DeeSpencer

Melksham has done that job for us before and seems suited to doing it particularly against taller opponents. I just worry he's too important to our attacking play to send to a defensive role on a running flanker. He's strangely effective as a tagging half forward given he's really a lazy chaser in general. ANB and Spargo are the incumbent defensive running forward flankers and they did a reasonable job on McVeigh and Lloyd against the Swans. Neither are in great form with the ball though. Will JKH replace one of them? Will Bugg be called in to do a specific job?

You ready @lachiewhitfield

It's far more look of the game than functional these days, but I don't really hate it. We have an interchange, players should go get cleaned up. That said, let them wipe with a towel first, if it clears then start the game, they'll go off eventually. The question should be why don't we have a concussion rule? It's silly seeing players clearly groggy take kicks for goal then jogging off or getting up, pushing off trainers and contesting for the ball. Just stop play and get them off the ground.

15-8 free kicks after 1/4 time even though we kept the balance of play and contested ball for most of that time Oscar was lucky, as was Dom Tyson (wtf Dom just rush it mate), but overall we still had the umpires against us, the commentators just don't say anything when there's not a rabid crowd yelling for the free kicks constantly. Off the top of my head: - Tom McDonald blocked in the ruck by Hutching's (1st term directly in front of goal). This was worse than Brayshaw/Danger. - Spargo head ripped off by L Jetta - Liam Ryan clear cheeky throw to set up an Eagles goal (commentators said - great handball). - Clear deliberate where an Eagles played picked up the ball and walked it over on the near wing - Clear advantage to Lewis in the middle of the ground that was called back despite being very continuous - Jetta clearly held in a marking contest moments before Oliver got pinged in a very dubious holding call And of course my personal favourite for the afternoon - The Vandenberg 'eyes off the ball' free kick to gift a goal. The Eagles bronx cheered a free kick in the 2nd quarter where it was 6-4 free kick count and they were completely outplayed for the first 20 minutes of the game. That pretty much sums up where they are at. If they aren't way ahead in free kicks they throw the toys out of the cot.

What a strange post. That graph seems to show that Jones is better now than he was in '15 and '16 and still better than he was to start 2017, or do we just ignore that? Also the majority of the drop off has been since Jones started playing more time on the wing thanks to the emergence of Harmes and Brayshaw. Jones' first 5-10 weeks this year playing on ball due to Viney's injury was probably about as well as he's ever played. He's not the player he once was but still is way better than an average player, even with some limitations on his ball use and decision making as he adapts to a new role on the wing. Poor leader? Well that comes down to how much you can rate a leader when for years they've had little to work with. Jones was doing his utmost against Sydney and a few bad decisions aside he gave it his all. He was doing the same against the Eagles and the team was resilient and smart. The notion that the captain has to be best player is incredibly outdated. The captain has to be strong, smart and give their all, but they need leaders and players to stand up in every part of the ground. Luke Hodge used to win all the awards as best captain yet in close games most of the time it was Mitchell, Lewis or in particular Burgoyne who made the clutch plays.

I think they've beat them 5 times in a row in Adelaide and beat them in extra time in a final and then with a kick after the siren. We've still got some work to do to catch that! I dislike West Coast and I also think Adam Simpson is a very good coach. There's something satisfying about beating them that's rare for a non Victorian team.

That's fair. Hannan made ground then lunged for the tackle. Definitely think there's work to be done on his running technique. Also still think he's got a lot of potential as a wingman. Hoping he gets a full preseason this year.

I knew I was forgetting someone. 2015 round 1 Viney monsters Ablett and Vanders adds some punch to the forward line. We started to look like a footy team.

