DEE fence

Kolt was looking like a kid early on, the Perth game he was too excited for sure, but I have seen something worth persisting with. He is brave and has a heart, I am perfectly happy for him to settle. All these critiques could have been about ANB 10 years ago.

Could everyone please watch the post game presser, I actually think it was his best ever (apart from standing his ground a few weeks ago). He explains a couple of things really well in his usual dry manner.

We as fans (speaking for myself) go mental when we miss gimme goals - the reason... we worry that the players will drop their heads from missed opportunities. What Goodwin explained really clearly (we're not focused on outcome mantra) at the 03:30 - 04:00 min mark of the video, was that the team - 'work hard unconditionally' and that 'they were able to continue with the same mindset...irrespective of the outcome of the scoreboard'. i.e. he has coached the team to deal with what is our (my) biggest fear (speaking again for myself/MFCSS). That if we don't make every post a winner we are done.

If you think about it, the idea that with enough opportunities (quality f50 entries) the reward will come (scoreboard result), is so much better than making each shot on goal a pass/fail moment that will only increase pressure on the players. This is something top tier european football teams do all the time. The flip side is, as confidence builds from the process working, the pressure reduces and we will kick bigger scores.

By way of contrast - Look at where Carlton are with Curnow and McKay, they have this approach that their gun forwards will do all the work. I would much rather have 10 goal kickers (Kozzie with 5 doesn't hurt either). That said, Gawn shouldn't have laid off that shot at goal, that is not taking responsibility. I want that coached out, same for Trac, take your bloody set shots.

Needless to say, Goodwin has walked the path he said we were going to take and has fronted up to everything. Kudos to a legend of the MFC.

https://www.afl.com.au/video/1330462/goodwin-post-match-r11-its-a-pretty-special-bond-that-youre-starting-to-see?videoId=1330462&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1748169119001&limit=50&tagNames=ProgramCategory%3APress%20Conference&references=AFL_COMPSEASON%3A73%2CAFL_ROUND%3A1157

I once had the great pleasure (while escorting the umpires as a young uniformed constable) at the G, of telling Sticks Kernahan 'not to sook', in those words, as he came over and started berating the umpires after a close Melbourne victory. Was walking on air, (and I knew he dearly wanted to belt me) was my most rascal moment I'm willing to admit to publicly.

4 hours ago, speed demon said:

Loved Max rag-dolling Grundy to take it out of the ruck and snap truly. Perfect start and set the tone for the day.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1790882/gawn-v-grundy-max-banks-early-win?videoId=1790882&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1748152740001

One of the many things I rate about the coach and the team is the respect at the end of the game from our team to opposition. Grundy left, but quite clearly didn’t burn any bridges. There was some ‘heavy’ traffic involving Grundy both ways. Yet I saw him pick up one player in play and Clarry giving him [censored] about the grey whiskers in his beard after the game was fun. It didn’t work but that the separation was graceful shows heaps of class.

6 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

so much so that luke hodge's kids are more likely to go to the bears' academy than to dingley as a father-son selection

Is it off the Hawks or Clarkson? (I would mention Jeff but that might come across as political ;-)…)

4 hours ago, Nasher said:

Out: Spargo

In: Viney

I’m not dropping AJ. He offers 1%ers - the taps, smothers etc that our other talls don’t, and those created goals today. He doesn’t do the “tall things” very well (like contested marking) but I don’t yet trust that van Rooyen will do them either. If I have to choose between two talls who can’t clunk it, I choose the one who is already in the side, proving he does the little things.

Lever had cobwebs to be blown out but I’m not dropping him either. It’s normal for elite players to find form in the seniors and he fits that category. The higher intensity will accelerate his return to the top. Assuming he’s not injured, anyway.

The club video with Lever doing his recovery was informative, he made it clear he struggles for touch when he returns and was trying to remedy it. I actually thought with that in mind and thinking of other returns, he wasn't as 'rusty' as he normally was.

Chin's delivery inside 50 was superb:

Hard Flat Passes

Waiting for Kingy to retract his Oliver is unlikely to be an A grader again.

Pickett

Gawn

Oliver

Trac

Salem

Langdon

Apologies to Turner, Lindsay, Rivers, McVee in fact most of the team. Pretty damn excited to be able to name Salem, as Coach Ted said… now we have two aces. Gun rebounding HBx2, exactly what you need as a finals team.

AJ has presence, and is a great 2nd ruck. I also like his positioning and he runs with the fall of the ball. I sincerely hope JVR comes good, but the way AJ is moving when the ball is on the deck applies pressure that JVR doesn’t bring. He still ball watches, after he feels the contest has past him, AJ keeps moving regardless, it’s valuable. And his nouse to tap rather than take possession should get more credit, kept ball alive. Oh by the could the previous Petty haters (apart from STFU) apologize, all that garbage about him not being invested.

10 minutes ago, Dingo said:

Liam Jurrah like

Better, Kozzie is a disrupter of opposition composure. The way Max takes long down the line out of the equation, Kozzie puts the fear of God into rebounding defenders. Jurrah a better mark, but everything else Kozzie.

11 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Viney out for another week.

Not great news

Culley is slow at Casey and in recent weeks has not impressed. Is he better than Sharp as a sub. Maybe

That would allow lever in moving Turner forward and Fritsch back in

Viney has taken the pressure off the selection group but will it work?

Am a bit stressed about Viney, I know we all think he is made of stone, but three weeks suggest his bell was well and truly rung. Thinking he could be a bit longer still than what the club is saying. Don't love that symptoms were delayed and while it was a decent hit, it wasn't the biggest we've seen him wear. Am worried he's getting to the stage where he is just more susceptible.

9 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

One of few podcasts I’d look forward to every week.

In retrospect it takes a certain personality to make a successful podcast and having two larrikins in Gus n Gawn was a treat.

If Chin was to take over, he’d need a side kick. Not sure who though

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.

1 hour ago, SPC said:

Turner could be our best footballer

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.

1 hour ago, Strawberry Fields said:

Great win. Unexpected. Was there and kudos to the cheer squad… Last quarter noise was epic.

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.

34 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

The only sour note of this win is not knowing any lions supporters to stick it up.

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.

7 hours ago, John Demonic said:

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.