bing181

Forward line ... not quite happening, chemistry just not there. Playing as a group of (talented) individuals rather than a team. Odd, as they've had plenty of time together. Missing Tom Macdonald to help get the system working again?

My kingdom for a big marking forward. (To be fair, both Max and Jacko have taken some great grabs ... but they can't kick straight.)

Good to see Salem amongst the votes. Still not back to his regular best, but was his best game since returning from injury.

Too early to start a 2022 post mortem thread?

No we haven't and neither have they. But agree with you, staggering how much legs this has gotten for something that never happened.

We are missing Tom Mac. Equally, it's the way that the ball is coming in.

Three goals in a half of footy isn't going to win you much.

No he didn't. Go back and check it out. He was referring to the toll of 2 x 6 day breaks plus travel, and that the players would need a "bit of a rest and then reset".

Don't agree re Langdon. He was clear AA last year, this year not so much. For me, hasn't been the same since the concussion. Only 5 kicks today and 165 metres gained. That's a big drop on what he was producing last year, and one of the (many?) factors in why we're not going as well.

Not overly enthusiastic re Weeds, but was positive enough about him - a bit different to last time when his comment was quite brutal, at least in that context.

Is that the case though? Once they hit the front, I thought the Dogs threw Naughton behind the ball, and May followed him.

A few mistakes in the last cost us: ANB and Viney, both trying to do too much, pinged, resulting in goals. Then the May turnover. Not much in it, and Dogs played really well with a couple of their on-the-cusp players really standing up: English and JUH. Both had great games. Issue for me is with the backline. Lever out, Thomlinson just not up to it, missing Bowie and his pressure and disposal, but the biggy in all that for me is Salem, a shadow of his usual self both defensively and kicking out of the backline.

Lots of positives, but Salem still a concern. Great to see Sparrow having a decent game, he was pretty ropey last week.

Perhaps this discussion warrants its own thread. Lots of variables, but too many of them trending downwards or not improving for mine.

I don't. Except for the odd moment or match, sitings of our premiership form have been few and far between. Too many players down on form/injured/out. If we win more than one match in the finals I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Yes, because men are never selected because of their sex.

History would suggest that he's not going to get back to his near All-Australian self this year. Players who struggle after long injury lay-offs tend to keep struggling until the next pre-season, and he's had a few weeks back now with no sign of any improvement. Twice failing to clear the man on the mark shows how far off his radar is at the moment.

Melksham won't be dropped. Did enough to earn at least another week.

I never advocated for his selection, nor for any player for that matter. I tried to understand the reasoning behind his call-up, from those who are paid to make those decisions.

Stating the obvious.

Good story bro. Jake Melksham, Kangaroos + Dockers: 9 kicks. For comparison, Chandler (one of your faves I believe) for his last two AFL games managed ... *checks notes* ... 2 kicks. Total. https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pg-melbourne-demons--jake-melksham

He's not a replacement for Clarry. If anything, he's a replacement for Sparrow, Harmes and Trac down forward, to free them up to take on more of the midfield/Clarry role.

Melksham is still a better user of the ball into the forward line than almost anyone else on our list. Of course, he has to get it, but given the "blaze away" approach of the likes of Trac, Oliver, Harmes etc., not to mention the "burn your teammates" approach of a couple of the other forwards, you can perhaps understand the reasoning behind his inclusion. But even back in 2018, Melksham was never a big possession-getter, he was just very damaging with the possessions he did get. Though i wonder if they'd earmarked Laurie for a call-up for exactly this reason/role, but he's unavailable (Covid?).

Melksham had 21 disposals and 7 tackles against Geelong VFL.

Yes, lord forbid there could be some actual reasons for the decisions. Melksham frees up Trac and Harmes for more midfield time. Not complicated.