Hannan probably had his career best game and his best game since his debut. And I reckon he hurt his knee in his second ever game and has struggled with it at times since. Hannan has a heap of speed, it's a matter of channelling his speed, less high step running and more charging at the ball and in to space. He's a mature age recruit but he's going through the first, second and third year blues kind of all at once and it's matter if he can come out the other side a better player. Nailing his set shots - with a lower ball drop - will help. Kent - still not sold whether he's clean enough in traffic and nails his tackles, always been a smart runner to space. Hoping he keeps building from here. So far this year his set shots have been far better. He would've been 10-1 to kick that goal last year. Still missed from the top of square earlier! Wait and see. Vanders - he doesn't mind a fumble or scrappy kick but he's a genuine warrior. Tackles, bumps, fends and he's so quick for his size. Time will tell if he can build on his fitness for next year and if he can clean up his skills but he's the type of player that every good team has at least 1 of. I really think he was a key component to our turn around at the start of 2015. The first Melbourne player since the Daniher years who has a mean streak.

We take Oliver for granted. He does some amazing things in the middle that he makes look easy. What we are looking for is a goal kicker close to goal. Oliver might become that, although I'm not sure he'll ever reach Dusty Martin levels as a deep forward, so he might often be the guy who sets up the goal not the one who kicks it. Petracca is the one who can turn an ounce of space in to a goal scoring opportunity. I'd love to see Petracca one out in the square more. And of course a revitalised Hogan playing at full confidence. Until then we use Melksham as a medium and Tommy Mc as the go to tall. We're probably looking for that small.

I blame Oliver, Brayshaw, Petracca, Weideman, Vanders, Kent for not being fitter and consistent with their defensive running. And Melksham being one of the laziest chasers I've ever seen too. That's why Nibbler gets a game. I've come to accept that until we get more maturity in the midfield and half forward line we'll need a guy who runs all day. That said, I wish the coaches could fix his fumbling. Poor decision making is hard to fix and either happens or doesn't over time, but he is willing to bend down and pick up the ball so the fumbling should be somewhat correctable. A bunch of footies in soapy water and make him do ground balls would be a start. Getting him to hold the ball in a position to handball in traffic would help as well. He's always so keen to kick. You'll see him attempt to kick when tackled when he just needs to lift his arms and dish a handball.

Hannan and Kent both have plenty of pace. They just aren't very good natural crumbers. We've just got to keep getting them in the right positions. T Mc and ANB can beat their opponents with run. And Melksham on a tall or slower defender has a good combination of pace/endurance, as does Spargo and Vanders. We had a number of excellent forward entries to Melksham and Hannan today and some good leading from all the guys. The long kicks to Tommy Mc and Weids were bought to ground but not crumbed. If Kent and Hannan in particular can find a bit of chemistry with the talls as soon as possible that would be great. Doubt it will happen but we can hope.

Oh the team played fine back in thirty nine

Good move by the coaches to sub him on at 3/4 time.

I worry about: Vanders - huge first term then rarely sighted, just don't think he's got the run in the legs this year which is understandable. Small chance of suspension but unlikely, a fine if he's unlucky. If it wasn't for the bye after next week I'd be resting him coming back from Perth Spargo - still like a lot of what he does but isn't being clean with the ball, not overly worried about his lack of strength in tackles but his clean ball use was excellent and has gone missing to an extent. Still want him in the final because he's a long term player Oscar - think he's pretty likely to get suspended, even if undeserving, also had a bunch of yuck moments getting caught in tackles and letting Vardy sprint off him, before some strong spoils later in the game Pedersen (Oscar), JKH (Spargo/Vanders) both options. Bugg a chance if they want to tag a wingman and just want more running in the side. Tim Smith a small possibility.

The Eagles don't have a wingman with Gaff out so we Tyson was very effective. He's still far too slow off the mark and shaky with the ball to be anything more than 20th+ player in a top 4 side but he deserves credit for some improvement in the last month, always working hard to get the ball and having strong hands in the contest. I worry about him against the Giants, and sides like the Tigers but I credit him for giving it his best.

Pretty much. He's always been able to get the ball and to run with it. But in years prior those kicks have gone blazing towards goal. It's very nice to see a player develop on the flanks, work on their weaknesses, maximise their strengths and then perform when required.

