praha

IT'S PEDO WEEK MF

Hawks are garbage. Will be very disappointed if by the time we head to Adelaide we're not 4-3.

Definitely. I still believe though that team structure has made it harder to win. We certainly would have benefitted from having AFL-fit players in the side last week. Hibberd admitted he was dead and buried in the last quarter (not to say he shouldn't have played but he should have been the only player in that situation). JKH couldn't run. We rested Stretch and Harmes this week so they were obviously out on their feet. Ultimately we had AFL-fit and experienced players in Bugg, Pederson and Kent who weren't given a go. I am all for dumping players that don't perform and tackle but is now really the time to send a message? We're probably the best 2-3 side in Melbourne history atm. I've been overall impressed by our capacity to win the ball and actually give our forwards opportunities. But I've also noticed we run ourselves into the ground and then open the door to be steamrolled. I think a lot to do with that is just how the team has been picked and structured in this situation. We made the mistake of running with Gawn exclusively for so long, and felt the pain in the second half against Geelong. The coaches made the same mistake, two weeks in a row with Spencer. That is so frustrating. I know they couldn't have seen it happening but if your forward line is so reliant on a very specific structure, why risk our goal-kicking capacity by using a piece of that structure as a back-up ruckman? Pederson should have been in the side from Day 1 once Gawn went down. Every time Watts goes into the ruck, our goal kicking capacity drops significantly imo. It totally muddles everything. He should be kept out of centre bounces as much as possible. I am surprised this was evident after the Geelong game. I'm fairly confident that Pederson, Kent and Bugg in last week's team puts us in a better position to win and hold on in the last, than a team with JKH, Smith and ANB/Melksham.

He's due for a good game, then. Luckily he's playing Melbourne this week!

Yeah transition has been an issue that has persisted throughout the Roos era. This is the two-way running issue that even Neeld acknowledged was a major issue. Dumping Stretch I feel is a mistake because he has played well in our two Etihad games this year. I fear that decision was the wrong one although it may be a resting tactic not so much a reflection of performance. I get so frustrated seeing the first option ignored, only for players to turn around looking for a handball. I see that we're trying to get a loop going so we can either get the switch going, or we try *really* hard to create some space. As you said we are too slow to get into space, so all of that overuse is for nothing. Shall be an interesting match. If Jones, Viney and Tyson all bring their A-Game for once this year, we'll probably smash them. I'm really bothered by Stretch's omission, though. Dumping him on performance seems to be at odds with the very kind of players we need in the side atm.

Essendon is [censored] but their forward line delivers. They get no inside 50s but have very good efficiency when going forward. Melbourne is the opposite. We need to start converting otherwise this "fast style" Goodwin promoted in the pre-season is to the detriment not benefit of the side.

So no Gawn + Hogan = reserves team? Come on. I'd be much more concerned if we lost two of Oliver, Jones, Tyson and Viney.

With AFL Members pass? I suspect behind the goals.

Ugly team. But not terrible. There's a lot of talent in every pocket. Hunt along the wing is a good move. I actually think our backline is nicely structured. Lewis, Frost and Vince is a nice half-back line. McDonald worries me on Daniherpes, I assume Jetta will run with McDonald-Tipencantspellit and I think he'll beat him out. Hibbert can go to Goddard. Our forward line just seems...wrong. It's not that I don't like any of the players, but Watts is far more damaging when playing deeper. Not confident in that half-forward line. I wonder how OMac will be used.

Gee I'd be embarrassed if I were a player or someone in the media that hounded him about the cigarette.

Has any club been hit by this terrible disease as much as this club has? Although in this situation individual certainly is bigger than the club. I can't imagine what he is going through.

I have always said, even having lived through 2 Collingwood flags, 2 Essendon flags, and a Carlton flag, that a Richmond flag would be the end of civilization. I've always considered them to be bigger than the other "powerhouses". Our city will be a warzone the night of a Richmond Grand Final win.

Whoever wins, we lose.

Okay, highly recommend that if you are yet to get your tickets for this game, you should very soon. AFL Members is completely full on level 1, and I've been relegated to aisle 5 (pocket) on level 3. Suspect they fill section by section so if they're selling tickets that close behind the goals on level 3 I suspect it's filling up very quickly. Predict a sell-out.

