Adam The God

Agree with most of this but felt Trac struggled most of the night, as did May. Gus played a great defensive game though IMO. I hope he gets internal accolades, which I'm sure he will. I still think Smith has completely thrown out our defensive synergy. Geelong's first goal was caused because he clattered into a team mate. He does it too often. I worry that we've left it too late to be bringing in a guy that hasn't played enough footy next to our current back 6. Let's hope it doesn't cost us.

Btw, Lever's second half was 🔥. Incredible leadership. I'll have to watch the replay to see if Geelong just put the cue in the rack ready for next week, or whether they just ran out of legs, or whether our pressure and contest work simply overawed them. Maybe a bit of all of those things, because we only got the game on our terms in the second half, arguably half way through the 3rd, and despite leading early in the match, it wasn't quite on our terms. We got our defensive mechanism working later in the game, which translated into generating scores and repeat entries from back to front or simply from centre clearance forward. I'm.still staggered though that we came from a 44 point deficit late in the 3rd, truly a remarkable win.

The greatest Melbourne win I've ever seen, given the stakes and the opposition, and frankly the venue. My sister and dad called me directly after the game and I was crying, and we were screaming. I woke up Ed, but what a good luck charm he's been. 23 weeks old. There's no way I'm getting to sleep tonight. Oh and the fact Trac's name is uttered in the same sentence as Oliver is a joke. He's not even in the same league. If Oliver adds goals to his game, he'll be the best player in the league, simple as that. I can't remember a better game from a Melbourne player in such a high stakes affair.

He missed 4 or 5 simple targets, under little pressure. Bevo made note of this in his press conference. He didn't specifically mention Smith, but alluded to it.

I actually had the thought last night watching the laziness of Bailey Smith's kicking that he might be gettable after that performance. He's soft, but he's usually a good user, has toe, is the sort that would be nice to add at half forward, rotate on a wing and roll through the midfield. Smith is a figjam, but I can't stand Hunter even more, so maybe I'm biased, but would prefer Smith, who has age on his side too. Hunter wanted big dollars at his last contract. I wonder if the good East Malvern Knight would be up for a seachange?

Many of us have been saying all year that our poor goal kicking will cost us a final. We must kick straighter in the next 5 weeks. Do that and we'll be very hard to beat.

We'll see. When you write it like that, I don't like the Petty to Rohan match up. May has the pace to go with Rohan, is good at ground level and strong in the air. Petty is okay at ground level, but isn't as athletic as May.

He was the most dangerous forward against us, but Robbie Gray likes to turn it on against us, so I'd prefer Gelrgiadis instead of Gray. Ah well. If we play as well as we can, no side will come close to us IMO. Just have to kick straight.

And you forgot Hunter, mate. 😉

I actually just think Petty is the match up we should go with first for Hawkins. In defensive 50 ruck situations, I'd make sure Gawn is rucking and then Petty can play goalkeeper. Plus, I don't think Hawkins' opponent should ever ruck him. But you could be right and May goes to him. Will be a fascinating watch.

Sure, I could be wrong. Let's see.

Remember when everyone was saying Melbourne had peaked too early and were talking up the Bulldogs? Well, the Bulldogs have now lost 3 in a row and we've won 3. I haven't rated the Bulldogs for most of the year and now it looks like they'll miss the top 4. It is difficult seeing so many Bulldog figjams strutt around shaking their heads after the game, but I'll take it. But Port... wow, imagine them being a top 2 team this year. What a joke.

Port are the worst top 4 side I can recall. The Bulldogs pretty much can't get the ball unless they win clearance. Port have murdered them in clearance and had more scoring f shots but Port's inability to convert their dominance sees them down. Both sides are all clearance, little defence. The fact that Port's only plan is to bomb long to contests, they're very easy to defend. This is why they haven't managed to capitalise on the repeated inside 50s.

I reckon they'll go with Smith on Cameron, Petty on Hawkins (playing off him slightly and intercepting from in front like Sam Taylor did), May on Rohan and Lever on a small. This allows May to peel off Rohan and double team Hawkins if need be, while Lever can float. Geelong may go taller and play someone like Blicavs on Lever as a defensive forward, but that leaves them short in the ruck. That match up will be interesting too. Having Smith on Cameron will also likely test out Cameron's hammy as the directive will be to rebound off him where possible. As for the May/Petty, we can always flip that match up if it's not working.

I like the area though. I completely agree we need another mid extractor and an overlooked and potentially underachieving mid at another club could be the go.

I think this is what they could go with too. Smith to Cameron, Petty to Hawkins and May to Rohan. This allows Lever to float and gives May a bit of room to either rebound off Rohan or double team Hawkins with Petty. If we need to spin the magnets because one match up gets away from us, then we can always flip them.

I love JJ, but he's been nowhere since being moved onto the wing in that Brisbans game. If you look at his tackle numbers between rounds 1-13, he was top 10 in the competition (despite registering a tackle when playing wing). He's struggled to make an impact with his tackling or spread since. Sparrow's tackle numbers last week were akin to Jordon's earlier in the year. I'd say that's why he's been kept in ahead of JJ. If Sparrow fails to match his tackle pressure of last week he'll be replaced by JJ. I think the MC like that really defensive role ages that can play off half back or half forward and add to the mid rotation.

That's the problem though IMV. Parker's kicks are shallow from centre clearance. I've been watching his clearances over the past few weeks after noting how shallow all his clearances were against us when they went 17-4 against us in clearances and still lost. I agree that Parker is a nice kick outside of stoppage.

Have you got the stats for DE from clearance?

That said, we do need more mids that can win the ball and can't rely on Oliver to be always fit... 😜

Parker's ball use is horrid. Bangs it on the boot Viney and Oliver 2019 style. Sides let him get it because he hands it back to the opposition from centre clearance. Their major offender. Bizarre that Melbourne supporters would want him when they're finally starting to see better ball use from stoppage. I'm confident we won't go near Parker.

Morris was fired by Melbourne but he still seems to have a source in there somewhere.

Yeah, I saw this on OTC. It's game plan and structures. Anyone saying we shouldn't go after Gaff, if the price is right, is kidding themselves. We went hard for Smith, thought we had him and then he chose Geelong. If we go close this year, players won't be picking an aging Geelong, they'll be picking us.

I certainly wouldn't want Clarry kicking for goal for my life, but his go is winning important clearances and ground balls. Smith's is defending and I disagree that his issues are skill. His issues IMV are reading the play. You either have that at the elite level or you don't.

Each to their own mate. They may well go with Smith, but I think he could cost us a final, I think his footy IQ is that low...