Dee*ceiving

For mine, The forward line should be: Fritsch, Petty, Pickett ANB, JVR, Spargo With support from: to be acquired forward/ruck, Chandler, Smith, Petracca, Woewodin Brayshaw should move back into defense to cover the loss of Hibberd and to allow Bowey to move up the ground. We should retain the three tall defender model but it doesn't have to be Tomlinson, we should be able to attract a player from another club or have a young one on the list to mould into it. They really only have to have some ability and fall into the system that's run by a very experienced backline.

Agree 100 on Bowey. Bowey and Taj sharing a wing with Bowey spending some time on ball and Taj as a high half forward will improve our I50 delivery, if they can get the pill. I love Lachie Hunter but his kicking is a major impediment & Ed just wasn't himself most of this season unfortunately

BBB had lost more than a yard of pace once he arrived at Melbourne. Though I do agree that to suit our gamestyle we did change his role to be more focussed on creating a contest and bringing the ball to ground. It became a little bit evident last year and moreso this year that even bringing the ball to ground was becoming a struggle for Ben. Which is a real shame because he was moving well and showed good form in the first few rounds this year. Eventually age and injury get's them all.

Petty can play a role very similar to Hogan, Big H was effective as a leading forward when available this year. We'd still need to find a big forward/back up ruck though. There are enough around to suggest we'll land one this year, the question is how much of an influence they can have on our outcomes in 2024.

Goody definitely made some mistakes, non-selection of Grundy would be number 1 for me. Grundy should have been in for Mc Donald and a runner or Hibberd in as sub. It feels like they put a line through him once he was meeting with other clubs. I hope not because professionals should be able ot see past that and trust that the focus remains on getting the job done while still present.

We all know flags are incredibly hard to win. We were the hardest team to beat all year, evidenced by our losses all being 10 points or less (bar 1). Agree with posters sentiments about our more daring ball movement in 2021 compared to now. The fact is we had proper forward targets in 21 that we don't have now. TMac and Brown were serious footballers, but it was their last hurrah. We also mustn't underestimate the loss of Jackson. His size, speed and agility was the perfect foil for Max. He was a tall target all around the ground, competitive in the ruck and effective at ground level. He also gave Max plenty of rest time during the game so when he snagged a shot at goal he wasn't completely nackered. Goody tightened up ball movement to keep games close knowing we were unlikely to kick 15+ goals against the better teams. But while that kept us safe at times it also leave the door ajar for teams when we are inaccurate.

It hurts because we came so close It hurts because we tried so hard but failed From hurt comes resilience We will fight again

Except Gus' default mindset would be "try not to hurt him"... Maynard's default mindset was "try to hurt him"...

Very fond memories of that 1994 team, The Hotel definitely a big contributor to that

Radar suggesting showers inevitable and probably soon...But forecast only 1 - 4 mm

Would be dangerous off a half back flank

Maybe nervous optimism but the more I think about it I feel like we have selected well for the conditions (or at least I've been able to apply logic to justify it). Hibberd not tall but tall enough in wet conditions when marking is tough and brings some ground ball agility (theoretically moreso than Turner / Tomlinson). Smith again tall (but not huge) bu super athletic. Very fit, good foot speed and great leap. Can be used forward and back (again more flexible than Turner / Tomlinson). Laurie sub. Small, quick, agile, good kick & performed well as sub last two weeks. Go Dees!

Is that Brownie's undies?

Petracca Fritsch ANB Viney May Brayshaw

Also more comment that question and a topic that's ripe for a Binman rant... Not unusual by any stretch but how sombre were the commentators once Melbourne got on top late in the third and right through the last quarter? I know a famous Swans victory at home to farewell Buddy was the order of the day but you'd swear they were commentating a funeral towards the end of the game. They basically laid out on making any comments for some outstanding play eg. Trac's goal and Nibbler's holding the ball tackle and said nothing of the Melbourne effort, strength and determination to win in hostile territory.

Disco was terrific if you ask me

Outstanding win. Belief, determination, strength and class. Petracca, Fritsch, Viney, May, ANB just huge!! Many others too, including the coach. Bring on September. It's our time!

Agree with recent sentiments, hard to fathom the need to send Max, on a plane to Sydney to play on a heavy track in a dead rubber before finals. Gold Trip doesn't run on a heavy 9 at Mornington the week before the Melbourne Cup.

Sestan and Verell good chances to forge a career as well. Sestan and elite runner in juniors I am told, belying his size and strength. Also bottom age.

Great analysis, bodes well. But should be noted JVR is playing in a better team now, than Charlie was early in his career.

I think it was more in reponse to Hawthorn subbing a tall for a small. Tommo our slowest/most lumbering defender just wasn't needed any more. Agree re: Shache

To my mind... Fritsch, fitness permitting we must get a look at him in the forward in combination with Melksham... Smith > Tomlinson (Smith moves to the backline to make room for Fritsch) Spargo > Laurie Out: Tomlinson, Laurie In: Fritsch, Spargo It does leave us small up forward, but also very lithe...Not against trying TMac but working him in is harder...Sub?

6 - Lever 5 - Melksham 4 - ANB 3 - Rivers 2 - Brayshaw 1 - May

An absolutely outstanding game from Melksham, he completely nullified Sicily who was even run on the ball to try and get him into the play. Having seen this, and with Fritsch coming back in, can Jake still effectively play that defensive forward role on the oppositions tall interceptor? Having seen Smith (forward and back) & Tomlinson back it seems Smith is the better option overall of the two. Tomlinson out, Smith back and Fritsch in seems and easy change. Does that leave us too short/small in the forwardline? Or is that speed and agility potentially an advantage?

Hibbo being managed I reckon. Will be sub and assure the defense for the last qtr and a half. Where we'll likely be looking to protect a lead...