Pates

He was the player that I first came to initially as he has changed the way we play by bringing his run and carry to the team. It has singlehandedly allowed us to become the team we are, and interestingly I think the other beneficiary has been Hunt. It has allowed Hunt to use his speed as before there wasn’t anyone else that could keep up with him. Oliver would be the other one I’d be curious to see how we went if we missed him for a week or two. I think a lot of his good work goes under the Demonland radar, but the coaches as one of the most valuable players almost every week. Thankfully we survived with him having a quiet night vs Giants.

Different players and different situations. You can argue that Browns two goals vs North were lucky but he took the #1 defender and provided a focal point to allow Fritta to kick his bag. It was clearly a pass mark for an experienced player playing his first game for the club as he contributed positively. Chandler did not, I’d argue it is still harsh to drop him so quickly but the form grades don’t even compare. Brown also vindicated his selection by playing better against the Swans. This is an opportunity for Weid, Brown will be back.

Yep fair enough, Brown’s reputation and body of work from winning multiple Coleman medals is definitely something he has going for him. It was what got him picked over Sam when between the two of them Weid clearly had better form. I don’t think people should get too hung up on Weid being in this week, this is an opportunity he’s been given for the work he’s put in at Casey. Brown will be back and I’m locking it in right now he will absolutely destroy a team this year (talking 7+ goals).

It’s interesting that you’ve used the word trust as I would say Brown has yet to earn much trust from me. Brown’s had some solid moments as a Demon (in his short time) but Weid was close to a match winner for us in a final. I think they’re about even in the trust scales for me, the only thing Brown brings that’s different to Weid is his reputation demands the best defender. Whereas a coach could look at either TMac or Weid for choice of best defender.

I get the feeling that the FD has seen an opportunity to trial a few things without giving much up in terms of quality. Yes Brown was decent first two games but he does still lack the mobility to be able to get back towards the goal square when we’re bursting out from the backline. This is Sam a genuine chance to show that he has something the BBB doesn’t. Given our luxurious (and completely foreign to us fans) position, I don’t think we should be necessarily seeing changes as this guy is dropped because he was bad or this guy is playing because he’s better. I think this is about trying to discover our best mix for the year. Melksham getting promoted is a little baffling but it’s a tricky one being the sub, you’re stuck in no mans land so I can only surmise that he put in a good week on the track.

Haha didn’t the Casey area (years ago) have a big issue with a nearby garbage dump letting off toxic fumes? But I do agree, being in suburbia would surely be better for the lungs than constant traffic.

If you changed it to no prior what you would find is a lot more players not take possession, so they would dribble it by tapping with the hand and foot until in space. You’d also get players feigning to take the ball so they get holding the man. It actually very simple, umpires aren’t rewarding good tackles. There’s too many play-ons from “legitimate attempt to get rid of it” from missed kicks and handballs. If the ball isn’t disposed of using a kick or handball with prior then reward the tackle.

****. I wonder whether that was an increase in load to try to get him right for this week.

Am I right in saying this was from like 50+ metres out requiring a torpedo? I don’t actually remember it at all. I remember Weid and Gawn missing easy set shots with practically no time left.

I’m a little worried about QB this year, after all it’s going to be their Grand Final. ?

Risky, also definitely weather dependent. It has to be a very dry track and we’d need to have a good hard think about the zones each operate in. Also if we were to do this Max has to move back to being the floating player behind the ball. Worst case we could push TMac into the wing position to try to open the space up. If Weid gets dropped I just don’t see how he has a future with us.

That’s not my opinion of what we should be doing, it’s what the club has been doing and continues to push. I happen to agree that we have had multiple opportunities at looking elsewhere outside of the G precinct as a permanent base but the club is staying steadfast that roots should be around the MCG. I’m not entirely sure Casey would be where I’d want us to lay down permanent roots as our base but we could do a hell of a lot worse. Sounds like our captain likes it!

It sounds like it’s a consistency thing, being able to have routine with going to the same location and same facilities for 85% of the time allows the team to be more settled in their environment. I’ve never liked the split shift thing they’ve done in the past, but I think it’s been a necessary evil to ensure our roots are still firmly at the MCG.

Good leadership, well done. I’m sure Chandler took it in his stride but you shouldn’t do that to a teammate.

I get the feeling it's like the highschool hazing in the states, the teens coming through get the power to do the hazing and say "well it happened to me so it should continue". I'd love for the Dees to be the first to come out and say they're doing away with the gatorade shower, maybe use the water bottles instead, but really I'd just be happy with the first time winners just being in the middle and nothing else. It just looks like their back to being 15 year olds again, and that white stuff poured on Chandler....I just don't understand it.

Interesting, well done to the medicos and Jack and Luke. I know this is perhaps an arrogant attitude but I still see this as a natural opportunity to give some others a crack. I want to Weid given a proper chance to show his worth, it doesn’t seem fair to him to bring him in for one game in a role that isn’t what he’s been doing at Casey.

I think our entire set up needs to be examined with all those tall players in the team. There needs to be clear positions and zones, unfortunately I think they were bees to a honeypot too many times making it nearly impossible to mark. Perhaps it was a tactic to allow our small players opportunities to get the ground ball. If it’s a dry game in Adelaide I would really like to see us try to hit more leads and go for 2v2 contests, and yes Max should definitely defer to being a decoy. Let the goal kickers kick the goals!

In some ways the way that he brought himself back after his disappointing 1st year with us raises my opinion of him. He was absolutely smashed in the media, he took his lumps and came back the best version of himself. I have a sinking feeling he might miss the AA team but he’ll surely be in the squad. As a side note I don’t know what hierarchy they have going at the club but I really hope he would be next picked as captain should Max and Jack be unavailable.

Spot on. Take on every team expecting them to play their best. This is our first proper away game with hostile fans at the teams actual home ground, Tex has been in good form (though faded recently), and they have the youthful enthusiasm that if they get going can get the fans up and about.

I think to be absolutely fair no MCG team should be playing at Marvel unless it's for a reason that has been approved by the club. Nice to see them having a whinge about it though.

I actually think McKay slows the final part of the tackle down to prevent the dangerous sling part. It's perhaps an example that it's slowly creating change. I just find it incredible that Rampe's flip from last week, which WAS dangerous, gets totally ignored while TMac gets a fine for that.

Holy cow, how does that constitute $3k ($2k with an early plea)? Barely any force behind it at all, I'd even question if at actually made a forceful contact! FMD

Rivers is just quietly going about his business and flying under the radar. LJ and Pickett are getting all the plaudits but he just does everything that's asked of him and more every week.

Honestly if there are boxes to be ticked I would much prefer they just take things really slow with him. I get where you're coming from but Viney has shown time and time again that he doesn't need to have the VFL "match-fitness" week before he comes back. I'd rather he do his duties in training and be totally ready against the dogs.

Very different generations you're throwing in there (and personally a lot more names that you could've chosen from). But for the FACT that he has kicked the most goals of any footballer ever, he goes top of the pops.