Young Blood

This. Any of the other options (Grundy, McDonald, Brown, Tomlinson) are too slow and unable to get any sort of seperation from their man. They can wrestle and bring the ball to ground but opposition sides simply play a spare or help defender to nullify this as we saw last night with Grundy and previously with Brown. Smith attacks every contest with genuine speed. His swing up forward resulted us in a more dynamic forward line and crucial mark+goal to keep us in it. He's not a world beater, he doesn't have the greatest footbal IQ and probably won't ever put together a four-quarter performance... But he gives you at least some of what Petty has with his aggression, speed and athletisicm to make a genuine contest in the air, at ground level and defensively pressure wise. He is the best option and they will pull the trigger on it this week. Out: Grundy, JJ In: Tomlinson, Spargo Sub: Tomlinson or Hibberd I like that we're slowly bringing Hibberd back into the main side. He was pulling up too sore too often and they've done well managing him via VFL and as a sub. He's too important to lose to another injury now hence why I think Tomlinson comes to provide suppor there with Smith moving forward. Hopefully if we stay healthy, Fritta comes back and Smith will go back to ultimate Super Sub.

I think Grundy and Brown will be the last resort. There's a reason Smith was given time in the forward line, why Melk has been given a spot and why Petty was by far the best no.1 marking option.... MOBILITY. Goodwin values the above players over Brown and Grundy because they can actually move with pace without the ball. They're simply more dynamic with what they bring. While both of them have some strength, they are probably our two slowest players off the mark. So many times this season they have been unable to make it to a marking contest or lead because they can't get any sort of separation from opponents due to lack of leg speed and burst. I loved seeing Petty get rid his opponent using his strength and quickly out mark the next opponent in front. True forward craft and skill. Alas.... I was pleased to see a lot of posters hoping that it will be Smith to go up forward. Of course he's not the size nor player that Petty is but he can produce part of what he brings. He can break off his man to compete in the air and when the ball hits the ground he can put pressure on the opposition with his pace. He seems to be playing with more confidence this year and I've loved the way he attacks every contest. Smith also provides what Goodwin loves which is versatility. If Trac spends more time forward and/or Fritta returns then Smith can again be swung back where needed.

I wouldn't be believing anything about Oliver returning unless it comes from the club...... oh wait 😜

Come on lads lets leave the infighting to the Collingwoods and Carltons Max might rest or he might play. Both can be good outcomes. Lets just see how it plays out :)

Wanted to give a shoutout to the less mentioned: Nibbler was terrific. He has been consistent all season but some of the critical contests he's winning from and in between the flanks has been key in our success to either win the ball back or get us moving forward. I thought yesterday in the first half especially his efforts to win the contest and find teammates in space really kept us in the game when Richmond had most of the control. His growth in his ball use and especially decision-making has been terrific. Bowey was another one that was not beaten in contest yesterday and his class with ball in hand was evident again

Would have loved to have watched them sulking somewhere watching the last quarter. As others have said they certainly rival Collingwood in the d****head department.

I'm hoping the ins are Petty and Hibberd. Would like to see Rivers rotate through the middle more to backfill some of Sparrows time. Hibberd to cover more of Rivers role. Pleased to see Tomlinson not omitted. Means Petty will play forward and they will hopefully see how it looks over the next few weeks. I hope Smith stays sub as Mr. Versatile. Spargo to keep pressing to try to force Chin out but I liked the balance of smalls we had last week in the forward half, especially if Trac continues to spend more time there.

I agree with Roost it and others. Would really like to see Petty in the forward line the next few weeks to have a serious look at it again before finals. He looked our best-contested option, providing proper physicality and grunt which we've lacked at times in the forward half. Gives plenty back to the key backs which I love. The only real issue with Tomlinson is his lack of mobility and leg speed compared to Petty. May has a decent pace but has been hindered by his back this season and Lever doesn't cover ground quickly. Petty is one of the quicker players in the comp for a near 200cm player and has great closing speed. Will be interesting to see what Goodwin does. Hopefully, he continues experimenting.

