Adam The God

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.

Thought Jackson struggled in the first half (had a few mates), but the move to play Gawn forward and Jackson in the ruck and behind the ball in the third was a master-stroke. It may have been Gawn's decision, but Jackson got three ground ball gets in three separate passages and repelled Brisbane exits from our forward 50. His athleticism is a real asset behind the ball. He got a bit lost when asked to play on a forward in the first half, but his work in that third was brilliant.

Watching the replay again at the moment. Weideman, Fritsch and Melksham all brought a defensive game this week. It makes a huge difference to the intensity forward of centre.

Interesting how they used Melksham in a defensive role through stoppages. He seemed to mostly go with Lyons, which freed up Oliver and Petracca to be more offensive. He also played as the extra in defensive stoppage at times. I thought he played a good game.

Shout out to Harry Petty. A few had questions on him, but this kid is going to be a star intercept defender. Another Jason Taylor special.

There was something very Richmond like in their prime during that last quarter. We just kept surging it forward and put their defence under enormous pressure.

I'll write more later, but wow. We are watching a proper football team. I did not see that coming. Now I'm convinced. We're the real deal. GO YOU MIGHTY REDLEGS!!!!!!

Brisbane have played exactly how they would have wanted to. Everyone in the game but Charlie Cameron for them. All their prime movers, but we have been dreadful. Absolutely dreadful. In D50, we haven't won any contests (Brisbane's strength). We've spoiled each other when we should have marked, so communication is poor. Our mids and forwards have let them waltz the ball inside D50. There was a play towards the end of the second quarter there, where they went to the right wing and then did an easy switch back to the left wing, nothing fancy. All the Brisbane players were set up there and with no pressure, Neale kicked it long to Hipwood who marked. Terrible defensive transition. The Melbourne of old. We're not on and we don't look like getting near them. Unless Brisbane stop and we suddenly start working harder, this game is over at half time.

Yeah, but our game is based around protecting our back 6 and countering from there. None of it is ideal, but shifting mids and forwards around is a lot more doable in our system I reckon.

Love this idea. ?