frankie_d

Just put Brayshaw in the middle for a bit - he's a natural midfielder, and I know he's been doing a great job defensively on that wing, but I reckon he'd be better in the middle than Harmes/Sparrow combined. Who goes on the wing? Harmes? Viney?

What are the Center clearance stats?

100%

When ladder positions are reversed, the hawks kill us. I don’t trust this team.

Back to bees around the honey pot

I'll be interested in the analysis of the game by those who know - how will Clarkson approach this. Of course, he's not got the cattle he used to, and therefore his approach will be different. How will a team down the bottom of the ladder (but brilliantly coached) approach the task?

The son-and-heir just moved into his new home in the 'burbs with his Crows-supporting wife (lovely in all other ways). First object installed - jen-uuuu-wine bought after the game at the 'G Great book - thanks @Supermercado

Just what we don't need... Hope he stays with us next year. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/07/05/collingwood-expected-to-approach-premiership-coach/

Completely agree. Hunt was trying to get things going. Having (BBB | Weid | someone) lead towards him and he kicks earlier and we score

Good summary

Well, who knew? You need an effective forward line to win against good teams like GWS. Dumb bombs into the forward line (Oliver) won't do it. Fritter got the most out of his game today (regularly outnumbered) and TMac is the answer at CHF. But the ball bounced out of our forward line, leaving the backline horrible exposed. Lever and May were there usual outstanding selves, and I thought Petty did OK - I'm warming to him. Salem - fantastic. Hibberd - not helped by a lack of pressure on the ball-carrier. I can't make up my mind about our mid-field. We got pounded there today, and I don't think they worked hard enough without the ball. Jackson was good - especially for a kid who's played a handful of games. Just imagine what would have happened at the end when Hunt got run down. If there's a BBB or Weid presenting, then Hunt kicks the ball sooner. Fix the forward line and we win.

Compare this to Roos last game, or when we need to beat the pies to make finals on 2017. I’m not sure what we stand for. Compare us to the Essendon 2000 team, or the Lions or Geelong or Hawthorn in their pomp. We just don’t have “it”. Don’t know if we ever will

Compare this to Roos last game or Danihers last game

If we make it to the big dance in September, who will sort out the opposition when they get stuck into Max or Fritter or Oliver? I know toughness is not the same as brutality, but to win the whole thing I reckon you need to be brutal. Think 2000.

Does anyone think that, on exposed form, Petty is up to it?

Great interview - Melbourne through and through. Serious business experience and capability. And setting the bar high - Premierships.

Petty?

May mightn't miss many May matches

I reckon the new "stand on the mark" rule is helping him use his speed. Once he's away, only the speedsters will catch him, and I think that gives him a bit of confidence. Haven't seen the DE stats, but I reckon his kicking was pretty good yesterday

I wonder how much Yze and Williams have contributed to this?

LIke everyone, I have had enough of the talk ("the boys are hurting" rinse and repeat). The only thing that counts is wins. Mark Williams, interviewed on the Club's website: (about 7:00min in) "Can't wait to see to see the thousands and thousand of Melbourne fans at the G, waiting for us to show something. It's a bit of the chicken and the egg; you come, you support and we'll deliver" I don't mind that - puts the pressure where it belongs, no talk of "hurting", or "learnings". Just footy. He'd go alright, I reckon.

This. Tackling ferociously, shepherding, tap the footy on, caring for each other. Not the faux “get around him” crap.

Agree 100% DD. And Grinter was not just tough - he was incredibly skilled. A bit of Rhys-Jones about him. We could absolutely do with a few like that.

The times I felt confident were the Northey years. He cared, and they followed his example. I was at the G one day when Strawb O'Dwyer stuffed something up on the outer wing. He screamed at the runner to go out and tell Strawb that his teammates had "worded their guts out" to get the ball to him and he'd let them down, and now he had a chance to make up for it over the rest of the game. Daniher the next best, then daylight/moonlight/the-whole-of-the-universe to the rest.

This team got us to a grand final (and got smashed): Here's the 2000 team (also smashed): For those of us who are old enough to remember those games, I wonder how many of today's would be in that team? That's the level of talent you need to GET to a grannie - and not enough to win one.