Goodluck with that

Quite happy with flying below the radar. Quite happy with being a tad boring in the media's eyes (apart from the Grundy situation). We'll just keep banking up the wins and get ourselves right for finals. No issue with staying out of the headlines in a media world that is frothing for the next story, usually one that puts a club in a negative light, which always gets more views/reads.

I agree. I would say the main reason he is being played still is because of his size. At 200cm there aren't many other options for genuine size in marking contests. JVR is 193 and competes well but he's best at marking on the run/moving. Ben Brown is able to get those long wobbly arms up in stationary marking contests to bring it to ground which is only ever what is being coached. I would say when Grundy returns, Brown will come out. Is this the best option? Who knows but they can't keep playing Brown with his inability to move freely around the ground.

I don't usually get bothered by media narratives... But this 'Brodie is and never will be a forward... what are Melbourne thinking' really bugs me. a.) No s***t sherlock b.) All the FD have said is that he needs to go back to forward on his "forward craft". Who has said straight up that Brodie will only come back in as a forward? Its nonsense. The plan signing Brodie was to work in tandem with Max throughout the season in the ruck and rest forward at times. The combo hasn't been tearing game apart or anything but there's been positives: Its helped Max with in game fatigue/recovery post as he's not the only ruck getting beat up like he often does Brodie stood up as the sole ruckman when Max was out He was also a more effective ruck in many games which resulted in goals. He gives us a different look at stoppages as an extra mid with his follow up The only knock against Grundy is he hasn't performed well while resting as a forward. So the FD made a smart decision to get extra time up forward in the twos to build his form and confidence. I realise the media want to run with this. But starting talk of where he ends up next year because he's been asked to work on a few things at Casey is just so over the top.

I mean not everyone. We're the betting favourites I would say mainly because its being played at the MCG. But besides that factor they are more in form, healthier and coming off the easiest win of their season probably. So I would call it closer to even to me.

Our back line really is elite, isn't it? When we start talking about dropping the likes of Rivers after one average (not awful) it really shows the standard we have in our back half. There are no weaknesses. Bowey's decision making and ball use is just pure class. You forget he's only 20 and only going to get better. I would be keeping Hibberd on ice as much as we can leading up to finals. Another random note that I don't think has been talked about enough is that because of our incredible depth down back it's meant one less position Gus has had to fill or help out in. He's been able to be released into Midfield and forward half which really benefits us with winning the ball in the front half.

I do think a lot of the expectation on Kozzy is a bit much at times. Kid just turned 22, playing one of the hardest positions on the ground. I've felt like the rest of the team that defensively he has been good the last month or so. He's just not positioning himself as well at times during games without the ball. With the smaller lineup I really hope we can get out transition game moving off turnovers again to give him some actual space to work one on one. He's actually one player besides Fritsch who can get decent separation from his man-off of leads. I just think far too often the congestion in the forward half due to our ball movement makes it so difficult.

Any lip readers in the building?

That slow motion replay on the weekend after his worse set shot miss, really summed up the issues for him. The ball drop was just so high. He's such a powerful player with terrific strength in his legs/core. I don't understand why he needs to lean back and drop the ball so high to get the power through the ball. The combination is the worst for accuracy as it makes it so hard for the leg to follow through straight. I would love to see him at least within 20/40 metres to do as Bayley does and kick a lower ball almost as a pass to someone in the 8th row. Still follow through but guide the ball more instead of blasting.

