Earl Hood

Me too. I hate listening on the radio because it seems to take us 10 to 15 possessions to get it into our forward pocket, then they call a turnover, the opposition does one handball to a running player who passes it to the leading forward and they announce that he is lining up 25 m from goal on a slight angle!

Yes I am assuming TMac at full forward, Fritsch to the wing. With so many smallish half forwards selected I expect some to play on ball or on the wing. I would give Jeffy, JKH and Melksham time in the midfield and Salem playing back more. Is there a worthwhile tagging role for Vince?

No. At best the players in yellow tops corral MFC play makers, the emphasis is on positive ball movement usually. I have sometimes queried if we should do some drills with increased intensity in a more confined space, at least in the preseason but don’t think I have witnessed such drills.

Are these finds from Mawson’s Hut?

Gee I didn’t know that one! When I played you shepherded but it probably always was when your mate had the ball, never thought it would be a free if he didn’t.

Not sure why he pulled out, only he knows but it wasn’t for personal protection as far as I can see. Very little personal danger in putting your arm out to shepherd as I vaguely remember. He has played a lot of footy, and knows a bit about the game perhaps he chose to stay on the outside for the receive? We have been complaining about our lack of outside receivers haven’t we?

6 Oliver 5 Gawn 4 Brayshaw 3 Salem 2 Petracca 1 Viney

Leaking goals late yet again.

Max!

Should be 4 goals up. A worry!

Matthew Lloyd’s analysis of us in the Hun today is pretty spot on, says our midfield is loaded with talented ball hunters who all go in leaving the opposition on the outside. If we don’t dominate inside possessions we get smashed on the outside and from there the backline struggles. He points the finger at Goodwin’s strategy of emphasis on the contested ball to the detriment of outside run and delivery; says we need to get back to some basics with Hogan and TMac staying forward all game and giving Frost a few games to see if he is the answer down back until we get Lever back.

Great report Ron but who is doing the writing you or Gerry?

Yes the no problematic player policy has come at some cost and it is not just us by the way, a lot of clubs have been gun shy of problem players but we had the draft picks that count and went past Hurley, Dusty, Darling and Curnow for behavioural questions. Oh well thank god we are conservative and let’s hope the Weid fires up.

Good to see Cheney still getting a Friday Night game for Adelaide! Made the most of his talent that boy!

Given some of the bewildering ruck frees paid this season against Max ( I am thinking Grundy) I think the “unduly” must play a big part in their decisions.

I wonder if the published side sends a message for Tracc? A lot of the selected 18 are out of position and is Tracc in the interchange club speak for you are on notice?

I think we just have to go with Jeffy to get him back in form. Waiting for him to get into form in the VFL won’t happen. As for squibbing contests not sure about that I didn’t see those. He adds X factor up forward that we need and hopefully he stays down and crumbs the ball.

Good point I should have included Jeffy for his speed up forward but I also hope they give him short stints in the middle just to get him into the game and he used to go alright in the middle a few years ago when given the chance.

I will be going skiing!

It appears they diagnosed the problem as leg speed, thus Frost, Stretch and Spargo. I agree with that diagnosis somewhat. Another was no crumpers up forward so hopefully Garlett and Spargo won’t be flying for everything.

I reckon Flash was the first to transform the role of the small dangerous forward but Rioli took it to another level. If you cross cloned Flash and the Wiz you probably get Cyril. Forward and defensive brilliance in spades.

I too support the concept that we need the best people not the best ex demons. But I recently listened to an interview with Stan Alves on 774 with Matt Clench on Stan’s retirement from broadcasting the game. Stan said he no longer liked the modern game and called time on himself because he was not adding value. It was best for younger people to take over. Very honest appraisal. A a large part of the interview was about Stan losing his son early and the devastating affect that it had on him, very moving and instructional. But also how it motivated him later on. But another interest in the discussion was on his time as coach at St Kilda. He was a real innovator and took the Saints from nowhere to a Grand Final but was constantly being challenged by the Board about his unorthodox (at the time) tactics. Think leadership groups, meditation before games, letting players take responsibility for their own training, every player must set personal goals, it goes on and on reflecting modern football methods but maybe a decade or more ahead of his time. I thought Grant Thomas was a real innovator but I think he took a lot of ideas from Stan. They lost the final and the next year struggled somewhat and his enemies in the Board moved on him in 1998 and he was gone.And the Saints went downhill until 2009. What an opportunity for MFC to have bought him on board as an advisor for the Reverend? Stan came across as an exceptional person who would have added immense value to the MFC as assistant coach, mentor or Board Member. Another missed opportunity I believe but he could still fill a role on the board.

I would have thought that being nominated as captain of any sporting team means you show the better leadership attributes than your peers in the team. Doesn’t mean he is going to be a gun footballer but we know he is comfortable in a leadership role. Captain of the U19 Aussie cricket team says to me that we have an individual that is determined, focused and will give it everything he has.

And I could accept that team mantra of every player being a hard at it defender if we were defending but we are failing miserably to defend up forward or through the midfield which then leaves our actual defenders, shall we say defenceless! All the better sides have worked us out, it’s time for a change in stratgies, Spargo, Jeffy and Stretch need some game time.

Layzie, hang in there mate. Maybe time for a change in your job? My worry is that you are depending on the Dees performances, I think we all know they will find a way to let you down, Year on Year. I know I struggled with this a few years ago but have learnt to move on from a loss very quickly, I have had to work hard on that though, I admit. You need to work to keep the MFC and it’s rials in perspective. Their failures are no reflection on you.