chookrat

Thanks OG is it possible to write a shorter version of this. I read the first couple of paragraphs but then got distracted and couldn't finish reading. Anyway I have to head off now and do 3 things.

I reckon Essendon might as well bring Hird back as senior coach and then restructure the rest of the organisation. They will struggle to attract other experienced senior coaches and he will get them playing some good football similar to what Voss is doing at Carlton.

Re loading, my experience is that during the loading phase you feel super fit and strong aerobically, but because of the cumulative fatigue you lose some power/burst speed and sharpness. E.g. you can run all day, get from contest to contest, win contested ball, but can lose half a step of burst speed and pressure and it is more difficult to execute skills. Vs Collingwood we won most of the stats but couldn't clear ball from contest (burst speed/skill execution) or shut down their use of the corridor (pressure). Against Brisbane we were both brutal in contest and obliterated them with spread and ball use. I'd expect that we now have any loading behind us (we may have stopped loading weeks ago) and it will now be about maintaining peak condition through September.

I think the new Essendon President is on record stating they are after an experienced senior coach, so I don't think Yze would be looked at.

There was a time after Howe left for Collingwood and I would get annoyed that we no longer feature in MOTY awards - a recent stat showed that How has polled for MOTY more than our entire club (and many other clubs) over the past 20 years, and that includes the years he was polling for us. While the Brownlow is more coveted than such junk awards, I'd rather we have a team that can compete for Premierships over 5+ years than win the odd Brownlow, Coleman etc.

Melksham is the General, no way he will be out of the side. I reckon his role has been pivotal to our forward line structure and the way he's playing I don't even think T-Rex gets a look in. Does Sparrow make way for Salem, e.g. with Harmes back in last week and Brayshaw playing midfield the past few weeks we have plenty of grunt.

Wrong, our luck charm stays in. Salem needs to go back to Casey and work on his undefeatedness.

Carlton v Collingwood will be like watching a rat and a pigeon fighting.

I think this is what the club value re Lever, he understands what the moment requires and makes good decisions. Hunt is another player who has on quite a few occassions when we've had to go has won a contest, broken free and hit up the right target in our forward 50. Last year I think he matured alot from decision making perspective and he has been very good since returning to the side.

"If you're not first you're last" - Ricky Bobby

If we don't think we can beat another top 4 team in the final round then we might as well forfeit the finals. A top 3 finish is fully within our control (noting we will likely play our first final at the SCG assuming Sydney beat St Kilda), with a solid win making top 2 a strong possibility. We are playing decent footy, have an excellent away record, have the talent, game style and have a relatively fit list to kick off our finals campaign.

I think my kids have MFCSS and they are all under 10. They watched the first half last night and they asked me what happened this morning and I told them about how we were down with 15 secs to go, Jake's pass and Pickett's goal for the win and they were very complacent about the whole thing.

Melksham - The General 💪

Absolutely GCDee, especially when we are talking a second round draft pick for a player who we should get 50 - 100 games of A grade football. It is no different to us potentially bringing Hogan back at the end of this season.

You forgot Buddy and Tay Tay.

It really comes down to whether he was contesting the ball or electing to bump. Years ago in the game that T-Mac kicked the sealer v West Coast there was an incident where Viney collected Hurn high with his hip during a marking contest but didn't have a case to answer because he was contesting the ball. I have only seen the one angle of the Cripps incident and it isn't clear whether he is competing for the ball or bumping, I'm sure the MRO will have better vision to work off. I can see one of three outcomes; 1. Not graded, based on Viney example above - 0 weeks 2. Rough conduct / high contact / high impact - 2 weeks 3. Rough Conduct / high contact / severe impact - goes to the Tribunal and minimum 3 week sanction which would probably land in the 3 week region. I don't see it being 1 week because that would require a medium impact grading which isn't really consistent with player being subbed off with concussion. Most likely 2 to 3 weeks depending on severity, with a possibility of p weeks if it could be demonstrated that Cripps actions were reasonable given the circumstances, e.g. that he had eyes only for the ball.

For mine the one thing we need to fix is how we defend in the middle of the ground and our forward line. Collingwood beat us because we did not shut down the corridor, and they were allowed too much time and space in dangerous parts of the ground which put our backs under enormous, while we were busy bombing it into their defenders and trying to manufacture goals from the pocket. The good news with this deficiency is it's probably more about intensity than changes to our structure or personnel. Get this right and it will out us in the frame for another premiership.

Yep, this is where the problem lies. While we dominated most of the stats, the filth had far too much time and space in the corridor where they cut us up, and scored easy goals. When we had quick entries in our forward line, unless we marked it the ball came out far to easily. The only forward entry ground balls where we could create stoppages were in the pockets while Collingwood were able to do so directly in front of goal.

I reckon the Weed needs a good mullet or a mohawk to get his mojo back. He is capable as he showed in the 2018 finals but it's like he doesn't believe he belongs or is capable of imposing himself on the game. In any case he is certainly at a cross road and I'd love nothing more than for the Weed to really show what he is capable of if he sorts out his haircut.

It makes you wonder whether they are serious about the business of winning a Premiership. Mundy is an awesome player and I'd still rate as among their best players.

To me this pattern indicates fatigue which points to training loads. We are good enough to control large parts of the game while carrying fatigue during our more intense training blocks, despite our intensity being down across the match, and give it another 1 - 2 weeks will be primed for finals. In the next 4 weeks we play the 3 teams directly below us and Carlton. Win 3 of these 4 and we are practically guaranteed a top 4 finish. I'm pretty comfortable with where we sit and that we will be in form coming into finals.

I remember the good old days where we would win two games all season and a percentage in the 50's and it was 70% off. Then we play a prelim final and it drops to 40% off, win a Premiership and it's 40% off 'selected' items. This said, New Balance have been an excellent sponsor and I always look to them first for sports wear regardless of whether they are running 40% off or not.

The players should stage an abduction and shave his head to get his head back in the game.

Sorry BDA but how would Luke get to Freo if we do not agree to the trade? It is a pretty straightforward situation; 1. Jackson indicates that he would like to return to WA and play for Freo. 2. MFC say you are a really important player for us and while we want to sign you on a long term deal, if you want to go then we will help facilitate a fair trade. If a deal cannot be done we can re-sign you on a 1 - 2 year contract at market value. 3. Freo and Melbourne discuss what is required to get the deal done. Melbourne say that at least pick 3 would be required (what we paid) + additional compensation reflecting the speculative risk we took in drafting an untried 18 year old now and his development learning under the best ruckman in the game. Freo indicate what the are prepared to pay in terms of points, picks or players and their desire to do a deal. 4. Melbourne and Freo keep Jackson (via his management) in the loop on where the trade sits in terms of his trade value. If Freo are being unreasonable Melbourne can say we're trying to get a deal done but Freo are playing games, etc. 5. If we are being reasonable and Freo are playing games or are not prepared to offer a fair deal, Jackson can either accept a short term deal or nominate for the draft as a delisted free agent, in which case he likely ends up at North. I cannot see why we have to accept anything less than Jackson's worth which is at least pick 3 and arguably another first round pick or an established player who fits our needs and would be in our best 22.

While true, I'm sure we will say tell Luke that he has our blessing to go to Freo as long as a reasonable deal can be made but if not we would love to keep him on our list and revisit in 1 - 2 years time. Also, does anyone know if trade deals can be structured to include picks and free up cap space? E.g. if Jackson goes to Freo and they don't have the pick/player trade currency can we ask for a player and that Freo pay their salary as part of the deal?