Tolstoys Nudge

That’s cus there IS 5 behind reasons, there’s 10-12 & the sub issue could be 10 or 11, but it’s certainly not one that’s worth mentioning anywhere near the volume or air time it gets on here, that’s for certain! And to have ANYONE other than Goody Himself presume he didn’t use sub cus he was ‘annoyed’ or ‘protesting’ due to being outvoted on match-committee is just absolute salacious nonsense! As I said in my post, it was an error, it was poor judgement but it wasn’t a key reason for the Melbourne FC [censored] the bed, sorry.

Well said. Besides that Schache not used reasoning is TOTAL BS, he wasn’t used cus we were having best of it & should’ve waltzed in, until we [censored] the bed & decided we were gonna torment our entire club & supporter base with collective ‘oh-[censored]’ mindset for last 5-7m and numerous incidents that lacked composure m, from Max ruining Clarry goal to Vines not being able to clear 1yr 15m ahead of him! The sub, not being utilised was wrong, odd & silly but did NOT cost us the game, we still should’ve won by 3-4g MIN & not even being playing cus the Pies game was even more of a dominance unrewarded, I mean i50 +32 for a start is astronomical and unheard of for H&A, let alone finals footy!!!

Sorry, yes, of course not — for R0- R1, however whilst I’d happily & ignorantly neglected that point (oops & also, [censored] 😡 — it’s like hearing about it for 1st time again now 🤦‍♂️) however I’m talking more 2024 opening rounds best 22. Insert ANB for Kos for R0 & then come R2 — Billings or Nibbler move to interchange. Simples. But my point is, as I was lambasted for weeks ago, Windsor right in mix & for me would now be odds-on to get a spot, unless we make a late move to Gus for some reason, but then I rkn Windsor still wld be Sub or Emerg, but from what I saw of him Friday, he’s not being left out, no sir! Fwd third of ground is looking REALLY exciting at present, love mixing better kicks through, inc Laurie, Spargo, Kos & looking for Windsor, Salem more often in the front third be it our wide or thru middle. Rivers hit-up kicking will determine for me if he’s able to lock a spot on the mids in-perpetuity — If he shows he’s able to lower eyes & hit up targets unlike Oliver, Viney, Ed & co then it’ll be hard to see him not being there even when the whips are cracking! Kynan Brown def jumping looks to be jumping queue fast as well & will get a good chance to have a crack with a run of form in VFL and some injuries to smalls — Just doesn’t relent & has great burst-speed, & impacts opp when in-close. Laurie the one for me that has also booked a place on the interchange, lateral movement is just sublime & his hands inside have gone from zero to hero in under 12mths! I suspect Howes will win the battle vs Hore, but my wildcard might be Hore showing he can play tall & usurping the Disco/Tommo battle. Wildcard only for now, but I look fwd to seeing how things pan out. McAdam as that link-up option makes our f50 SO much more dangerous as well be able to sweep & hook into f50 & Fritta/Petty can stay deep deep where he can lead & JVR can get some easier ball running back inside 50 instead of always coming out at it being the only link-up target. Exciting!

I think he’ll get a R1 gong & Gus will play in the middle rotating with Rivers as 7th defender. His ball use is just so sublime — opinions of many critics following 1st match sims have sure come round now, welcome aboard! Hunter inj means he’ll likely get his shot, for me he’s a faster Gulden that’s gonna end-up with a bigger frame as well. Billings & McAdam are also locks, 💯 agree with PF, they were brought in for a specific reason & both have lot missed a beat. C: Windsor Rivers Langdon HF: Billings JVR McAdam FF: Fritta Petty Pickett Backline battle still on & will come down to Howes V Hore & Disco V Tommo for mine. With May, Lever, Salem, McVee the 🔒

Max ain’t going anywhere for 3-4yrs yet — we need to lure someone once he’s nearing end, can’t happen sooner for obv reasons

He’s just being given the kitted gloves treatment mate, I think he’ll be right. The amount of injuries in his history is concerning, but I think he’s due a good run — however — if he goes down with any other foot inj, I’d be with you & thinking the crows can give us 2 top 20 picks for him!

He’s the one for me, that if back to absolute 2021 GF best, makes us very hard to beat

What a sight… go get em Clarry 🔥🔥🔥

Hearing this form many many people.. interesting nonetheless — look fwd to seeing if any of it is real or not.. but if he remotely lives up to his true potential & has learnt how to make an impact in the contest aerially then we could be in for an interesting depth-chart up fwd.. but I won’t hon my breath either as it’s something that’s often never learned, and is more intrinsic.. BUT 🤞

Mate, really? We’re worried about Windsor already? Some reports say he looked right at home pattern & speed wise, Wing often goes unrewarded mate, kids dominating are doing so at clubs where they’re up against not much — I’d be worried if our draftees were dominating our probables team for mine!

Ohhhh LAWD I wish I’d of been there to mess with that real-life-buoy!!!

