Jaded No More

Jake’s ankles are absolutely cooked. Pack it in for 2025, and just get his body right. He’s just not been getting any continuity with that injury and pushing him to play is definitely doing nothing for his injury or his form. Great chance to keep Tmac, and possibly debut Adams in a few weeks time.

Sure… unless it’s on the eve of finals or a big name player and then they’ll find a loophole. Under the previous guidelines he still should have been suspended.

Maynard was not suspended for ending Gus’ career. The system is [censored] rotten.

The set shots haven’t changed 😂

Not to mention that Melksham wouldn’t have the fondest memories of his time at Essendon. Robbed him of an entire year of football and god knows what else. I would say he and Hibbo, while appreciating Essendon for giving them a start, are both Melbourne thru and thru.

According to the AFL's guide, there is nothing else Not sure what their argument will be, because as you say there is no arguing the severe impact or the high contact. No doubt there are some dodgy loopholes for Carlton players they'll try and use.

What will the haters say now? A young gun speaking glowingly of our club does not fit their narrative that we are in shambles and our culture is trash. Never mind that all our young players say exactly the same thing.

Can’t argue with that. It was all of the above; careless, high contact and had a severe impact. Not sure how North challenge on any of these.

Hunt and Gus 😭

I tend to agree, but it's hard to see who comes out, especially as May will most definitely come back into the side. Fritta had a good game, which makes it even harder to find him a spot up forward, Tmac had a good game down back, and it will be a crying shame to drop Turner/Jeffo/JVR who are all growing in confidence and need the exposure. Then you also have Howes who played exceptionally well at Casey, and showed good form prior to his concussion. My gut says Tmac will go out for May (unjustified by any measure, because Tmac was excellent), and Petty will either get an extra week off to recover, or he will replace one of JVR/Jeffo, which would be a mistake IMO. The other option is to play a very tall forward mix with all 3 of JVR, Petty and Jeffo, but with rain predicted, that seem silly. Also makes us too easy to rebound against. This mix only work if one of Fritta or Melksham don't play, and clearly that's not happening unless they are injured. IMHO Lever is the one who is in pretty average form, and deserves to be dropped. Disco can play his intercept role, and May and Petty can play the lockdown roles. Can't see that happening tho.

I am not worried, and you shouldn't be either. He's had a lot of ongoing issues with the foot infection, and he's struggled playing half back. His spoil in the goal square yesterday showed his elite speed, and in time he will slot back onto his rightful position as a mid, and dominate. His first season was not a fluke, it was a consistently excellent showing from a very talented kid. He needs a good pre-season. Interrupted pre-seasons when you are in years 1-5 of your career are incredibly difficult to overcome. Lindsay started so well, and we can see he's struggling now, having missed half the pre-season. It's a credit to himself that he's done so well off such an interrupted campaign. In contrast, Langford who completed a full pre-season is hitting better and better form. Judd and Kolt are in a similar boat with missed pre-seasons, and Kentfield would have probably played senior footy by now if he didn't spend most of pre-season in hospital. Lots of us were worried about Bowey last year, who was never the same after that nasty shoulder injury in round 0. Look at him now! Windsor needs to spend the upcoming pre-season working with the mids, both inside and outside. I would like to see him, Langford and Lindsay given more midfield minutes for the remainder of the year, just as we did with Kosi last year. Kosi is now an elite midfielder, having spent a full summer working on that role... and yes I recognise what a freakish talent Kosi is and I am not suggesting Windsor will be that, but he'll be a good player.

So Jackson averages fewer disposals, and a lot less clearances. Also fewer contested possessions and only 1.2 contested marks per game, which mind you is still elite. He had Gawn covered for goals per game and disposal efficiency. Gawn is 3rd in the entire competition for contested possessions, and number one in the league for contested marks (Sam Darcy is only 4 behind him- freak!!).

There is nobody more deserving than Max, with or without Xerri likely missing a chunk of games thru suspension. Grundy has been good, but Gawn is currently averaging: 20.4 disposals 5.6 clearances 36 hitouts 9.6 hitouts to advantage 13.7 contested possessions 47% hitout win percentage 2.2 contested marks a game All of those stats are above average or elite Grundy averages less disposals, less contested possessions, and far far fewer contested marks (0.5 per game!) Xerri also averages less disposals, but more clearances at 7.1, but again only 0.5 contested marks per game! Anyone who makes the argument that Gawn isn't the most complete ruckman in the game, is kidding themselves. And he blows anyone out of the water for consistency and leadership. It would be daylight robbery if he doesn't get his 8th AA jacket.

Concussion outcome = 3 weeks. Given Tom was knocked out, it could easily be 4.

It would be a crime to drop Jefferson after the best game he’s played. He did everything required of him, except nail his set shots. If he finishes with 3 goals nobody would ever contemplate dropping him. He has to play another month at least with Roo. This is the best our forwardline has looked in a long time. Jefferson has flaws and I have no idea if he will make it, but one thing he does well is his leading patterns. I thought he was very good in leading to either allow others free run to mark, or leading to where the kicker was heading. He competed as well as I ever seen him compete at either level. Dropping him this week will undo all the confidence he would have gained. A crime against list development.

He could take Judd’s role as a shut down small defender, freeing Judd to play a more attacking role further up the ground.

Not enough support for Gawn who just about locked away his 8th AA jacket today. The man is an absolute freak of nature. If anyone says he isn’t the best ruckman of the modern era they can give themselves an uppercut.

I fell out of love with AFL because of that game. Something definitely died that night and it’s never been back. Watching Sparrow today was very sad. PTSD for sure for the supporters around us. I just hope he will be ok. Those knock out injuries are just horrific. They make you feel sick to your stomach. I can only imagine what his parents and partner felt watching it.

It was at that moment that I vowed to never attend an away game against the Pies again (finals aside). You will never see me sit with, or financially support that despicable club and their braindead, coke sniffing, toothless trash supporters.

I was surprised to see him not get subbed ahead of X, but also understand that Lindsay must be battling hard with limited pre season playing wing. To me Kolt is not a half forward, and he won’t succeed playing that role. We need to give him wing time like we have all of Langford, Lindsay and Windsor. It’ll expose him to a lot more of the ball and get him more involved. I don’t know what role he plays long term, but right now he is having minimal impact on games and is not earning his spot in the team. He’s getting games because we want to play these high draft picks, but eventually you have to show something to keep your spot.

Of course they were. They think Melbourne players are free targets. Xerri had no reason to put his arm out like that. He lost the contest already. I don’t think he meant to knock him out, but he did and for that he gets 3-4 weeks.

Today showed us all why Gawn >>>> Xerri every day of the week. Laughable to discuss them in the same breath. Hope he gets a nice holiday for that swinging arm. [censored]. Credit to Fritta and Salem, both played very well. Really good to see Jeffo compete so strongly. Langford also brilliant. Nice to win again.

I am very happy with that game from Jeffo. Goal kicking aside, he’s working his behind off and contesting well.

Looks like a shoulder. We are cooked without him. Agreed I’m happy with Jeffo’s attack on the contest. It’s all you can ask for in game 5.

I do enjoy Langford and X playing more midfield. But otherwise I don’t know what the game plan is. I wish they’d give Chin more game time on the wing.