Adam The God

If you look at the two weaknesses when it comes to finals intensity, I know which weakness I'd prefer over the other. If you can't win contest and the team you're playing against is the best defensive team in the league, you're going to have to feast on every turnover by foot, but given the strength of the defensive system you're playing against, the odds are not in your favour. While finals pressure tends to reduce all DE.

We've spent most of 2023 illustrating that we can win in different ways. Slogs, shoot outs, slingshot contests etc. So the suggestion that we rely on May or Lever to intercept or our game falls over is nonsense. We can be utterly dominant if those two get going, but that's the 2021 model, we no longer need them intercepting to score and in fact are more about all our mids ands defenders winning intercept possessions and going back the other way. No doubt our ability to neutralise/defend ground ball contests inside defensive 50 is the biggest threat when wet weather arrives, but the opposition has to deal with the same threat. In other words, I completely agree.

Interesting that he's running off the mouth. Last time Langdon did that, they hit him.

Sorry Chook. Beat me to it.

Contest and defence falls apart in the wet? Could have fooled me.

I actually think Essendon will be an attractive team to support again if they remain equal top for premierships. It's that sort of history that helps when their current team finally becomes good again. It's the same with Carlton. My dream is that we can go level with Carlton and Essendon for flags over the life cycle of our current list (ie by the time Clarry and Trac retire). Win it this year and we're two flags behind them both.

It's irrelevant how old Gawn is. Unless he's retiring at season's end, Grundy is gone. He's too good to play back up VFL. Staggering some can't see this. We'll facilitate a trade and improve our list in another area at the expense of not being able to call on an elite ruckman if Max goes down. IMV, we've already told Grundy to explore his options, no hard feelings and told him we'll facilitate a trade. We're not going to hold him to a contract and make him play VFL for two more years. That's not how you attract other good players, and it's not the best use of TPP. Think logically here.

Fair bit of Lewis Taylor about him in that clip with a bit more explosiveness. As always, I'll back in JT and co.

I find it incredible that people continue to make these sweeping predictions of what next year will look like (or any year), and yet every year we seem to bring someone out of the VFL program 'out of nowhere' and they become best 22. I get the fun in predicting the best 22 come finals this year, but next year is a completely new slate and anything can happen. My approach is to be ready to be surprised and that's exciting in itself.

Cox like playing against us, and doesn't have the worst record. I could see him troubling us in the air. Pre Steven May, he certainly did. I hope they don't play him. I think they will though.

I don't think we'd interested. Even if the price was right. But who knows. I don't see a lot of class with him, certainly not enough to beeal into our side, but he is young.

Some might want to remember this as they venture over to the Jefferson thread.

Perkins? How will he improve us?

Which shows you how good JVR is. Will be a star when he gets in game consistency across four quarters. This is a good comparison Jack and as usual @Axis of Bob writes beautifully on Jefferson.

I reckon we'll see us innovate and continue to evolve over summer irrespective of whether we win the flag or not. The IP thing wouldn't bother us IMO.

If you go through the MFC YouTube Channel you'll keep up to date with them. There have only been 3 videos in the series. I don't expect they'll interview Clarry, although they should. Here is Jack Viney - Here is Max - GL you'll note is the original host and HM has hosted the last two - on the same day as well, so I wonder if they did a 3rd or 4th interview with HM to get bang for buck in this series.

It's been a great little series so far. So Hamish McLaughlin is just a gun for hire here, right? He has no Melbourne allegiance does he?

McVee...?

I haven't noticed this. I've noticed this line of thought that he's susceptible close to goal, come up a bit recently though. I hope so. He's a very good player. I'd back Koz to get a few on anyone if he plays deep though.

Quaynor can.

I'd argue Howe is an elite interceptor too and Maynard goes alright, but agree with your first three selections, Boss.

Sounds like they're laying the groundwork for a loss...

Weather will be a factor in selection. Dry conditions and we play Gawndy. If it's wet, I reckon we'll go smaller and may even bring in a small like Laurie to the 22 and bring in another runner to the sub role (Spargo?). So retain Turner and have Smith up our sleeve as a back up. It was interesting that Max noted I'm his presser today that Gawndy has often played in wet conditions. I wonder if that's the internal vibe out of the club, that those selections were a mistake. And if I'm on the money there (which is rare), our extended bench could be huge. Is there a limit on extended benches?

My impression has always been that we lost a lot of supporters to Hawthorn and Richmond over the years. And probably the Essendon's and Carlton's too.

I'm pretty sure the AFL ap picked the exact same team.