Let’s hope it’s not torn.. rough start for a kid who looked to be going alright

Well.. yes, he is! But wrapt he’s back

His lateral movement is OP, has worked hard on his in-tight handballing which was an issue in terms of hitting moving targets, being indecisive as a result — but looks to have hit that behind him, natural finisher who hits targets and keeps eyes low and more importantly, keeps a 180* View of what’s around him… Howes, Bowey, Laurie, a fit (maybe) Salem, Billings & Windsor are all going to help our general kicking efficiency this year & most of all the i50 kick. Rivers playing through middle also gives us some fwd movement burst & puts speed on the ball, Mcvee might also go through there and Kossie should do another 10-15% mid mix this year.. A def need that is looking a little stronger, but key will be if we’re willing to sacrifice def positioning 5-15% more at times to take the game on more — if we do, I sense it’ll play to our strengths, if we don’t… I know it’ll be very much to our detriment & our OPP joy… MANY Club insiders laud our predictability and whisky it’s also a strength, some get the sense clubs would be nervous if we put carried a little more risk!!!

No need to be hoofy mate

GREAT training reports team, you guys are such guns! Can’t WAIT to get to a session in Feb.. whereas my 10yr old daughter is literally champing-at-the-bit to get there, posting a new demons edit on TikTok every single day (which takes her hours and hours)

You’re in need of some serious Andy MFCSS treatment, amigo!

Seems the players see it much differently, thankfully!

I was told a week ago that Windsor was a sneaky for R1 Wingers club and I took it as a lark, but who knows — maybe not!

Great report PF, many thanks! Great to hear someone else agree and SEE Billings, McAdam value — If they stay healthy they’ll 💯 add IMMENSE value and ROI wise could be the years best recruits!!! Missing shots at training unfortunately has almost ZERO correlation to big-time shots on goal esp at pointy end — Just two very very different things so even if slotting them as you saw LY, we did for 6wks and very quickly went the other way, it’s between the ears come finals, mixed with luck!

AND has every chance of being there for 2-4yrs yet given how fit he is.

Each other own and fair enough. But I look at it as though we played as good a footy in September than anyone and have more avenues of improvement in list and additions than most, kick straight and we’re likely premiers, so I can’t see how that puts us in the ‘struggling’ category but I appreciate your opinion 💯 and can see somewhat how you get there, but I think this group is elite, hungry & ready to atone but at same time bad luck hurt us & being near top doesn’t come easy and we’ve squandered 2yrs of being best side in the comp so who knows, it’s absolutely possible we have a poor year but even if we do, I think we have a core to spring back fast if health hurts us. But make no mistake, 2023 we left a Premiership Cup on the table in every sense, it’s never not going to hurt!

Cheers George, I can’t wait to Feb and get back to seeing the boys train in a location I can viably get to! I actually am not worried about fitness or health — Petts is coming along and so really only McAdam, Clarry, Salem, Billings likely best 22 at present & unless BBB somehow overcomes his knee issue, and their guys are all short-term outs bar Clarry! I’d heard Laurie, Viney & Chin were the standouts with Rivers being the standout all pre-season thus far so good to hear vindication - somewhat - of those assessments. Our midfield without Clarry LY statistically was far better, so whilst I’d love him to be firing, I am not sure we should be too worried about him not being there until the halfway mark, ergo time to be fit for finals as that’s what really matters, let’s hope it is much sooner though! TMac as a backup defender is fine, he’ll get games when Lever, May are out or need a rest or when we need versatility and are light on either-end. But it does mean if one goes down we have some experience, and like other defenders whom are poor by foot the plan will be to hand-off go long or hit wide-open targets! I'm so sick of this Nibbler can’t kick nonsense, go look at our statistics for kicking LY anyone, and come back to me with an apology, (yeah right) — It was wet as hell & we have FAR bigger worries than ANB’s kicking blv you me!!! Billings I really look fwd to seeing in Feb, could really be a missing link i50 both himself finishing or hitting a mark — McAdam has really impressed thus far & his only query is health continuity or consistency. Great to hear Adams Disco & Howes are looking to push, but I’m a little sad Rovers isn’t playing with the mids, but Pickett being there more is exciting as is JVR, he’s gonna be a SERIOUS fwd this year and beyond the demon peeps and media have absolutely NO IDEA how good this kid can be.. Laurie is another who excites me, lateral movement is strong, as his his kicking in tight situations, he will be a R1 Starter for sure. Spaz should be fine glad he was running full pace, he’s another who will cont to build and be a sleeper mid bull again. Verall is one for me that could be a leapfrogger this year, raw sure but wild and bouncy with a bit of mongrel, I like him a lot!

Without a shadow of a doubt. Probably never been more confident and what’s more — many many ‘experts’ have us tipping out if the 8, which in Melbourne history is just the thing we need. In all seriousness I genuinely think the players are Uber-focused and there is a genuine bite in the group atm many are sensing is much more venomous than felt before! Playing group couldn’t be in better spot health wise, Clarry aside. Fwd mix is MUCH better with recruits and actual forwards playing (we didn’t even have roo vs blues and many forget this).

Agreed! His speaking is in copacetic order tbh way for sure… Maybe a few too many “umms” but I’d take that over the aforementioned & it’s really not a word more of a half acknowledgment. As I said draft night, I think we’ve really got a JT Super Special here 🔥🔥🔥