Ted Lasso

I take your point mate, but the alternate scenario i'd float for you is, if we do win a flag, or go very close this year, we become a very attractive free agency destination, and given the age profile of our list, it's fair to assume we can compete for the next 6-8 years. I think even if Weideman did decide to leave, we can't let a player with potential lessen our chances of winning this season, especially 11-1, we're not going to get a much better platform to finish top 2 and push hard for a flag. if the club thinks Ben Brown or even Mitch Brown makes us a better side, we have to pick the best 22 to win right now, because Weideman is talented, but can be replaced. having said that, i believe Weideman has the potential to be better than Ben Brown right now if he can find just a bit more confidence at the level, and i'd like to see him backed in, but ultimately, just want to see a Melbourne premiership.

I understand the attraction to playing 3 genuine key forwards. but the only way i can see this working is if Luke Jackson didn't also play. the most recent comparision i can think of is probably the Crows who played McGovern, Walker, Jenkins, and Lynch in the same forward line and made it to a grand final. but even with this comparison, Lynch is quite mobile and probably more like Bailey Fritsch.

I think the club ultimately will give Ben Brown another run at it to see if we function a bit better, i think it's fair to say his output goal wise is likely to be higher than Weids, so it'll really be a question of if what Weid brings to The table is worth more to the structure than the 2-3 goals Ben Brown is likely to offer each game

Hunt or Melksham out Langdon in Collingwood are in for a really bad day if they bring their slow boring game style against us. May, Lever, Gawn Petty will just intercept all day and we will kick 10 goals on the rebound. unless they move it quickly they're no chance, and even if they do the overwhelming likelyhood is we torch their mistakes

He IS impacting games consistently, but he's not getting the personal rewards as yet. he's a bit like Angus Brayshaw, he was directly involved in a high % of our scores on the weekend, at the moment it's through bringing it to ground, but he's also great at blocking and making space for others. he allowed Pickett and Tmac the space to take marks virtually unopposed at times. every bit of his game is there but the stuff that people look for in a key forward like huge pack marks and goals. and i'm incredibly confident that is going to come. it's all confidence for Weid now, the battle for how good a player he will become in time is in his mind, and the club can give him the best chance by rewarding what he is doing well, which is significant, and backing him in

He's building. you sometimes see forwards who do everything right and don't get rewarded and that's Weid in my opinion. he was 1-2% away from kicking a big bag, he's getting both hands to the ball so regularly that when they stick, he's going to be scary and i guarantee it's going to happen if we just back him in. he completely beat Harris Andrews several times, had him on toast but it just didn't stick. please MFC for the love of god back Weid in now, this bloke finding form would just about give us one hand on the cup. he's the missing link from us being the best team in it, and us really widening that gap and turning into a Hawthorn/Richmond/Geelong/Brisbane type team that is right up there for a few years and winning flags regularly. that's how good the Weid can be. Ben Brown is great cover, probably stiff to be dropped, but Weid is so close to locking that spot in long term

Yes. we need to ruthlessly pursue all avenues to get this team as good as it can possibly be come finals, there is no doubt in my mind our best team includes Jack Viney. BUT... i'm happy if they're cautious in his return, we don't need to rush him back, make sure he's cherry ripe.

you are wrong to start with, you're just not smart enough to see it. every single forward has improved... reckon the forwards coach deserves some props for that.

Players seeking out mentors outside of the club in addition to their internal coaching is extremely common, the Saints clearly have their reasons for not allowing that to happen, but this sort of thing is extremely common. Jesse Hogan met with Wayne Carey when at the Dees, Jack Watts with Jobe Watson, Petracca with Pendlebury.. the list goes on know what you're talking about before you pot coaches. the club rates Stafford extremely highly.

Mate, every single forward has improved this year including Weideman. if you watch his VFL form you see his game has taken a leap, his inability to translate to AFL level has nothing to do with coaching, it's a mental challenge for him. having uninformed digs at coaches when your team is 11-1 and just about every player has improved makes you look very silly.

Weid is doing alot right, it's just not quite sticking. we've gotta back him in, it's so close i reckon. he's getting both hands to the ball regaularly, and he's bringing it to ground. .

Oliver and Lever and Riv have been getting all the attention top of the table, big game come on down Christian Petracca, got a feeling he's going to be best on by some distance tonight

we're a systems based team and while we will feel the loss of Langdon, i think our 22 is well and truely good enough to beat the Lions.

My bad. Dees by 186, Fagan Sacked, Bulldogs still somehow flag favourites.

Does he think Trent Rivers is Luke Jackson!? the bloke is smashed basically every 360 episode. any wonder he supports Essendon really.

Dees by 10. close game to the end, but we will strangle them

I'd love to see RIv go up to the wing, and Bowey give us some run off half back

Glad to see we're looking at Key defender. are we likely to use both picks or just the 1?

Don't mind the double tag idea... Jordan on Zorko, Harmes to McLuggage

I am really interested to see what position Rivers is playing in 3 years time, will he still be at Half back, or transition into being a winger

Would be nice to raid a few of the power clubs who've spent years raiding the MFC, anyone at the Pies or Hawks sick of losing?

It's no surprise our backline has been strong with two of our very best leaders down there in May and Lever, one who has captained a club in his own right, and the other who's going to be right up there for being our next captain. It's hard to blame people for not trusting the MFC. until we're lifting the cup, it's possible people won't fully jump on the wagon. though if we account for the Lions in similar fashion to the Dogs our credentials will be undeniable.

Just the rumour that's doing the rounds mate.

In my opinion it's speculation based on the theory we'd have another bad year this year and have to pay overs to keep Petracca, Oliver, Salem, Lever, and Gawn who we needed to re-sign and while it's difficult to know without actually seeing the books, it does appear all of those listed above have taken comfortably less money than they might have gotten on the open market

I think the scoring is something that will improve in time as well, we've clearly made defending a priority as it should be but this is 3-6 months into learning a fairly new system, i am very confident by seasons end we will be a much better side than we are now. i've never felt so confident this team can win the premiership. we want for nothing, talent and buy in all over the field and selection headaches all over the place.