Melb-A-Toast

Thanks. A lack of response from others is startling considering the other topics and inane rhetoric. Did I use too many big words?

I have wondered about two things that have come to prominence is recent years. Head knocks and rugby scrum/ruck and maul style game which seems to slow the game down. Q. Could/should there be consideration for (oh yes, another rule change!) not allowing possession if your knees or elbows are on the ground? I don't profess to have a fully clear approach on how this rule could be written, or adjudicated but maybe this forum can put forward some ideas. We already have a rule for below the knees contact. In the past, I have loved the aggression and foolhardy bravery of players diving on the ground to get the ball, sometimes winning the impossible to the awe of teammates and the crowd. My appreciation has now waned based on the potential injury to players - and it makes me wonder how many talented youngsters had their potential curtailed, as well as a better appreciation that the struggles that post career footballers may experience are somewhat impacted by repeated head knocks. It would change some part of the game that we know, but could this change create more opportunities for the parts of the game we love? Things like fast paced with reduced scrappy kicks and handballs, skills more prominent overall, fewer ball ups, and higher scores. If you have to retrieve a loose ball whilst keeping your feet, then great exponents like Cripps, Pendlebury, and our own Oliver will have more capacity to show their elite skills, and not be dragged (literally) down to the scrappy mess that games have become, especially in the wet. I am sure that there are cons to this idea, so I await the vehement rebukes that are about to come.

I know! He keeps getting the ball, striving to get the ball in contested situations or tackles opposition who have the ball!

Great observation. Thanks for your insight

When I was a teenager I did 15 regularly. 5 lots of 3 Weet-Bix bowls. Bit of sugar and a good serving of milk. It was important to have the biscuits wet but not too soggy... Anyway, back to the footy

Thanks

Is training on at Gosch's Paddock this morning?

I expect out of 88 quarters Melbourne will win 55. It is just a matter of when these occur and by how much

No wonder Frost was not encouraged to stay ?

Melbourne will be 6w 4l after round 10

Jackson Pickett Rivers - sounds like key members of blues or jazz band.

His parents have a sense of humour as there is Trent river in UK

I read his bio and thought he was a copy - except Trent must have a bit more pace. We'd gladly accept Jarred's qualities. And we have a better team around him now!

When Stretch first played for Melbourne he was highly skillful, fit but not strong enough - there were a few times that he attempted to tackle and the opposing player easily shrugged off Stretch's endeavours. In the last 2 seasons he was certainly stronger, his kicking accuracy was still high, but the emerging issue that I saw was his prevalence to miss opportunities to take the game on. There were too many times when the team were pushing to get the fast movement, only to have Stretch get the ball and take too long for the next disposal - allowing the opposition to get the defence set up. His kicking became ineffective and safe, which probably assisted his high accuracy. I hope he gets another opportunity though he would need a way to overcome his slow execution/decision-making.

Hello to you too, Fatima!

I don't know how Salem should be pronounced, but it might be similar to Salim. So Bruce may be closer than the Salem Massachusetts pronunciation. Just a thought

I can't stand the Seven commentary team. BT talks about things that aren't there - a team about to surge, an umpire decision that he feels is right/wrong which the reviews clearly show otherwise. And then there is his horrible abuse of the english language. Should of instead of should have Verse instead of versus .... anyway. I turned the sound off but it loses the crowd noise so I turned the game off. It was only dogs pies anyway

I agree! At the time, I thought that Port played it really well, and I was expecting Watts to make us regret the move. I also wish Watts more success for the rest of his career, though not when he plays against Melbourne. Jesse has every reason to play a fantastic year at Melbourne, and then he can again consider his options as to whether he will return to Perth - hopefully with a medal or two.

I think that trade negotiations is about playing the long game. So if you negotiate really hard, or if you have a great coup, then you will have a reputation that will be harder to deal with in the future. So, being seen to be fair and reasonable provides more opportunities to do more deals in the future. If the List Management team is able to execute well, then the deal will look like a small loss at the first point, but a great success later down the track. Think Watts at 31.

Tyson is a great ball winner, when playing on the ball. Does he think he has more time to get rid of the ball? He has also been compromised by trying to shrug tackles. These two aspects have caused turnovers. So if he eradicates these aspects, he will be a great win for North. At Melbourne he would have been getting less time in the middle, and his impact would continue to drop. I wish him well

Nathan Jones has been stoic, and been the light for such a long time. For the last two years, I have seen him needing to play a different role (other than inside mid), and that has not helped him maintain his high standard. My main concern with him is his kicking efficiency for 40+ metre kicks. As he has been playing wing a fair bit, the long kick into the forward 50 is an incredibly important component of the arsenal. His short passes are very good, sometimes elite, and sometimes regretful... He has been an exceptional leader and great team mate. His work in media representing the club has been wonderful to see and hear. So to me the questions that remain: How long does he keep the co-captaincy? and how long does he want to? What is the best role for him? Wing, high half forward, midfield depth, or defence? He was probably carrying an injury towards the end of the season, as he didn't have the same impact I was expecting. His leadership on the field is only known by the coaching group and players, but Viney has surpassed him as an impact player/leader from an outsider's viewpoint. I truly hope that he has relevance and is impactful when we finally get the chance to win a grand final.

Question for Peter. Rather than do a wholesale clean out when you took the reins, there were some key people retained. What were the aspects of some of those people and did you redefine their roles/day to day functions significantly to suit the revised goals of the Club?

Nice post Mydee. Hysteria and diatribe are common however. We are a better team because of their significant contributions.

Yes. He was always positive even when Melbourne was at its lowest. Wish him well in his recovery. When Simon Goodwin said at the after match press conference "We are far from Dunn (done)" I was waiting for someone to comment - so now it is me! :-)

Just another relaxing win.