Young Blood

Really? I mean maybe starting as sub in hindsight now that we've seen him play more but he did very little to impact when he came on a sub in that first game. So off the back of that first game instead of another try as sub they send him down the Casey where he played a full game in the midfield and starred which prepared him really well and gave him confidence to come in a play a big role in the midfield this week. Thought it was great management from the club to build Harvey up to the game he had on the weekend.

Assuming the probables are playing here's my thoughts I know folks are super keen to drop Fritsch but its not going to happen yet sorry guys. I think he had four scoring shots on the weekend, they'll be hoping he converts this week (Don't shoot me!) Another one many on here are keen for is Tom Campbell to come in. Again I like the idea but not this week against two highly athletic rucks in Blitz and De Koning. TC is just not mobile enough to battle these guys around the ground. I thought AJ was possibly one of our worst on the weekend but they'll give him another go for his mongrel and ability to compete hopefully with their agile stalls. Will be interesting to see what they do with Melk this week. Had to play a full game after XL went down which I'm sure was not the plan. Can see them sticking with him as sub. IN: Koz, Windsor, Lever, Turner Out: Lindsay, Henderson, Howes, Billings Hopefully these guys are all fit and back in because it creates a few positives around the ground: Windsor - Comes back to hopefully free up Rivers to play more midfield but Leb can also play some wing with Lindsay going down (Langdon better stick on that wing and forget about the inside mid [censored]) Lever - Gives Tmac a spell and you get a key leader back to manage the troops and moral. Turner - Unless they drop another tall forward he'll come in and Trac (if fit enough) can play more midfield minutes than the last two weeks

Sounds like its time for you to pick another team then if you have lost interest this much. Good luck to you.

I thought Goodwins press conference after the game summed up the game well, it was a startling reality check. The answers he gave were eerily similar to what we used to hear in the dark days Its hard listening when a coach referring to a pretty seasoned team says that we were unable to perform the "basics" and "fundemental's" for skill level so early on in a season especially the unforced no pressure mistakes. They have been training for months now consistently to ensure these standards are up to the level for the AFL season. There wasn't any talk of new game plan we're working on, it was about basic execution and fundamentals! I think Max even mentioned in his post game interview that we would be working on executing skills throughout the week. I would have thought that we did this every week at training at least for the main sessions... As others have noted there's something up with this team at the moment. There's a flatness. Being at the game the most notable thing to me was they weren't running/working hard for each other, either defensively or spreading offensively. That to me is a pretty sure way of knowing a team is not bought in or potentially not committed to the coach and teammates. I found it interesting that Goodwin said something like "Us coaches" need to work to get players back in form which is a tad odd. That to me is sounding a little overprotective but maybe its just because its early in the season and he's holding back with the firm statements for now. So many things wrong this week. Keen to hear your thoughts fellas.

If this interview is from weeks ago or even pre-season its not going to age well this week...

Only if Adams actually plays some consistent VFL footy. I thought Adams was very average for Casey last year, he looked a fair way off. Had an OK patch in the middle of season but a really poor end to the year. I think there's a lot of room to grow as he's only 20/21 and had injury interruptions but if you think he's getting picked ahead of Tmac to replace May then you're dreaming. Kids got a long way to go. If it all falls apart then sure blood him and get some AFL matches into him.

Third highest rated player on the ground against GWS who was super solid with clean disposal. Fair enough with May, Lever, Petty in that he won't get a game. But to say we should put a line through him is just silly. We will call on him again this season as undoubtedly one of those 3 tall backs will miss at least a few more games as they always do. He's a solid experienced backup key back.

HOW DARE THEY!!! I said I feel for you because it obviously bothers you and others on this fourm and that's my genuine concern for you guys. I'm sure they have all said many negative/distasteful things about the club I love and support along with some great things especially late 2021. But as I mentioned in my previous post ALL media writers/pundits will have bias towards a club and its the negative articles/talk that gets the most attention so that is what they will put out as priority. They all may well hate Melbourne, who knows. But also who cares? Thats not going to change. I stopped paying attention to anything the Cornes', McGuires, Barretts etc. said about Melbourne many years ago and I suggest for as many Dees fans to do the same.

God you listen to all of this lot? Feel for you

INJURY UPDATE: According to club site: May - possible to return this week Lever - questionable after the bad ankle roll. Has to pass a fitness test later this week. Concern with the short turnaround. Melksham - possible to return if he gets through full training this week OK. Windsor - still another week away. Round 4 return they think Jefferson - A fracture in the hand. 1-2 weeks Hore - Reinjured the calf in last qtr for Casey but no timeline. Bummer

Whats the point? It will jsut be based on assumptions due to a negative article or conversation about Melbourne. As you say the woe is me supporter stuff is so lame. Every media writer/pundit probably has some bias towards a club but they're also paid to say/write negative things because that's what gets all the clicks/attention. The more you engage and carry on the more you're feeding into it all. Tom Morris loves it when he's being talked about especially as he's a Melbourne supporter. He's admitted he goes for the club but puts his job first and couldn't care less about writing negative things about the club. Who cares? Why would you even bother with that individual? The Goodwin/Max thing will be a nonstory next week. I wish people would just let the media do what they're always going to do and move on.

