RalphiusMaximus

If we persist with the high bomb into the forward line Carlton will eat us alive. Their entire game is built around intercepting the forward ball and fast transition. It couldn't be better designed to make us look bad.

Really? I thought it was quite decent when we beat Richmond despite having half a dozen of our first team sidelined. I do agree that we were smashed by the Doggies, but Fremantle don't have anywhere near that level of class on their list.

With Viney out there's a spot in the guts for him. That's where he needs to play.

Franklin's best is long behind him. Daniher is worth far more if he can stay fit.

Saints and Carlton are both "run and gun" style sides. You're always going to see big scores when they play each other. The question is whether they can hold up against a side that puts them under more pressure.

It's not a terrible list. Looking at the top 20, there are a few players in there on reputation rather than output, but it's mostly solid. I think Dangerfield, Ryan, Grundy and Pendlebury are overrated based on last year's output.

I want to see a discernible forward line plan that doesn't include kicking to the hot spot and hoping for something to happen.

Funny to see so much negativity around Farmer. I don't think he was that bad in his first ever game at that level. He showed some good pace and agility, he has a longer kick than I expected and he was certainly willing to chase and tackle. The big issue I had was his kicking. I'm not sure whether it's an issue with his skills or decision-making, but his kicks went to bad places. Still, that is something that can be worked on. More importantly for me, there were a couple of glimpses where he was almost magic. Only a couple, but again, give it time to develop. Edit: Also, we have another open list spot due to the latest LTI.

He just couldn't live with himself if he'd been forced to speak positively about that idiotic man on the mark rule during a game.

44 can play, whoever he is.

Nietschke sounds like he may have hurt his knee again. Hope it's just a knock and not something serious.

Rioli Jr, what a play!

Who is number 11? Casey ruck?

Well, there was the mark to Baker that wasn't paid. That was a bit of a shocker and Rivers was still having a go at the ump five minutes later. Especially when the same ump paid a mark to Aarts shortly after where he never had control of the ball.

The truth is out there Scully.

Pretty happy with that. In particular the skills looked surprisingly solid for the start of the season. Normally they'd be all over the place at this stage. Also very nice to see some of the younger guys getting game time. We have some very neat ball-users and decision-makers coming through.

It's commonly held that the Weagles engaged in some creative character assassination on Jack Darling in his draft year to convince clubs to leave him alone. There were rumours of drug use, bad attitude, excessive partying and even an orgy with some students from an all-girls school while on camp. Whether this is true and whether it made clubs cool on him is open for debate, but he was rated a top five talent and they picked him up for pick 26.

At least a few players. Probably some of the coaches too.

I'm kind of puzzled by the lack of Steven May on that list. I wonder if they base their ratings for key defenders on disposals.

Actually, there is a reason. First, pretty sure if you spend under the cap, you can bank the difference and go over the cap next year. Second it leaves room on the list to fill a need midyear if you have injuries or glaring deficiencies.

MFC predictions Ladder position at the end of the H&A season: 5th Position at the end of the season (e.g. stage of finals): Prelim B&F top 5 (1 point for correct inclusion, 1 point for correct place): 1. Petracca 2. Gawn 3. May 4. Viney 5. Oliver Leading goalkicker: The Weed Most marks: T Mac Best first year player: Bailey Laurie Most improved player: Jackson All Australian 40-man squad selections (1 point each): Gawn, Petracca, Oliver, May All Australian final 22 selections (1 point each): Petracca Big Ben Brown will kick his biggest goal tally against: Essendon Biggest winning margin (exact guess is 5 points, within 1 point margin is 4 points etc): 71 Biggest MFC story of the year (5 points): Location for the Demon's new base to be announced. Other MFC predictions (1 point each): TMac's rebirth as a wingman AFL predictions Premier: Port Adelaide Runner-up: Richmond Wooden spoon: North Melbourne Biggest improver: Sydney Biggest slider: Collingwood Brownlow medal: Petracca Coleman medal: Jeremy Cameron Rising star: Matt Rowell

Kind of scary to think he's four or five years away from having a proper AFL physique according to conventional wisdom. The kid will be a monster.

He was spotted in Mt Eliza the other day.

His highlight package is very impressive.