DEE fence

Not that anyone is suggesting it, but wanted to say with McDonald, Gawn, and to a lesser extent Viney, I feel let's not rush to pension them off, they have demonstrated a commitment to durability with their preparation. Unless we start seeing (god forbid) calf/hamstring issues, these guys are the blokes to keep standards going for a long time. Also love that TMac and Viney can be at blows in training and best mates off the track sharing family time.

it's a good question, I feel Sharp has the ability to perform the ANB role better than Spargo. I had Chandler penned in for that but the lad seem intent on being more. (I think Chandler deserves a medal for getting the most out of himself in the team - dude is committed). Sharp is however a project, his disposal needs a lot of work. ANB was able to go from whipping boy to favourite, I hope for the same with Sharp. Spargo's defensive side is so erratic and I think he in many ways suffers from the difference between his best and worst, which I personally find Uber frustrating - it wouldn't even be a conversation about who is better, if he could be consistent he would in the conversation for elite small forward, he is however far from that. No clue on Culley.

Why he is the best (or at least, interesting to me as a metric of effort) In 2019 and 2024 his tackle numbers stood out in seasons we dropped away, this is a man who leads from the front, does the hard things when (nearly) everyone else is falling apart. It also shows why season 2021 was exceptional. I really think he is a clutch player who takes the game away from the opposition. Cox was without doubt better skilled, (except as a contested marking player) but Gawn's effort is superlative. Year Team # GM W-D-L TK ↑ 1% 2016 Melbourne 11 22 10-0-12 80 81 2021 Melbourne 11 25 20-1-4 71 99 2018 Melbourne 11 25 16-0-9 57 86 2024 Melbourne 11 21 10-0-11 54 57 2019 Melbourne 11 21 4-0-17 51 77 2023 Melbourne 11 22 14-0-8 44 66 2022 Melbourne 11 22 14-0-8 40 69

Gawn Bowser Viney Rivers Sparrow Tmac

If he brought Darcy, I’d be happy for it. Feels like a case of the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I feel like (and this is not a political comment) that Goodwin suffers in the same way Julia Gillard did, a red head with a fingernails on chalkboard voice. If Julia had been able to speak like a Penny Wong, she would still be PM, extraordinary legislative record, got more legislation passed in a minority government than any bloke since WW2 with a majority. Simon’s record is daylight better than anyone since Norm Smith, but we all judge them on the packaging, especially the pea-hearted windsocks in the media. Simon was very clear that we’d be playing a different football style this year, he was straightforward about it, we have gone recruiting and we are happy with most of the mini build picks but the lack of scoring is causing us to lose our collective minds. But it is not like he said we would be winning at the first post. I would really like the sack Goodwin camp people to post what act of contrition they will perform should he actually turn it around. Is not like he was a Ross Lyon clone on defense, he’s had high scoring teams, he’s had innovation, on his record you’d back him to have the solution. Or you could just keep whining about his press conferences. Doesn’t mean I’m not going mental about the situation we’re in but we really need some more considered analysis than what is going around. (I do want Fritsch dropped, and I do like like Bevos tough love on the problem kids, and I’m not sold on Jones as midfield coach, as much as I love him, seeing Trac dump kick like Nathan is killing me. And he lost an entire season coaching Peninsula).

I am blaming the Demonland upgrades, cursed everything.

Thinking about that shambles last week really made me think how fundamental McVee has made himself to the back six, while he’s not Stewart for the cats, he’s pretty instrumental in clutch moments saving our bacon. While it was our worst defensive effort in 10 years I would say it was the most unsettled back 6 in 10 as well. I also felt like Petty got sucked up the ground a bit and that he and Lever need to work on the connection that Lever may have.

The defense (Fox panel) is already pleading Dangers case. No Stewart helps us in a few weeks.

You were neutral? I was definitely on the Saints haha. The Irish kid did them proud and a few others, heart tonight was ace. Marshall was Max like. And god was I nervous with the Cats back line marking everything.

I feel a Herbatron video coming on.. the melts are delicious.

Hard not to like Darcy a lot. The 1st 10 minutes of this game were fierce too well played dogs

thank you, good thing you don't know my mum, I continually meet strangers when home who tell me, 'oh yes your mum told me all about you' which as a 54yo is disconcerting to say the least.

Mine is a large pantheon

No one is disputing BF is in the pantheon of Melbourne greats, and I’m not going to quibble where, but the discussion is about current performance, I for one am worried he has become the outlet for other teams to play through from their defense. I want a universal standard of pressure and pressing from our forward half and in fact the whole team. He needs to be kicking 50+ to get a pass from that benchmark and he’s not doing it. That said I think he gets more games to find his mojo. He’s on notice is all, and I dearly hope he comes good.

I am a firm No, until they try it and he kicks six snags (and we win).

At the risk of upsetting my friend @Ghostwriter, and a few others, and not disrespecting hs fantastic '21 GF, but I have Bailey F getting 2 more matches to show some form. Something is off, I accept that he has been hindered by injuries for awhile, and this is meant to be his first good pre season in a long time, but I would like to see more endeavour. I was however super pleased with Bowey's game last week, the arc of his kicks were much flatter, I was really worried he'd lost it. And I am firming up on Windsor through the middle before Langdon and Rivers.

99.9% Somalis (is always weird finding that odd South Sudanese or Yemeni in a Somali camp-why would you come here) anyway they internally displaced and haven't crossed a recognized border, so we call them IDPs - from either conflict or drought _ we try as hard as to keep them where they are from, so they can continue producing their own livelihood. They are actually pretty good farmers - always ready to adopt better farming practises, regardless of how previous generations did it. 70% of our budget was USaid so things looking bleak, out of a job come July, but watching kids maybe ~2 days from death have their IVs/supplemental feeding switched off is infinitely worse.

If you're in Oz I noticed the paid Nord VPN doesn't work anymore so you'd be stuck anyway.

Research your email - I was in the same boat and only noticed by chance that it came in not long after the acknowledgment - some weird glitch. - if you are still struggling let me know and I 'll pm you

All that chewing of meat.

WTF, great finish but ruined by the ump not blowing the whistle for time wasting, that 50 was a joke.

Bombers had plenty taking short steps, Hawks also have many routes to goal. The other thing that was scary is Essendon tried hard early, and Hawks consistently trusted players to do the job without crowding the ball. No offense to QD but Inside 50 is the most ridiculous stat btw, uncontested marks inside 50, that says something about offensive power or lack of defense.

Injuries and suspensions make the result more palatable - Hawks look real, damn it.

Loved it, several things stood out: 3 debut games - that is hopefully a good omen for us, well done to RFC on recruiting. Great for Yze after KC being a duckbit during the week. TDK has all the tools but desire, Jacob W has also gone soft, played for frees as did many of his team mates, I cannot believe VOSS coaches that. Richmond 33 don't know who he is but he annoyed the hell out of Cripps, now have a soft spot for him despite the ridiculous headband. Goal kicking is good football. I hate Carlton...

FWIW - he can enjoy his football and commit, am getting mixed signal from watchers - some saying he is being rated on his Dad's credentials and others saying he is a talent in his own right (beyond his height) anyone care to comment on work ethic? observations on that are interesting to me, I would kind of expect him to still be a baby giraffe at his age/height, more interested in knowing he has that hunger.