Pates

Hard to use the combo of Adelaide and North without pointing out the in Adelaides case they are a young side and younger teams are prone to fade outs (boy we are experienced in watching that!), while North were down almost one fit player on the bench in the last quarter. I also recall Adelaide went down a player early from Nibblers tackle. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be pleased with the fitness side of things we’ve seen, and we’ve finished with a flurry twice against top teams but just couldn’t get over the line. If we’re looking at a true fitness test/advantage than this week vs the Pies should be the time to press it. They have the shorter break and bigger injury list, even if Pendles gets up for it he will surely be underdone. While we should have a rested Viney and Gawn returning. A rev up from Burgess reminding them of everything they’ve done would be timely given the finish of the condensed rounds.

I was thinking that, I just worry that our forward doesn’t seem to click when Tom is in there. Still he could be running on empty young Jacko, though if he was I wasn’t seeing it against North.

My biggest knock on him right now is he isn’t kicking goals, he needs to start hitting the scoreboard. Especially now that he’s getting into that position more and more now. Aside from that I’m definitely a fan.

I wouldn’t go so far to say no chance, although the contributed mainly in a positive way vs Adelaide he would still be considered outside the 22, perhaps even outside the best 25. Spargo for Bennell is something I could easily see happening.

I’d be up for dropping AvB for Viney and trialling Jack in his role. I felt the mix looked a lot better in the midfield with Trac, Oliver, and Gus. I agree that he isn’t making the impact that’s expected of him. Also Jack is surprisingly good contested mark, playing him in a HF role could get him on the scoresheet. Jones looked better but there was one moment that he very clearly got right in Clarry’s way, I just worry he upsets the balance in there.

I wonder if Mick reaches out to Burgess before making his crack about the players not training hard. Reckon he’d have a few choice words to say, probably along the lines of GAGF. I mean bringing up Cale Morton FFS ?‍♂️

North really should’ve been a bag for Sam, he had plenty of chances and I feel after he missed a couple he lost a little confidence. But he’s definitely coming into his own with having the responsibility of being our main target. The kicking is between the ears, his routine actually looks quite straight forward and fluid.

Although the opposition wasn’t much chop, this does have to add fuel to the debate of how we manage having both Viney and Brayshaw in the line up. Gus looked like a totally different player and the best part was he played with confidence and a little swagger. Is there a way of maybe playing Viney as more of a pressure HFF player with stints in the midfield? I would really like to see Gus be given first crack next game in the middle to see how he goes vs tougher opposition. At 5/5 with a game in hand and having played most of the best teams the season is now open to us if we are good enough to take it. Pies and Dogs coming up and both very capable of playing good footy, beat them and we are right in the hunt. I’m loving Weid and the fact he’s creating opportunities, he has to start making the most of them. Can’t be missing from 25m out on a slight angle.

We won the two games we were expected to win easily. We had every reason to overrun them given they were down to one on the bench and we had been all over them from the start of the second quarter, we just needed to start putting them through the bid sticks. This could’ve been an 80 point drubbing.

Spargo made me have a heart attack then!

Massive last quarter coming here, big first goal coming.

Never been happier to be wrong about goal into half time behind. He should have 4 on the board already and we should be 3-4 goals in front. Completely dominated them that quarter.

[censored] unbelievable north are going to go into half time in front.

Finally, we needed to get reward for effort. Weid needs to get his kicking boots on.

Weid ?‍♂️

I have genuine hopes for Weid, I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t being played when clearly the forward set up wasn’t working with Tom and Fritta (with Fritta being our main forward). I think we should be very encouraged by what we’ve seen from him so far this year.

I’m actually very disappointed the club hasn’t made a statement making it clear we aren’t happy with it. You can argue “oh it’s only ANB, he wasn’t going to be playing much anyway” but at the end of the day he’s a Melbourne player and he puts on the red and blue to represent the club. At the very least I would’ve hoped for the club releasing through the grapevine that they feel it is unfair treatment and clear favouritism.

Do we know who will be leading us out on Sunday? May is my choice fwiw.

For the record, no one should be saying Bennell is “dropped” he is very clearly being managed. I would prefer him be available for the pies than the Roos. On paper we should still get this done; Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw, Harmes, and Sparrow need to show hunger at the contest and get us over the line. If we win I’m going to say Weid kicks 4+ goals having a game that announces him as a genuine forward for the future.

I would hope he would admit it as well (and admit he played an awful game vs WC). Of the games to give him a run this one probably makes the most sense. I’m not stoked he was picked, I would’ve thought there would be others in front, but in some of the recent scratch matches his name has popped up. This is his chance, he takes it or he doesn’t. This should also be a kick in the bum to others such as Hunt.

Agree on pretty much all of them, but Bennell is being managed. I’d easily have Hunt in over Spargo.

I notice that Preuss was named as an emergency, does that mean he’s in Adelaide as well? If so he must feel coming to Melbourne was a wait of time.

As a side point, this gives Brayshaw clear run at lots of minutes in the guts. A good chance for him to make a statement. We’ve known for a long time that Spargo is a favourite of the coach and selection committee (and Gawn seemingly ?). He has to take this chance with both hands.

Dare we say it, are Port the real deal this year?

Particularly against Brisbane and Port the other teams showed what happens when your ball winners simply want to win the clearance more. Looking for Petracca, Oliver, Brayshaw, Harmes, and co to be hungry for the first, second and third contests. According to the North fans Goldy looked tired last week, Jackson and TMac (maybe Tomlinson at times?) will need to try to be more mobile and agile than him.