deelusions from afar

I agree I think the game started to turn further up the field. Which is why I found it interesting for the opposition coach to single out Kozzie as the one that changed it. Maybe it's an easier message to send to supporters than we got outworked in the midfield / by the melbourne defenders.

Interesting - just noticed this. Anyone know anything about it? <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Superb opportunity for PhD scholarship in a high performance environment including <a href="https://twitter.com/selwynosteo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@selwynosteo</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DaveWattsau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DaveWattsau</a> and myself at <a href="https://twitter.com/melbournefc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@melbournefc</a> along side <a href="https://twitter.com/ShonaHalson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShonaHalson</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ryan_timmins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ryan_timmins</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/richjohnston88?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@richjohnston88</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/SPRINT_ACU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SPRINT_ACU</a>. <a href="https://t.co/5VuYivEv6e">https://t.co/5VuYivEv6e</a> <a href="https://t.co/blZAVGQ9x6">pic.twitter.com/blZAVGQ9x6</a></p>&mdash; Darren Burgess (@darrenburgess25) <a href="https://twitter.com/darrenburgess25/status/1372391373618352129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Edit: Not sure how to embed a twitter post but it's from Darren Burgess a few weeks back and says: Superb opportunity for PhD scholarship in a high performance environment including @selwynosteo, @DaveWattsau and myself at @melbournefc along side @ShonaHalson, @ryan_timmins, @richjohnston88 from @SPRINT_ACU . https://acu.edu.au/research/become-a-research-candidate/research-scholarships

Genuinely think it's because he's a ranga.

Good pickups - the first one was noticeably different from the Freo game where they opened us a couple of times when they won the clearance. Potentially this could also be to the fact that Freo's midfielders are better at the clearance than St Kildas.

I remember TItus O'Reilly talking about on his podcast how GWS were often the butt of his jokes (saying they only had two supporters) because he would constantly get heckled on twitter by GWS supporters who said it wasn't true. The only problem was that it was always the same two supporters... so in some ways it reinforced his point! This game though I'm a little nervous for - surely at some point in the year things will click for GWS (even if its only a game or two). We don't have a good record at Manuka and these are the games (after a week of the media singing our praises) that we have a history of dropping.

Sorry I mean that in interviews players had said they were on track to return from injury at the same time - it now looks like Weid is ahead of Brown in returning (from injury). I imagine they will both play a bit at VFL level before joining the senior team

Had heard Brown and Weid were looking like returning at a similar time. If Weid is ahead of Brown he might end up having a couple of matches to prove himself - will be very interesting to see how they manage the two of them, TMac, Fritsch and the resting ruckman.

For those in the know re VFL - how are the different rules impacting? My understanding is a certain number of players have to be in the 50 and goal square for each ball up? If so, when Weid / Brown come back in, will the rules make a big difference in terms of running / leading patterns. Also I know it's only a practice match but we've got a pretty strong team with a number of Dees listed players in there - so was surprised that the Roos VFL side came close. Do they have a strong VFL core or are their kids super talented?

I think Clayton is our best player and arguably our most important. I think at the rate he's going at he could end up Melbourne's best midfielder ever. However, I'd be concerned if we go for a contract of more than 4 years. Think of GWS that have long terms deals with what at the time were some of the best mids in the game - Coniglio, Kelly etc - doesn't look so great right now. I also think there's a chance that Clayton won't have a long career as he takes more hits than anyone every week - he's already had multiple shoulder surgeries. Look at Cripps now - they're different players but he is not the player he was a few years ago and he's similar to Oliver in terms of the number of hits he gets each week. Clayton deserves to be one of the top 3 highest paid players at the club but should understand that if we overcommit to him then it will reduce the quality of the team he has around him.

Amazing it will be the most experienced team in years when we have Kozzie, Jackson, Rivers, Sparrow and Jordon all in the team. Compare that to last year when we had only a few of those guys and the likes of Melk, Hibberd, Weid etc in. I know everyone is a year older but how does that work?

Watch them do 3 from 3 with McDonald this week!

Interesting that Ratten said on 360 that they felt they'd got the game back on their terms and then a 10-15 period from Pickett turned the game. Never comes down to one player but pretty high praise coming from the other side.

