Young Blood

I think people tend to forget the importance of Hogan's presence. Even when he's not playing well he still demands the oppositions best key back or even two. This allows Mcdonald the freedom to lead into other open spaces and gives small forwards the opportunity to be proactive knowing Jess is more likely to try to bring the ball to ground when he has two opponents. I don't mind if Jesse is having an off day not marking or finding the football as long as he makes a strong contest in the air and applies pressure around the ball in forward half thats all you can ask of him when he's not at his best. I know Jess has been down on form the past two weeks but if fit I think its key to keep improving our forward structures and keep the team playing together with that predictability and trust as well as continuity in our game. I think that's really important at this time of the season.

Peds, sure as he's played a lead up role as CHF before and performed well spreading and marking on wings. But to play wing you need to have good kicking and Frost is too much of a liability at the moment. Much better for him to continue to play behind the ball. He has improved our structure since Lever went down and is more then adequate at taking the oppositions best or second key tall.

His gut running at the end to seal it was elite. He's been such an important player all year. Sick of people seeing a player make a few mistakes and therefore call for them to be axed. Happens far too often.

Bummer was hoping the one strange upset a weekend we've been getting lately would continue. Unless Freo play out of their skin the Hawks should just control the pace of the game and seal this one. They're experienced and wont get embarrassed again like the Brisband game

Frost on Walker to start as he works further up the ground which works if Frost wins the ball as a better rebounding back. Oscar to Jenkins who usually plays as the deepest forward. I would say they'll rotate players against Lynch. Look for Bernie and Smith to both spend time on him.

Not sure why that's strange. It makes sense. We lack the experience for those 'moments' in games as Judd mentions. The older players who know what to do with the ball in the right time and place when it matters most. Our older brigade aren't as influential as Geelong's, that's clear. Lewis, Jones and Vince all could have done more to try to calm a young side spinning out in the heat of the moment in that last quarter. But I think its important to acknowledge that the majority and most important players we have are 22-24 yrs old and simply haven't developed the maturity and mental toughness as you say to win these sorts of games yet. It's annoying and I understand the impatience and wanting to win more now. But its going to take time I'm afraid.

Yeah but those young mids are mentally week so it means fugazi.... apparently.

That fight seems to resemble the sort of fight you would see at an old peoples home. All it was missing were the cane's for pocking from bystanders.

Harmes will play this weekend I reckon. I think he'd be one of our toughest players alongside Viney, Nev, Oliver, Hibbo and Brayshaw.

Not in so many words maybe. But there are a lot of posters who seem to think that the 19 yr old Baker is going to fix our outside run problem. Or that Keilty would come in and do a better job then Oscar McDonald who a 'woeful footballer'. I think when supporters see Kent kick a few or Vanders lay a dozen tackles that they would immediately come in and make an impact at AFL level. Both of those guys aren't AFL match fit. Goodwin mentioned in a press conference last week that AVB was a month away with him needing to build form and fitness at VFL level.

Is this only if Keilty replaces Oscar Mcdonald?

Apart from Brown, Cox and Roughhead he's had a very solid season. If you believe he's had a poor season that is your own opinion fair enough, but for me apart from those three he has kept his direct opposition to 3 goals or under (mostly 1-2 goals per game). I personally can't ask for much more from a developing 22 yr old.

OK so he definitely had a bad game on Cox, can't really blame him there with no other talls around him to help out. And like I said he was thoroughly beaten by a 30 yr old beast playing career best football over the past two games. But those other four weeks you speak of: Dixon - 1 Goal, 9 disp, 5 marks Mccartin - 2 Goals, 12 disp, 4 marks Brennan Cox - 1 Goal, 10 disp, 3 marks Josh Schache - 2 Goals, 15 disp, 8 marks He played his role and did the job. Some of the opposition was average yes. But he's been doing it all season. He's had a tough job taking on the oppositions best key forward and restricted them pretty consistantly. Does he turn the ball over? Yes, Just about every player does once a game. Does he make mistakes? yup. But he's developing nicely and learning every game so why stunt that by dropping him after a beating by a superior player? I believe Keilty has been developing well at Casey and think he deserves a game before the year is out. But I'm sorry Werridee but it wont be in place of Oscar McDonald.

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion and fair enough if you think Oscar is a rubbish footballer. But he's not going anywhere its just that simple, the FD have invested a lot of time and development in him. You only need to hear how the other players speak of him and how highly they rate him. He's not a damaging smothering key back. He's a 22 yr old who has done a great job bar maybe 3-4 occasions this year. With McDonald moving forward and Lever out he's been more exposed but he's battled on really well. He was given a belting last night by a seasoned (30 yr old) key forward at the very top of his game. Big deal. Rance was given at least two similar beatings last year. Give the kid a break. He's going to be our full back for quite a while so you may as well get used to it.

1. Everything Nasher just said 2. Our younger players well and truly stood up including the second tier guys like Harmes/ANB 3. What a competitive fun team we have to watch. Such a joy compared to so many years of depression and no light at the end of the tunnel. Also Richmond were in this position last year or year before where they couldn't finish off close games/close out games where they were clearly the better side. This young side will learn how to do it and be the toughest team to beat next year and beyond. Getting through to finals will help that development this year of course.

His marking on the weekend stood out to me. Hadn't seen him clunk them that well this season but he really committed and took some beauties on the lead and contested. Will need more of this going forward.

My thoughts exactly. I think he's got himself in the perfect position to make a real impact at AFL level this season and prove himself. Also is currently is best place to replace Vince/Lewis in near future with very similar attributes. Hope he gets selected tonight and really proves himself.

Yup this. Hibberd is so important with his use of the ball rebounding out of the backline. It will be Wagner to replace him who when playing with confidence can really use the ball well. I thought he was unlucky earlier in the year to be dropped. He showed real improvement with his contested work, tackling and competing in the air. He's still no where near the player that Hibbo is but he is certainly the best replacement to keep somewhat of the team structures down back and not unsettle things too much.

think the main worry would be fitness. Even when he was fully fit he'd tire at the end of games with all the effort he puts in. Hope he can build up the tank and push for selection close to finals!

Can't believe people are forgetting about Travis Johnstone....

Brayshaw is fast becoming one also.

You would have thought we lost the game on the weekend and Jones was the main reason... I agree with @SPC this is an odd thread. Unless he starts stringing together really poor games I don't think this is really a discussion. He had a really consistent first half of the year and since has played more of defensive role in the midfield blocking the oppositions midfielders while Brayshaw, Oliver, Trac and Viney win the ball. His disposal has never been elite by any lengths and neither is his speed but he's still best 22. The discussions about how MFC moves forward with Jones should be left until next year and post finals campaign/run to see how he can compete.

These types comparisons/hypotheses get thrown up so frequently to players without much sample size. It's great click bate! That being said Oliver was a terrific mark at jnr level and while I certainly want him spending most of his time in the midfield I do prefer the swap with Petracca from mid to forward then I did with Trac/Hogan. It gives the midfield more balance and seems to allow better cohesion in the midfield with who is winning the ball at ground level and who is playing the outside mid role.

I'm confused. What makes him a good replacement for Nev? I wasn't aware that he had any time spent playing down back....?

great game