Pates

Jeez no matter where he gets injured it seems serious! Poor bugger.

If we’re going into matches undermanned without our best SKILLED players, there has to be an attitude of ensuring we out-pressure the opposition. The dogs are one of the best at it, we need to become better.

Haven’t watched any of the game and I recognise we were without Viney, Oliver and Brayshaw (three of our main clearance players). But this line from the match report is frustrating reading. Melbourne captain Max Gawn registered 32 hitouts compared to the Dogs' split of 23 between Stefan Martinand Tim English, however the Demons had no answers for the Dogs' clearance smashing (48-24). Are we ever going to find a way to actually use the dominance of the most consistent (and best) ruckman we’ve had since Jeff White? It’s not the result we wanted but we did choose to go in with several main mids down. Reading Demonland the worries seem to be that the more things change the more they stay the same. We may have bolstered our coaching department with experience (particularly with skills development) but disposal and decision making is still an issue. Not to mention it also sounds like pressure on the opposition is still really poor. This was an area in particular I really hoped we’d improve because it really seems to be the difference between finals contenders and pretenders. A win would’ve been nice, you learn more from losses. Looks like there’s still plenty of learnings to be done ?.

I’ll be honest that I don’t think choosing a male-members only club is a great look for location choice. I find it incredible these clubs even exist anymore. That said I always felt that coterie clubs were almost separate entities to the footy club so while it’s associated with the MFC, it isn’t necessarily a club decision.

Yep when he can produce that in the H&A season then that will be his coming of age and potential. If we get that for the next 100-150 games we’ve got genuine star power through the middle.

Might be eventually but he needs to be more damaging, doesn’t hurt the opposition enough with his use. That’s not calling him a dud, it’s just something he needs to go from where he is now to being able one of the competitions elite. For me Trac has got there, Clarry not quite yet. I also agree that I’ll sleep better once he’s signed for us!

Sounds like a type that we actually need so it begs the question, why wait until now? Has Choco been mentioning him for a while or has this come on the back of Neita’s ACL? It doesn’t provide him with much time to stake his claim given the other players have been training with the squad for longer. Perhaps a bit of a chance to show something ahead of the mid season draft to give him things to work on in the meantime.

Can you imagine if we play Carlton this year with TMac at CHF for us and OMac at CHF for the Blues. That would be something to behold! ? Well done to Oscar, hasn’t done his chances any harm.

Very true, I’d be interested to know if Montagna made his fitness based comments on having seen him train and speaking to our fitness staff, or just off his gut. Let’s see how he goes on Monday.

I would’ve thought if they’re playing him at CHF they’re trying to find out if he has versatility. For me he works as a second defender if you have the right mix of intercept and strong number one defender. Good luck to him.

Not that it was in doubt but great news!

I confess I would’ve expected one of the “experts” to have a bold prediction of Melbourne finishing close to top 4. I suspect a lot of them see us finishing in the 7th-10th region again. If we don’t get some wins on the board early I think the Yze to senior coach predictions could well come to pass. Then again I like the fact that we’re a bit under the radar with few expectations.

Good news about Gus and Kozzie, I personally had Pickett outside of the team for round given the lack of training with the squad. This is more to do with him not being able to practice set ups, stoppages etc than anything else. If he’s able to get a game or two at VFL to press his claim than I’m happy with that. I’m not overly surprised by the situation with Viney, and Goody makes a great point that there’s a fixation on round one. Hold him back until he’s right and in the meantime we have depth in that area. Well done to Goody with how he’s felt with Neita and his third knee reco.

Agreed the alternative appears worse than the current, McLachlan in particular regularly gets players wrong and Brayshaw's voice is one of the most annoying sounds on TV. I think I'm in a minority here but I don't mind Basil Zempilas, I think he's a bit more of a "just call the game" commentator. I know there are ways to do it but I wish you could have the option on smart tv's to change the audio to be other radio stations.

I wouldn't say I've been a fan from afar with Daw but last year was a particularly tough year for him in many ways. For him to even get back out on the park was a bloody good achievement. I would suggest that clubs were cautious about where his mind was at and whether AFL was what he really wanted. If he gets his chance with us I see him as coverage, but who knows!

Thanks for the report Pickett, sounds like you're a fan of some Majak!

If we get asked to move it should come with some MASSIVE concessions, all about the dollar dollar. First thought and hard belief is to 100% tell them to get stuffed, if they start down the "good for footy" path then they can buy the game off us, say $100K plus gate receipts from both games. After all if it's just about what's best for footy then us getting our due shouldn't really matter right? Really though, I'd want us to stay put.

This would be in the instance that he hasn't made the cut this year (or even this round of list lodgements) to make it onto an AFL list but this allows him to develop in front of our eyes under our tutelage. I'm not familiar with the F/S rule and the draft but if he showed enough this year could he nominate for the ND as a father/son recruit allowing us to bypass competing for picks? These are theories I'm putting forward taking into account that our available places are finite (although there could be a space opened by Neita's 3rd ACL). If our list managers feel that he hasn't done enough to warrant a place in the squad YET I would like to think they would still look for ways to keep him in our system.

Looking at the stats the clearest part he needs to do better in is kicking goals. He can do it, he most definitely can be better and that should scare other clubs!

The way they do the presentation/commentary side of English Premier League is at complete odds to what seven does with AFL. Seven goes for entertainment and energy, focusing on personalities and having banter between the commentators (at the disservice of the game being play). The way they do commentary for football in the UK is simple, they have two commentators for the match (one former player for special tactical commentary) and one that calls the game (and doesn’t feel obliged to to fill every single second of the game). Pre-match, half-time, and post match is handled by the studio who focus on the game (with a little bit of getting to know the people of the game pre-match). Seven’s coverage really is insufferable at times. For Bruce his moment I will always remember him from is Cathy Freeman’s gold medal win. Iconic.

I can’t think of any player I’ve seen in Dees colours have a better first 100 games. He has lots of improvement to come but he absolutely hit the ground running from day one.

I’m with @hardtack in recalling that Jones was not immediately feeling the love from the fans. I have a feeling that his year that he came good was basically a cross-roads year, he either became a consistent footballer or he was destined to be a fringe player. Pickett got himself into enough good positions and provided a spark an energy for pressure in the forward line we hadn’t had for a while last year. He needs to be better at finishing his good work though and I’m confident that over time he’ll get there.

I’ve asked this question several times but still haven’t got an answer. Can we get Casey to take him so we can still be involved in his development without him being on the main list?

You just think that footy’s going to sound different without him, don’t you? Had my ups and downs with his calling but he’s a legendary commentator, his voice will be remembered for generations.

Awful news, really sad for him. It really sucks that they’re pre-season injuries as well so he’s never had a chance at showing what he’s got out on the field.