Pates

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.

Firstly if Preuss is fit (and I’m not sure he is) then I have no idea why we have him on our list. Secondly I’m not entirely sure what they are going to play Tom as. Will he be our secondary ruck to Jackson? Our FF and push Weids into the ruck? If so I think that would be a mistake as Weids has got form under his belt as being our key forward. Finally Spargo, where do I start? I hope the coaches are giving him one hell of a pep talk because his round one showing was up there as the worst I’ve seen of any Melbourne player. They should be giving him a KPI target to hit with tackles being the number one thing. Also playing Gawn against the Crows = STUPID!!!!

Well deserved for Jacko, he could’ve had 3 goals had Fritta not floated in front and pinch an uncontested mark from him! Really looking forward to seeing him progress.

More than the Crows game, he has been a leader all year. If Max and Jack are out I can’t see anyone else who is more qualified.

I would really like to know how much weight the medical staff’s assessment in the decision to give him 4 weeks. As I said earlier, I’m pretty sure I heard on the commentary that he had at least one maybe even another concussion this year. Which would be a major reason for them taking the slow action they said in the report. Despite what they said earlier, they’re still punishing players based on the injury result and not the act.

I’m going to be very interested to see the clubs response to this, even if they don’t challenge it they should definitely be making a very pointed statement pointing out inconsistencies and favouritism. And then release to the media through whispers that “internally Melbourne is absolutely filthy”. Nibbler has been hung, drawn, and quartered because they were soft on Burgoyne.

Corrupt. I remembered seeing when Burgoyne getting off from the first one in particular thinking there is going to be some unlucky bugger out there that gets destroyed because he got nothing. Is Nibbler out of contract this year? In a shortened season this could kill his career. Should’ve been given 2/3 from the start, bet you the medical staff’s report crucified him.

I might be wrong but I’m 99% sure he has had concussion issues this year. If that is the case then those reports should be put with that caveat that they are going to take things slower with him. It’s not ANB’s responsibility to know if a player has had a recent concussion and should go easy on him. Really feels like another opposition medical staff stitch up.

The unlucky thing for Nibbler (which I would’ve thought would constitute it being a straight forward two weeks) was that he had the jumper so he wasn’t in full control of the tackle or the player. As always luck plays the biggest role in this, the Crows player landed badly and got injured. But straight to the tribunal and a minimum 3 weeks is a clear indication the AFL using a no name player (pretty consistently seems to be a Melbourne player too) to “send a message”. Meanwhile Burgoyne must be laughing.

He reminds me of Trav Johnston a little where he tries some high risk kicks and when they fail they look awful. That one in particular in the back line near the pocket was particularly poor. Turning it over there is almost always going to result in a shot on goal. Needs to play the percentages more.

Just seeing the Blues vs GC in Darwin the club should be making it an absolute priority that we play our Alice game this year. I still think we should be even pushing for maybe a second and play it back to back with the first one being Essendon on the back of their hopeful Dreamtime in Darwin game. Saints and Lions are getting the armchair ride, Lions should finish top 2 and be pushing for a premiership (although I don’t think they’re as good as everyone thinks).

Jeez seems harsh on Nibbler, I’d give it two weeks and move on. I felt the sling was to try to get the ball out of the crows players possession rather than it being a malicious act. Watch him get 4 weeks after Burgoyne got nothing.

I wouldn’t be dropping him but can his body hold up to a 4 day break?

Random aside with us on more level pegging with games to a few others we are sitting 12th with an ok percentage and we can't go any lower (although we could go higher if the Saints beat the Suns by a comfortable margin). EDIT we could go lower if the Swans beat the Pies by a large margin.

Wouldn't be against that, I'd also throw out the idea of trying Viney in a HF role where we've been playing Jones/AvB and give Brayshaw more minutes in the guts. Challenge Gus by asking the question was 2018 a fluke?

I must be in small company on the trade regarding Tyson. GWS picked up Kelly (from memory) with that pick but the thing was when Roos came to the club the players he had at his disposal was just so bad something big needed to change. Tyson didn't end up being a veteran for us but the years we had him for he played a role and the more important part was we had a player that could make us a better team immediately. He was very good in his first year until we well and truly turned him in the a Melbourne footballer. We also got Salem for that trade and he has been a good player (particularly in 2018). I call that trade an equal win for both clubs. Anyway to answer the broader question on Taylor, I think he's been pretty good for us. Not every pick has been a win but I still feel like the bigger issue is in development and not the picks themselves. I really like the look of Kozzie and Jackson though.

Maybe the Dees and North match committees could "come to an understanding" and not play either of their no.1 rucks!