Adam The God

I don't always agree with you, but have always liked you as a poster, and most of the time you're constructive. I also think there's acknowledging factors that put together are not head in the sand, but legitimate for any analysis, but we've been there before, so I'll park it here.

Wanted to give some kudos to Petty. Thought his tackling was really good, took some great marks. Well done, Petts.

JVR was quiet in the first, was sighted slightly more in the 2nd, and then pretty much nothing after that. Subbing him or Kolt were my preferred options. I love JVR, but he had a poor night. He took two marks in the second, otherwise no marks for the night. Statistically, Turner wasn't much better after half time, but we couldn't sub both of them. Turner played second ruck. Turner had some burst about him for the night and JVR looked tired the entire game to me.

If we don't get continuity with those guys, I hope Petty goes back, because I'd be trusting him to intercept too. It's more about allowing/trusting guys with experience to intercept, that may be Houston and/or Cumming as well. That enables our running backs like Bowey, AMW and even Howes to get up the ground, and Rivers and McVee when they're not in the midfield.

Yep, pretty much. I have the flu and had an operation on my toe and I was there, ready to be [censored] on by 6,453 seagulls.

I actually thought we were pretty loud for 17k, but in better news I got [censored] on three separate times.

If TMac hangs them up, Petty goes back, and there's a forward spot alongside JVR and Turner for the taking. But if TMac plays on, Jefferson will need to get games ahead of Turner. And Turner is very good in the air and is nimble and agile at ground level for a big guy. Jefferson shares similar traits, but Turner has him for physicality at this stage.

@wizardinoz must be a @picket fence burner account. So do you see a role/spot for Jefferson moving forward? Because let's be honest, I doubt we're trading a guy that consistently kicks 40+ goals a year. Unless TMac retires, I don't see where Jefferson plays next year, except many games at Casey.

I also don't want to hear any more Melbourne supporters saying Goodwin can't coach an aggressive offensive team. The way these teams are playing is Melbourne 2018. We still have bloody good personnel behind the ball. Back them to win contests, and go super aggressive at stoppage with +1 and even +2, and more of some of that ball movement from last night, which was straight down the corridor, and straight to 30m out directly in front. Get contests from at least 2 talls in that 30m danger area, get smalls and mids to the foot of the contest. In 2018, it was TMac and Weideman. Neither were superstars, but gave contests, TMac did hit the scoreboard well, but Weideman competed, and Melksham was alongside them. In 2025, it could be JVR and Petty/Turner. Add a Wright or Walker that could kick 30+, alongside Fritta, Trac and Kozzy. I think Spargo needs to be ahead of Chandler, but another small needed in there. The model we went for in the first half of this year is probably Richmond 2017, which was either win perfect clearance or lose clearance with post clearance pressure applied and maintain defensive stability behind the ball, and then quick and long to contests in the forward half. Unfortunately, no Riewoldt, Martin or a fleet of smalls in our forward half. Trac could bring Martin's dominance, Koz and Fritta are class, but when Trac went down that game style was always going to be an uphill battle. The main hopes for me is we fix our stoppage work and philosophy around contest, and our whole game will flow from there. Let May, Lever, TMac and Salem gamble a bit on intercept, and get our half backs up at and through stoppage.

Yeah, @adonski, if our TPP can afford it, I'd take Macrae.

A good runner, but IMO a turnover merchant of the Sam Frost school of chaos.

Sorry, should have been clearer. We wouldn't need to offload a first rounder for Houston, if we packaged one of those guys with a 2nd, for example...

Sparrow or Chandler, although I don't like writing that on a public forum, where I want to be supportive of Melbourne players. They're both young South Aussies, so I think a player like that may lessen our outgoing pick. Houston is a good player, but he's a role player. That's what we'd be offering. Farrell, for example, is a more important player to Port's back half because his kicking is even better than Houston's IMO. Houston would be great for us though. As would Cumming.

