DEE fence

Fair point, I think Gawn is maxxed out (sorry) with MMM, I love Melk's no BS approach to questions in the media recently. Of the AFLW crew I'm not sure who is the slickest media performer, well Bannan is a fave player (her running is electric) Eliza and Kate seem media savvy. Of the other blokes, Lever or Rivers can hold a sentence together without using every cliche under the sun, some forward/back tension would be good too. I presume someone like GW would have more of a clue on who could keep their end of a microphone up.

I miss Gus and Gawn, I get that its time has passed, but I really would like to see another - I propose to nominate Chandler to lead it, I even have a working title: CHIN WAG Tell me that isn't a nice play on words, open to other suggestions though. Cheers

I love to have a bet with friends, my family has owned and trained horses and I only mention this to say I’m not a wowser. But seriously sports betting on phones has to stop, it cannot be that easy to get high. It’s like your phone is dispensing fentanyl. Felt strong enough to post about it, John Oliver can be a preachy git, but he’s not wrong here, is worth a watch, and the harm is real, let’s push to limit the damage. Oh and to be clear I don’t mind people talking about their bets, in the same way I favour legalization, but with limits and controls.

I actually think it is in the lap of the gods, we have the talent and the effort, the god part is the confidence, our small forwards nail a few on the run and we’ll skewer sides. Our leaders continue to shank goals from gimme positions the season will sink without a trace. My very knowledgeable Hawks mate was laughing at how the Hawks escaped with a win. Dogs and Collingwood are the only teams I’m really worried about. Dogs and Melbourne might just be the heavyweight clash of midfield clearance for the year. Collingwood I think we will beat once, (maybe) twice would be a miracle because they are annoyingly good. Dogs while more consistent I think we match up well on them and have good recent history.

Melksham - the forward we knew we needed Rivers - had the he ball on a string Gawn - great game, not much competition though Bowey - Ace defender Petty - superior in the air. Mc Vee - sneaky good, catching up to Charlie so he rushed his kick was ace.

With 3:52 left in the 3rd, the way X was handling the ball gave me a James Hird type of vibe, just so assured, without the FIGJAM though. A slightly hysterical call I know (4 hours sleep arriving in Mogadishu this morning) but the body type and smoothness under pressure had me thinking. I don't care what pick Essendon gets from us, those two 1st rounds were absolutely worth it. Saw good things from Sparrow, who continues to be the best version of himself, Rivers looked class today, McVee needs to have signed yesterday, Oliver embarrassed the commentators, May was much better (and I love how he got around Turner after the missed spoil instead of giving a bake), even Windsor who burnt a few disposals has heart, loved his diving spoil where he winded himself. Bowser's best season without doubt. And Kozzie - that article today was a really clear response to Freo speculation. His kicking missed but he was looking lethal he is in a good place, much else to rave about, am blissing out over the result.

I have a bar of soap for you (Maximus-'are you not entertained' Gawn says Hi) to wash your mouth out, but seriously I have been wanting to post something similar. Turner has been a slow burn no doubt, but I really think he has something too. In the way Josh Kennedy 'seemed' to take a while to really hit his straps, the more Turner plays the more I think he is the proverbial ugly duckling, and will go onto great things.

If the media had any cred, they would have acknowledged just how many Melbourne fans travelled to what was billed as a 5:1 against contest, but it goes against their gormless tropes. Very happy for you, you guys did us proud I definitely took notice of the strong cheers squad presence. Enjoy cloud 9.

I think I prefer Fritsch as the sub if we see that sort of effort, was a different player.

Is just as much fun giving it to the Essendon ones! I have a list if you need.

I haven’t given up either, of course it’s unlikely, JVR being off is a massive disaster, this time last year I thought he had blue sky in front of him. But all that said, we have serious talent, all of our starting 18 would get a gig at any other team ( not sure I could say the same about the bench) This really makes me think it is a matter of confidence and we are all searching for that bottle shop. Ignore the footy shows and sen, they will just pump up your MFCSS. Personally I think Fritsch needs a bigger sabbatical and Trac needs to be told to stop shirking set shots.

I knew this would get a run

All or individually of Kozzie, Rivers & McVee > than LJ. No way do I want to lose any of them. We currently have a couple of blokes who all make great rebounding defenders, and Kozzie who is dynamite in the middle. I know we are bleeding for a forward. LJ on the other hand, mailed in the 2nd half of '22 with us, which I was quite dirty about. Look how Danger played his heart out for Crows before jumping to Cats. I get the jumping but not choosing to offer sub par performances when we were right in the window. Who would I offer up? Sparrow, JVR, Petty (although I would hate to lose him), Tholstrup(Personally I think this kid is going to be better than Bedford or Jordan), Salem, Laurie, Fullarton, Spargo Billings or Howes, even Fritsch. I know that seems mean, but we are not going to get something for nothing anyone else not mentioned I consider essential or would be laughed at. But the three I named i think still have great upside. LJ chooses when to go and I don't love it.