Held his marks and nailed his goal early, then started dropping them and missing chances. If it's just fatigue he can get better and better. That said, they did move McGovern forward for a fair bit so he was on a flanker. Easier to get the ball but even more chasing required. Would like to see Sam build for next week especially when he's not playing in the Perth heat. The more he can ruck the more we can rest Max effectively.

Fingers crossed but he's done enough at Casey and is worth another go. His only game this season as 1 of 2 tall forwards was against Richmond where he did a lot of really nice things. He has to ruck well to give Max a decent chop out and he has to dig his knees in to McGovern's back as often as possible. Tom McDonald now gets relieved of the rucking duties and the title of the main man up forward (if he wasn't already). Tom has to kick the goals. Sam just has to compete.

You play for weeks with sore knees, ankles whatever it was that was hampering him and it changes your biomechanics. You put more weight through your foot and you crack the navicular. It's not rocket science. It's the same thing happening over and over again. Numerous posters on here have been saying for weeks lets give Hogan a week off and get him right. Unfortunately the idiots in charge didn't do it and now this is the result.

It's a small sample size I'll give you that but I think Harmes when played in the midfield this year counts. His last month has been excellent and he had a stretch of games from rounds 6-8 and another after that in the midfield when very good as well. Jetta got beat badly on Queens B'day, and has otherwise had some bad moments late in games, most likely because he's battling through injuries. The guy should've been AA last year though and wins his match up more weeks than not, I'm willing to concede him a few bad days and still class him as a very good player. Melksham leads the entire league in goal assists. He's a frustrating and inconsistent player week to week or even contest to contest sure but he sets up goals and can win aerial contests. Petracca I feel the same about, and whether he's consistent or not he has the talent. He's in the category of player a coach should get more out of and hopefully that happens over time. My grades were really for separating the players I think Goody should create a good team out of from the ones who are a work in progress or filling spots. These guys are 8, 9, 10 and 11th in the Demonland voting. Did we get it wrong?

14 disposals at 100% efficiency, ran hard all day, mostly nailed his tackles, wasn't beaten in too many contests, was quiet in the 2nd and 3rd - guess what wing/flankers often are - but was one of the better players in the last term.

The midfield and forward line defend with any kind of intensity and Petty holds his first two intercept marks that he dropped and I bet he keeps going and plays a great game which we win by 10 goals. They also picked Petty a week late, he should've played against Port, after he had his best game in the VFL and had the match up on young Todd Marshall, and in turn freed up Joel Smith to shut down Westhoff, not the week after when he was quiet and probably doubting his confidence going in to the game. The whole backline was exposed by the poor up field pressure and space on the MCG. Lewis, Salem, Oscar were all shredded by the Saints that day not just Petty. It was a diabolical defensive performance that followed the diabolical offensive performance against Port. And it all stemmed from the overreaction to a bad day against the Pies and concern on how to replace Lever.

I think we're very similar to Geelong list wise except their best players in Dangerfield, Selwood, Duncan are all in their prime, our mids are still getting there. Plus their superstar key forward has decided to have the best month or so of his career as he turns 30 whilst our main man in Hogan is battling.

Backline: Quality players: Lever, Hibberd, Jetta, Salem Maybe players: Frost, Oscar, Lewis, Joel Smith, Hunt (underdone), Vince, Pedersen, Wagner Midfield: Quality players: Gawn, Oliver, Viney, Brayshaw, Harmes, Jones Maybe players: Fritsch (looks good but it's his first year), Tyson, JKH, Stretch, Maynard Forwards: Quality players: T Mc, Petracca, Hogan, Melksham Maybe players: Spargo, Garlett, Vanders, ANB, Kent, Hannan, T Smith, Weids etc etc 4 of our best 14 out. No reliable pure wingman No reliable small forward No reliable genuine stopping key defenders It's not a ferrari. It's got a big engine but is missing luxury and some parts are downright dodgy. What does that make it?