BPA's 2024 off-season wish list: * Houston (PA) - mid to late first 2024 * Cumming (GWS) - FA * Wright (ESS) - 2024 3rd round pick * x2 top 20 picks in the 2024 draft (split pick 6 or 7 with Freo, trade one for Houston and then somehow convert our future 1st into the first round in 2024, be open for trading a player to get it done) * nicking intellectual property from @Ted Lasso, if Indigenous players give their sign off (yes, important) and Lever, I'd be open to Taylor Walker too. Free agent, two year deal, one likely at VFL as forward development coach. Best 22 for 2025 becomes: Bowey May Lever Cumming TMac Houston Windsor Oliver Langdon Trac Walker ANB Koz JVR Petty Max Rivers McVee Salem Wright Viney Fritta Sub and depth comes from Turner, Spargo, Chandler, Sparrow, Howes, AMW, Kolt, McAdam, Melksham and x2 2024 first rounders. I'd hope our first rounders would be plug and plays, but if not they'll be depth in the first year. If Walker isn't a goer then Turner comes into the 22. I reckon Turner has great attributes to be an excellent mobile CHF. If TMac doesn't go around again and we land all these guys, Petty takes TMac's spot. Plenty of ifs at this stage. We'll know more in the next few weeks RE TMac and Melksham.

Remember you said you weren't going to play the man on return, Jimmy? This is a completely unnecessary post. Things change. Last year you were needlessly neggy when we where a whisker away from a PF twice. Let's park the attacks and have a bit of constructive analysis. Apart from getting some kids through the draft, how would you improve the team next year?

Is Riak in our NGA though? He has to be, right?

Suddenly reckon Houston is a great idea.😜

We also went back to +1 behind the ball at times. I'd much prefer us go more aggressive and play +1 at stoppage, particularly as the likes of Clarry are struggling. Maybe that's a dangerous move though without May.

The last or second last point Port got they got inside 50 by Rozee winning a clearance on our half forward flank. He was left goal side of the stoppage, all by himself, and sure enough, they tapped it straight to him, hegets the clearance and pings forward for an inside 50 for them. It's like WTF are we doing? 10 mins left in the game and it's either scores tied or we're a point down. Whatever we're doing at stoppage, it isn't suiting our best clearance player in Clarry, so it needs a rejig. Enough of this playing Clarry as a defensive mid every week. One thing I was really excited about was starting McVee in the centre square and then he disappeared from there. Clearly, just wanted to give him a small taste. He needlessly rushed a lot of his disposals tonight when he had more time. It'll be good for him to watch the tapes though. Rivers seemed to have a different role, a bit more back of stoppage, which is where he plays his best footy IMO, but he wasn't able to have a huge bearing on the game. We need a new midfield look next year.

Max and Viney were great around contest, but some of our stoppage set ups are a disorganised mess. I know we're trialling guys through there but some of our marking at stoppage is under-age level. Thoughts as a midfield coach @Pennant St Dee? Kozzy loves playing Port. He was electric and his class stands out so much as we have a void of class in our forward half and midfield. No Trac has really highlighted this. How do we get class into our forward half? And who is it? Such an ordinary last quarter. So disappointing. Another game lost by under a kick. I believe that's 4 now (Carlton, Brisbane, GWS and Port - note that's three of the current top 5). Win them and we're a game off top spot. As I wrote last week, it's a nearly season. Get pre seasons into all of our key players, bring in some more talent and next year we really should be a big top 4 chance.

Yeah, I would have gone with a single captain at the start of this year, but given Lever and Trac's respective seasons, I feel it could work.

I reckon most Demonlanders would agree with this. The OP certainly articulates a position that aligns with mine. I'd go with co-captains, and they'd be Lever and Trac.

Thanks Whitey.

I haven't lost hope of luring Mac Andrew back one day.

Whereas, half of Demonland spent the first half of last year complaining that we hadn't moved Petty forward. Lisfranc injuries have ended careers and certainly curtailed many players. TMac being one of them. I was in the keep Petty back camp at the start of 2023, but when he went forward and impacted the way he did, I changed my view. Because, you know, you can actually change your mind. Just like believing Fritta could give us something at half back with his kicking. It wasn't the right move IMO, but it made enough sense initially, and Goody eventually accepted he got that wrong. I would be fine with Petty getting another injury free preseason into that foot and seeing how he goes forward next year. I do think he's ultimately May's successor though.