Diamond_Jim

thanks MSF ... that makes sense and will give me someone to barrack for.

Had the vicarious pleasure of sitting near Neville Jetta and his family at a VFL match when Bernie came over and started chatting to the children. He was obviously popular with Nev's children and struck me as a lovely person. Congrats Bernie and thanks for the wonderful contribution to the MFC.

Remind me please... who do we want to win between Bombers and Hawks and why. Many thanks

A little context for today's match. Northern Blues are third from the bottom with only Frankston and Coburg beneath them. They have won 4 and lost 10.

The continued refusal of the AFL to consider a flexible Friday night fixture is a mystery. It has a fantastic product but it risks killing interest in that product by its myopic Machiavellian approach. The interesting thing is that a flexible fixture would be good for sponsors of the less powerful clubs such as ourselves in that sponsors would know that with success come exposure unlike now.

Hardwick did not impress in that last few minutes. His tactic of packing the backline and leaving no player forward almost cost him the game. Twice the ball went down to the Tigers 50 metre arc. Once because no Richmond player was around there was the deliberate OOB and the other time there were two Geelong players waiting who then ran the ball back down the field. Even during the last minute when they did get the ball up their end Richmond were relatively unco- ordinated for a top premiership side.

hope he takes a long run up.... we could do with some fancy time wasting skills after that Geelong game

good game... surprised by the relatively low crowd given the followings of the two clubs

Must admit the first post was just crossing my mind and I did not really need to be reminded of the sentiments expressed in your second post DL ? Go Toiges !!

fascinating psychology: Why when we are five goals down at 3/4 time do most of us give up while when we are five goals up the same percentage fear defeat. I'm sure Socrates once posed the same question in the Athenian Agora to the Pelopenesian footy squad.

I did not realise that in the case of a restricted free agent if the "old" club matches the new clubs offer and thus forces a trade the old club effectively gives up the compensation pick. Could mean WCE don't match our Gaff offer assuming we make one. https://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-02/lynch-to-tigers-a-done-deal-says-one-list-boss "The Suns have the salary cap space to match any offer for the restricted free agent and could do so in a bid to force a trade. But they might opt not to given, on current ladder position, they will receive pick No.3 in the NAB AFL Draft if they let Lynch walk. "

my thinking exactly DD. Perhaps it's time to take a risk.

While I don't think he's done enough I am wondering if Hunt could be a real selection chance for the GCS match. Going forward an in form Hunt probably offers much more than the other candidates over the next 3-4 weeks. Could it be that the coaching panel want to roll the dice on this one?

What a weekend of matches. To use a golfing term...."It's moving day". Important for the MFC to get the job done but a Port loss for example could deliver the opening we need. Need a high scoring close loss by the Bombers to Essendon so as to dent that Hawthorn percentage run just a little. So many combinations. As they say in the classics..... "A great round of footy coming up !!"

Best of luck I suspect he had the talent but I can understand that if you are not into your football it would just become a grind. There was a very sad article in the Guardian the other day about a member of the GB Winter Olympics squad who I understand took her own life at only 18. The pressure on these young people can be immense.

Great point. Imagine if companies reported profits to the ASX like clubs do with membership figures. Revenue per member would possibly see the Crows at the top as most full members have a reserved seat. Could be the same for WCE. What worries me most about the MFC is that stat published by LDC ( if I recall) where we are almost at the bottom of the list as to the number of followers/supporters. That could take 20 years to turn around it is such a huge discrepancy.

Hi 000 when you reference "invited guests" in your opening post who are you referring to...Casey contracted players or others? Many thanks

perhaps "depth" was not a good choice of words. What I was trying to convey is that few if any of the players at VFL level are exactly pushing for selection

would prefer Kent over AVB at this point. Perhaps Bugg? As I keep lamenting... for a winning VFL side there is not really great depth

thanks for that DVB I know that stats can be misleading but his 2018 form is marginally in front of his 2016 form on nearly all accounts except centre clearances and clearances from stoppages where his 2018 form is marginally down on 2016. Strange thing those stats

A few suggestions: please ask about if tagging, what affects his decision to go for a ball in his own right as distinct from standing back and tackling the tagged player when he gets the ball. Did he alter that mindset in the last quarter against Adelaide Would also appreciate some discussion on the hard press and whether instructions are given to vary the press depending upon conditions, relative scores, opponents etc. Ask him also about playing in Darwin and how it impacts him personally from a fitness viewpoint both during the game and afterwards. Thanks

Would be interested to know Max' round the ground stats for this year. We all know that his goal kicking has gone to pieces but I feel his 2016 all round form was better. That being said he has some absolute cracker games in the ruck this year particularly since Brayshaw has hit his straps along with Oliver. I am still not convinced that a dominant ruckman by himself delivers that much if you don't have a really good mid field to back it up.

Point taken but the Weed needs every game he can get. Would prefer Smith or Pederson as the emergency if there is a doubt over Hogan.

No Weideman ?

Just laughable this rule. You can just imagine the scrambling that will go on the moment the ball is bounced. Think of the players now days on the edge of the centre square and multiply it by a factor of three. Twenty seconds after the bounce we will be business as usual. It'll be like the huddle times three. I think I'll call it the "unravelling" ...might catch on. Why they did not start with a significant reduction in the interchange and work from there.