Adam The God

The attribute that really makes Gus stand out and makes him hard to play against is his dual-sidedness. If you look around the competition at the best midfielders, only Dangerfield, Bontempelli, Sidebottom and at a pinch Cotchin and Ward, can kick well and consistently on their opposite sides. Given his ball-winning-ability, that skill puts him in pretty unique company.

That was potentially the most dominant game Max has played. He was brilliant (aside from a few of those kicks - please don't kick it - you can't), his tap work was sublime, as was his marking around the ground. After a first half where he was found defensively wanting, Gus really lifted in the second half and was instrumental in that powerful 10 minute blast that changed the game. Not only did he exhibit much better two way running, he won a staggering number of clearances in the second half. I'd have to look at the numbers, but if Macrae had a really good first half, Gus had a stunning second half. Wonderful to see the young fella getting great reward. His outside/inside work and link up with Clarry is really becoming damaging. This brings me to Clarry, who today became my favourite demon of all time. I've just never seen a Melbourne player as good as him nor as consistent. This guy is the stuff of footballing dreams. He is the absolute complete package. When we start to see that contested marking, he will become unstoppable. He's also close to untaggable if he can become more damaging up forward. The first A+ footballer at the MFC in 30+ years. About time! I was also a massive fan of our centre stoppage set ups today. The Bulldogs are a team who are really well coached and have troubled us in the middle, in the recent past. But today we looked dynamic and the link up play between Gawn, Gus, Clarry and Petracca was extremely exciting. If those guys are clicking against decent midfield opposition (say what you like about the rest of the Bulldogs team), then we may just have turned a corner with our midfield. The biggest change to our midfield is the defensive transition running, which was for much of the game, far better than it has been in the past. However, there were moments, such as one of Wallis' goals where our defensive set up was all over the joint. We had our entire defence sitting 10-15 metres out from goal and there were 3 or 4 Bulldogs waiting by themselves 40-50 metres out. We miss Lever's organisation and I have question marks over Plapp's capabilities as defensive line coach, but our mids worked really hard to push back and cover space today. He doesn't get massive numbers, but Charlie Spargo is a Caleb Daniel clone. He's a brilliant decision maker, hard tackler and neat kick. Fast becoming one of my favourites too. Jason Taylor's a genius as far as I'm concerned, particularly, when you put Spargo alongside Fritsch, who should play on a wing or off half back for as long as possible. He's silk and another elite disposer, alongside Salem back there. Unfortunately, Jones is just about at the end though. He laid one excellent tackle that led to a goal, but other than that, I thought he was embarrassing. Vince was his usual self too. While Hannan showed why he was only playing due to a late injury to Viney. I'm glad we got this one in the bag though and a percentage boost of 3% made it even sweeter. Pity it wasn't more, but I'll take it. Next week is the season. Without Viney's intensity around the contests, everyone else has to be up and about. If Max, Clarry, Gus, Petracca, Hogan and McDonald have good games, it'll go a long way to ensuring we win.

He's very soft when the ball is in the air. He got beaten a couple of times in the air today and at least one of them resulted in a Bulldogs goal. Pretty much sums up my thoughts. Vince in particular, with Jones not far behind. JKH definitely gets a game next week. He must deliver again next week otherwise his time might be up.

He played a game like this earlier last year too, where he tackled really well and that was about it. At least, he had a couple of good disposals to go with the tackles today. Not sure he has the tools to make it though. This off season will be interesting. There are probably 4 or 5 in the gun to be delisted and Jay is one of them, although judging by Goody's bear hug on him after the game, he liked what he saw of JKH.

I agree about the flakiness of other clubs, but I reckon it all comes down to next week. We beat Geelong and we make finals, lose and I don't think we'll get there.

Absolute lol. How could Carey propose this and keep a straight face? Aaaaah. The botox. If Carlton did this, SOS is even more of a joke than I thought. I might just tease my Carlton mate anyway and say I have strong mail that it's going to happen. #trollacarltonmate

Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw, Petracca, supported by Gaff and Salem, all being fed by Gawn. Drool.

His superior disposal and pace is where he has Cripps covered as the best young mid in the game. We're very lucky to have him.

I reckon we're a mess at both ends of the ground. In contested marking situations at either end of the ground, we still have yet to address the problem of all defenders or players up and no one down. It's the stuff that the great sides do and the best side in the comp right now are brilliant at it. The great Hawthorn side were too. The writing's on the wall this season. It's weird, because I said we'd still make finals after our loss to St Kilda, but after tonights game, we still haven't fixed the basics. I think this'll mean the St Kilda will cost us.

He always goes missing when the chips are down.

