Adam The God

Thanks mate. Bugger. It's not perfect given we've played more games, still maybe it might shut up a few RE "Baby Bombers".

I guess what I'm thinking is taking some marks deep forward, closer to goal where conversion is easier, might get his confidence up, which will then enable him to be a vital contributor up the ground.

I was fine with Melksham's game. He wasn't horrible, but if it's a choice between Langdon and Melksham, I know who I'm picking. Particularly, as Sparrow has been a better contributor in his game time this year IMO.

JJ is outright third in the league for tackles. We've managed his TOG from time to time, but he's back playing big minutes at the moment and smashing it. I'd go with Melksham out and Langdon in. Push Sparrow to half forward and another mid rotation. He's actually become a very good user of the ball, so we might not lose a lot by having Melksham out and Sparrow adding a genuine mid rotation. That also leaves our midfield with Oliver, Petracca, Harmes, JJ, Sparrow, Kozzy and ANB for rotations.

Each to their own mate. I much prefer Weideman deep. I don't trust him yet to play a roaming half forward role where he takes marks and hits targets inside 50. McDonald on the other hand, I do trust. I felt the forward set up on Friday was just about perfect. McDonald at CHF and Weideman deep FF. Kozzy at his feet.

Does anyone have the stats for experience of our team versus Essendon's? I want to send it to an Essendon muppet mate of mine.

Our Libba is clearly Oliver for mine. Jack can be the go to contested winner, but I reckon he'll play the defensive role that JJ has been playing and they'll push JJ to the half forward flank as the inside slider, so we get his tackling as stoppage, but then get Viney's as well. JJ and Sparrow's development has really deepened our midfield in a terrific way. Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Harmes and JJ would be one of the best midfields going around. A really good blend of ball winning, explosiveness and defensive intensity. The only thing it's a bit light on for is goals.

Yep, I think this is the move. Jack certainly wouldn't replace JJ, who is third in the league for tackles (an incredible effort) and I don't believe on form, Sparrow. The difficulty will be that I think Melksham may well come out for Langdon. So then who comes out? I don't think you can drop Harmes. This is a similar problem to the one we had in 2018. When Jack first went down we thought, [censored], how are we going to cover him, but then Harmes and Brayshaw stepped up. It's the same thing this year. JJ and Harmes have stepped up. It's a very tough one IMO. Maybe it has to be Sparrow, but if there are any slip ups from Harmes or others, Sparrow would be the next one up.

I'm starting to trust, although at half time on Friday night, I thought we were gone unless Brisbane stopped or we suddenly brought the work rate. I said I couldn't see it coming, but I was very wrong. Where I'm at is if we bring enough intensity and focus (and kick straight), I think our system will beat any team in the competition. I really believe that now. For example, I was worried a few weeks back about what the Geelong forwardline would do to us, but I think we can cover Hawkins, Cameron and Rohan. I also think we could cover Richmond too. Those two sides are the greatest threats IMO, so in other words, I think we can win the flag, injury permitting.

I expect this from Oliver now and I almost don't think about it, because he does something like this every week. But something I did notice that is the very Richmondesque was the Salem kick and Rivers kick earlier in the game. It hasn't been overly evident, but we've been doing these sort of kicks for a while now. It's the Richmond blueprint, where the kick goes high up, almost rugby-like, so that crumbers can get to the fall of the contest. I love that we're getting smarter with all these little things. Even the little paddles, kicks off the ground and taps to surge it forward. As our confidence is growing, we're seeing a little bit of Hawthorn, a little bit of Richmond and even a little bit of Bulldogs circa 2016 with that chain of handballs that led to McDonald's sealer. One of the other things that we're doing really well all over the ground is not getting sucked into the contest. We're holding our shape on the outside. A few of the footy shows talked about us "trusting the tackler". This was noticeable again regularly against Brisbane - particularly in the second half. There was a contest in the third that Oliver would have previously charged in for, but instead left for ANB, who ended up giving away the free kick, but the idea was right. If ANB wins it, Clarry is on the outside to receive. The situation you refer to with Salem's kick is similar. All the Brisbane players get sucked into the contest and they get smashed on the outside. This is part of what makes them look slow and part of what made us look slow for years. Conversely, if you're receiving in space because you've held your width from the contest, you always look a lot quicker bursting away from the contest. This is Ed Langdon's game to a tee.

Likewise, the block on Salem for Cameron's first goal. FIRST CRACK praised it tonight, but Robertson wasn't even looking at the ball and blocked Salem off it. That should be a free kick to Salem.

Incredible ball use. Love him.

Yep, the show opened today and Hudson started by basically saying how impressive Melbourne were last night and Dermie said something like 'well, yes, we have a big day of football to come'. The bloke's facial surgery has permeated his brain. King of the muppets and the rest of the commentators seem embarrassed to be working with him. They're quite rightly, dismissive of him.

I uavent heard the interview, but fair enough. I was simply going on what I watched. He's played a lot worse games than that and kept his spot.

Agree with this. Reckon he should go around again next week.

What do you mean he had no role? Every player has a role.

Fritsch was a second rounder too. So we've cleaned up as you say in that late 20/early 30 part of the draft.

Just the ability to convert all these second round picks is so exciting and given all our elite talent drafted in the first round or recruited in, it means we've been able to build a really solid list. It's a credit to Jason Taylor and his recruiters, our coaches and development guys over the last 3-4 years, and the players themselves.

Whereas, Harmes seemed to rotate to both Neale and McLuggage at stoppages in the first half. So I thought the way we used our mids to shut down their dangerous players was superb. Yze must deserve a lot of credit for this and the improvement of all these guys has to be at the feet of Williams, whilst taking nothing away from Goodwin and the trust he has in the players to play to his blueprint. The real strength that we're beginning to build in our midfield though (and I'd argue it's similar for our back 6) is having the ability to lockdown on a player and then join in on offence. Viney is good at it, but I'd argue Harmes is more dangerous because his kicking is more penetrative than Viney and he kicks goals. But Melksham, IMO, took a step towards being able to play a similar role last night. Shut down opponents, but then join in on offence when he could. It's the perfect example of offence coming from your strong defence.

Yep, he was good. Makes next week a very tricky call. Surely Langdon returns. So who misses out?

I've been critical of Melkshsm too, but he played his role tonight. I wouldn't be surprised if they internally lauded Gus's game last week and told Melkshsm to play a similar role this week. I don't think he even got 10 possessions, but he was wearing Brisbane players all night with some really good hustle, and then was involved in some important scoring chains off half back. I think it's important Melksham continues to add strings to his bows, because if he wants to stay in the team long term, we need those guys with positional flexibility and versatility. Fritsch has his mid sized forward role sewn up and I think in 2022 and beyond, they'll want to get another small at the feet of the three talls and Fritsch. So Melksham needs to diversify.

Yeah, I know.

That McDonald goal to put us 13 points ahead is the one that made me tear up. The incredible team handball, supported by hard running, and then McDonald getting the ground ball. I'm going to argue that's our best goal for the season. Elite handball, clutch goal. It basically iced the game.

How bloody good is Rivers? That one handed intercept mark halfway through the last was all class. Looks like he's already played 200 games.

I was like Gaz. I had Ed asleep on my lap in the last quarter. Twelve weeks old, eleven Melbourne wins. Anyway, I couldn't cheer when we kicked goals because I'd wake him, but I welled up and fist pumped instead, just like my old man does when we have a stirring passage and/or victory.