spalding

interesting to see this re Kossie and also the comments about Hunt training with the backs. Perhaps we are looking at our fastest players to receive the ball in the middle of ground and speed towards goal to break defensive zones and give our tall forwards one on one opportunities. This will be a feature of the game this year because of the change in the manning the mark rule (ie the man on the mark can not slow up the game and then be replaced by a team mate coming from the side or forward of the ball carrier, which allows him to flood back to congest the defensive zone for the next kick). Tmac might be pivotal in this strategy - someone who can present, mark and quick handball release on the wing/centre of the ground to the speedsters running past. I reckon teams like Port could be found out with this rule (a bit like we were in 2019 with the 6/6/6). They have a lot of contested beasts in the midfield who are not particularly quick (which will be an issue for us too if we don't adapt our game plan), play a very high defense, and are not particularly strong one on one defenders (i.e. when they come up against Tom Hawkins and the like).

Change of rule re manning the mark might mean that Hunt back on the half back flack (or wing) would be very difficult to stop running through the centre of the ground. Whilst not the best kick into a leading forward, if he is a designated handball receiver running 50 metres and having shots at goal he could be back to the weapon he was in 2016.

If Tmac was third that could be encouraging. Anyone know how he went last year? I know he used to win it regularly before the last couple of years.

Normally I take the time trials with a grain of salt (after all, ANB is currently our best runner), but I think it will be really interesting to see if tmac is back close to the levels he was at a few years ago. That could be a portent of a much improved year. With reduced interchange, I reckon having a player who can play key forward or back, a few minutes in the ruck, and possibly even pinch hit on the wing could give us valuable insurance on match day and more flexibility with team selection.

I think if we have to play at the cattery round 23 is probably the best time. Most likely they will have already stitched up a top 2 position and have nothing riding on the game, or hopefully their all-in for 2021 strategy has spectacularly backfired and they are imploding outside of the 8. Only issue with that could be it results in multiple retirements and they fire up for the last game of the likes of Selwood. At least Gablett and Taylor have already gone!

He’s “hard work” according to a mate in the inner sanctum at Tigerland, but maybe that’s what we need. I’m normally a glass half full sort of guy, so obviously I have no place to be on demonland!

Tiger mate of mine who is very bullish on the Demons in 2021 said this is the last piece of the puzzle for us. Tigers lost Dan Richardson to bombers in 2017, and look what happened for them!

Careful deestinga2 - some of us are still in our 50’s ?

jeez - now on this site as well as the arguments between the eternal optimists and the debbie downers with severe MFCSS re the Melbourne list and contracts, we're on to the equivalent discussion about the economy! If history is any guide you should bet against MFC and go long on the housing market.

If LJ believes in himself he would have been nuts to extend beyond 2022 - as he could be worth so much more than he is now (either to us or to another club). Its when the player is seeking the long term deal that you need to be wary, as it suggests that they themselves (or their manager) is seeking to maximise a good run of form, or see their football mortality coming either due to age or injury. Jack Viney and Tmac are good examples of this. Problem is that someone else will often be prepared to pay what they are asking at the time so more often than not they get it.

I get tired with this "it is really on the club to make finals" commentary that seems to completely over look that at least some of the onus is on the players. As bad as many seem to think Goodwin is at coaching, 2018 would seem to suggest that if they don't make it in 2021 it can't be 100% his fault

i think with a more predictable forward line structure, which BB will hopefully provide, we may see a more consistent and valuable player. He does show glimpses of good roving traits (ie Vs the Pies and in 2018) and usually uses it well (more so in the forward 50, than further up the ground as his turnovers on the wing/centre in the Round 1 game in 2020 vs the Eagles still haunt me!). I would like more work with him and Kozzi as a duet, where Kozzi uses his pace to get the ball and then gives it to Spargs to use it inside 50.

Totally agree - would be surprised if there isn't a few interested teams and he is at least taken on as a rookie.

With reduced interchange and longer quarters I could see him becoming a true utility who could come off the bench and play 10-15 minutes a quarter to give a rest to key forwards, key backs, max and possibly on the wing - assuming he recaptures his endurance and at least some of his mobility - and also be a backup to any in-game injury. if he mastered this he could from being one of the most overpaid players in the league (relative to value) to being a very valuable point of difference for us

in my 45+ years of tough Demon love, Schwarz in '94 was the only MFC player (including the likes of Flower, Lyon, Neitz etc) that I thought could be so much better than anyone else that he could drag our battling club to multiple premierships - like Carey did for North a few years later. As per Dusty, you don't often win premierships without these sorts of players. Not sure CP on his own can be this player, but if LJ could be something near the Ox at his peak, the two of them could get us there by the time CP is the age that Dusty hit his peak.

Think this has been really well handled by the club (in comparison to others with the same problem). Tmac now knows he won’t get a similar contract elsewhere. I reckon he will bust a gut to stay relevant and compete for a spot on the team. Think his time trials will be very interesting this year. if he does play meaningful minutes well (perhaps as a backup), I wouldn’t be surprised if he and club renegotiate at the end of next year - perhaps replacing the final year of this contract with a new longer deal (2 years) at much lower coin per year - or he finds a new home where we wont have to pay so much of his current contract. It will come down to whether his body is shot. I have no doubt he will give his all to get try and get back to somewhere near 2018 - and at a minimum will be a good citizen and influence on our culture.

I think the twitter responses to Kane are more on the money, BUT, I would expect significant improvement from Fritsch, Weideman, Kozi and Jacko in 2021 versus 2020 and Brown would be an upgrade on 2020 Tmac. Just hoping for Tracc to maintain 2020 form. If these things happen we are progressing significantly from this year - and with the exception of Port, we were pretty competitive with all those above us.

I saw this topic was “hot” and thought something of note may have been said, but now realise that hot relates to air.

As an ex player, captain, and assistant coach a two other football clubs and a cricket club, he is reasonably placed to provide a view on football matters.

Stage fright?

if he thought he should have finished higher than any of May, Langdon and Petracca he is kidding himself.

I should have said that I did this last Friday with a really helpful MFC membership officer

We have a couple of MFC memberships and 3 MFC/MCC memberships in my household that I manage. Over the past few years three of my kids have transitioned from being part of an MFC family membership to individual MCC/MFC members The best way to manage is to call MFC and have them manage the MCC/MFC memberships - this way you keep the years of membership, that will be useful for future finals tickets (particularly with my kids who have been MFC members since birth).

So the coaches did a wonderful job on petracca - but obviously they can only fix one player per year.

So if Oliver is [censored] of about not playing in finals why would he go to Carlton? money maybe, but I’m happy to argue with anyone that they are no closer to success than us. their midfield is no stronger (would be with Oliver), they have a lesser ruck, no better keys backs, no small forward (after Eddie), average disposal, and young and flaky (and injury prone) key forwards who probably all can’t play in the same team.