Pates

I've heard Kentfield has a bit of mongrel about him. Fingers crossed he could be our next Disco Turner, and Bailey Fritch of a mature recruit. We also have AJ, who has angry running through his veins but is not AFL standard.

I was initially an absolute no to Buckley, but I have since softened. He had been widely considered one of the best football minds during his playing days, and his analysis is always insightful. I think he would command respect of the players due to his stature in the game, I just wonder what his style would be. Would he try to follow the trend or create his own?

Gawn and Viney are legends and club captains, but they are also past an age of certainty. Gawn I'm less annoyed about, but to me it felt like Viney was holding us over a barrel when we were vulnerable (with the Oliver/Trac issues). We need to stop being sentimental about players and caving to their demands. We have Viney contracted for another 2 years after this season, he's been average with some good performances in there. He's also symptomatic of our issues with ball use. I'm hopeful that a new voice will help extract a new role for him so we can get better balance, but we need to have more of an edge of "you either come with us how we want to do this next phase, or we can trade you to another club that will suit your needs". They are all warriors, and legends of the club. But did we really need to extend them as far as we did? I don't think so. I would've been/would be sad to see Jack go, but we need a new mix in the midfield. I reckon I can name on one hand the players we absolutely can't be without next season, everyone else is a question mark. EDIT: Just to add I feel like we are in the position we are more because of our contract decisions, with so many being high money and long term, than because of Goodwin's coaching. It has definitely hampered our ability to bring more quality to the club.

That is really surprising, I know Melbourne fans are disillusioned but a new coach and fresh beginning could actually bring a few back through the gates. Just on the pink lady aspect, this was so well done when it first started (aside from the AFL putting the umpires and the ball in pink, with us wearing pink in the yolk). This feels like the forgotten game amongst the "cause games". I really want to see us start with energy and a point to prove. We have a good record over the dogs and I'd even go so far to say we're a bit of a bogey team for the doggies. It being at the G just adds to it.

Honestly to me us extending Viney, May, and even Gawn for as long as we have is worse than giving Laurie an extra year. Unlikely he's on big coin from an AFL perspective.

Sadly we are. We've lost to all of those teams, all embarrassing in their own way. But here's a bit of positivity, I think our bounce back will be quicker than at least two of these teams.

It's a little sad that the madness of Goodwin getting sacked has meant this hasn't been given it's proper acknowledgement. I feel like I'm alone in this but I feel like he's been solid for us this season, he's been playing his role in a more high half forward sort of way (to cover the loss of Nibbler maybe?) and you know whatever happens he will not stop running. He was a key recruit and component to our 2021 premiership, have a lot of time for him. I would even go so far to say he's a leader/future leader of the club. Congrats Lingers! Bring some positivity this week!

As you say the grain of salt will be applied but if it's not home calling him then I'm confident we'll retain him. He's quality, his partner plays for our VFLW team. We plucked him from relative obscurity so I would hope a little bit of a nod at the faith we've shown in him would go a little way.

Am I right in saying we were playing him in defence for much of the season? I'd be really happy to see him get a crack at it, but lets not throw him to to wolves to make him the "main option".

They could even apply the logic (tough for the MRO i know) of the potential dangers to Cameron. If the Lual was in a different body position he could've cleaned Cameron up and caused concussion to him, instead it was his own teammate that copped it but it shouldn't mitigate the circumstances. If they are suggesting that May could've and should've done differently to protect his opponents safety the same theory should be applied in this play.

This Shiel/Jezza shove that resulted in Lual being tunnelled is an interesting one. The AFL article puts forward the question, "can a player be cited for injuring his own teammate?" For me the answer is 100% yes, and to me the incident with Petty and McGovern set a bad precedence. The media at the time was hyper focused on Melksham protecting the space while McGoverns own bloody teammate shoved Petty into the contest causing the concussion of both players and the retirement of McGovern. This one looks even worse and could've had a catastrophic outcome. He should be given 2-3 weeks because he showed no duty of care to Cameron and Lual. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1383481/essendon-bombers-dylan-shiel-shove-on-luamon-lual-leaves-mro-with-interesting-dilemma-after-friendly-fire

There are people I want to leave the club, Chaplin is most definitely not one of them. He is (to me) our only highly rate assistant. I hope that whoever we get in is able to worth with him and I would send him back to being the defensive line coach. I wonder if his immediate refusal is more to do with him knowing the direction the board want to go down and he's basically saying "I'm not going to waste my time".

He's rated highly because this is the only year since he made his place in the team he's been average to poor. Every other year he has been one of our best users of the ball in defence, and been brilliant in all aspects asked of him. I had zero doubt this poor year has been 100% because of his injury, next year I'd picture him having a year similar to what we've got from Bowie this season. As for this game, I would've liked to see Petty sent to defence but I am happy to see Adams given his chance. I think Windsor would be the obvious one to be the sub. I'm hoping the players will play with a bit of freedom and dare, and if we can give the dogs an almighty scare than that would be fantastic. I have a strange feeling about this one, I don't know whether it's a positive or negative feeling. It's just strange.

He was an integral part of the team in 2021 but in reality since that time he has done very little to warrant his place in the team apart from those runs on the board. I have to admit that he was one of our best players against Carlton in that fateful final, but aside from that he's been injury riddled and done little to demand a spot. If another club offered us a relatively cheap trade option for another player we feel could be fringe/best 23 I'd jump at it.

I don't think Laurie is an amazing player that is necessarily someone that could be a mainstay of the 23, but I don't think he has been treated fairly when compared to other players that have continually put up mediocre performances but still get retained. He has at least deserved more full game opportunities. Sometimes a new coach, new voice can bring fringe players out from the shadows.