binman

Our kicking skills remain our biggest issue. Terrible

I was talking about this topic with a mate and he said surely Jeff White is on par with Harley in terms of a quality recruit. Have to agree. Early draft pick, came to us early in his career and was star for us. Had forgotten all about him.

Spot on The answer is simple. And it is not reducing interchange any further - coaches will get around that too, probably by slowing the game down even further to allow players to rest on field. Use the coaches rather than try to reign them in. Incentivise scoring with premiership points. For example winning or losing teams teams getting to 100 points (or even 85) get one premiership point. Of course there are variable in terms of weather and possibly venues (eg in Tassie where it is often windy) but so what. It would largely even out over a season and luck always plays a'part in teams fortunes. The coaches will still be defensive but not nearly as much. They will look for ways to maximise the chances of winning but will look for opportunities to snag that extra point. Losing teams also still have an incentive to keep attacking and not put the cue in the rack to save energy for the next game. If nothing else it might stop one of the biggest blights in the game - teams with 3-4 goal lead shutting up shop with 10 minutes to go, chipping it around and playing in slo mo. God awful to watch

Stadiums with 40,000 or less to open Rohan Smith The Prime Minister gave an important update on sporting events this afternoon. He says stadiums with a capacity of 40,000 or less will be able to host certain events but they will only be filled to 25 per cent capacity. That means a stadium capable of seating 40,000 people could sell 10,000 tickets but the caveat is that all tickets must be seated and social distancing rules must be applied. The PM said he is working with venues like the MCG to adopt a similar plan but nothing was announced today.

Kozzie out for breaching Covid 19 regulations? You have got to be [censored] me.

Good post with some good points. On Lever i have to somewhat disagree. Sure he should be physically equipped now to take a genuine big, though he is not that strong in the legs and through the hips like the best key big defenders and will lose his fair share of strength battles. My issue with Lever is not his strength - it is that i reckon he simply poor one on one. When standing right with a direct opponent - the classic one on one wrestling situation - he often gets out read as opposed to out muscled. The opposite is true of Fritter who often beats stronger players one on one because he reads the ball in flight better and is able to position his body to advantage. A natural. Probably a kid who played lots of kick to kick. I actually thought about Lever watching last nights game when Dusty out marked howe. Howe was body on body but Dusty simply read it better rather then beating him with strength. Like Howe Lever is at his best when he get the chance to run at pack and time the leap to mark or spoil. In any case Lever will play as an intercept predominately and will rarely be left on one one with a big.

Funny you should say that. I actually initially typed Peter Moore AND Kelvin Templeton. But after considering it i deleted Kelvin. Was an out and our star - one of the bests forwards i have seen live. But was cruelled by injury and by the time he came to us was slow, big and as you say couldn't kick past his shadow. In terms of raw talent, albeit way past his best, Phil Carmen came to mind. Insanely talented player who was the complete package early in his career (for one or two seasons). Brent Crosswell also came to mind.

You got it exactly right DD re the backline having only the two bigs. Well played. I share your concerns about the forward line. But i think benell will make a big difference in terms of delivery and I like Jones forward for the same reason.

Hunt was a big surprise. But maxy said in last night's zoom session he had been dynamic since they have been back and seemed to hint he would play and do so as a forward. The selections and goody's comments about game style seem to suggest a pretty big tactical shift. Which if true would be pretty amazing (and risky) given they only had 3 weeks back.

He wasn't asked about omac specifically. There was a question about the decision to go small this week and whether it would be a horses for courses decision. Mahoney said lever and may play big, the focus was speed (repeating goody's comment footy would be fast this year) and that with Smith they had flexibility as he could play tall if needed. A bit ominously for Omac he didn't answer the second part of the question. As I have said before coaches like settled defensive units so if it works omac (and Hibberd for that matter) will find it hard to get back in.

Hah was wondering how long it would take. I am disappointed he didn't get picked. As he will after what Mahoney described on the zoom session tonight as one of his best games. Wasn't surprised though once Smith was picked. By the by which poster has said he is a walk up start best 22?

We are playing at Princess Park against the blues Saturday at 11 i think. Be fun to sneak in and watch

I can see May, Lever, Omac and Smith play as Lever is not really a big as such. As Gawn said in the zoom members q&a tonight he's a specialist intercept player, like McGovern and won't directly take a big. May will but again as Gawn noted he likes to play off his man a bit too. That leaves Omac to man up Cassboult I really rate Smith. Super pleased he is back. I reckon Hibberd comes out, with Smith and Rivers playing across half back and Smith also being an intercept player who uses his leap to spoil packs. I see your point though about team leaving Omac out due to pace given the shorter quarters and quick track. The may think we have their forwards covered and want to be more attacking. But even f he does get dropped i reckon Hibberd will still come out.

The big if is will his calves hold up. If he does remain injury free fit he will be a gun week in and week out. And totally agree he could really change our fortunes. I have followed the club a long time. In term of recruits probably only Peter Moore comes close in terms of potential impact on our team.

Forget ET the news breaker. binman is the Nostradamus of demonland. A pro pontificator. Hubs: tick Crowds at footy: tick Omac in team: tick Next predictions: Harley Bennell: the best recruit (ie from another club) the MFC has had. Ever Scoring: teams to be more attacking this year with a much greater emphasis on scoring

Apparently they are keen. Or at east Eddie is

He is talented as Chris Judd. Maybe more. He is that good.

The last goal sums up why he is so dangerous. Marks it goal side of the wing (nice kick to him by the by), runs to 60, has one thought in mind, and effortlessly slots it. Love how straight his kicks are too.

No. But still struggle to kick to a Melbourne player

Natural. A smoother mover you'd struggle to find. Andew Mcleaid is a very apt comparison. I know I have banged on it about it and at the risk of being captain obvious this guy is total A grade. Elite. Easy to forget he was a number 2 pick. And before starting his shocking run with injury (compounded by off field dramas) he looked every inch worthy of that pick. Again I repeat myself but we have a team of butchers. Just look at the clips of of our scratch match. Butchers. Harley is a surgeon who I'f he plays will instantly become one of our 2 to 3 most important players.

In the mix I guess. Beautiful kick but very one sided. And best when having a set shot.

Two themes, sort of. A desire for hard ball winners and competitors. Unfortunately at the expense of skill. Which is just one reason why Harley will be way more than a bonus if he plays regularly. If he does he will be our most skilled player since Robbie. Big call, and was going to say last ten years. But the only players in the same ball park since Robbie are Watts, TJ, the Wiz and maybe Yze.

Agree on all three points. You're right dazzler Hibberd is poor one on one. He is also completely one sided (one of the most one sided players i can recall at the dees) - which is a problem for a defender given it make shim predicable and often mean he can't cross to an open player. When in form these weakness are balanced by his attack, ability to run and carry and his penetrating kicking. Unfortunately he has lost a yard of pace and the penetration on his kicks. To be honest i can't see him regaining either. I hope i'm wrong as when at the top of his game he a valuable weapon. I can see Smith taking his spot. It will be hard for any player not picked to get back if there are no injuries given there is n VFL to press their case.

Good.

Maybe. But even if 20000 go to docklands that is monbusier than trains are right now during the week, let alone in 2 months time. Surely they will close the roof at night and when wet, even with crowds. Hardly an enclosed space.