jnrmac

Maybe my recollection is hazy but Cameron moves high up the ground to try and drag lever up the ground and disrupt or defensive structure. He's only kicked 3g twice against us. Hardly bothered us at all really. 

Not to dismiss him but the more important factor is not allowing the Cats to move the ball with speed into their i50

3 hours ago, BLWNBA said:

Whilst Hunter has moments of brilliance, I'm not sure he really offers anything more than what we have in the side at the moment. His underground handballs are frequently intercepted, and he doesn't exactly offer speed in the spread out of the contest or around the ground. I commend his ability to kick the miraculous goal, but he doesn't hit the scoreboard enough IMO to justify inclusion on that ground. 

I'd much rather give the game time to Windsor; his skills are far superior and he can also kick a classy goal (though I wouldn't depend on him week in week out for a Joe the Goose). 

Windsor was subbed off last week, most likely because he looked tired and turned the ball over.

It wouldn't surprise at all to see him have a break as a first year player. And bring the experienced, solid-bodied Hunter in against geelong.

The main issue for me is that Geelong are fast between the arcs and I am not sure Hunter is match fit enough.

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

It's the "oh their 7-0 but they're not playing well and haven't beaten anyone" narrative that's crept into the discussion.

Geelong have been the best performed team so far this year. I don't know how one can argue otherwise.

Sydney put in an immature performance against Richmond, GWS went to sleep 2 weeks in a row and it almost cost them the full 8 points, while Carlton have lost just as many quarters as they've won. 

It's a fact that the draw is inequitable. It's perfectly valid to argue that team x hasn't performed or been tested against good sides.

For example, Port Adelaide beats up on weaker sides but performs poorly against top 4 sides.

Their ladder position flatters them

Players with that low flat drilling pass kick are worth their weight in gold.

He's quite similar to Bowey altho JB is probably better overhead

25 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

In simple terms you have to look at our best 26 and say who is bottom 10. Then you ask is he a better player for a particular role than someone in the bottom 10.

If yes... go for him

I'd be disappointed if the recruitment team have not got a secret spreadsheet where this exercise is applied to every bottom 10 across the league. You can easily add in the "gettable" factor when you've identified your targets to determine the prime targets.

Everyone is monitored

3 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

@WalkingCivilWar did you ask Fritta what Dusty said to him post game? Looks like he told him to f off which I can only assume is due to jealousy over his glorious hair 🤷‍♀️

There was a thread I read somewhere and some guy who was deaf commented on it.

DM walked past Viney 'well done mate' then walked past Windsor in a tracksuit, then came up to Fritsch and said 'F** that bloke looks about 12'

Fritsch says "What?"

Dusty repeats it and walks off.

Fritsch looked bewildered.

14 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Has it ever happened that both granny teams have missed the final eight in September?

It must have happened. Does any one know when? Tx.

2023 Geelong missed the finals and Sydney finished 8th

1963 was the last time both GF's missed finals (final 4)

3 hours ago, DubDee said:

Can somebody please give WC a priority pick!

what a crock. won the flag 6 years ago and are now fine. 

tanking doesn’t exist huh?

They ranked in 2010 to win the spoon. 2011 they won 16 games to finish in the top 4 

No f*ing way they get a priority pick

Previous few games the Cats have gone with Stanley taking the centre bounce then moving back to CHF.

Blicavs took Tracc at centre bounce and then the ruck contests b/n the arcs.

Hawkins takes the ruck contests in the fwd 50

They jump into Max at every chance,  switch the ball constantly asks chip their way into their fwd line

9 hours ago, Farmer said:

Just watch the first quarter . Petty lead or made possession 7 times but we failed to deliver the ball to him except once on the wing. Usual good disposers kicked it over his head or a yard short of him. Would be very stupid to drop him

im more concerned about JVR . Not leading, not grabbing marks, yes he is useful when rucking. But if Fullerton is to come in I would leave out JVR

 

He also dropped two or three marks during the game. Had a real stinker 

15 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

This probably belongs in the Stats File thread, but great find.

Not only are we 1 at defending clearance, we're 2 at attacking from clearance. So, whilst our raw clearance winning numbers are down, we make the most of them without being punished the other way.

We're not being outscored in the stoppage game whilst having spent the first 7 weeks of the year working hard on our turnover game (which needs more work, given we're still only 11th for scoring from intercept which puts us behind all of the better sides in it and, weirdly enough, also behind North and Hawthorn).

