Young Blood

Melksham a kpf? hahahaha

very true! If it were an even game that would be a good strategy perhaps. But I don't know if there's be an AFL player that wouldn't go for goal with a point as consolation for the draw... when you're a point down.

of course but Jacko was def closer. Would have been interesting. One of these days a kick after the siren is going to be ruined by the play on rule off the mark.

thanks! and yeah true. Would have loved to see Jackson have a shot from the pocket. Wonder if Bayley might have tried to come in and claim it as a left footer.

This is awesome and you've highlighted the key areas coaches look for with any of our forwards tall or small. Where do you find these stats?

Tom Brown might have had a closer inspection ?

On par with Langdon IMO absolutely. The decision making and disposal in defensive 50 really showed. Lever almost seemed to be looking for him with that handball so many times and ended up going with a lesser option.

Not really important in the whole scheme of things but I had a question. Should have been paid a free and we should have had a shot on goal from the angle in the pocket. Out of curiosity for future ref is it the player closest to the man disposing deliberately out of bounds (Spargo) or the one closes to where the ball actually goes out (Jackson) that gets the free kick?

Should I start another boringly trivial thread called 'why we might win a flag this year'?

Weid wasn't the issue on the weekend. He's played just two games and I think looked OK playing his role as a lead up forward. His stats were practically identical to McDonalds yesterday. I thought he presented well and created marking contests both deep and further up the ground. He looks more imposing with his size and I think he'll work into AFL form soon enough. Apologies for being a believer. @Jjrogan on the fast deck at Marvel I really don't think BB has the speed and agility to get into space at the moment. Not sure if he's just lost his burst but his inability to separate off his man is a real concern and from those who went to the Casey game whom I've spoken to he really struggled this week. Weid is much more mobile and gives your greater intensity/pressure when the ball hits the deck. Brown has looked almost in slow motion if he doesn't mark the ball and struggles to re-engage at the contest.

Sparrow is a must in for mine. I think he was only squeezed out for guys like Harmes who has been OK since coming back but would love to see Sparrow back in. I really dislike how easily Melksham comes back in to the side. I know there's the Goodwin's favourite narrative but he just gives very little apart from a few decent inside 50's a game. I'd rather see Harmes and Bayley player his high HF role and Sparrow come in to fill in more time in the middle for Harmes' rotation there. I like the idea of Viney back this week but if he's not 100% which I can't imagine he I'd rather he take another week off. Brining him back against the slickest side on the quickest ground isn't a good idea imo.

Because he was our big recruit! Because he kicked a lot of goals a few seasons ago! Because he has a huge tank and long arms! Because Weid sucks full stop! Can't think of any more reasons why some on here think he's the answer. Has looked super average and honestly a slight liability when playing so far apart from Syd and some games against average sides in the VFL.

Can we please close this thread?

whole heartedly agree. Not sure who the journo was but I certainly commented on here after the North game that he looked really off the pace and definitely struggled getting separation from his opponent. Relying on his length to mark contested instead of getting more space. Unless one of the other big three really play poorly I can't see him getting back in the side. Both Jackson, Tmac and Weid are far more effective up the ground and quicker on the burst for leads. I think Brown looked OK against Sydney taking a few contested marks where he outsized the opposition but he's not going to work as a deep forward. Its never been his game. Likes to run into open spaces and the way we're structured with Fritsch being the most effective in that area I don't think there's room for him. Lovely bit of depth though. It might have always been the case but besides competing well in marking contests and using his decent IQ at times to tap the ball to our advantage I've found his ground work really average and he looks like he's in slow motion when the ball hits the deck. Would love to be wrong about all of this of course like I was with Tmac ?

Thats fair and makes sense

So we're back to announcing a list of emergencies for games that aren't on a Friday night? With proper final teams announced Friday night for our Saturday game anyway? Maybe I'm way off here...

Every week there has to be an area of the game or a team that comes under the microscope. This week its holding the ball because of the uneven adjudication over the 8 games on the weekend. I think its being blown out due to media coverage. It certainly was an issue over the weekend but its more that its story of the week stuff that its being highlighted so much. The umpires will do what they usually do and review and be more consistent across the games and it will be less of a story. Not saying the holding the ball rule shouldn't be touched or talked about as I think there's areas of concern but the games not in turmoil because of it.

haha I have definitely heard a few of our boys complain about training out at Casey. But mainly due to the commute every day. For guys like Ed Langdon who lives in the inner north it would take an hour a day to drive down. I personally hate sitting in a car for two odd hours a day (more with traffic) but many don't. Each to their own.

They will give us a scare no doubt. They were able to hang with a good team last week at home and I imagine they will at times against us as Carlton did. The players message is simple (and expressed often in the media lately). We know there will be times when opposition make a move on us whether its getting two goals up or reducing a lead but there's a firm belief that we are fitter and our game style/plan if executed will beat the opposition. That strange foreign word to any Melbourne Demon person is starting to bleed into out current situation... 'trust', with the above mentioned mindset. Losing this week isn't going to rattle that but I don't think that will be the reality anyway. Strange but welcome times.

Wanted to make note of the skill level on the weekend. I've been going to every dees game in Melbourne with my Dad for about 20 years and we while it wasn't a pretty game of football by any means our class and skill in wet conditions was a cut above Carltons. Haven't been able to say that many times over the years. I think we've had skilled players in the side but sometimes it doesn't show when confidence is down. Now that we are rolling with firm belief in each team mate there are some really creative things happening with the ball. Just little things I noticed on the weekend like Brayshaws insanely quick and well timed handball to Hibberd running off the boundary in the last or Kozzy almost bouncing the ball behind his back to gain possession and avoid boundary/opposition in the pocket, so many more little things like this just had us in ore of some of the skills and confidence on display. Its not just the Kozzy's, Salem's, Petracca's, Olivers or Spargo's its becoming infectious.

Liking the love for Rivers on here. Its insane he does everything, so rare to have few floors for such a young player. Of course playing back half helps and he's given a fair bit of freedom but I just think this kid is going to be a star, still unsure of what his ceiling will be but tracking as future all Australian backman and a long career ahead of him at the very least.

He is so so fit at the moment. His ability to cover ground is underrated. Gets to so many contests with intensity every time. Absolute star.

Will have to be conscious of that this week against the Crows over there. Surprised WC so low...

Is there a more mature head at the age of 20 yrs playing in the midfield at AFL level? The kid has got toughness and class. He's not flashy but has the skills and ability to have a very long career.

Who would have thought we'd be in a position to even contemplate resting players at any stage this season... Amazing. Richmond have been excellent at player management over the last few years and its been clearly evident in how strongly they finished each season. Even this year with the large amount of injuries to key players they're still not being written off because of the culture and management style with injuries they have a reputation for. It probably is too early yes. But we do have the depth. It looks like its already happening with Viney being more conservative with his injury management. Because of guys like JordOn, Harmes, Brayshaw and Sparrow (and rotational mids like Kozzy, ANB, Jones etc.) we can afford to cover his role as a predominantly defensive mid. Resting Max is tricky as he provides us with so much balance. As noted in the latest 'On The Couch' he's doing less, sacrificing Brownlow points as a defensive ruckman playing more in the back half with the other three talls pushing forward. That being said I can't imagine the coaching staff wouldn't consider managing him on weeks where we're playing a bottom half side and they have a B grade ruckman that Dogga could handle.