Fat Tony

8 minutes ago, Binmans PA said:

We still tried to play forward half in most games last year except Rounds 19-21, where we played from the back more.

I think we have tried to play a forward half game this year. We’re winning due to the backline being so strong and our efficiency but I don’t think it’s by intention. 

45 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Ideally, we wouldn’t give 20 more Inside 50s. That is not good, because it puts pressure on your backline.

But there is a concerted effort to create from the backline and to be proactive. 2024 is different to 2023.

I contend we made that change last year. In 2022 we used a near identical plan to 2021.

But in 2023 we were much bolder and used both sides of the ground, especially early on, when we had fit key forwards. This was partly due to having two genuine wingman with Hunter coming across.

36 minutes ago, Binmans PA said:

Disagree.

Let's see who's right as the season goes on mate.

Goodwin has been saying that he is not happy with the amount of territory we have been conceding.

We had very good efficient wins against the Dogs, Swans and Eagles last year, which looked similar to 2024.

The big change in style we made was the start of last year when we started using both sides of the ground when attacking from the backline.

I still think Goodwin wants to play a forward half game and that the game plan is very similar to 2023.

We have just been beaten in the midfield more often this year and we have kicked very accurately. This means that instead of getting repeat entries, which are usually inferior entries into a more crowded forward line, so the ball has been going back to the centre more often. Plus our forward pressure has also been average due to Brown and Petty both being in the forward line (and Kossie missing against Sydney).

The Swans midfield beat us in the contest in greasy conditions which did not suit Gawn (and favoured Grundy) and also worked against our unskilled bulls.

Against the Dogs, the midfield was even and the Dogs transitioned the ball better than we would have liked from the back half but were poor going inside 50.

We killed Hawthorn in the centre and the game was effectively over by quarter time.

Port's midfield beat us but our defence held strong.

The Crows midfield beat us and our defence held strong/they fluffed their chances.

A lot of losing in the midfield battles comes down to being fixtured against three elite midfields (Sydney, Dogs and Port) but it also is due to Oliver being injured in the last two weeks. I think we will see a reversion to the 2023 model as the sample size increases, especially if Oliver recovers and we can get on top of some of the poorer/more average midfields.

This will be a close game. Our form is not quite as strong as it looks and our last four wins have been big overs on Expected Score and we have lost the inside 50s in the last two weeks. We won't want to lose the territory battle again this week because Daniher and Hipwood have a height advantage and Cameron is a nightmare matchup.

I would start with Oliver on Neale at stoppages, especially in the centre. Oliver is struggling with his hand and Neale is key for the Lions' midfield. We really need a better performance from Clarrie in the clearances to beat Brisbane IMO.

Kossie is a big out, especially given the poor forward pressure we are are getting from Brown. Petty has been average in this regard too this season off the back of limited preseason and Fritsch doesn't ever like getting his hands too dirty. These weaknesses have been covered by our superior efficiency over the last month.

If we win the midfield battle, I doubt the Lions can play well enough to transition the ball through our defensive system enough times. That said, we have not been as strong defensively all over the ground this year and have relied on our back six to defend too much this year.

2 hours ago, PaulRB said:

A question for the Demonland brains trust, as Caleb develops does he have the tools to play in the middle, aka Butters or Rozee? or is he too slight... 

Definitely has the hands and decision making in tight, so he will be a centre bounce player when he gets enough muscle.

Why do we keep using Lionel Hutz (Adrian Anderson)? He is useless.

13 minutes ago, Young Blood said:

Cool but I'm not the media. Just someone who is sick and tired of concussions due to careless acts from opposition players.

Here's another angle. If an opposition player lightly clipped a demon player in this same act I would be furious. Especially if they have a history of careless/reckless behaviour like Kozzy has. Its not the impact, its the act! Why did he need to turn and knock his head with the elbow? Its unnecessary. 

The elbow is down here. 

What was Kossie meant to do? Cut his arm off in the air?

14 minutes ago, Young Blood said:

Its the turning and tucking of the shoulder with elbow out (yes I know he eventually extends the arm to push.. quick thinking from Kozz). But its this action the AFL wants to stamp out and the recent history shows this player has a habit of not showing duty of care when they leave their feet. Like the Peter Wright incident its split second stuff and so so hard to think quick but this action/instinct has the potential with head contact to cause damage and this action is why he won't get off tonight. The AFL need to make a stand (unfortunately for us... Should have been with Maynard last year).