This. We looked spent after slogging it out in the wet against a top four side. Not sticking tackles, couldn't create space, all kicks and handballs were short/at team mates feet. Yes its an excuse but shouldn't be this early in the season which is the concern. Did they muck up recovery during the week? Perhaps I'm expecting a very different Melbourne this weekend in terms of intensity and ability to compete. Against North we had no hope.

I thought Spargo went alright in his first game back. He'd played a Casey practice game where he looked a cut above and clearly he's in our best 22 with his decision making and foot skills badly needed. I expect him to keep impacting more after his first AFL run in a long time. I don't understand why people keep bringing up Laurie. He's been the most underwhelming player at AFL level we've had for the last few seasons. We have many players that should get picked ahead of him as a hybrid type player. A promising late first rounder (pick #22) After four years in the system he should be starting to really push the selection committee. Maybe its because he's only good as a midfielder where we have the most depth but I would have liked to see him start to carve out a role by now and build on his game.

How very Trumpesque of you...

Wouldn't have made a difference. They played a spare back, Charlie Comben who marked everything with a match high 12 Intercept possessions. He would have had more if we played Fritta deep square for as many 2v1's as he liked. But in general, that tactic rarely works these days unless the game opens up and you win clearance to get the ball in quickly like the rare occasion in the GF. They tried to play Trac out of the square in the third quarter and North's zone type set up meant they could come help on every entry that went his way.

I know I'll be unpopular but I really think fitness played a big part in todays game. I think North outplayed us most definitely. But pretty much all game and especially in the third quarter just about every one of our kicks was short, every handball was to a team mates feet. We're not the most skilled side but we're certainly not THAT bad. I saw half our side completely gassed each quarter with only Chandler and Oliver who seemed fit enough to impact consistently and run the game out. Again I know I'll be ridiculed but I felt like the loss was compounded by the fact we weren't fit enough for this game resulting in poor disposal, lack of spread, unforced turnovers, not working hard for each other in space (especially forward of the ball). Shouldn't ever be an excuse but was obvious to me today that North were much more match fit for this one after we slogged away last week in the wet. Hoping they get recovery and conditioning right this week. God help us.

Its OK guys. We were just tired.

Agreed thats a coach doing the opposite of protecting one of is best players. Instead he's now opened up Gawn and everyone around him for media hassling. Not to mention the pundits will be all over his comments. Was such an easy one to diminish and move on. I'm sure he didn't mean this and was probably frustrated but not a good look.

The kid clearly knows how to kick goals, has good instincts, reads the ball well and competes in the air. They've clearly selected him believing these attributes that he's been building upon will translate to more scoring from our forwards. Also think the idea and we saw it on the weekend was he was able to free up Fritta to play other roles including swinging him back late in quarters as a loose man but also to work up the ground more to play the modern day CHF role as a link-up player and push into space to be utilised for his excellent foot skills for forward entries. I think on a wet day it didn't work too well as we weren't able to rebound quick enough with GWS filling space across the ground, but I expect to see a lot more of Bayley working into space further up the ground against North on a dry deck.

Watched it live right in front of me at the ground and thought straight away that it was a textbook dangerous tackle and predicted the one week. No need to drive his head down like that. I thought most of the game that Brown was bullying AJ by being just too physical for him in the ruck contests especially, was able to move AJ quite easily. Wonder if AJ just wanted to give the tackle a little extra in frustration/payback. A silly mistake I hope he learns from.

From club talk/reports it sounds like Turner was due to play last week after being ruled out 48 hrs out to due illness. So he'll play. Only changes I see barring injury. Fingers crossed for Windsor. In: Turner Out: AJ If Windsor misses as others have mentioned I think Billings comes in and Riv plays more off HB. I don't like that JVR will have to compete with the monster Xerri. Hopefully its limited and Max can take on more Ruck contests this week (he was at 75% on Centre Ruck contests last week with AJ in).

Thats ok you're forgiven 😇

You forgot May! I gather you're likely referring to the most common straight line precision kicks in which yes I'd say Tmac is definitely in there. But in terms of overall kicking including under pressure/around the body/creativity I would have to have him out and Fritta in. Other than that I agree. Edit: Probably Rivers too, he just often kicks longer and more daring kicks but his shorter precision stuff is great as is Windsor and Langford looks a great kick too.

I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a week. Brown got up and was fine by the looks of it. But being first game they might set the precedence unfortunately. Shouldn't be more then a free kick but they really come down hard on these careless tackles especially early in season to try to deter players (never seems to work much anyway).

We're just old and fragile lol