Ted Lasso

Thrilled with the selections. past MFC teams would have made wholesale changes, jumped on bringing the big guns in and upset the balance. we've opted for 2 genuine upgrades and bought in 2 absolute guns. bring on the Tigers. they'll be bloody hard to beat on the big stage, but i think we're a bloody good side this year, so game on. as other have mentioned. so happy for T'Mac. he's playing his role perfectly and i can't help but feel like a bag is coming. he's getting his hands to a lot and just not quite clunking them, but i reckon it's coming. same with Jackson.

I personally think we've won the first 5 rounds without really digging deep or getting out of first gear. if we can play somewhere near our best against the Tigers it should be a cracking game. Honestly just want to see us take it right up to them, even if we lose we have a chance to prove to ourselves we can amtch it with teams like this.

Quality re-signing, one of our most important players. tremendous show of faith in the club to sign up for 5 years given the last couple of seasons.

I wouldn't be so sure of that... but we will find out later in the week ;)

Not based on what Simon Goodwin said, he might not play, but if he's fit he walks straight back in.

My best guess would be. OUT: Petty, Neal-Bullen, Brown IN: May, Weideman, Fritsch Fritsch is too good to miss if fit, but hard to know who he replaces, it's Neal-Bullen, Melksham or Spargo for me, i'd say Spargo has been the best of the three, and Melksham is Goodys best mate and will get looked after

Carlton are going to seriously regret signing Williams and Saad to such big money. it's going to come back and bite them bigtime. they're no better than they were last year, just without the warchest.

I reckon Clarry might have leaked the Carlton interest to get a few extra $$ on this contract to be totally honest, and smart if that's true. and i reckon Sam McClures little he met with David Teague tantrum might of been him realising he got played.

I'm pretty sure early days Joel Selwood might have been doing some mentoring/offering advice to Jack Viney? i may be wrong about that, but i think they get along pretty well those two, hence Geelong trying to lure him, but i think they're also just competitive animals with huge white line fever. Love everything about Kozzie. kid has no fear of anyone, he's an absolute ripper

I'm reluctant to change a winning team, but i'd be tempted to bring in Melksham for Sparrow, Melkshams field kicking has been a real weapon for us. it could be important against the cats

Geelong in my opinion have very clearly tried to cover the age of their list with a slower game plan, i can't see Langdon and Hunt allowing that to happen this week, we will make them chase us. when the Hawks were able to get some speed on the game, they got on top of the cats. I think it starts in the midfield, if Max gets on top as he should, and Clarry can handle the tag that's no doubt coming and contribute, it'll go a long way to us winning the game. Steven May vs Hawkins should be a great match up.

I've been a very vocal critic of Simon Goodwin, and if i had my way would have replaced him for this season, however it's undeniable that he's significantly changed the game plan and it now looks much better, we look solid behind the ball, dangerous up forward despite key players missing and haven't compromised our midfield which is out greatest strength though i don't underestimate the impact of Mark Williams and Adem Yze in this regard.

Underrated player and so important to our set up, no idea where his negotions are beyond to say the club is desperate to have him as a long term demon, and i've not seen/heard anything to suggest he won't be. of course there is significant interest from the outside, and he's one of the group who was pretty unhappy with the end last year, but i expect him to sign a deal at some stage and stick around, especially with us winning a few games.

from 3-0 we're pretty unlikely to miss finals, but the thing i can't work out is, have we just been not that great, and beaten bad opposition, or have we beaten okay opposition, pretty comortably without getting out of first gear. i have a feeling this team hasn't really had to dig deep yet this year, will be interested how we go against the Cats. I've got a feeling we might come out and smack them.

Interest in Petracca is real, and not just from the Pies, but i'd be staggered if he left, all i've heard on the matter is that Trac is in the same boat as Clarry, ongoing conversations with the club, no indication that he's wanting to wait and see how the clubs going at this stage, it's mostly, and justifiably from his end, about money, he obviously thinks he deserves big $$ and given he's in the best few players in the game i tend to agree. you just look at the way he celebrated goals and got around the boys on the weekend and you can see a bloke who's invested, loves the Melbourne football club and his team mates and given the team is off to a strong start, and the prospective chasing clubs are not, it'd be staggering if he left.

Backing Steven May over Tabs every day of the week, the real question is going to be if Tommy can clunk a few for us, that'll get their key back, in the backline very quickly. you'd imagine Gawn is going to run the dockers rucks off their feet and drift forward, they'll need all the height that they can get while he's down there

Premier: Richmond 3 peat Runner-up: Port Wooden spoon: Hawks Moving up: Fremantle Set to fall: Collingwood Brownlow Medal: Fyfe Coleman Medal: Lynch NAB AFL Rising Star: Rowell Best new Demon: Ben Brown Demon All Australian: Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, Demon B&F: Max Gawn Big call: Simon Goodwin sacked after round 14 - Replaced by Ross Lyon Ladder prediction: 1. Port Adelaide 2. Geelong 3. Meth Coast 4. Richmond 5. Lions 6. Saints 7. Doggies 8. Dockers

Personally i can't see Goodwin coaching the entire year, will be interesting to see who we'd look at as a potential replacement. I'd hope Ross Lyon - Hard work, but i'd guarantee he'd get us back into finals

The team i'd pick against Freo.. B: Jetta Tommlinson May hb: Salo Lever Rivers C: Langdon Clarry Baker HF: Chandler McDonald Fritsch F: Petracca Jackson Pickett Fol: Gawn Jordan Harmes I/C: Brayshaw, Spargo, Hunt, Jones. Sub: Vanders

I don't think too much of that is wrong to be totally honest.. Realistically it's hard to see either team scoring a whole lot, Gawn is likely to dominate the ruck but we've seen that doesn't mean we will do anything with that dominance. I think our best chance is to play Petracca forward quite a lot. pound for pound he's our best avaliable forward, and we've gotta hope Clarry, Gus and Harmes can get on top in the middle.

Couldn't be more thrilled with the off field moves. i think Alan Richardson into the GM role will prove to be a masterstroke, Mark Williams imo is the best development coach in the game outside of Brendan McCartney so very good to fill that role again, and Adem Yze is an absolute gun, he will absolutely sort our midfield out. three experienced and high quality football people walking in the door significantly improve our program. it's now or never for goody, he couldn't have a better team, the club is in good hands.

Serious question Nev, if it's the same group of posters, why not ignore them? chuck them on ignore and then you can get on with talking footy.

I heard LJ is flighty?

the interest was, but saw a thing saying this morning it was all but confirmed, wasn't sure if anyone else saw the post i'm referring to?

Word on the street is Chip Frawley is going to join the Saints