deejammin'

I’m worried about Roo getting suspended, I don’t think he should be, it’s a football action and he was centimetres from getting the ball, the part of his arm that brushes the head is incidental contact with his upper arm and I think it’s very mild contact. The problem is Ballard’s head moves at a strange angle and hurts his neck at the back, hence why he holds the back of his head when JVR contacted him in the front. The suns medical staff were cautious because of the potential for a neck injury and the early knock in the game where he probably could’ve stayed off. It’s not an impact injury. That said the MRO hates Melbourne and always suspends us, so probably two weeks. Apparently it’s going to the tribunal on Tuesday according to John Ralph. Get Cripp’s QC please Dees! If Roo’s out I think Smith comes in for him, he’s been super lively at VFL level and while he lacks a bit in composure and field kicking his athleticism, marking, speed, leap and set shot kicking look good up forward. I’d also love Petty back, I love Disco, but he’s not ready and we need to get the May, Lever, Petty band back together and settled, our impenetrable defense has started to look a little leaky lately and it would be great to get it back. I was for Ben Brown coming in last week as I thought he played his role well, this week I’m less convinced as while he kicked three goals he wasn’t getting to the contest as much or as well and wasn’t getting the outlet marks up the ground the way he was the week before. He’s probably the only option though as Schache was unsighted, Melksham well down after an incredible performance the week before. It’s a shame that none of our options are banging down the door up forward. Spargo and Laurie looked good but I’m not sure who they replace. If JVR available: In: Smith or Brown (Petty back) Out: Turner If JVR suspended: In: Brown, Smith (Petty Back) Out: JVR(Susp), Turner The only other one is Hibbo, if he’s fit he comes in but a lot of that will depend how we structure up with Petty and co. It’s likely Goodwin will keep Petty forward and bring Hibbo in for Turner but I’d really like Petty to go back. It’ll be interesting. Any sore players go out for Laurie, Spargo or Harmes.

He did, against the Saints. He then waited the better part of a year and a half for his next game though. I like Turner but if we’re playing him as a key he’s not ready yet and undersized, he plays better as a second or third KPD, even in the VFL Tomlinson takes the largest forward . Especially when we have a premiership KPD to play there in Petty., it’s not Turner’s time yet.

I think it would be great to move away from relying heavily on the contest and find other strings to our bow. I agree we’re moving the ball better this year, our turnover and transition game is vastly improved and we’re scoring more efficiently and heavily as a result. Yet, the three games we’ve lost both CP and clearance significantly are two losses and a five point win, the games where we win CP, clearance or both are all easy four goal + wins. The evidence so far this season shows we still rely on doing well in the contest, hopefully we either rectify this or find strategies to move away from it, but we haven’t yet. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say we’d be looking to do better than we did last night, especially against the Pies, Geelong, Brisbane and Saints otherwise it’s likely we lose. I also worry that we still set up too aggressively around centre clearance and that teams exit with too little pressure when they win them, but that’s a personal opinion.

My response was specifically about the importance of CP to our team and how we got beaten comprehensively in that area. If Fritta kicks those goals I’d imagine all our heart rates and general enjoyment of the last quarter would greatly increase. But also the ball would’ve gone back to the centre where we were getting beaten so who knows what would’ve happened. If we’re doing alternate universes I wonder what would’ve happened had Ballard not gone down, that break in play seemed to take our momentum when we were well on top and gave Rowell/Anderson time to catch their breath when, as Goody said in his presser, we were trying to grind them down. We also had chances to put a good break on them in the first quarter and missed it. My point was our losses and close games come when we get beaten in the midfield especially in CP and clearance. Statistically that’s pretty undeniable. I’m very happy to win and proud to have a team as good as ours but that will be an area we’re looking at this week, that’s all.

That stat and ladder doesn’t really show anything as it includes both wins and losses. Geelong for example, lost CP badly in their three losses and won it easily in their 5 wins. It means they’re 6th on the ladder of it but it’s a hugely important stat when they’re winning. Our CP differential when we win is +31 (+58 before tonight). When we lose it’s -20. In fact tonight was the only MFC game this season where we lost CP by over 15 and lost all clearances (total, centre and stoppage) and won, and without Macpherson’s shank we nearly didn’t. Contest is the heart of our game, we’ve improved to find ways to win if we’re losing just contested possession or one type of clearance and that’s a big part of our improvement these last few years but our losses all have one thing in common. Losing CP.

