Adam The God

I wasn't sure who or when we'd sub Turner on, but as it turned out, I reckon that was a tactical error not playing him. When Turner came on, and we went long to contests inside 50, we looked dangerous in the air with three talls. As it didn't rain, I think we could have afforded ourselves the three talls. Perhaps we were worried about their run off us with three talls + Melksham and Fritta, but I think we could have stretched them more in the air when we had territory against them.

It's hard to know. I think our transition ball movement in the first half of the year was him, but it didn't exactly work either. It'll be telling what changes we make this off season.

Is it a personnel thing or is it McQualter? Our loose marking at stoppages has happened way too many times this year for it not to have been picked up. So are our mids simply falling asleep or are they being instructed to position themselves really aggressively (read, stupidly)?

I just want to say, how good is Windsor? Just about everything he does is gold, rarely makes mistakes and often beats 2 or 3 players 1 out. Absolute star. As is McVee. Who was not embarrassed tonight against TG.

Yeah, it was his worst game for years tonight, but he's had a great season and should go around again next year. IMO, we need him to go around again too.

As my sister just said, we've had a nearly season. Lost by 5 to Lions, 1 to Carlton and 2 to GWS. Win those and we're top 2. And we've had a year blooding a bunch of youngsters on every line who are now all best 22. We're not far off. For the game itself, Clarry much better, really good game, Laurie's best game, 6 score involvements, 3 clearances, used the ball well, let's see it again. Our hot and cold two way running from midfield was a factor though. Our mids need big pre seasons. Finals not totally out of sight, but it'll be tough from here with our percentage.

Saw a bloke today at Crocs Play Centre proudly wearing his Melbourne gear. I said "how do you reckon we'll do" to which he said he wasn't confident (me either) and "there's no way I'm going". Typical Melbourne supporters. So many do my head in. Half of them are either "kick it, kick it" types with no idea about the modern game or bandwagoners, the latter have basically been absent this year. Hi mate, if you post on Demonland. Get along and support your footy team.

If we can land Houston, Cumming as a FA and maybe even split our first pick for two first rounders this year provided we think the top 20 is deep enough, it could totally transform our best 22 in 2025. Probably means we finish outside the 8 to get a top 10 pick that can be split. Alternatively, Houston, Cumming and a top 10 draft pick young mid is pretty exciting too. I'd back us to trade back into the first round in 2025.

That's where I'd start. Or I'd try and split our 2024 1st rounder. That said, losing a defensive mid when Viney is getting towards the end is a little dangerous.

I've never seen Ted Lasso, but watching this just now I am staggered that he is not AI generated. Did a Google search and the real actor says "I am a human man!" The uncanny valley is bizarre on him. Anyway, not the point, I know. 😆

If that alone gets it done, I'd be staggered.

I would, each to their own. Bowey is quicker than most and Kolt is powerful and has topped our speed charts in offence and defence at least once this year, which puts him as one of our quicker players.

Absolutely. Brilliant news. Well done, Lingers and TL.

Yep, totally.

They're human beings, Cranky...

Bowey, AMW, Windsor, Kolt, Kozzy. If anything, we've net added pace.

It's a tough one, because if JT has access to a top 10 pick in a midfielders draft, you'd expect we'll nail a gun. Problem is would we prefer to guarantee a gun by trading in a Houston for that pick. Obviously get less years out of Houston, but if Clarry and Trac are themselves next year, we need someone that will immediately make us better.

Poor old Ooze too, but Richmond are in for some pain. They probably won't play finals again until he's closer to 30.

Bloody Tim Lamb, re-signing all our youngsters. What a disgrace.

Noah Balta is the one I'd be targeting to take over from May.

Lol, and I bet you spend half your time complaining we don't have enough good ball users. Houston is an elite kick that could not only play half back, but play through the middle, ie in our midfield, so addresses a direct need. Taranto, despite being a Melbourne supporter growing up, is a slow player who butchers the ball. I bet you'd be screaming for us to trade Taranto if he were at Melbourne...

I cannot believe Cornes hasn't suggested this yet.

Alternatively, it becomes a midfield mix of Oliver, Rivers, Houston and Viney, with Trac, Kozzy and 1 or 2 others through there. Cumming goes to half back with Salem, Bowey, McVee and AMW.

I'd actually argue Chris Scott started the focus on post clearance in 2011, were you meaning 2008 Clarkson? Goody has spoken at length about the importance of post clearance, but you're right, he didn't pioneer it. An inside slider is a player off the back of the stoppage, usually a centre clearance. We used these heaps before 6-6-6 came in. Super aggressive move, because you'd be adding numbers to flash through the stoppage and leave yourself open going the other way if you lost clearance. That was definitely a Goody / Melbourne invention. It's been a mainstay in the game for at least 5+ years now and you see it in every game now, but mostly at around the ground stoppages when teams add numbers to the stoppage, and it's nowhere near as aggressive as we played it with the likes of Jayden Hunt flashing through there. But you have reminded me of another, the way we've utilised our wingers between 2021-2024 is cutting edge.

You'd hope that a first round pick would net an A grader though, right? If that's all we gave up for Houston, and he filled, say, a midfield role, and we hit FA for Cumming, we could significantly improve our ball use again.