Wunders

Fritsch BBrown Jackson Spargo Weid Melksham Not much pressure being applied. Not sure we can fit all of ANB, Tmac, Pickett and Jones in. I'd almost say Tmac is playing better/more consistent than Weid really ever has, so is our best team might actually be: Fritsch BBrown Jackson Spargo TMac Melksham With Picket and ANB rotating through to apply more pressure (Jones and Weid are emergencies moving forward).

I worry about forward pressure moving forward. Melk in for sparrow and our pressure dropped a little. Mitch brown in for fritsch and similar i'd say (don't think Fritsch is really a pressure forward). So if Brown and Weid come back i was wondering where TMAC goes that doesn't further reduce our pressure and speed around the ground. I believe the obvious solution is Jones's position (not this week - he gets 300 regardless of how crap hes playing). But afterwards i'd say who would you prefer? Jones who is not tall, slow and is according to our 2021 stats page on Demonland the worst player on the ground against Hawthorn by a fair margin or Tmac? Currently, i would say Tmac and i'd play him in Jones' position/ or on the wing (making Brayshaw go into Jones' position). Jones could also go sub moving forward as another option.

I'd like to see us keep the same structure we have been running with (think tigers, one out and replace with a similar "soldier" lol), so May will be back and hes a tall, so replace with a tall = Petty. That way tomilson and lever can play their same roles, rather than one going to main tall etc. when first 4 rounds didn't play it. I'd also avoid moving a player from back to forward for this same reason (i.e. Hunt from back forward). But less sure on Fritsch replacement (hearing people say brown because of his leading patterns, so guess go with that and will give us an insight to other Brown being back as an extra tall.

I think we have been on the favouring end for most rounds this year, so was bound to turn at some time. See what happens!

We are 16th for inside 50 rate from kick ins: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2021-champion-data-index-kick-in-record-stats-kick-ladder-jake-lloyd-jack-ziebell/news-story/6d73493dbc067eea06db75fcd5d3e2f5. Sitting 4-0 means it's probably not that big a deal, but would be a stat that would be nice if we could improve on (we are probably more of a forward half pressure/turnover score team anyway and so far most teams haven't scored much against us anyway). 1. Sydney Swans: 37.3% 2. Geelong Cats: 31.4% 3. North Melbourne: 29.4% 4. Port Adelaide: 27.5% 5. Fremantle: 27.5% 6. Gold Coast Suns: 25.5% 7. Hawthorn: 25.5% 8. West Coast Eagles: 23.5% 9. GWS Giants: 21.6% 10. Adelaide Crows: 21.6% 11. St Kilda: 19.6% 12. Essendon: 17.6% 13. Carlton: 17.6% 14. Western Bulldogs: 17.6% 15. Brisbane Lions: 13.7% 16. Melbourne: 13.7% 17. Collingwood: 11.8% 18. Richmond: 7.8%

Last year didn't everyone think that Melk was Goodwins love child because he was never dropped no matter how poor he played? aka if he is, it's almost guaranteed that he comes back in this week regardless of the fact that the team is working really well together.

This is what i am wondering about... when they are all fit, do we replace a small (spargo, ANB, Jones) with a tall (Ben Brown). making it TMac, Ben Brown and Jackson, with Fritsch and 2 smalls. I worry that we then won't apply enough pressure. Obviously talk of TMac going to wing (but then where does Brayshaw go)? Can deal with the problem when they are fit and ready i guess.

On Philips, it may have been that Collingwood said to the cubs the options are this: 1) you take his full salary and we take a crap draft pick (what happened) or 2) you pay a high draft pick similar to what he is worth and we take some of the contract. For Melbourne they had no cap space and wanted to retain draft picks so didn't chase it up (hypothetical). Plus maybe they decided he was a crap kick and didn't want another in the team.. I personally wanted him opposite Langdon :(.

I thought similar, the video showed lots of nice shorter kicks - but didn't see any from the 50 or further out in the clip (doesn't mean he can't). Regardless, he looked good and reminded me of a Gresham / Higgins type and would be happy to have him (especially if he can apply F50 pressure - we have only 1 pressure forward in our best 22 so far (pickett, would love a second to help crumb under 3 talls).

Brisbane got daniher for free (Essendon got pick 7 as compo from AFL I believe).

Not that excited about this, but if it helps us get a first then all good :)

Injured apparently this year.

Hogan done for third round selection to GWS = wow. 50 something :O

Don't forget he's contracted until the end of 2025 for ~900k every year. So collingwood needs to do your top up for 5 years not 3 otherwise we are paying 900k for 2024 and 900k for 2025. Caller on trade radio said by foot he goes at 34% just then too :/.

I thought a knock in his draft year was jackson's kicking (bball background, U18 highlights video's, etc.)? In season i did see him do one nice lace out pass which gave me hope though.

I thought i heard 3-4 years earlier in the day on trade radio. :)

Yea i don't actually know if he will be good on it. He could be [censored] if given the whole year there. Presuming we will go hard for Phillips now making it a moot point (but i'd hate it if Baker left to another club and then got a run at it and became something pretty good).

Correct, we can get him in and keep mcdonald. But i would guess that next year keeping Oliver would be harder and you don't want to be paying 600+ a year for a player to be in the VFL. I'm actually bullish on Baker as a winger (i was thinking if we got smith, that baker would be able to learn off him and replace him in 2-3 years time. I really like him regardless (just hasn't been played much).

Not a detractor of Jones, but I don't think Betts and Jones are related at all ;). If this was precedent then this year players would be wanting to join Melbourne because Nathan Jones was here haha. I think Jones will be playing VFL and helping mentor/coach younger developing players rather than winning games in the AFL for us. So as a prospective player he would rate very very low on my desire to come to Melbourne, potentially not at all.

SOS and Barrett surprised at this ?. But hopefully he understands he may not play a single game if his form doesn't warrant it. Could be a playing coach role at VFL.

As a junior Champion data ranked him the highest scoring player ever (144 ranking points on average a match). From trade radio just now. I would be willing to give up a future first for him (ouch i know in a strong draft) as he was a first round pick and nothing shows he is slowing down.

I want Higgins to us Bad!!! Will give us two crumbing forwards to go with potentially 3 talls and then a petracca/melksham/hunt as the 6th forward. Much better than having another slow non-pressure-type forward sitting there (like Jones resting forward).

Doesn't rate Jeremy Cameron then? :P

I like the idea as back -up, but i think the problem from the start has been his salary. We can't afford to have a back-up backman earning top 5-10 salary at the club. Especially if we bring in Brown which will require the $$ that Tmac is tying up (which sounds like we will). So it's a hard decision, as he could regain form in future and burn us (front bar rocka brothers and jaffles anyone hahaha) OR maybe he will fade to nothing at another team. Either way i think we just need his salary off the books to get the deals done we want (plus i think Oliver money for a new contract can't be hurt with Tmac off to another club)..

Suck it Dangerfield hahaha