jackson in is a shock as he doesn’t look up to AFL standard at this stage. He lacks physicality, his forward work and midfield work have been poor to date, while he’s shown he suits the ruck with his huge leap. He’s got potential to be great long term, but feel we’re perhaps pulling the trigger early!

Huge! Best of luck Harley!!

I'll be disappointed if Lockhart doesn't get a game. I like that he's being developed as a small defender and think he could be a good long term option for us in the backline. He offers good rebound run, tenacious tackling, decent kicking skills and is one of the few small defenders we have. With Jetta and Hibberd slowing down, Lockhart is the next in line but IMO is already superior to Hibberd. I'd be playing him and Jetta in the back pockets. In 12 months time I'd love our backline to look something like: Jetta May Lockhart Salem Petty Lever with Rivers on the interchange as the rotating option. That gives us two talls in May and Petty, a third tall type in Lever who can go intercept or lockdown, two medium with good rebound in Salem and Rivers, and two small to lockdown and rebound in Jetta and Lockhart.

His final against St Kilda in 2006 wasn’t his best, but yes Travis was probably the best big game Demon player in my lifetime. He always stood up in finals and the big matches. He’s very underrated on these forums from what I’ve read. Yes, he could’ve had a better career, but it was still a good one where he lead the league for kicks, inside 50s and score assists for years on end. He was class. Back on Bennell, he’s supremely talented and it’s exciting we might be seeing him in a red and blue so soon! He played part midfield and part forward in the practice match. Do we expect the same at AFL level or do we need to be cautious with midfield time?

Agreed, it’s not stacked. West Coast midfields is an example of a stacked midfield. Our midfield had full personnel last year. Barely a game missed by Gawn, Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw, Harmes, Petracca, Jones etc. we finished 17th and were the least effective team in history at converting inside 50s into goals. We might have some talented names in there, but reality is our midfield rarely performs well outside of winning ball and bombing it to the opposition. Yes we’ve added Langdon and Tomlinson to the wings, but neither are classy outsiders and both just add running power, not smarts and clean disposal. Our midfield needs a shakeup. I’d be looking to trade one of Brayshaw, Petracca or Viney. There are clubs like Essendon crying out for ball winning midfielders. We’re crying out of classy disposers. Gotta give something to get something.

We have a gaping hole in our forward line. We’re crying out for a tall forward who can kick a bag. Daniher can do that. We have zero currency to trade with this gear having traded away our first rounder already. Getting Daniher for free trade-wise as a free agent would be a coup, as long as we didn’t pay extreme overs. I actually believe he’s fit to play right now, but just doesn’t want to at Essendon. Yes he’s injury prone, but there’s no other options this year.

Shows the value of a good strong key forward and good leadership too. We are crying out for both right now!

Good. Who wants less footy?

Bigger benches are not needed, especially given quarters are being shortened. If they do make the decision to extend the bench capacity though, it suits players like Bennell and Vanders who can get gametime and have an impact in bursts whilst managing loads on their bodies.

Has he been drug tested recently? Might not be able to play for a while if so? (I’m fishing ?)

Gus unfortunately.

Bennell up and running... mouth watering prospect. Let’s see how his calves hold up, but promising signs!

Haven't kept in the loop with footy news. If so, then that present a whole lot of different challenges! Regardless, I don't believe Jackson is ready for AFL level at this stage.

Person unable to work and locked in isolation for 10 weeks due to global health pandemic gives themselves an outgoing haircut. Massive club culture issue that. Get a grip Hutchy you stale peanut.

Assuming no injuries to the following players, I'd go with this line up. B: Jetta May Lockhart HB: Salem OMac Lever C: Langdon Oliver Tomlinson HF: Melksham TMac Petracca Fwd: Pickett Weideman Fritsch Mid: Gawn Brayshaw Viney Int: Harmes Jones Petty Hannan A few notes on the team above: - Hibberd is cooked and omitted. He used to be a great rebounder who'd run then unload precision penetrating kicks to advantage. He earned All Australian selection this way. Fast forward to 2020 and his kicking is now a liability. His fitness has always been an issue, but at his age and with ongoing back and hamstring management, he now doesn't have the dash he used to. It means he takes off, can't go quick enough and then unloads rubbish barrel kicks to nothing as a result. He's probably the biggest liability in our team. I'd be replacing him with Lockhart and rotate players like Harmes and Rivers in future to the back flank. - TMac plays best when allowed to roam up the ground as a CHF. His strength is his fitness. When anchored to the goal square, he struggles to wrestle and has poor agility. His drop off is due to poor delivery, but also not being suited to FF IMO. - Weid to play FF and provide Pickett and Hannan with lots of crumbing opportunities. - Inside midfield rotations to be Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw, Viney, Harmes. Outside to be Langdon, Tomlinson, Salem, Fritsch. - Jones to play more forward flank and either be the kick inside 50 or taking longer shots at goal. - Petty as the interchange tall who can play either end. - Jackson not ready yet. He's not suited to key forward roles as his contested marking is poor and he's not a natural forward. In practice matches we've seen him excel in the ruck, and be really poor as a midfielder or forward. Develop him in the VFL as a ruck resting forward. When he's ready, he can be second ruck to give Gawn a rest if team balance is maintained.

Stevens has addiction issues. Unsure if they’re the result or cause of his mental issues also. Stevens was breaching AFL isolation and social distancing rules and will be in trouble regardless of what happens. He’s also not willing to give police any details surrounding the incident. Seems very likely to be drug dealer stuff gone wrong. He’ll likely never play any meaningful AFL level footy again. It’s a shame to lose another talented footballer to drugs. It’s also a shame that mental health is becoming a go-to excuse to cover other less savory choices and issues.