The surprise is how highly the Dogs are ranked

18 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Not the worst of ideas. If Windsor could hold a position at half back he could be a real rebounding weapon. On the other hand that's one less player delivering quality ball into the forward line

I like Windsor but he does have some JHunt vibes with his disposal. He is a better decision maker but his kicking can be ordinary

17 hours ago, DubDee said:

Stewart would play on Turner or JVR in this scenario

Goodwin would have played Melksham on Stewart had he been available.  Might surprise with a defensive role from mcadam if he's capable of that.  Stewart would be troubled by McAdam

Maybe the plan was to try Disco for a game and then play on Stewart?

The Cats will play keepings off. Take it to the bank. The key for us is to stop that and put pressure on the ball carrier. They switch at every opportunity and try to control tempo. We have to cover the ground well to contain them

The Richmond game was scrappy and we turned the ball over a lot but the Cats will be a different stye of game

One thing Goodwin is good at is ensuring that the first halves of games are a scrap and an arm wrestle. He likes to stay in games for long periods before grinding out wins.

Geelong are totally beatable and we will have to play well to do it. A number of players need to lift but most of all our midfield.

Our backline this year has been awesome and deserve a huge amount of credit for keeping us on track while our mids have gone missing

Gawn

Lever

Disco

Langers

Rivers

Kozzie

Quite chilly here in Melbourne now (apparent temp 11.9deg) but looks like the rain has gone and it will be a dry game..

Richmond will kick a lot of ground balls into their fwd 50 tonight

We need some agility there because we're not great at that.

1 hour ago, rjay said:

I think you've got to do something but I'm not sure how you enforce it.

I was asking a rhetorical question but it seems that it is the way we are heading. 

Yes it would be ridiculous enforcing it (in particular with 4 umpires and different interpretations) but what's new with the AFL?

Perhaps consideration should be given to how 'hard' players attack the ball? It's been a foundation of our game but they seem to want to eliminate contact.

We were always taught to 'go in hard you won't get hurt' but maybe that has to change.

Its already become like basketball which I hate .....

So at what point do we outlaw players running back with the flight of the ball?

Our is that 'brave'?

2 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Our game plan should be don't let Bolton touch the footy.

Goodwin doesn't tag so will be hard

On 18/04/2024 at 14:03, Gawndy the Great said:

Yze will also put up a good tactical game, looking to exploit known vulnerabilities. 

We just need to focus on responding to the Lions games.

Let me outline Yze's game plan.

1. Don't kick it high into the Richmond fwd line

2. Chip the ball into the fwd line. Dirty balls work well against the Dees.

3. Avoid May and Lever

4. Pressure them relentlessly and watch them crumble

5. Avoid May and Lever

6. Jump into Gawn's back at every single opportunity. Hold him scragg him - he never gets a free so don't worry

7. Shake Olivers hand really hard at the start of the game. Give him lots of high fives

8. Avoid May and Lever.

9 Above all and if you have forgotten everything else, avoid May and Lever

12 hours ago, M_9 said:

We must play Fullerton. Max and JvR as our ruck combo can’t possibly see out the season.

Furthermore, playing backup ruck is hindering JvR’s development as a key forward IMO.

We have just had a 13 day break and will then have a 10 day break. Now is not the time to give Max a chop out.

If Mathew Nicholls or Nathan Williamson are umpiring I won't go.

Shocking umpires who hate Melbourne and make the game unbearable.

2 hours ago, Demonstone said:

We drafted him but he never crossed to Victoria from his native S.A.

Played for Adelaide and was then traded to Sydney where he didn't play a single game.

We also drafted Darren Jarman but he refused to come and stayed in Adelaide before going to the Hawks a year later.

Absolute draft tampering

Two of the most important recruits for Melbourne were Bernie Vince and Jordan Lewis

They were at a time when Melb was crud for years and no gun player wanted to come near the club

We were in a critical part of our building phase with numerous young players and no one with Premiership experience on the field. Vince was a two time B&F winner and a great teacher 

In fact there were very few at the club with any Premiership experience until Roos came along. No one knew how to win.

And Lewis, with 4 Premierships was possibly the most important because of his stature in the game. Players hung off every word he said and followed has advice.

These two with Roos (and Peter Jackson) rescued the MFC. 

I will be forever grateful.