Random Task

Think we just have to play him until it either clicks or Ben Brown knocks down the door to kick him out of the team. I still have belief in him but needs to stick those marks and be more efficient in front of the sticks.

6. Petracca 5. Oliver 4. Gawn 3. Spargo 2. May 1. McDonald Apologies to Pickett, Rivers and Hibberd. Good team performance in the second half.

I don't know how many double handed pushes in Jacksons back I can take

He should have stuck 1 or 2 but if he ended up clunking all of those contested pack marks on the weekend he'd be the second coming of Carey.

Cerra would be great but can't see us having the picks/cash to get it done. Tucker might be gettable though.

Having a talented list and performing strongly should make us an appealing destination for both young players wanting to return to Victoria and older players seeking a flag before retirement. On the latter, I wonder if we could convince Ziebell to come across at below market rates. He's a free agent I would suspect North might be happy to accept a 2nd round compensation pick (around pick 20) for a 30yr old that won't feature in their next finals team.

I'm finding it hard to watch these crowdless games. The absence of crowd noise is manageable but for some reason they've stopped enabling the umpires mic on free kicks. Didn't think that would annoy me so much but stoppage after stoppage I'm left guessing if it's a ball up, holding the ball or some other decision.

Round 1 - Errol Guldon - Sydney Round 2 - Braeden Campbell - Sydney Round 3 - Chad Warner - Sydney Round 4 - Lachlan Scholl - Adelaide Round 5 - Mitch Georgiades - Port Round 6 - Jacob Koschitzke - Hawks Round 7 - Luke Jackson - Demons Round 8 - James Jordon - Demons Round 9 - Tom Green - Giants Round 10 - Cody Weightman - Bulldogs

Would certainly be a chance with his game last night. Will have to wait and see how the rest of the round plays out.

0 - 1 from the past 1 games.

I reckon Jordon might be a good fit for a wing. Can play defensively but also seems to link up on the outside well. Sparrow to come in and play JJ's current role.

6. Oliver 5. Rivers 4. Brayshaw 3. Harmes 2. Lever 1. Petracca Apologies to May and Fritsch

Very happy with Petty's game as well. Developing nicely.

Happy for the kid. Confidence should be up now.

Brayshaw has been huge

Cordy carrying on after the free is paid over the mark, surely 50?

I love you Max but if you could stop dropping marks inside defensive 50 that would be great.

Players privacy rights would be reason most likely.

Has freeman actually lost his pace? Haven't seen any of him since he was delisted.

I'm with Jaded. Aerially it would be a great match up but Daniels would carve us up if Fritsch was minding him. He creates so much of their play off the back half that we need to look at a defensive forward to sit on him.

I wish I shared your optimism. I reckon we'll drop the next two, lose a chunk of percentage and then get over the pies to go into the by 10-3. 10-3 isn't bad but we'll be back in amongst the pack fighting it out for top 4. Will the real Melbourne please stand up (hopefully the real Melbourne is good).

Umps got the decision wrong and is now officially recognised as such. Only just had the masochistic urge to watch the final few minutes of that game again. What I found peculiar from our players was that hardly any of them pleaded to the umpire for the decision. No arms outstretched or other gesticulations, they just turned around and prepared for the throw in. Now the umpire should pay the free regardless, but I can't help but wonder if that had a minor influence on the umpire, perhaps reaffirming his thoughts that it wasn't deliberate? Moot point now I guess.

In: Salem, Sparrow Out: Jetta, Melksham (inj) Viney comes in if fit, Jordon out (unlucky but had a shocker and could do with a rest perhaps) For the dangerous player he can be, Fritsch has become a massive liability defensively. Perhaps a statement will be made here?

Might seem a tad reactionary to one point loss but I think tonight's game highlighted our lack of depth in the mid/small defender department. Jetta and Hibberd, while I love both of them and what they've given us over their journey, are past their prime and both now have significant flaws to their game. The sooner they are relegated to Casey by reliable defenders the better. Lockhart and Hore have had a long time out and both unproven in my view. Bowey and Smith developing as first year players. Hunt has had an impressive resurgence this year in the back half but is also prone to significant form drops and unreliable kicking. At this stage I only trust Salem and Rivers as consistent quality small/medium defenders. I hope we target a solid half back or small lockdown defender this off-season.

6. Oliver 5. Oliver 4. Oliver 3. Oliver 2. Langdon 1. Petracca