Suns were missing Touk Miller, Lachie Weller, Holman and some others. Miller is close to their best player, Weller is very underrated and Holman is a heart and soul goal kicker. I agree it wasn’t our best but it was remarkable to get the win considering we lost in so many areas usually our strengths. I really hope it’s a wake up call and we get things in order before Port and Carlton.

You feel that 46 and 80 games makes them experienced afl players? If that’s your problem with what I said then I apologise. How high they are drafted means anything? I look forward to our number two draft pick Schache dominating. I should have said they are LESS experienced than our premiership winning top 2 draft pick Norm Smith medalist Petracca who has played 158 games at 27, our two time AFL CA winning 4 time best and fairest winner draft pick number 5 Oliver who has played 154 games at 25 years old and our vice-captain Viney who has played 178 games at 29 years of age. They gave them an absolute bath. Im happy we still won, but in this game and our two losses this year our strength, contest, was soundly and completely beaten. We need to find a solution, fact. I note you ignore the stats I posted that completely proved my position and you immediately launched into draft picks and games played, hmmm. Anyway, I don’t come here to argue, but I think we’ll be working hard on stoppage and clearance this week and Trac, Clarry and Viney will be frustrated we were so well beaten in there.

-6 clearances, -27 contested possessions, -25 points from stoppage. Noah Anderson 22 years of age, Rowell 21. By any football metric that is a midfield smashing and they are on average 5-6 years younger than us, so yes, we got smashed by an inexperienced midfield. Trac said as much after the game. Our mids will be super flat with that performance.

My goodness Hawthorn are terrible, or trying to be terrible for draft picks…

Wins a win but: Petty forward experiment is over when playing teams with big forwards. Needed him back tonight, Turner looked all at sea on Casboult and didn’t show his best until moved off him early in the last. Unfortunately no KPF are putting their hands up but I think we have to pull the trigger, BBB, Schache, Joel Smith, Whoever, we need Petty back. I hope JVR doesn’t get suspended but given how the MRO hates MFC fully expecting 3 weeks. Most of all Yze and the mids need to get to serious work, for a team that “prides itself” on contest we were absolutely smashed tonight by a young, inexperienced and shallow midfield, they are good but that was embarrassing.

Goalkicking has killed us! 13.14 with at least 3 out on the full. Should at least be a lot closer. Annoying.

Sestan has been ok in and under in the midfield and kicked a miracle goal. I’d hate to be any forward for Casey today, our kicking into 50 has been appalling. No chance. The one decent kick we’ve had in the second half Jeffo marked but shanked the kick on goal. I wouldn’t write them off based on today.

Too easy for the suns. A coast to coast goal with no pressure. After a dominant display last week Melksham has looked lacking in intent today. Frustrating. Hard to see how we come back from here.

Great goal Melksham. White finally hits a good target in Spargs. All happened because of a great defensive mark from Tommo. Let’s go boys!!

Early days but should West Coast win this I think we all know what the first question in the presser should, but won’t, be.

Reminiscent of our 2022 seniors. We work so hard to create chances with no accuracy only for the opposition to take their chances and get a lead. It’s going to take something special from us in the last quarter as GC keep kicking straight and hitting their forwards and we keep having to scrap and kick miracle goals to stay in it. Frustrating.

Great block by BBB to give Jeffo a basically uncontested mark. Need this one.

Class Bailey!!! Great goal to Bill out of a boundary stoppage!

Amazing goal Sestan!!! Our kicking to our forwards is abysmal, always on their heads, never to advantage. Need to lift to get back in this. KFW started ok early but is dropping marks and getting well beaten.

Spargo nearly pulls down another two foot jump speccy!!!

Great goal BBB. Mitch White’s kicking has been way off today. Bizarre.

Goal to Casey. Casey would be super annoyed to be behind, poor kicking and disposal the difference.

Great intercept marking from Adams down back, link work from Laurie and Spargo and a nice kick from Grey to Melksham leads to an easy goal. Although the subs just got another contested mark forward..

We’re peppering the goals but 4 points. Not sure if the breeze is more difficult to our end but they’ve all been tough shots.

Compared to channel 7 at least they call the play, talk about the game and attempt to know the players names. There’s some annoying mannerisms and GC bias but channel 7 is so bad this is luxury in comparison.