Adam The God

I was happy to let OMac get games last year and even this year, but his decision making with ball in hand and his inability to lay tackles is simply not good enough for an AFL footballer, let alone a KPD. I'm in the he'll take time camp, but I'm not sure he should be the #1 or even #2 KPD defender in the 22 after his last fortnight. It doesn't help when Wagner has barely hit a target since his return; Tommy McDonald is no better with ball in hand and liable to turn it over at any moment; Frost is a bit heart in your mouth stuff; Melksham is hit and miss with his disposal; and Melbourne Lewis seems to turn it over a lot more by foot than Hawthorn Lewis. He's not a great judge of the flight of the ball either, which spells danger for a KPD in the modern game. We desperately need to get a cool headed KPD to support Frost and Hibberd, and then Omac can develop as the intercept marker or as back up KPD. May was pretty ordinary today and doesn't play particularly smart football, but his kicking might be a weapon for us. I'd probably just go harder at Lever, though that means Frost has to play #1 KPB.

Thought he spudded it up in the first term and thought he'd kick a point from 25m out directly in front, but he managed to kick it on the full. But in the second half, I'd agree. He was very good. Made a couple of clutch decisions and managed to execute by foot like he's never been able to do before. So that was pleasing. Could well be his breakout game. Certainly gets a game against Collingwood. If there are any changes, it'll be Bugg that makes way. You'd expect Salem to return. Couldn't see anyone from down back being dropped, unless of course Oscar, who was terrible, let's be honest. You know, Oscar may well get the axe given Collingwood's smaller forwardline. Depends if they play Cox. If not, it'll be Frost to Moore and Salem for McDonald. Think he's had a lot better games than that one. In fact, I thought he was soundly beaten in the ruck and apart from structurally straightening us up and taking a good defender, he was near hopeless up forward. The game turned when he went out of the ruck. Witts murdered him. Fifth highest. Which is a strong indicator that we're still on track for finals. Pedo is not a ruck... he was killing us more in the ruck than Tom was by playing forward.

Glad to get the win, but someone, I think it was @rjay, asked me last week what Goodwin should have done to change things in the second half when the momentum was clearly going against us. I said I would have put McDonald into the ruck a lot earlier and play Pedo out of the square. Funnily enough, they did this when they should have done it last week, which was half way through the third. Almost immediately, it turned the momentum of the game. Pedo straightened us up, despite being ordinary at ground level, and gave us a target that would take a half decent defender. And McDonald ended up contesting really well in the ruck. This was key to our turnaround. But, gee, we're frustrating to watch. So many of our guys are turnover merchants and poor decision makers. The beauty of our game style is we can pile on the goals like no other and very quickly. Given our emphasis on the contest, when Gawn comes back, we're going to be very hard to stop. Onto the positives though. Jeffy was terrific for most of the game. Was our only consistent tackler in the last quarter too. Oliver had a great second half, as did Jones. Harmes made a poor decision or two, but for the most part, his hard running and goals were important. Back to the negatives. The commentators are raving about Lewis' second half. I thought he was solid in the last term and his first three quarters were terrible. His kicking and decision making has been shocking since his return. Anyway, he was good in the last. Meanwhile, Bugg was has kicked 0.7 in two weeks and must be close to the chop. You can't carry a guy who is playing forward, who can't kick to AFL standard. He's missed so many sitters in the last fortnight. Be interesting to see what we do with him. The plus is he's getting it. Wagner didn't hit a target in the first half, but slowly managed to have a few important marks and link up kicks. I wanted us to take the game on a little more today. Frost barely did. Hunt did a little bit, but not enough. We have to continue to be keen to move the ball quickly, but we also need to use our run where appropriate too and when Frost got tackled early (after a mindbogglingly poor decision), he wasn't confident enough to take the game on again really. Although he didn't have a lot of it, Viney led the tackle count again with a game high 11, which became really important to shutting down their ability to move the ball and get separation from the stoppages. Melksham avoided contact twice in the first quarter, but after that (perhaps the coach had a word?), he started to lay tackles, which is unlike him and ended with 5, plus a solid 32 disposal game. His overlap became really significant in the last. Oliver worked his way into the game a little slowly. A few errors have crept into his game in the last fortnight, but he's managed to get to the bye and will have a week to freshen up for the Collingwood match. I thought he could have kicked it a little more often today and he has to know when the overhead handball is on, because it can look sublime, but it could also be costly if he's not careful with it. If we'd said, once Gawn had gone down, that we'd be 5-5 at the break, after the Freo loss, I probably would have taken it. The biggest positive for us right now is that our percentage is so healthy and should only get better with Gawn's inclusion after the bye. I also give us a chance to come from behind on most occasions now. Whether we win it is another story, but at least we're showing that fight, which is great for a young and developing team.

