Ungarie boy

Salem

Harmes

Geez I dont know, maybe

Fritz

Wagner

Brayshaw

16 hours ago, McQueen said:

The club goes to train in Maroochydore in the heat and humidity to get used to it.

The players are much more conditioned than ever before. 

The first 4 rounds in Perth are usually played in mid 30’s. 

They’ll be fine but I recommend to whoever’s going to take extra beers. 

A question for our Qld members, does the Sunshine Coast / Gold Coast get much hotter than low 30's.  My recollection is that it tends to be pretty consistent around the 29c - 32 mark.  I think Melbourne could even experience more "Hot" days.

regardless 38 degrees is significantly hotter than the preparation most clubs can plan/cater for, plus it is dry heat which effects you differently.  

Clarrie will likely need to be dipped in a bath of sunscreen every 15 min's to avoid 5 degree burns!!!

1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Can anyone with young children in their family who watched AFLX report on their level of enthusiasm? In particular did the new format increase or decrease the level of excitement for those who also watched last year? It's clearly a product not aimed at rusted on AFL followers. But if it can't generate interest in the young...surely the AFL will have to start thinking about whether it's worth persevering with.

Oldest liked following certain players; and was just happy to cheer footy.  The next got frustrated at the lack of tackling and pressure - which made the footy confusing and annoying. The youngest asked what he did wrong to be punished, and said he would give up Fortnite for the weekend if he could leave.  All of them were constantly asking what happened or why they did that.  To quote, "how come no-one ran up to grab the ball of the ground from the place kick" and then "isn't it play on when the ball touches the ground" to "how can another player hold the ball, is that play on or illegal disposal" with "It's time out - when the ball is placed on the ground but doesn't it need to be picked up to re-start" and many more questions which I found myself being asked - and dodging by blaming the rabbits (thinking of the "great wall is to keep the rabbits out!!!" answer in some long ago forgotten ad).

but then again my kids play football, so maybe they to were the wrong target audience!!!!

The answer is obvious, get Lewis to have a chat to his old friend Roughead to come across as a delisted free agent.

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

 

There are no guarantees we will be back in prelim next year for those that think we are on an upwards trajectory........

Actually if you look at that broadly most of these sides are there for at least a couple of years (sometimes 2 in 3), often 3 or more.  The Dockers of 2006 being the glaring anomaly.

Clubs that are challenging  (in premiershop window) don't  make wholesale list changes (thats for rebuilding); the good ones will take a more surgical approach (not a slash n burn greenfields approach).  Therefore 3-4 changes would likely see us done, max 5.

Balic, vince, kent, king and Johnstone look likely.

The important thing yo remember is whether the players coming in are better. Round 4 and 5 picks in the draft in reality are not going to be.  So a free agent like Gaff would be a win (then 3 draft picks)

Alternatively you add a player by trading which means a JKH or Tyson are more vulnerable but leaves a king/kent/Johnstone on the list, if sticking to about 5 main squad list changes.

Note many people like to see change for change sake, but another reality is most clubs discards (players they are happy to trade or delist) rarely star at or improve another club.  

18 minutes ago, Damo said:

If as it seems, that jumper punching will incur suspension, there needs to be a change to allow forwards and midfielders to get away from grabbing hands that stop them from leading and spreading. 

In Buggs case it was Heeney that was holding his jumper and that looked the same with Andy Brayshaw as Gaff was attempting to run into space.

Im not sure of the answer but disallowing a player to get free needs to be looked at.

 

Have said this before, but the answer is actually pretty simple; pay a free kick for contact of the ball (5 metres).  Its pretty much already in the rules:

1) you aren't allowed to tackle (grab) a player without the ball

2) you are not allowed shepherd a player more than 5 metres off the ball

3) you are not allowed bump a player more than 5 metres of the ball 

apply theses and it all stops.

Oh and then enforce the a simple rule amendment, if your closed fist makes contact with another player then it's an automatic 1 week suspension (If an AFL player is that careless, clumsy, clueless, that the can't hit the ball with their fist then they shouldn't be playing at this level / the don't have the skills)

Fritsch

Oliver

Harmes

Brayshaw

Gawn

Jetta

Okay, I've had a bit of a play with the ladder predictor and it seems to be that the top 6 is pretty settled; I have the hawks as high as 5th given expected results.  

The final two spots come down to Roos, Dees and the Pies.  A few games with these sides are  50-50, but on the law of averages the effect will be either 9th place or a bottom half of the 8.   

Reality is the Dee's cannot afford to drop a game to a weak team and needs win a game against gws or better.  The draw of the other teams doesn't allow for any other slipups.

Still if we can't win these game then reality is we also don't deserve to be there!!!

Apparently our players dont have heads while theirs start at the hip.

Would love to know how many goals they got from frees and setup from frees.  Umpiring was atrocious, bodering on criminal.

If your fitness staff is doing it's job you don't need to rest players!!!

Gawn

Omac

Jetta

Brayshaw

Jones

Fritsch

* note our dominance began when Brayshaw moved into the cenetr square

The rule will be amended as soon as someone  is taken out (concussed or worse) by someone hitting the person on the mark who is unaware he is there (they are, or should, be focused on the person taking the kick).  Of course the rule change will be hastily drawn up, and ill conceived (as a knee jerk reaction); which smart coaches like Clarkson will quickly exploit  Then to fix this they will do a series of interpretations over the next 5 years (keeping the rule committee in a job; and feeding the media with a slow day story filler whenever needed)!!!

