Slartibartfast

This post is not going to be well received and I'm putting it here because if this thread is representative I'm going nowhere near the post match discussion. Apologies if others have tried to fight the good fight. And I'm responding to this post as it seems representative of the views I'm reading on here today - I'm not having a go at Elegt alone. I was really proud of the boys last night. Gee did they have a red hot go! Playing the current Premiers on their own patch with 5 players with 22 games experience going into last night (Smith, Hore, Lockhart, Petty and Baker) and another group who give their all but are probably short of ALF standard (Stretch, ANB, Garlett and Wagner) we did not disgrace the jumper and I'll look any other club supporter in the eye today will pride. And with a bit of luck we'd have won. Petty on the line, Frost with a cruel fumble, Shuey with a freak goal, Ryan with a sensational mark and some weird umpiring decisions all went against us. Yes, our goal kicking was terrible and it wasn't just Petracca. Garlett, McDonald, Baker, Brayshaw, Stretch and others missed easy goals. But guess what, we created the chances and won everywhere but on the scoreboard. I like Joeboys three worder's but this one doesn't give credit where credit is due. Just look at OMac - "not our worst". No Joeboy, it should have been something like "played really well". And he's just an example of the poor evaluation of many of the player's performances by so many today. A bit sad really many don't have the balance to what a game performance that was.

There were rumours that Joel had OP and Saty has now confirmed it. A quick scan of the internet and I found this: Osteitis Pubis is a common cause of chronic groin pain in the football codes. It is an overuse injury. That is, it is caused by repeated trauma rather than a specific incident. However, it is not uncommon for a specific incident to trigger the symptoms. Interesting that it says OP is caused by repeated trauma rather than a specific incident in light of the prima facie shocking decision to play him when injured. Can anyone with some knowledge comment? Thanks

Really? We have 10 to 15 injuries and we've won our last two games, one against the Hawks who just knocked off the Giants. I reckon our depth is doing pretty well.

Petty terrific down back taking 3 or 4 marks most contested. Cory Wagner very busy. Weid in a lot of play. Casey with the wind this quarter. It's not all that strong but a definite advantage.

Playing the man again. And it's an opinion forum. And how on earth is your comment related to the Casey game tomorrow? Give it a break, you're better than that.

Gawn Oliver Jones Salem Hunt Hore

I'd imagine this response along with a number of others will be deleted but do you really have to couch everything around how much you dislike Saty? You started it with your quip about Saty's relationship with the players when someone asked you to do training reports. The usual suspects including the much loved Moonie and Wise jumped on. Fair dinkum Dazzle. If everyone got suspended getting something wrong on this site not many would post. What is it about "some people like Saty and some don't" you don't understand? Why is it you want to shut down and bully Saty? I've been to training quite often lately and guess what. The players speak to him, the coaches speak to him and often go out of their way to say hello. He's good mates with Nev. Are you questioning his character because he likes Saty? For all your training reports have their merits Saty often provides information not available elsewhere. And if you think he isn't told things and keeps them quiet you're kidding yourself. Live and let live mate. You single handedly diverted this threat to Saty and I for one find that childish. Grow up.

