DeeSpencer

Anyone know why Rivers played such low time on ground? Dodgy backline rotations? Or maybe the plan was to use him and Hunt in spurts more than the other backs?

We had 22 more disposals, 30 more kicks, won the inside 50's and the centre clearances were pretty even with only 1 terrible stuff up that led to that late 3rd quarter goal. We could easily revert to Petracca, Oliver and Harmes all getting 30 but instead Jordon, Sparrow, Pickett and ANB all have double digits and are far more engaged in the game. Obviously we didn't get great value from Max, and the midfield skills are still ordinary but overall the depth of mids all getting a share is a great improvement over just 4 guys getting silly numbers and a quarter of the team not touching it.

These are the 2 I think. A lot of Melbourne supporters are not like other club supporters. They don't just go to the footy for the footy. They go to the footy for the social aspect and they like to sit where they like to sit - be that reserve seat or MCC. The reserve seats clearly aren't the reserve seats. The MCC absolutely isn't anything like the MCC. It's not a total excuse, we should've got 30k. But we're a different type of fans to other clubs.

Wait and see on the marking. It hasn’t been great so far. I loved some of his tackling and the way he was full of running in the last. Plus the way he can land from marking and keep moving is off the charts. We need to kick it where he can run and jump across a pack more than sit it high like we do for Gawn.

Gus got better than longer it went but isn’t the answer. He’s such a poor pressure player in general. Harmes to the wing please. Try Jordon there if we can. He’s a willing tackler. Chandler’s small but fit, skilled and smart, let’s give him a go on the wing at Casey. Still got good hopes for Jackson if we get our big forwards firing.

Nibbler and Fritsch both hit targets inside 50, Jordon was solid too. The mids were the worst offenders as usual. Kossie does some brilliant work with the ball and messes up. I think he’ll settle in. Spargo has come so far from his early days and still stuffs up plenty. Composure at half forward is really really hard. The best patch of play was Nibbler holding the ball and waiting for the forwards to all move before picking out Jackson on a dynamite lead. It was the ‘connection’ that everyone has been wanting.

Who’s moving to half back in that scenario? Melksham?

I only knew Fyfe was playing when he was giving away free kicks (paid or not paid)

Doubt you can play Jetta and Hibberd in the same side. Even if they both have more ability than Hunt. Melksham and Viney - both needed in the 22 at their best, both ordinary if they aren’t on. Sparrow and Jones the most likely outs I guess? Harmes had some stinking moments but I feel like our midfield covers the ground far better with him in there. Also want to give Chandler a chance sooner rather than later. He has some class. Can we play him on the wing?

Why haven't they gone back to Preston if they aren't with the Blues? Scrap this Northern business. The new Tassie basketball side is the Jack Jumpers. No idea why they don't call them jumping jacks but they are a bit different down there.

I literally said he’s always been a good accurate penetrating kick. He used to do the same kicks - when given time and space - for us.

There’s people in this thread like me not being overly complimentary of Oscar. Maybe we’re bad people, but I feel like we’re being honest. So are those honestly wishing him luck. Those who are using this thread to bash Goodwin are dead set kidding themselves.

They'd often run a spare man off the square at stoppages but I can't ever recall Adelaide playing 7 defenders. Their midfield worked really hard back then. Sloane particularly was a demon and they had great forward pressure with Betts and Cameron. Lever took the 3rd tall which was often a ruckman or some other ordinary player and zoned off, but it wasn't 7 down back. They also let the half forward go up to stoppages which is what most teams did, because the Crows had Richie Douglas as their high half forward coming up to stoppages and he was elite in that role. The biggest adjustment for Lever when coming to us was whether we played him as the 2nd or 3rd tall we liked to press really high up the ground. We've changed since last year to keep our backline deeper which is more like the Crows would do. That keeps the game in front of Lever more and lets come forward to mark rather than having him press really high and play in front.

Physical pressure. Tacklers coming at you, no time and space. He rolled off the mark as is allowed these days with plenty of time and space. I wasn't referring to the mental pressure but it was also a bit of a free hit from that far out, and he might've just been going for the square anyway.

He got a downfield free kick, another free for not much in it, then a Carlton player kicked an up and under that landed in his hands. One nice tackle but M Pickett's a pretty ordinary player outside of grand finals and ran right in to him. He could always strike a good penetrating drop punt when not under pressure and that's what he did twice. Good on him for a couple of nice finishes but there's nothing to worry about yet in terms of letting a useful player go. I still don't understand why we kept Mitch Brown and didn't keep another tall with position flexibility but I'm not sure that would've been Oscar.

We’ve trained at Casey all summer for the G. Plus there’d be a riot if we messed with our MCC members. If they wanted a bigger crowd for Ess-haw they could’ve flipped it to Sunday at the G. That’s what the AFL would’ve done if they respected their fans

Richmond players like fishing, getting on the beers and winning flags. They’re hard, fast, aggressive and nasty. Goody needs to forget the guys who he can talk stock tips with and remember where he came from.

That’s not fitness it’s just poor coaching in preseason and a lack of wing options. If he’s playing more than 90% we’re just lessening his impact. Tomlinson is 0/2 in doing his job in preseason. Bruce and Riewoldt have both made him look ordinary at times and kicked multiple goals on him. We paid him like an established best 15 player. There’s a free agency tax to that but overall it’s an over pay. Teams find better key defenders in the state leagues.

May struggled with Taberner last year. He’s one of the few key forwards who has May covered for height and enough strength to not be moved off the ball. If we get the game on our terms it should actually be Tomlinson guardian Tabs up the ground, Lever intercepting and May sitting back guarding the 50.

They’ve got 5 good key defenders, no a surprise they’d move one forward. Leading forward leads to the pocket, that’s not news. Fritsch missed too many last year from dead in front not the boundary. We have to move the ball faster to open the 50 up. Otherwise it will be using Max at times and then being comfortable slowing tempo and hitting up short leads which is made easier by the man on the mark rules.

My point is that 7 with Jetta is too slow, so I’ll take my chances with a taller slow line up too. If Nev isn’t a defensive weapon I just don’t see what he brings Langdon was a great runner at Freo too. Tomlinson held his spot because the alternative was Oscar and we were paying him a big salary. His endurance helps the backline zone but we’re yet to see him earn games ahead of talented alternatives. There’s a reason the Giants didn’t use him as a key defender and just had him as a utility.

Well I’d go Bowey, Deak Smith, or one of the mids off half back. Or even go big with Petty. If we’re going to be too slow we may as well be tall

I’d say there’s a reason we have a new head of football.

I’d give Rivers those jobs if Hibberd can’t come up, then Bowey is up the ground more. Jetta couldn’t make up ground and spoil Lachie Hunter yet alone a quick small forward. He just doesn’t have that burst in the legs anymore. Nev’s power and timing made up for a lack of burst speed but it’s gone now.

Look at where Brayshaw finished in the best and fairest that year for a better guide on his season. No where near Gawn and Oliver. Kozzie could be stronger but at least he’s not wearing concrete boots like Gus. The only person to blame for Gus’ form has been himself. Id have Brayshaw over Jordon but if they’re setting a standard of fitness then I’ll support that. The other option is Harmes to a wing and trust Brayshaw to mind Fyfe at times, if he’s up for it.