Pates

Tell ya what, if we get the gate takings from the MCG match and the other Victorian home team gets ours from the Dockers match then I’d say we can come to the party. Otherwise it’s a hell no from me, we should be coming out ahead if they want us to play ball.

For those who know more about the Casey system is it possible for us to get Farmer to play (and develop) at Casey so we can potentially take him as a mid-year selection? How soon do they have to have their lists locked in? Sounds like he’s very raw so again I’m not sure if there is a rookie spot that basically just had him as a development player but not necessarily on the main list.

Easily one of my best ever moments as a Dees fan. I was only 14 and sat next to a Blues fan who oddly wasn’t too bad and we just had good banter all game. At the end he shook my hand said, wished us luck, and said thanks for back and forth. Don’t think I’ve ever met a good Blues fan since!

I agree that it’s disappointing after a year of the pandemic there still seems to be issues with with the idea of “living with COVID” given that there are zero community transmissions in Melbourne. That said any COVID security plan would include increased staff which would mean spending more money and without anything coming back it just chews into the clubs budget.

Has this altered the rule at all about a player from the team that has the ball to kick being able to come in and shepherd the man on the mark? Should make it play on because in theory there’s no need for it now. I also agree that if they are going to be harder on the man on the mark then there should be a tighter interpretation on the player going in a straight line towards the man on the mark. No more “Buddy arc”.

No injuries and strong performances by key players is all I’m after. Ideally don’t want us to be destroyed but if we lose I’m not going to be worried. Then again if we win I’ll probably start saying premiership favourites ?.

One of the issues that I think Goodwin has had during his time at Melbourne is his lack of creativity and flexibility when something different needs to be done. Max to FF for a regular move would be counter productive to our midfield however I do think that some longer stints there could be a good idea. I love a goal kicking ruckman and Max has improved his kicking a lot since that dreaded Geelong game. As has been pointed out though he does a huge body of work as an intercept marker in defence. So are we robbing ourselves down back?

“It’s good news for Angus Brayshaw, who is back into full training after having surgery on his foot last year, while Jack Viney is on track to play a practice match in the lead up to Round 1, despite having a minor operation last month.” Really good news on those two as I think quite a few of us (me included) were concerned they wouldn’t be seen until early into the season.

Considering I haven’t renewed yet I actually wouldn’t be against them making the stream to members only to encourage early renewal.

I think Spargs could be a surprise this year, he played some games late last season that actually showed he has a bit of poise and looks for good options rather than just blazing. Question mark will always remain around his size and lack of speed. Whipping boy, I think TMac will take that mantle while we wait for the BBB to return. If ANB gets games he will definitely be up there too.

I think one of the (many) issues with last season for players like Melksham is that without a genuine reserves competition there wasn't anywhere for him and others who lost form to go. I think the coaching staff took the opinion that it was better to persevere in the hope that they would gain confidence rather than relegating them to Micky Mouse practice matches that were an extremely poor substitute to a reserves comp. With the Casey (touch wood) restarting for the year I would like to think that there will be more pressure on spots with players pushing harder performances in the reserves. Having said all of that, I really was frustrated that Jake managed to keep his spot in 2020. I could count the positive performances he put out on one hand.

Not gonna lie I kinda have an evil smile about the fact it’s coinciding with them having a down period on the field. Would be plenty of schadenfreude if they were to suddenly have a few lean years both on and off the field.

Looks like the AFL called Tassie’s bluff, I think they feel like as a league they can hunker down. Without this sponsorship/paying for games I think the Hawks will be ok but this will really hurt the Kangas.

The wins that bring the most joy to my face to watch again are: - 2000 QF against the Blues - 2005 against the cats a KP - 2017 West Coast (TMac match winner!) - both 2018 finals wins

Sucks for him, but we can cover. I’d be looking at Harmes to move into that role and potentially give Fritta more time on the HFF. The shame for Melksham is that he had a very poor 2020 and I was hoping he’d be looking for redemption in ‘21. Hopefully for him it’s not be serious.

Much as I love Jack’s fight and dedication I have to agree with you, it’s why I think it’s on the coaching staff to work out some creative solutions. Jack can (and should) continue to do time in the middle as an clearance player but a balance needs to be created to prevent him upsetting the balance.

With this discussion about Gus I hope the coaches are looking at creative ways to shuffle the abundance of inside miss around the park. He was having a very poor year in 2020 until (I can’t remember who it was against) he was given the responsibility as one of our main clearance players. Suddenly he looked like the Gus of old. I didn’t want Viney to go and I’m glad he’s committed to being basically a demon for life, but we do have an imbalance when he and Oliver are there with Gus. With Harmes as well returning to the midfield group I would like to see Gus, Viney, and Harmes rotate on the HFF to be pressure mid/forwards and hopefully snag a couple of goals. But I think a big key to Angus being in form is that he does long stints as an inside midfielder.

I wouldn’t mind them being this rule in if it didn’t incur such a massive penalty, if it was 25m I think that would be fair. Like @Clint Bizkiti get the theory behind it but I think the execution is going to be interesting to see. I think there’s going to be a lot of frustration in the early rounds.

That was such a disaster last year, he’s got some tricks but jeez playing him as our No 1 (especially the way we played) was such a ridiculous tactical blunder. Sounds a little boring but I think TMac goes back to being our FF, perhaps shuffling between CHF and FF with Jacko and Mitch Brown. I worry that Jacko is still to raw to take hold of the FF position (at least as the main FF). I also worry that Kozzie may need a little bit more time after Round one before he’s ready for selection. I also like Hunt forward, but I know he has been training with the defenders. Hunt and Fritta could rotate on the HFF and FP. I would see us starting round one (assuming not more injuries!) something like this: Fritch Jacko Melksham/Harmes Hunt TMac Spargo (EDIT Also continue to have Petracca do stints up forward, potentially at FF for periods if he’s on fire. We actually need the midfield overall to kick more goals this year.)

Not saying it does, and never said anything of the sort. I just made an observation of his physique. I’ll be honest when I’ve seen him play for North I’ve often felt he hasn’t had a great ability to read the play. Maybe some different minds and a change of location will help him, maybe the club won’t even go with selecting him in the end. Who knows what’s going to happen, but it’s in his hands to prove his worth.

I know this thread’s about Brown but I feel for Preuss, finally gets his crack as a first pick ruck and gets injured.

Really good to see Gus running in boots, maybe round one for him is a good chance. Majak really is something, makes every ripped player at the club look like they haven’t touched a weight. We have a good number over experienced coaches at the club now so perhaps with their help we can get something magical out of Majak. Ultimately if we take him on it’s a low risk move.

With Chocko I wouldn't put anything passed him, he's a different unit and he'd be wanting to make a strong point. Hopefully if he burnt anything physical it was a photocopy! I'm really super excited to see LJ this year, he was showing a bit of something different last year with the way he almost glides across the ground. He really could be anything. I think there's things to be excited for this season, but I'd be lying if I said the injuries to Broad and Weid haven't dulled my eagerness for the season to start.

Realistically 5 years is the soonest I could see it happening, it makes sense for Tassie to aim for sooner rather than later but with the way the world is it’s just not going to happen that quickly without the AFL being 100% behind it. Absolutely agree, if they can get people to register (even put a down payment towards a membership) and there’s enough people interested it might just force the AFL’s hand.

He really is an absolute unit, perhaps a little bit of creativity from Mark Williams and Yze will be able to unlock his full potential. I always look at these guys as a free hit, if they come off then brilliant and if they don’t then we’ve lost very little.