Unfortunately the "system" IS to kick deeper to forward packs where the plan is to have no intention to mark but to simply bring the ball to ground to create chaos ideally to find an avenue to score through smalls or create enough pressure for opposition mistakes/turnovers. The third desired outcome is to get a stoppage and set up to lock it in. The issue with this system is that it hasn't worked well all season. Where we were scoring heavily in the first part of the season was off opposition turnovers, moving the ball quickly to a less congested forward line. Since that aspect of our game has fallen off we have ended up with plan b to ignore lateral moves to find space inside forward 50 and simply bomb it in to forwards to spoil. GWS were able to find different angles even in wet weather which is so frustrating to watch. When we have a mark or win the ball on a wing or around our HF I would love us to lower the eyes more, for out mids to get more involved as options moving into forward 50. Just some sort of different looks to make the opposition have to change things. Instead they know our 'by the percentages' method that they can exploit by freeing up their own backs to set up in lines to move the ball quickly and easily out of their back 50 to rebound. We just put so much unnecessary pressure on this back-line and greater team with how we set up in forward half.

Agree to a certain extent. I think we have versatility on the field that allows us to shuffle players depending on whose subbed out. Gus, Harmes, Sparrow, Smith to name just a few can be swung to different positions to allow Spargo to come on as high HF role.

Honestly all the channel 7 callers are awful. Darcy and BT by far the worst. Only one I think is OK is Hamish Mclachlan. He's more natural and doesn't force things like all the others. Side note does anyone else find that Alister Nicholson sounds so much like Jordan Lewis. Fox footy callers are so much better. Whately and Hudson are pros

Does anyone have a good understanding of Port's defensive set up/structure? Does it vary? I only tuned in briefly last night when Port was going full throttle in the third. It seemed coming out of Geelong's defence that Port were going 1 on 1 across the ground to nulify Geelong's ability to possess the ball easily, take the heat out of the game and wrestle back any sort of momentum/control. Not saying we should do the same. God know we wouldn't ever switch out of our zone defensive set up. Was just an interesting tactic at that point of the game to put a stranglehold on the Cats.

On the fritter staging thing. I think most of the Fox footy panel post-game generally thought it was a hard enough hit, which it clearly was. Its also not something Bayley has a history of. Like Dunstall said it would be great to see another angle because I actually think it was a nasty hit to his upper body, blindsided and if the world were in some sort of order should deserve a fine along with the free kick. Stupido.

Probably already planning his four days off of golf. Post game Fox interview when asked what he was doing with his time off was literally responded with "golf, golf and more golf". May have also been where his head was at when he dropped those two marks that were all but his to ice the game but fumbled them in the dying moments. I am joking of course but if we somehow lost that one these would be big talking points. Funny how it all works.

Depends on the player. Salem came straight back into the seniors because he was able to put a block of full training together over a number of weeks. Can't see why Petty couldn't do the same. I think it was last week that I saw he was back to running. Might need one more week after the bye but from memory Goodwin said he would be available for selection. The answer to if he will come straight back in to AFL side is definitely a YES. He is clearly best 22.

Watched the replay for the second time. Its been stated so many times I know but boy our backline is just superb. Across the board no weaknesses, they just find a way every week to impact the game as our most important line. They're not perfect by any means but the way they structure up and support each other all on the same page is elite. Rivers makes mistakes but his ability to stay in the moment and follow up whether its tackling or winning back the ball is terrific. Lever and May had a lot of missed marks they wouldn't have been frustrated by but again the support of others to cover for them at ground level was great. Salem playing his best game in so long was the highlight for me. But McVee playing alongside him as an aggressive ball user adds another element. We might need to nickname them eventually (The Slick Brothers?). Love that Judd has learnt so much under Salem and shows similar traits with his ability to win contests and proactive ball movement. Hibberd got a fair amount of praise his first few years. But since I feel like he's been underrated. Rarely loses a contests, his physicality is so important. I hope they continues to manage him because in big games he just stands up every time. Tomlinson was another that was surprising but the role he's playing is by far his greatest strength taking the second key tall. Played with a confidence we haven't seen since first half of 2021. Will be interesting to see where Bowey comes back in. I think Petty much to others distaste will play forward. Especially with Tomlinson potentially settling back in. Frees Petty up to play deep or lead up forward.