I went to the Casey game yesterday as I wanted to have a look at the new blokes. Conditions were perfect although it was quite humid and the smoke haze and smell were quite strong. It was a resounding win by Casey who completely outplayed Brisbane around the ball and of course were helped by Viney, Jones and Melksham who were just a class above. This is how I saw the Demons:- Kade Chandler:- Didn't know he was on the ground in the first quarter as I was mainly watching the big three but I certainly noticed him in the second and subsequent quarters. He's small but he looks strong and quick, not lightening, but quick and he has good hands and a good kick. He took a good contested mark at one point and kicked a couple of goals in the second. He covered the ground well and tackled. He used the ball well with several passes inside forward 50 to teammates and was the most impressive of the new blokes from my point of view. He looks like he could become a good player. Nathan Jones: Often when you see a senior player come back to a lower grade they seem a little at sea and don't dominate the way you'd expect. Jonesy didn't have that problem. From the first bounce he just kept getting the ball and managed to find space in tight and continually won the ball at stoppages. His skills were rusty as he missed several handballs and kicks I'd normally expect him to nail but it was a little like watching a year 12 boy play with the year 10's. He was just better than the rest. Seemed to run out the game well and I've no doubt he'll play round1. Jack Viney: Was pretty dominant around the stoppages and on occasions used his strength really well just bashing through tackles at stoppages and clearing the ball. Played quite some time in the forward 50 but doesn't look a natural forward at all. He got plenty of the ball and used it well. He looked pretty spent towards the end and appeared to hurt himself when he attempted a spoil from behind and may have jarred his knee/leg on landing. I watched carefully as he went to the bench where a trainer/physio (I was on the other side of the ground) talked to him for a minute or two. There didn't appear to be any testing of the leg or any ice used and he walked reasonably comfortably after the game. Like all, I'm just hoping for the best. James Jordan: Looked a class player and while he didn't get a heap of it when he did he used it well and looked confident in what he was doing. Played off half back and covered a lot of ground. He is a sure ball handler and a lovely kick and appeared to be in the right place at the right time. He's still quite slight but showed courage and a willingness to tackle. I liked what I saw. Corey Wagner: Showed some speed and footy smarts at times and if he was a first year player you'd be quite excited but he's not and if he's going to make it needs to find something more. He certainly has a go and won his fair share in the forward 50. Jake Melksham: Didn't really see him in the first quarter but started to play well in the second and was dominant in the last half. His contested ball work was great, he was strong in the air, he found space and his kicking was fantastic. He was close to BOG for me in the second half and will be a great addition with his kicking skills particularly. Sam Frost: Just a game. Always looks a class above until he fumbles the simple ones or makes a rookie mistake. He did get better as the game wore on but not one of his better games because of the mistakes. Also there wasn't a lot to do down back for Casey. Tom Sparrow: I was disappointed with his first half and can't say I really noticed him but sometimes when you're watching for the first time you don't notice players so maybe I'm being unfair. He started to get more involved in the third but I was disappointed with his disposal but as the game wore on he got better and better and displayed some really good clearance work and kicking skills. He's very much in the mould of an inside mid with a see ball get ball approach and was at the bottom of a lot of packs. I was much more confident at the end of the day than at half time with him as he definitely has some AFL attributes. Cory Maynard: Not a dominant game but maybe was pushed out of his normal role with Viney and Jones doing a lot of the centre clearance work. Just a game really and not one to get excited about. Toby Bedford: Now here is an interesting one. In one sense he's got it all. He's quick and nimble, he covers a lot of ground, he's a willing tackler and he works hard. Looks to be a sure ball handler and a good kick but reality about yesterday is he didn't get it enough to make a judgement really But every time he was around the ball or got it he caught your eye. I'm glad he's on the list but he's got to learn the best trick in footy - to get the ball. Braydon Preuss: Dominant ruck in the first half and gave silver service to the mids while he was on. As you know, he injured himself in the first minute of the third quarter and wasn't seen again. Austin Bradtke: Got Casey's first goal (I think) with a really good contested pack mark in the first few minutes of the game and followed up later in the quarter with another. He's got good hands and can kick it quite well and found a bit of it around the ground but I don't think he added to his two first quarter goals. He did quite a bit of rucking when Preuss went off and was monstered. Lots of time in the gym and a clear project player but looks a good long term prospect and although it's too early to call looks more a forward than a ruck. Jost Wagner: Not a lot to do but what he did he did well. Very brave on occasions particularly in the air and was spoiling the ball very well to the boundary on many occasions. He's a good VFL player and performs regularly at this level from what I've seen but didn't do enough to push a case for senior selection. Harry Petty: I've liked this kid from the first time I've seen him and again he looked very good yesterday. He reads the play really well, he's a very strong overhead mark and his kicking is very good. He got to the right place regularly and played a very good game. Towards the end of the game he had a couple of spells in the ruck which looked quite promising as he was okay with his tap work and agile and mobile enough around the ground to have an impact. Given our relative glut of KPD I wouldn't be surprised to see him trialled forward at some point. With his contested marking strength and kicking ability he could be a handful. I'm very confident this kid will be an excellent AFL footballer. Oscar Baker: Clearly needed a run. Looked rusty and didn't get into the game as you'd have hoped but he's had a long spell on the sidelines. He loves to get involved and he loves to take people on, not always with the desired outcome. But he has a go, he's got very good pace and he clearly believes in himself. Having said that, it wasn't a good game by his standards from my point of view.

Chandler in everything. 1 goal and a poster. Preuss limped off

Chandler the standout that quarter. 2 goals, should have had 3, a pack mark and a lovely pass to Jones who missed. Jordan impressed off half back. Petty solid. Sparrow quiet. Melk very good that quarter. Preuss dominant. You won't need a jumper out here.

Bradke two from contested marks. Jones and Viney leather poisoning.