They still exist. Go to Richmond games a few times a year because half of my family and what seems like all of my mates go for the Toiges (although they're all bangwagon supporters without memberships who rely on my AFL membership to get into games). They stand behind the goals at the Punt Road end. They're pretty funny if you're "part of the crew" but they jeer and chant towards any opposition fan that walks by. They're very soccer-esque in their support. From the Southern Stand, seemed like 100% Melbourne in the MCC. Which was weird because where I was sitting, it was 50 Richmond supporters for 1 Melbourne supporter. They were LOUD. The ground was literally shaking (not exaggeration).

Jesse would be out you'd think. OUT: Smith, Spencer, Hogan IN: Lewis, OMac, Pederson

Very tough. Makes all this stupid coverage about him smoking and dancing seem so damn trivial. Even that article had to mention him smoking. ffs.

Just looking at tickets. AFL Members on the wing appears full... where do Melbourne members sit? There is an option for "AWAY AREA" but then it makes me select from all the different areas around the ground. Where would Melbourne members normally sit?

Very weird that 6 weeks in, we've had 2 home games. No BOJ sponsor and only two home games can't be good for the bottom line ... sucks that by the time we get a string of home games we'll probably be on a long losing streak... standard AFL scheduling. Anyway, I'm worried about their talls. Daniher is a hot head that if on a roll early will continue his form. If he goals in the first 5 minutes -- which would be typical -- then he'll have an on day. Even without rucks I think we're a 4-5 goal better team but that was the same case against Freo and Richmond. One week at a time. No idea how this goes. I guess it's a nice feeling now to go into a game expecting and wanting a win, as opposed to simply "wanting them to try".

As a club we have always struggle when it comes to managing ruckmen. 1. We had White and Jolly and let Jolly walk. This hurt us in 2008-2009 when our only viable option was Jamar. 2. We were forced into recruiting slow fringe players (Johnson) to compliment our rucks. 3. We traded Martin -- who had game day experience -- because we thought Jamar, Gawn and Spencer (the last two with no experience at the time) would suffice. 4. We dump Jamar. Martin flourishes elsewhere. 5. Gawn flourishes but goes down. As too does Spencer. Whereas other clubs have managed their ruck stocks and found a way to include 2 on game day, we played Russian roulette by playing a single ruckman. There wouldn't be a single Melbourne supporter that didn't once think, "Gee I hope Gawn doesn't go down." I find it funny that the club is now saying they need to get creative with the ruck. Did they not see this or plan for it?

Good to see you have support around you. Thanks for starting this topic. Male depression is a severely under-supported and researched problem and there is still a stigma attached to men "seeking help" and talking about their mental health and emotions. It doesn't I haven't personally suffered but have had relatives that have.

At first I laughed but this post makes sense. Not sure we'll lose the next three but it's possible... What the stats tell us is that we're very clearly a top-8 caliber side. A combination of poor conversion, injuries and suspensions have hurt...yet we've still been super close to starting 5-0. Our percentage is over 100%, which is encouraging. We've played two finals teams and lost by not much, and Freo is no push-over. I don't want to discount the Bombers because I think they're okay, they have a lot of good little players about the place. I just trust we will beat them in contested ball, and be a little more refined going forward. It's also time for Jones, Tyson, and Viney to step up their games. Season is on the line and the three of them have let us down over our three losses. We really need them to start playing better football. Oliver has single-handedly been carrying us.

At the end of the day, we don't have any major injury concerns outside of our two first ruck options. We have a young ruck in waiting who isn't AFL ready. We have mid-sized talls like Pederson, who can come in and ruck. It's not ideal but it's not the end of the world. I'm confident we have depth in the backline, forward and middle. Lewis comes in, and we have talent with the likes of Kennedy, Bugg and Kent who can all come in. We aren't anywhere near as badly hit as some make it out to be. Losing Gawn with both Hogan and Lewis already out hit hard. It wouldn't have been anywhere near as bad if the two weren't suspended. The one thing I don't like about Watts going into the ruck is that it forces Hogan into playing deeper. He ends up stuck too deep and can't get his hands on the ball. He's a pure CHF and having Watts at centre bounces significantly hurts our scoring chances. I wouldn't make major changes to the lineup outside of bringing in Pederson for Spencer (and obviously Lewis for Smith). Watts or Hogan nominate ruck contests forward of center. Pederson takes all center bounces, and stays behind the ball. Should there be a throw-in or ball-up deep in our defense, either Pederson gets their for the contest, or Frost goes up. It's undesirable but imo we need to limit the amount of center bounces Watts is at. This will certainly test Goodwin's coaching. I think it's clear that we need Watts in other areas.

Hogan is not a deep leader. He is a CHF. We need both Watts and Hogan in the forward line for as long as possible.

Fremantle went 3 goals within a flag.