Uh oh. I agree with O. Jones is nearing the end. His disposal and decision making is too often not up to scratch. Can we please have another 3 or 4 Clarry's in our midfield though? What an absolute star. Salem and Gus were too good. Frost and Stretch were pleasingly good tonight. Jeffy just does enough, as does Charlie boy. Take them both into next week. ANB must be on very thin ice. I'm finding Nev is not as reliable as he was anymore. Still does a lot right, but I used to feel comfortable knowing he'd win every contest. Big problems remain: connection between midfield and forwards (the opposition was very weak), all up - no one down in pack situations (Bulldogs will murder us at this) and inefficiency once we go inside 50.

Tyson is the one I'd be trading. Can really only play on the inside. At least Gus can play in and out. Only problem is, Dom would have less currency.

If it meant giving up Gus, I'd go conservative and not try for Cerra.

They're very well drilled, but their game style is frustratingly simple. If you have enough players on your list who can replicate the speed they have, their style would be very easy to mirror IMO. Front and centres at every contest, speed on the ground, pressure the clearance etc. It's really pretty basic stuff.

Interesting, mate. Didn't realise Cerra was a Vic boy. I thought him Western Australian. But a former pick 5. How would we get him?

Sloane still lacks polish. Not an A grader for mine.

What is this?

I'd rather play me at full back. The bloke is so overrated. Big bloke but soft.

I think it's both. Game plan and personnel. There's no room for error in this game plan and even then, it relies on our midfield smashing the opposition every week. That's never going to happen every week. Meanwhile, the decision making of ANB, Harmes, Tyson, Jones and Joel Smith more often than not is highly questionable, particularly under pressure.

It's incredible we still haven't sorted this out yet. Our only change up in all that time has been to sit the press back slightly further. How was Joel Smith at one stage today? This wasn't even on the full team press and he pressed up to our half forward, didn't impact the contest at all, St Kilda got the crumb and his man joined in on the spread. Is Smith given licence to individually press up this high or is he breaking team rules? It's bizarre. Mind you, his same press lead to a Melbourne goal later on. So maybe it is by instruction. If so, I don't think he reads the game well enough to play it as a back man. It throws out our entire backline.

I was already worried about the Bulldogs game. Now I think they'll murder us. Can we get the game rescheduled to Etihad?

There was a play in the final quarter that completely summed up our defence under Goodwin. It was ridiculous. Our press was so high that our last defender, besides the anchor outside 50, was within 40 metres of our own goal. Sure enough, they chipped the ball and broke to 50 and took an uncontested mark. Our organisation defensively was simply not AFL level. Even leaving Savage (their best kick) by himself 45 metres out and a St Kilda player chipping to him from a set shot. This was basic stuff and it happened more than once. Hibberd was the offender on this occasion, but Jetta, Smith and Petty all positioned themselves poorly for most of the day. And to top it off, Oscar McDonald gets beaten for body strength one out by a St Kilda player doubling as a little person (Jack Steven). This is not entirely on Goodwin, but our game style puts undue pressure on our backs IMO, by pressing far too high. How have we not yet addressed the ridiculously high press on the MCG? Today it was as high as it's ever been.

The essence of this article needs to be reemphasised here and pinned somewhere on Goodwin's forehead. All we did was go long to the top of the square and usually to a 1 v 2 disadvantage, a pack or the disadvantage of our forward. I noticed more than a few times that if we got the ball at high half forward, no one broke into the larger space behind that forward. Some of that space was usually manned by an Armitage (who's slow) and could have been exploited. Instead, we went long nearly every time. Our inside 50 entries were appalling and show that even against the weak teams (like St Kilda) that our game style breaks down dramatically and has been defeated. We must continue to evolve our brand and if it's not 'on' situationally, I'd bin that play. It's almost certainly a confidence thing, but Hogan is not the contested beast he was as a junior and in his first year. He doesn't lead up at the ball like he did and we're unlikely to take too many contested marks with that play. The other glaring problem with this continued play is that we're not inundated with crumbers. The only way this play is sustainable is if you've got guys that swarm with pace at the foot of packs (see Richmond). This either draws free kicks for markers or creates crumbling goals. At worst, it means your forwards can lock the ball in and reset for the stoppage and continue the territory battle to build pressure on the defence. Jeff Garlett has to play next week and if we're going to persist with this style of play, we must target 2 or 3 quick small forwards. It's inexplicable that Hannan is the only deep small forward (Fritsch plays a bit like a third tall). We need Spargo back in too. FWIW, I'd tinker with our tall set up as well.

What an absolute disgrace. We've completely reverted to the bomb it long to the top of the square on the MCG. We don't switch enough and our forwards don't look like taking a contested mark. At three quarter time, it's game over against a team that's won 2.5 games for the year. Gawn and Viney have tried hard to lift the team, but not enough leadership once again. Has Brayshaw had an effective disposal since quarter time? I don't think so.

His name is Petty. Going to be a very good player. Oscar, Lever and Petty supported by Hibberd, Jetta and Hunt are plenty for a few years yet. In the meantime, we desperately need fleet of foot players who deliver the ball nicely inside 50. How anyone could be meh on Gaff, mate, just isn't watching the game closely enough. Exactly the player we want and need.