Watts is back to the old Watts. He's been terrible. Soft, slow and not switched on.

Why has Goodwin and now Tyson said we're playing well and it's evenly poised? They look very dangerous off half back and given our insipid performance into the wind in the first quarter, I'm not sure there's much upside.

Has Lewis hit a target since his return from suspension? And Wagner has stll only hit one target for the year. If Salem doesn't get suspended, Wagner doesn't play.

Nope. Game over. Our ball use is VFL level. I called the Lewis turnover and knew Tom would pick the wrong option too. And Tom Bugg is an ordinary player. Still can't tackle effectively either.

What a terrible, terrible start. Did we lay an effective tackle? How was Tom McDonald's handball at Bugg's feet? And ANB's predictable miss from directly in front, 20 metres out? And Tyson's predictable turn over looking into the middle of the ground? We're being murdered at the stoppages. Our clearances were ordinary as well. This is a massive quarter. Start laying some bloody tackles and using the ball better.

Yeah, good on ya.

I love how Riewoldt was scrambling for an excuse on AFL360 the other night. He was saying that Richmond were the second or third youngest side. [censored] off, you [censored].

Lol. If they're going to give you a better deal than you already have, why are people complaining?

Lobb isn't an A grader though. So it's a 2 v 3 deal. I think MFC supporters get lost in this stuff because they look at Kelly and Lobb and go 'they are exactly the two sort of players we lack'. But if we lacked Salem, Tyson and Hunt, we'd need another three players. A line breaker and another two mids. Salem is also better with ball in hand than Kelly.

Also, RE: Salem v Kelly, given Salem has had the thyroid issue that kept him out statistically Kelly and Salem are pretty close. Salem uses the ball slightly better and Kelly average a possession more last year. Kelly's played 65 games and Salem 39 games. That's a significant amount of experience in Kelly's favour.

I just absolutely disagree that the ledger is well in their favour, as the initial and subsequent posts implied.

Kelly has reached A grade quicker, but even if Hunt, Salem and Tyson only ever reach B grade status, I'd much prefer three solid B graders than one A grader. Especially, given we've got others that could or arguably have reached A grade status already. Oliver being one. I read so much commentary on here and other places that is all about the now, with no thought for the years to come. Just because Tyson is up and down now or Salem hasn't blown a game away, doesn't mean they won't develop into A graders. We have two solid ball winners and arguably our most important player (Hunt) as a line breaker and they have one. How the Giants could be in front is ridiculous. The way some on here are talking about Kelly, you'd think he was in Dangerfield and Selwood's company. He's not even in Oliver's company, so it's absurd commentary.

Urgh. MFCSS at its finest. How could the Tyson, Salem and Hunt deal possibly only be seen as a shocker or break even? Tyson is a cusp A grader (certainly B+ at the moment), despite some of the crap I read on here; Salem will be A grade if his form and development continues; and Hunt could be absolutely anything. He's a B+ grader currently. Versus Kelly. Who this year is playing A grade football. In fact, I'd argue that the deal will either be seen as break even or we're well, well, well ahead.

I'd like to see Hunt started at half back. Let him work himself into the game and if he can't, then try a wing or half forward. Without Salem, I reckon we'll need more half back run, so he'll play mostly off half back.

Good spot. I just check my sources there. Bad oversight on my part and maybe Roos'. I think it's what happens when you listen to what your old man says.

I can't think of many (if any) Melbourne players that have eradicated panicking like ANB does, except perhaps Sam Frost. That said, we now have some decent development coaches. Still, I can't see ANB making it long-term.

Dunstan could reach B grade, but his disposal really hurts him. Steele is okay. Will be a B grader in time. Acres is a very similar player to Harmes. Gets a lot of it, runs hard and can kick a goal, but butchers it by foot. Newnes is a B grader at best. Ross could reach A grade. Roos said we would have bid on Gresham if it weren't for the Tyson/Salem deal. He is by far the most promising, naturally gifted, smart footballer under 23 St Kilda have. He's going to be an absolute gun. McCartin will probably be a good player and maybe Goddard will come on as a KPD. Their young talent base is nowhere near ours, agreed.

Cannot wait for these flogs to topple down the ladder. All it will take is a Selwood or Dangerfield injury. They did more ducking and diving than a bloody duck. Give me the shits more than any other team I reckon.

All the radio stations (ABC the best) and the TV are absolutely one-sided. It is painful to listen to. I tipped Port tonight. Geelong are still a two-man team, so can't wait for them to fall.

I'd say we're most similar to Port and Bulldogs, but both of those teams do it consistently.

You've been on fire lately, mate.

Come on, DC. Settle down. This first quarter against Geelong is quite similar to our first against Adelaide.