Where's the duty of care of the players head here? And don't tell me this [censored] of 'he could have hit him so much harder' like thats going to stand up at the tribunal. Yes I know its the back angle which looks worse but it shows him turn his body and tucking.

 

Kossie's humerus bone is almost vertical at the point of collision, so his elbow is pointing down. He raised his wrist to 90 degrees, in a half brace action. A full brace would have brought the elbow down lower but also tensed the biceps and made the hit harder.

The action to half brace has little or no impact on if Soligo got a concussion or not. But failing to do this action might have seen Kossie with a shoulder injury, broken ribs or losing a kidney. 

Did Kossie jump with any intention to bump Soligo? No, he was trying to smother.

Could have he done anything to prevent a collision with Soligo's head whilst in the air? No. The trajectory of both players' prior to the incident was always going to result in contact, as Kossie was initially running a path to tackle Soligo.

Did Kossie's actions make the collision with Soligo harder than it needed to be? Not really. Kossie did not fully tense his biceps. If he had have kept the right wrist down, there still would have been a similar force collision and Kossie might need a shoulder reconstruction.

14 minutes ago, Binmans PA said:

I like Turner, but I think his issue at this stage is he struggles on the gorillas, so I'd be having him play on the big boys at VFL level. Take the biggest opposition forward.

It's why I tend to agree with @Ollie fan and @Jaded No More that he's more likely to replace Lever or Howes. 

This is not to say he won't be a good KPB when he puts on more muscle and gains greater strength.

I think Turner has already shown he can do well on the big VFL forwards. But there is a big gap in class between AFL and VFL.

I think Turner plays a bit like Tom Stewart from the Cats. He has good pace, marks well at the highest point and kicks well. I would like to see him play on smaller players in the VFL, because he is going to need to play alongside May and Lever in the AFL team.

Turner needs a run of AFL games to get up to the speed of the game, but I think it would be a good investment.

Great news that Disco is back. Reckon he’s got a big future. 

My two biggest beefs with gather round are 1) that the South Australian teams get an extra home game every year; and 2) there are too many matchups big Victorian teams against each other.

Both these things could be solved through better fixturing.

51 minutes ago, BDA said:

That Roar article is way over the top and out of order. If Kossie really was a sniper he would have laid out Soligo. But he didn’t because I think tried to minimise the contact realising mid-action that he could cause damage. Still made contact but not near to the same extent as he could have. I think this clearly sets the incident apart from Maynard who appeared to make no attempt whatsoever to reduce the impact with Gus.

I wouldn’t give this author the time of day. That said, I’m not sure how others can construe the article as being racist.

In terms of the action itself my understanding is that once you leave the ground and make contact with the head it is automatically graded as medium impact. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow night if that’s a correct application of the rule or not.

Whilst I think he tried to minimise the impact I’m not sure why Kossie needs to leave the ground in this situation. I’m sure the FD will be coaching in this regard. Just stay on your feet kossie.

He left the ground to try and get the ball which was sailing over his head. 

19 minutes ago, kev martin said:

Quote from  @Tim.

"Casey played a praccy match against Carlton at Princes Park on Friday evening. Lachie Hunter played and Taj got some more miles into his legs after his brief Adelaide cameo on Thursday night. Sestan not playing.

Kynan Brown was excellent, as too was the Kolt. Taj and Bill were also good."

No setback, they got a game into Hunter, and were giving him light duties. 

Sounds like Sestan has the setback, and being in rehab was not fitness related. At least he was running plenty of K's.

Hopefully this is right about Hunter. He looked very proppy yesterday. 

One other point on the Kossie incident. I cannot fathom those who are saying " he needs to get that out of his game" after this incident. Pickett jumped in the air to smother the ball. He did not leave the ground intending to bump as he did against Smith and Cripps. 

Smothering is inherently dangerous but you don't win football matches without it.

Those people criticising Pickett are probably also lauding Tom Sparrow, who leapt to smother the ball before the Petracca goal.