Tyson has to come in, as he is one of our ball winners.

our game plan needs speed in the backline so Hunts in

it also needs speed on the wing so Stretch in

our pressure in the forwards is lacking so Hannan comes in

we need a second ruck so Peders is needed

We are really missing Tmac

Hannan Hogan Fritsh

Petrac Peders ANB

Stretch Jones Vince

Hunt Lever Salem

Jetta Omac Hibberd

Gawn Oliver Tyson

Kent Brayshaw Lewis Wagner (though I would give serious consideration to Bugg tagging Dusty)

Playing a handball game on wet weather day is like bringing a sword to a gun fight.  

- with similar results, we got slaughtered!

Most players rarely reinvent themselves, even those that do normally do so by bringing their strength to a new position/role. Kent is fast and aggressive, but also very lazy and an unreliable kick.  His attack at the contest (getting to it, while the ball is still there to be won; not arriving when the opposition have it and the only option is to apply belated pressure/tackle) was also lacking.  Against the quality of opposition on reported to be on display these poor qualities are not tested or shown out, while the strength will be exemplified.  He is not yet ready.  

On exposed form Hannan, Brayshaw and Stretch seem closest.

Although our defence has looked poor, it seems a lot of this stems from our wings and forward flanks.  Melskam has been out of form and our wings seem to be out of position.  This can be corrected by positional changes, but I believe the coaches are trying to teach players these new roles with an eye on the future.

Easy solution is for Jones to revert to Center and Salem to the wing (allows him space).  Hunt to the back flank to gain confidence is also an easy option. Jones, Lewis can rotate.  I'd look at Vince playing Half forward flank / wing where he could be threatening from 50-60 forcing oppositions to stretch their zones a bit further from goal (give him a checking role on their possession winner, so that he doesn't play lose).

Brayshaw in Bugg would be my option, but Bugg does seem to do a lot of the team things.  

15 hours ago, A F said:

Absolutely. Never said he wouldn't be in our best 22. But what would he offer (specifically) that we don't already possess?

As you say, at what cost? I'd take him if he came cheaply, but he won't. 

Oliver, Viney, Petracca, Salem, Brayshaw, Tyson and Jones will do me fine.

We keep banding names about as a given, but in reality, on current output, I'm not sure that midfield would scare a lot of teams.

Oliver is very good, Viney would struggle to be a top two midfielder in any of the top half teams.  Petracca, Salem and Brayshaw are not even regular midfielders let alone serviceable midfield component. Tyson would just be a good midfield component in top team (but not crucial).  Jones may be a starting midfielder in most teams, but is ageing.

Yes there is a lot of potential, but those words have existed since Daniher left. 

What we really have is a dominant third year player as our maquee midfielder, a couple of warriors in Viney and Jones; with Tyson as support.  So Sloane would be a very handy addition (he would be part of most teams top bracket midfielders).

Still top midfields tend to grow quickly and from nowhere,  it's not often they are bought; so there is hope for optimism.  Our likely growth is just as likely to result from an ANB, Harmes, Hannan or Spargo improving rapidly.

I've said it before; the player responsible for initiating the high contact should be penalised; so if your ducking, dropping to the knee's or rolling the shoulders and it creates high contact you get penalised.  A couple free kicks when in possession of the ball would very very quickly kill this practice (coaches would not stand for it at all, rather than encouraging it or at least turning a blind eye).

* note benefit of the doubt goes to the ball carrier unless they have a history (a weekly review could name players who lose the benefit of the doubt)

Why oh why is there a banjo twang in the background????  That most definitely is not MFC. 

If any demonland members are looking for accommodation; then contact me, and I'll get my travel agency to quote you cost prices.

The more melbourne supporters at the ground the better.

ANB for me, but there needs to be more love for Oscar.  He showed improvement in the areas we really need (strength and kicking)

A quick easy fix that would enhance the game significantly would be to make the super goals 10 points only from your own half.  Introduce a Super Mark (taken within a 10 metre arc from point post to point post) which is rewarded with 10 point goals (if kicked from mark).  Probably should supplement this with a rule kicks into the 10 metre arc must travel 25 metres.

This would encourage long kicks into the goal hotzone for contested marking and front centre/small forward crumbing of spilled marks; which would of course lead to more tackling and contested pressure.  Could even be more ruck contests as a result.

Most major AFL elements reintroduced!!!  Game still fast and suited to a soccer field!!!

13 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

The complainant hasn't made a statement as per Vicpol release.

I like everybody else on Demonland is in the dark on a lot of the details.

The female involved may have not even reported it, I have seen it happen before when what is referred to as the early complainant makes the report.

IMO it's best for all involved to just let it run its course 

My understanding from all the various statements/press releases is:

MFC became aware of situation
MFC informed AFL integrity 
AFL integrity informed Vic Police
Vic Police interviewed female involved
Female involved has not made a statement/complaint

Question - can the AFL integrity inform the Vic Police without the complainant consent (is this even ethical)

* Note the situation could be damning and worth being hung, drawn and quartered over; embarrassing (aka the rugby league player incident where the female took on a group but said no to one); or a fabrication (intentional or not).  Due process and respect must run it's course otherwise in each of these situations the victim (it differs according to the scenario) suffers even more.  We should show respect and not judge until the Facts are known (if ever).

Making the finals .........

is better than ...........

Not making the finals!!!!!!