Nasher

When was the last time we'd put a game out of reach at half time? I know - careful not to jinx etc, but I can't see this game becoming more free flowing and high scoring as it goes on. The players all looked stuffed.

Scoreboard flatters Freo

I thought at first it might be believable because I have no doubt Roos has a healthy ego. Then I tried to imagine Roos sitting in a committee room with Goodwin, Rawlings, Plapp and whoever else, replying to each call for Grimes to be picked with "nah, sorry boys, he called me out on something six months ago". I can't see how people who have an interest in the team and no interest in Roos' ego would allow that to fly and I can't see Roos pulling rank on them over it.

I loved Plapp's last comment in the VFL player review: "Fingers crossed for Grimesy and he gets an opportunity soon, because he’s doing everything to get that opportunity." He might as well have said "enough is enough Roosy, pick him already".

And if Gawn pulls a hammy in the warmup? His point was that you can't call on a ruckman with 1/2 hr notice if you haven't travelled with them. There may also be some question over Gawn's fitness, who knows. I think it was a perfectly reasonable thing to say.

Anyone else ever wonder whether Demonland members act with the same paranoia and jealously in their real relationships as they do with their football players?

Jeez, you lot. What a pathetic effort at discussing a possibly serious issue with one of OUR players. Nothing like a bit of support eh? Let's try again when more facts come to light.

I'd quit footy if that happened. Selling the soul of the club for improvement that is incremental at best, and arguably not an improvement at all. Thankfully it's a moronic idea that the club would never consider.

Because this is the changes thread, and as if his name is going to come up in selection discussions.

Does playing players who played in a VFL game on the same day as the AFL game really "freshen" the team up much? The intensity at VFL level may be lower, nonetheless Grimes, ANB et al all played a full game of football, just as the AFL players did.

Watts post game: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2016-07-03/rd-15-jack-watts-post-match Both his tone and his words indicate frustration and pain over the loss. Who remembers "I move on pretty quickly after losses"? As sadistic as it is, it's refreshing to hear players express some self-frustration over not quite getting the job done. Watts to me in this interview came across as a player who believes in himself and the team and believes they're good enough to win, and anything less is unsatisfactory, even if the effort was there. It's such a stark contrast to the despair and deflation you would hear in their voices after matches in the past.

Honestly, I just scroll past any post that opens with "we haven't improved...". It's just such a daft analysis that it's not even worth digesting, let alone wasting time arguing against.

Might as well just scratch them off the score then eh? Both free kicks were definitely there and genuinely inhibited him from contesting. You couldn't be sure they wouldn't have been goals anyway had he not been illegally blocked.

Honestly I think it'll be a no-change, pending injuries. The players I see in our side that could be improved upon are: Dawes, one of Frost or OMac, Bugg and possibly vandenBerg or Matt Jones. Dawes has never been dropped in his whole time at the MFC, so I assume the status quo will be maintained there. Hulett may be progressing, but I don't see an urgency in bringing him until we're sure he's ready. We might leave out OMac (Frost is the better of the two IMO) - for who though - Garland? I'm not against it but I don't see it as a huge improvement. I thought Vanders stepped up in the second half when he was put on the ball; didn't get too many damaging possessions but it at least got him tackling again. We persist, I think. Matt Jones besides one pretty ordinary fumble was passable. The players I see out of the side who may be considered are Lumumba, Trengove, Brayshaw, Oliver, Garland, Michie, Hulett, Grimes and Neal-Bullen. Besides Brayshaw and Oliver, I don't see much opportunity to improve our side given the players in question and the players available to replace them. I expect the club to be as conservative as practicable with Brayshaw given the horror year he's had, and I can't see the point of playing selection ping-pong with Oliver; let him settle one way or the other.

6 Watts - complete game. Played all over the ground and got involved in each place. He is having an outstanding year. 5 Jones N - errors took the shine over an otherwise excellent game. Was consistently involved throughout the whole much. 4 Garlett - just so dangerous around goal. Thought he outplayed Betts today. So important to have him firing. 3 Hunt - his use of the ball post-dash was much better today. Two plays of his in particular got my blood pumping - the intercept mark and dash that lead to a goal, and of course his own goal on the run. Not a finished product by any stretch, but gee he is exciting to watch. 2 McDonald T - he is fast, fit, strong, and intercepts like a boss. This was all on display today. His ineffectiveness on the rebound keeps him continues to keep him a rung below the best in the business though. 1 Hogan - looked dangerous as a forward at times. Also really liked the game of Billy Stretch. He is starting to look like a composed user of the ball and is getting on the end of it more, and hitting contests at speed which is great.

Yes - I don't think anyone would argue that we don't need to find someone better, and hopefully soon. His spot is not under threat right at this moment though.

That kick probably should have been another handball then The kick that comes out being crud is a different, independent problem. I agree that this was a real issue today.@

OP only saw the fumble in the last quarter and forgot the rest of the game.

The players are clearly told not to hack it out of a contest. I know we handballed a lot, but it looked to me like the bulk of the handballs were in congestion, and people didn't kick until they had some space on the pack. I've got no problem with that - that clearing kick is more dangerous than over-handball IMO.

That was winnable. Some of our ball use was just so frustrating. I hope that's an experience thing and something that will improve with time, because it is the difference between winning and not at the moment. At least we're fairly consistent in effort relative to the last decade.

...k

I know in hindsight that I have contributed to the deviation of topic in this thread, but this post doesn't even mention Neville Jetta at all. Use another thread if you want to talk about McDonald brothers or Garland. Line drawn HERE - anything not about Jetta now will be deleted. __________________________________________________________________________________________

Doubt he'll player there though. I don't think any MFC players have played in the Dev team this year. Edit: There are 12 people on that extended bench. 4 of the players named in the side will play for the MFC, so you'd assume the 4 non-King MFC players (Jones, Lumumba, ANB, Hulett) on that bench will move on to the 'field' (or possibly in to the MFC side in the case of Jones). 23rd man Machaya will play. That leaves 4 spots for King, Collis, Moncrieff, Morris, Munro, Pattison and Wilson. Moncrieff, Morris and Munro are Casey seniors regulars I think, but I can't see them picking fringe Casey players like Collis, Pattison or Wilson over King. He definitely won't play in the Dev league IMO.

I thought two years was pretty stock standard. I'd say signing Jetta for two is as expected and Garland being the choice of player for three is what's odd. I might be nitpicking.

Didn't Garland sign last year? Different drivers - this decisions are often around trying to balance out the number of players coming out of contract at the same time and so forth.