Okay, but he stands out against the opposition regardless of who they are and is fantastic. But there isn't a lot of Carlton players to distract your attention I agree. I'm probably on my own but I think Carlton will improve quite a lot this year, hopefully enough to make games interesting if not win them.

Fancy having a crack at people for discussing the topic and not playing the man! I don't rate Lyon personally but I agree on Oliver. Having said that it's not a big call. Our lack of elite mids since 1964 is quite embarrassing really. Poor old Robbie. I always really rated him but I'll have to reconsider now. I think it's harder to play well in a rubbish side. Cripps and Robbie stand/stood out because they are/were fantastic footballers.

Thank you HBG and Demonland. Tickets secured.

Can someone post a link to where you buy these tickets. I can't seem to find it!

I can't really answer much of that. He's a good kick. I don't know what you mean by "passive". I didn't see him when he arrived but he's got a kid's body. If I had to guess he'll play as a small back in the Salem type role. He has a reputation as a very good reader of the play and a good intercept player but I haven't seen enough to comment. Not much help I know.....

Just back from training - left about 11.45. As reported KK and Hannan arrived early and did a bit of gentle running. Both on light duties. There were two match sim drills that I saw, Viney and May didn't participate in the first but did in the second. Both looked comfortable, particularly May. TMac did the whole session. Nobody else that I saw was on restricted duties. I liked the look of Jordan, seems to have a lovely kick, he didn't miss one when I was watching and the conditions were difficult with a strong wind. Any questions please ask.

It's always interesting to get others views on the game. I thought Joel Smith was disappointing and misjudged the ball a lot in the air giving his opponent an easy and unpressured out. Also thought Salem and Hibberd were quiet. I thought Oscar was really solid and good with excellent vision and disposal. Looks to have gone up a notch on last year. JKH will push if he continues to play that way. The competition for spots will be significant. Hunt also a nice bonus and resembled the 2017 version.

Yes, a brilliant strategy to get his wife to apply for a prestigious position overseas. Why is it that when anyone leaves the Club they get canned? Watts, Hogan and now Mission and that's just off the top of my head. Misso came to MFC when we were a basket case and we are now an elite organization. He's part of that. Thanks Misso. Good luck and thanks.

Really? NM surprised everyone last year and have added some good players. I wouldn't be surprised if they did okay this year.

I watched the Geelong v MFCC game at Geelong we won in 2015(?) the other night. It was terrific but it reminded me of why I was so bullish about Dom, he was very good. Gus played a fantastic game as well and it was easy to forget how good he was when he couldn't really play for a couple of years. But watching that game showed that last year was just what you'd expect. Vince and Jones carried the midfield and Viney played a tagging role on Selwood. Gawn of course had his break out game. But Dom can play and I'd not be surprised if he has a good year now that he's back where he plays his best footy.

I attended my first training session for the year yesterday and whilst it wasn't really a proper training session I did notice that there are two posts positioned about 18 inches inside the normal goal posts providing an even smaller target to kick a goal. I'd imagine it's to sharpen our goal kicking. On Hibberd I read in the paper that he thought he'd done his hammy on Saturday but scans had cleared him. I imagine that's why he's on restricted duties. Having spoken to a couple of people yesterday my impression was that all bar Lever are expected to be fit and available for R1 based on their current injury status. Good news

All out of my price bracket Andy.

First time at training this year for me. There appeared to be two levels of rehab, the more serious one contained KK, May, Jones and Walker. They did heaps of running starting with straight line three quarter pace 100m and 200m runs and at the end they were doing lots of laps. None looked very inconvenienced. Hannan was just walking laps, tried to find out what the issue was but got nothing. The second rehab group was quite big but my guess is that they were just on light duties after Saturday. I'm not sure I'll get all of them but Maynard, Petracca, Viney, Lever, Hibberd, Stretch, Melksham, JKH, AVB, Baker and Nev Jetta. They did lots of handball drills but no running that I saw. The rest of the group did very light duties. Gentle run throughs, a little bit of kicking to leading players and some goal kicking and crumbing snaps. Today was clearly just a gentle "get the legs moving" session after Saturday. Spoke to some of my contacts down there who reiterated what Saty has been saying about rehab but recognized we'd been a bit unfortunate not to have the number of players in full training mainly because it makes doing the drills a bit more problematic. Another positive was that this year all our recruits bar Hore have done the major part of the preseason which will stand them in good stead for the season and is unusual as usually the young guys struggle with the loads and carry injuries from the TAC season.

Free coffee as part of the LAUNCH!