Nasher

I think there’s always something to be gained from letting players continue to run their form in.

Be nice if whoever is running the broadcast would keep the scores up-to-date. Been a few times where it’s taken ages for them to update after a score. Oh well, shouldn’t complain, probably someone who’s given up their Saturday for free to stand in the pouring rain.

He’s got a 14-4 record at Blundstone for 35 goals - he plays well there.

I did go to add that, then decided against it. I’m not sure a match committee would make these decisions based on strength of their opponent - feels a little bit like not respecting the opposition, but then again, you do see strong teams “rest” players against weaker teams, so maybe that would happen. All things we’ll never know without sitting in on a match committee meeting. I find it fun to try to reverse engineer the thought process though.

Backing the existing forward structure in. Bringing either of them in means a different small/tall mix - with the quality of those two players, that may well be an improvement, but we’re going well so it also may not. This isn’t the week to take that gamble. Let them keep ticking away on the VFL until someone in the AFL drops off, or they force their way in on sustained form. (Speculation only)

Funny watching so many pre-helmet moments there, feels to me like he’s always worn it. It serves as a reminder to the concussion issues that looked at one point like they might derail his career completely. Great to see those issues behind him and that he’s been able to get some continuity in his game. Great stuff Gus!

I seriously hope not. Was really looking forward to this.

I pressed the react button but then found myself torn between the laughing and crying emojis. You’re so right.

Wet Toast is silly but harmless. Calling us Shemons has clear misogynistic undertones. Whoever started that is clearly a boorish oaf.

Other players will no doubt get to 300 but I doubt one will be as meaningful to the supporters as this one. He was the one shining light and face of the club for so many years. It feels like he’s been on the journey with us. It feels like “we” are playing game 300. I’m so glad he’s made it to 300 and I’m glad it will be played in front of a huge crowd, when we’re going well. He deserves it. Go Chunk.

And Cam Pederson.

20,667 days. Our mission is to avoid the dreaded 21,000.

Just watch that again. Absolutely great effort by Rivers too to interfere with Wingard’s run without giving away a free. Hibberd’s heroics wouldn’t have happened without that.

I just don’t understand Robbo. Surely he’s not half-sloshed when he’s on air - how can that be allowed? But if not, then how can an incoherent oaf manage to develop such a high profile? I’m not fussed about him one way or the other, I just can’t make any sense of what I see when he’s on my TV.

Fair point. May have let the sea of “drop Melksham” posts scattered about the place colour my interpretation of your post.

I haven’t written anyone off, Earl. I’m not saying you can’t compare them because the modern players are better. I’m saying you can’t compare them at all. The passage of time plus the changes in the game means you’re not comparing like for like. Acknowledge the past greats for what they were by all means, but comparing them with modern players is pointless in my opinion. Edit: I agree that the best measure is probably how they compared to their peers at the time. To me that would definitely put Gawn right up there - but it’s still very hard for me to compare them from our last premiership era.

Can’t see how it makes sense in any way to drop him. And for what - so Sparrow or some other marginal player can play? Chunk can come back in and play his 300th in Hobart. Good one. He deserves his 300th to be on a big stage in front of a huge home crowd. The crowd deserves it too. For years he was our only good player. Even if the team is marginally worse for it - and to be clear I think that’s very much debatable anyway - then so be it. The only thing I’m disappointed about is that I can’t be there next week.

He registered 9 score involvements, kicked 3 goals and only played 69% TOG - only ANB played less. Sometimes I think it must cause people physical pain to acknowledge when he has a good game.

Gee I cringe when people compare current era players to players with players from 60 years ago. Even if you could reliably remember how good they were, which I’m very confident nobody would be able to, the game then was played at a significantly lower standard. And how do those 30s to 60s era greats compare to the stars of our 1900 premiership? Best ever is a question that can’t be resolved. I can confidently say though that Max is definitely up there with the most influential players I’ve seen in my lifetime.

Yep, I’ve got him on the wing. Forward line of BB, Weid, Fritsch, Kozzy, Melksham and one of ANB or Spargo. As someone in the post match thread said, he takes Brayshaw’s wing, Brayshaw takes Jordon’s mid role and Jordon goes out.

LALALALALA (fingers in ears)

Out: M.Brown (Petty) [Spargo] In: Weideman (May) [Fritsch]

Non-dilemma. Just pushes further up the ground when Weideman and B.Brown are in. Can’t be dropped in current form.

Easy as decision. He’s not so far off that he’s truly costing the team yet if you compare him incrementally to who would replace him (Sparrow et al), so he stays. Plays game 300 in front of a huge crowd, and gets chaired off to a standing ovation after a good win and gets to wave to all the loyal MFC fans who have been on the ride with him. He becomes a week by week proposition after that.

Hibberd played at a level I thought was behind him today too. I’d almost forgotten how good his best footy was.