In the MFC article it said the symptoms were reported by Viney at training, not because of a training incident. Had the same worry, would think 10 days from WC match, but not a Dr and TBH if he needs it take a extra game, Have never ever seen him play up a knock, he looked like he felt it in game.

Serious question, I know a summary is given Pretty lucky to only cop a week, Concussion = high impact, Viney is a big loss, has been a major part of our high pressure ratings over the last month.

I looked up the NFL, there are a few guys who touch 37km/h (in game play, not on a track) and they were 88kg, 173cm. types, some of the 20m times for the 120-150kg guys are just scary. not saying we go to that extreme, but one of things we've liked about AFL is that all body types used to be able to play. Maybe as tactics evolve some other body shapes come in. whether a coach could survive the development cycle is a question, maybe try it out in the VFL first.

The obvious thing against my hope for a return to the hefty but accurate KPF, is that with zone defenses being so tight, not going to get many 1v1s, the Jake Levers (please god heal his ankle) will spoil the party. I would however have a caveat that I see my loveable fatty also trying his luck from 45-60m not trying to win a mark 20m out in a huge pack. Max never has a big crowd around him when he's at the 50, not the same closer to goal. A proper forward with this range would be a nightmare. Pity the ANB type who has to do his defensive running though for his fat mate.

I was thinking at least 5 kg, but also more 'explosive' sprint work than endurance running. It is a long time since I did PE theory at school (Bob Hawke was PM), but I seem to remember that you can convert fast twitch to endurance but not the other way around, and that someone like Ablett had a higher % of fast twitch muscle fibres than your average bloke. I am convinced there is still space for a stay at home FF if you had the right bloke, (that is not just magical thinking - Aaron Hamill, Cloke (still feel sad for the bloke that he got the yips) could just clear a path and this is not so long ago). I even think as much as Jeremy for the cats is a great field kick and has a tank etc, he is a very hot and cold goal kicker, I'd give a little bit and keep him closer to FF (I know we could argue what his true position is). I would love to see some experimentation, hell, the seppos have embraced Australian punters, if they can we can look for something, we can too. I remember going to the footy to watch David Neitz and if he bombed one from 55 early in the game you knew we were in for a good day. People love the booming set shot. I also think Chocco's approach while theoretically correct, is too 'cooky cutter' expecting everyone to perform the skill the same way. I'd like to see an approach on what works for the individual. I feel like Fritsch already gets a pass (on defensive efforts) because of his set shot ability but I would wonder if a KPF could also get the same hall pass. I also think Fritta needs to be super consistent on his returns or he is going to have to grind more.

I also think that this can be a flat spot (if you call 28 disposals a game flat) that he finds his way out of. I really feel all this media is about playing with his perceived worth, when everyone knows he's an AC Cobra with minor panel damage. I like how Brad Green is pressing on this.

I feel like an amateur fan compared to you, contacting the list manager to give an ear bashing is next level, respect!

I always thought Zak Butters and Ramsay Bolton had a certain affinity... would love Zak at Melbourne fwiw

I loved the steel in Goodwin's voice, would like to see more of this push back.

Better than Nicholls that is for sure.

So I have a theory about the drop off in standards for goal kicking (from set shots) over the last 20 years. Players have become too skinny. When you look at a list of the great goal kickers the only real athletes were Buddy, the erratic Richardson and Riewoldt (who is on my merde list at the moment). Lockett, Dunstall, Ablett, Wade, Hudson and Coventry all had large backsides used to great effect. Even our own Neitz and Jackovich had some weight to throw around. Across a century of great goal kickers, by far and away the best are the heavy set blokes. I would be curious if we allowed a JVR to be 5-10 kg heavier as the main KPF, and reduce slightly his defensive obligations whether this could see a more composed set shot. Instead of looking like Marvel action heros with 3% body fat, I think there is some merit in heavier, more explosive, players good for bursts. The difference is I think, that they are doing too much defensive running to properly get the HR down for a good shot and they feel the rough and tumble more being thin. Again this is for set shots not in play shots on goal. I find it hard to see any other factor across the time period that could cause what is basically a regression in set shot ability when training has become so elite and so professional.

I rewatched the 2024 game (we kicked 5 goals to nil in the first term), a couple of things stood out. We were playing nearly the same style as this year, we were playing with a lot of confidence, our skills looked slick and we just pantsed them. Watson also missed his first 4 shots on goal. Also Lever was proppy from the start and May got clobbered - which means I don't give up hope that our defence can hold together for this week. Anyway what stood out - we are obviously a confidence team, in many ways I have been guilty of thinking we were past the need for 'confidence'. But if there was a single thread to pull on, it is not game style or our list but confidence. This is super frustrating, because I think our list is better than 2024, Lindsay and Langford are such upgrades on Billings and Hunter etc. But I really back our ability to bring pressure, we are a top 4 side at pressure when we are on.