5 minutes ago, kev martin said:

Not such a good morning, weather wise. As I arrived, it starting raining, settled into watching some Victory players have a kick around.

The MFC squad come out as the rain abated, they had wide smiles as the walked down the roped corridor. Plenty of joy from the supporters towards them, kids everywhere, maybe about 500 to a 1000 of us.

Rehab/light duties, Hunter, BBB, TMac, McAdam, Bowey, Chandler, Melky, Sestan, AMW.

Chandler was doing enough running to suggest he will be right.

I expected Hunter to be in the main group, must have had a setback.

Looks like they are working on the fitness of Sestan.

BBB and TMac are managed, no obvious hindrances, and the easy recovery run is usual for them.

A surprise with AMW, just as we were suggesting he is nearly ready, he goes into rehab. I couldn't tell what the problem was.

No Spargo or Hore, and I cannot remember seeing Turner (?).

They split into three stations, short kicking, a kind of soccer competition of kicking the ball down the field with finesse  from outside the line, and a structured handball game.

Down came the rain again for 5 minutes and then cleared.

They did some structured sims. Coaches would move the ball from the forward line and set a high mark for a backman who would slingshot it off via spread and/or corridor it with links, to either a marking forward or to a forward that brings the ball front and centre. may was moving well.

They had a couple of meetings in the middle.

Finally, they head to the boundary for extensive signings.

Great atmosphere.

Spargo and Turner were in rehab group but didn’t do much.

AMW told me he hopes to play this week. Also said he thought we would challenge Kossie’s ban. 

Hunter looked very proppy. Might have re-injured himself. 

Chandler looked in doubt this week with his right knee. 

2 minutes ago, Pates said:

Look I'll agree to disagree, he lifts the elbow out which raises his arm to impact with the upper arm. He doesn't get done for striking because that's the part that made impact.

This is the point of impact. The elbow was clearly down and tucked by his side. A raised elbow would mean the contact was with the elbow or forearm, not bicep. 

7 minutes ago, Pates said:

I'm not sure what you're looking at to be honest, he raised his elbow even if it was only slightly. He keeps his ams by his side the whole time he grazes the Adelaide player and we're not missing him next week.

It's silly from Koz, these silly acts have no genuine benefit to him, the team, and the game. It makes him look like a cheap thug. I don't like it from any player in the comp, so to have one of my favourite players do it really frustrates me. 

I've heard a few people saying Goody should be taking him aside and trying to curtail it, I actually see it as a leadership group situation. A chat from Gawn and Nibbler saying, "you're letting your teammates down with these acts" would be the best approach. If can play the game hard, without playing it dirty. 

He was charged with Rough Conduct not Striking, as would have been the case had he raised the elbow. 

1 minute ago, Master Chief said:

Unnecessary lifting of the elbow by Kozzy is going to cost the team. He needs to pull his head in with these kinds of acts. Missed too many games for silly, avoidable incidents.

He didn’t lift the elbow. It was by his side. 

The concept of using “potential to cause injury” to alter the level of “impact” of the charge has more holes than Swiss cheese. The case could fail at the corrupt MRO, but I reckon the chance at appeal is decent. 

21 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

the only way he gets a week is if it comes down as medium contact, and i remain confident we'll try and get it downgraded to low, and a fine

just don't hire adrian anderson as our representative; he's a lovely chap, but i can't recall the last time he had a win at the tribunal 

Anderson is not a lovely chap. He was responsible for initiating the tanking investigation. He is no friend of the MFC.

9 minutes ago, seventyfour said:

Can't defend Kozzy for this at all. Anyone making excuses has their MFC glasses on. He raised his elbow and was clearly trying to make Soligo feel it.

It was a dumb choice, he will get weeks, and he deserves weeks.

In his time off he need to do some work on the mental side of his game.

Raised his elbow? He tucked his arm in to his side just as he was taught at Auskick to protect his vital organs and shoulder.

The force of the collision was significantly due to Soligo's momentum forwards.

I am still not sure what players are meant to do in this instance. Pickett jumped pretty much straight up in response to the handball. His action to tuck his elbow in is required to protect vital bodily organs. Should he leave himself open and cop three broken ribs like Steven May. I don't see it as a careless act at all.