Jaded No More

He is still a kid. Pre game on channel 7 they showed the evolution of Thiltrope, who until this year was pretty awful. He went pick 2 behind JUH. JVR has plenty of time on his side, but he must have serious support up forward. Expecting someone his age to hold down an entire forwardline like he’s Wayne Carey is bonkers. He’s also ultra competitive in the ruck.

Or even Petty Jeffo and Roo together. Jeffo is more of a third tall than he is a key position forward. He’s a good user of the ball and quite agile. I can see him playing more of the Fritsch role. I am dropping Fritsch this week, for his distinct lack of effort for the past god knows how many games, and bringing another tall and playing Jeffo as a third tall. I am not sure he gives us less effort than Fritsch at the moment anyway.

Clarry, if he goes to Geelong, will win a Brownlow. Bookmark it.

I saw Lindsay in one centre bounce

I never said he had a good game, I just pointed out that if you’re going to get stuck into Clarry for his ball use, have a look at Trac as well. Both are playing well below their respective best. For an inside mid, Clarry’s disposal is at or above league average. Go back and look at the post I wrote a few weeks back comparing him to the best inside mids in the game. His average disposal has always been at around the high 60s, even at his peak. He just isn’t winning enough of the ball, or hitting the contest at speed like he used to. He is also playing a defensive role now, which is very different to how he used to play. But likewise Trac isn’t winning the ball like he used to, or laying tackles like he used to, or getting to contests like he used to. Both need to be held accountable for our downfall, but Trac as a leader even more so. He should be pushing the side forward. He demanded the club got better, but has he? And I won’t bring up his shambolic goal kicking skills. Laughable really that he’s the player I least want to see going for goal. I rather Maxy from outside 50.

Oliver is apparently horrendous with the ball, yet he was going at 82% efficiency while tagging. He had 23 touches, Dawson had 25. Trac also had 23 touches but went at 65% and had ZERO clearances. The blind hate for Clarry and the leniency given to Trac just blows my mind. I know Clarry was a naughty boy, but Trac nearly blew up the club last year with the trade debacle. Both are playing well below their best and well below what their salary demands.

This. Good enough for Lever, good enough for Tmac, certainly good enough for Fritsch! I want to see Rivers and Chin spend 50% of the game in the middle Losing to Norf twice in a season might just be the end of me

Young players can’t afford to miss pre seasons. It absolutely kills their season. It’s why the effort from Lindsay this season is absolutely incredible.

Getting stuck into Jefferson is so typical of Melbourne supporters who have been screaming for changes and wanting to play for the future. He’s played 4 [censored] games in maybe the worst forwardline in the entire competition. His teammates include another kid down on confidence in JVR, a newbie in Kolt who is struggling badly, a red hot Melksham and Fritsch who hasn’t done anything since 1986. Will he make it? Probably not. Do we know this yet? No we don’t. What is the point of dropping him? The season is over. Let him play and see if he can grow in confidence. You want to have a go at someone? Have a go at senior players who can’t tackle, can’t handball, and have poor efforts repeatedly.

Oliver had a better game than Trac while tagging Dawson. What’s Trac going to do at HF? Kick behinds?

JVR had a pretty good game and that’s my one positive. Chin and Rivers have to play more midfield for the rest of the year together with Kosi. I hate this season and it can’t end soon enough

Chin is so good at attacking the contest. Needs to play way more time in the midfield. Sick and tired of the same old same old

Football. Foot. Ball.

FAAAAAARK

Rather than getting stuck into a kid who played 3 games in Jefferson, how about we put heat on guys like Trac who is a senior player that hasn’t hit a target all day?

I’m so deflated watching this team. We are so weak under pressure now.

Bring Rivers into the middle. What the hell do we have to lose?

This useless [censored] handballs and putrid attempts at tackling. [censored] 😡

Can’t win a clearance and can’t tackle. What the actual [censored] has happened to this midfield?

Melksham take a bow. And god help us that our best forward is 34.

It was the right choice to give it off to Fritsch in front of goal. It was the wrong choice for Fritsch not to put his damn arms out and take a mark. Such laziness and lack of competitiveness.

Put your arms out Fritsch!!!! Seriously sub him off

Petracca has to go forward. He’s killing us in the midfield.

Lever looks ok

Viney on Rankine at the bounce is [censored] mental. Who the hell is setting up the stoppage? Oh wait…