Agree on lots of things you write but not sure about these ones. If we're currently playing a forwardline of TMac, Fritsch, Jacko/Gawn, Spargo, Pickett, ANB and the resting mid (Jones, Viney, Sparrow, Jordon) then I'm not sure we can afford to go an extra tall without losing the manic pressure required for our game plan to work. We've seen in previous seasons what happens if we don't put enough pressure on the opposition defenders coming out of defence. How can this work? Also think TMac is past it in terms of playing CHB. People tend to forget that he was on the outer just before he got switched forward - not because of his aerial work but because he was a liability with ball in hand. He's not a bad kick but regular bit off more than he could chew eg kick into the corridor or trying to run around his man. From defence, the turnovers are particularly costly. Everyone in our defence (other than Hunt) are generally safe options with ball in hand. Given he has trained to play wing, it will be very interesting to see what happens to him when Brown and Weid are fit. So many permutations but right now I'd probably have Jacko and Weid fight out the ruck/forward role and assuming Brown is in then Tmac and Fritsch share the wing and 3rd tall position. Where does that leave Brayshaw? It's a very good question.

I think he's crucial to our forward structure while Weid and Brown are out. TMac doesn't tend to mark big bombs kicked on his head - Gawn can. So if we're not able to lower the eyes going forward (if our midfield is under the pump) then he will still make defenders panic. Not saying he should play all the game up there but it is a nice change to have while Jackson is able to compete in the ruck. It's interesting that essentially every kickin we take is kicked to Gawn or the side that Gawn is on. Makes sense but is very predictable - has anyone noticed if we've mixed this up at all?

Love the kid but I don't think it was the move of him in the ruck that was the change - he competed hard but they still won their fair share of clearances. I think it was more that with Gawn forward, the St Kilda defenders were nervous and allowed our smaller players to get into it it - Kozzie, Spargo, Sparrow and ANB.

I agree - although I just heard Steven May on the radio say that he was joking with Goody after the game that he should keep Gawn out of the backline as it messes with the backline's system. There is some truth to that in terms of a couple of times where we had 2+ up. But at the same time, having Gawn stand in the hole as the St Kilda mids attempted to move the ball forward - clearly it made them think twice about where to kick to. I think this is something that we'll need to experiment with and maybe tweak each game depending on the strengths of the opposition.

From the two games this year - the form of Jordon and Sparrow show that having to do an apprenticeship in the VFL isn't a terrible thing.

This put me off from attending this week - but when I checked yesterday this had changed and was able to get seats on the Wing 3rd level half way up which I was pretty happy with for GA - $27 per ticket.

Think I read somewhere he lead the league for F50 pressure acts or tackles. Is that right?

Clearly match committee think so too. I find it odd they don't give him a run in the centre square ever - not once! Is there some agreement due to his concussion that he's not allowed to play in there? Will be interesting if Baker / Rosman / Bowey start tearing it up on the wing at VFL level and Angus doesn't have the impact we know he can. When Brown and Weid are back, TMac may be another candidate vying for the role. Where does Angus go if one of those players is considered more suitable to the wing than him?

I agree - although I think part of the reason TMac played so well was that his contested marks were from kicks not directed at him - they were to Max and Jackson and he was able to take a running jump at them. If we are expecting him to be the sole get out kick up option in the forwardline then I don't think he is capable. Having said that other than Gawn and Weiderman at his best, I'm not sure if anyone on our list can do this. It will be very interesting to see what happens when Brown and Weiderman are fit. Given he trained as a winger over summer and we don't have the other wing position filled, will he go back there? Re Would love to see Daw make it but agree he's a long way down the pecking order at the moment. Kicking big bags of goals in one sided matches are probably not a great indication of how he's tracking - but if he keeps up that level against good opposition then he still might be given a go.

No but I think he's pointing out that just because we got beaten in the clearance is no cause for alarm (as many reacted after the game). We beat a team who are tipped to finish around us or just below and many were saying the clearance numbers were cause for concern. With max in there I would expect us to do better. But if we are setting up so that when we win a clearance it is a clean effective win and when we lose it is less likely to be damaging to us then that is a great change - even if it means we're winning less of them. Quality over quantity. I remember watching a number of games against Richmond in recent years where I noticed how hard Oliver and co fought to win the clearance only to have Vlaustin / Houli and co rebound off half back - they might not be defined by it but it is a big strategic win for them. Playing against Hawthorn when they were a finals team was much the same. I think over time we will see the likes of Kozzie and maybe even Melkshem spend more time in the centre square as we look to find some quicker skilful agile types to enable break away clearances - Richmond with Shai Bolton are again setting the standard with this.

Given its our first round 1 win in four years, wondering if we have received a membership bounce since Saturday? Any updates?

Spot on. Some people don't get it.

Will be interesting to see if they make a change with our smaller defenders (Jetta / Hunt). But I wouldn't. Hunt offers the speed and Jetta was back to his best when he was caught in one on one situations. I think you will find that our defence often works more as a unit doing a zone defence - which is why Jetta or Salem can get caught out against a much bigger opponent from time to time. I think the two way running in the midfield will be critical this week as many of their mids can be dangerous forward of centre.