Melbourne: what do we make of them

[schmuttt]

Weird how Richmond fans loved watching Bolton taunt Docherty but Pickett isn't allowed to do the same to them.

 

[Wacko23Jacko]

Weird how Richmond fans loved watching Bolton taunt Docherty but Pickett isn't allowed to do the same to them.

What if I didn't like it? Is my opinion still invalid?

 

[freddy mercury]

Looking really good. If Gawn goes down, they'd be a very different side. Good on them, go Dees.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Looking really good. If Gawn goes down, they'd be a very different side. Good on them, go Dees.

Gawn had a stinker tonight, Nank gave him a bath all over the ground

 

[Lip Gallagher]

They look scary good ATM, massive scalp tonight, flag favourites?

 

[Lip Gallagher]

Looking really good. If Gawn goes down, they'd be a very different side. Good on them, go Dees.

Gawn didn't play well, they look a balanced team ATM, nice mix .

 

[Lip Gallagher]

Should get to 10-0 which could lock up top 4.

We are talking about Melbourne, 15-0 and even money for top 4

22-0 and covid closes the season down.

 

[Lip Gallagher]

I seriously think they can win it all this year, they’re playing extremely good football. Nothing flukey either, just really well structured with great decision makers around the footy and their disposal has been so clean.

Since the Saints are hot trash again I’ll be hoping the Dees can get it done.

Last nights win was super impressive, got jumped by the champs and won hard held, flag favorites for mine ATM.

 

[Lampers]

Shai Bolton is good at football.

EDIT: Wrong thread but point stands.

Bolton’s hands and marking in those conditions was something else.

His finishing and disposal efficiency stats weren’t great, but he wasn’t on his own last night (again the conditions).

Edwards was the other from the Tigers who was a huge threat, I only remember him making one mistake for the entire night.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Shedda is a star, one of the most underrated players I’ve ever seen. Insanely classy bloke too.

 

[Lampers]

Gawn had a stinker tonight, Nank gave him a bath all over the ground

Stinker is strong. Not as dominant as the Hawks game, but Gawn still had his moments where he was good, especially some marking in the second half to shore up the win and his ground ball work for someone 6’10” in those conditions was good too.

I thought Nankervis was good physically and blunted Gawn’s tap effectiveness, but he really butchered the ball.

Stats aren’t everything, but Gawn 22 touches at 81% efficiency, 6 marks (4 contested) with 30 hit outs.

Nankervis 22 @ 40%, 2 marks (0 contested) with 15 hit outs and one behind.

Throw in Jackson’s 18 @ 100% (!!), 5 marks (2 contested) with 12 hit outs along with a couple of goals and I don’t think Goodwin would have huge concerns about his ruck/forward combo.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Not sure if Richmond were off or Melbourne were good. It's certainly a sign that that they are the real deal, although they'll probably find a way to Melbourne the season up now

 

[Scray89]

No need to be calling them flag favourites just yet. They're not the only undefeated team, nor are they the only team to beat Richmond.

They still have some issues, like their current forward line, and they're heavily dependent on Langdon for outside run. Let's see how they go.

 

[Boristown]

I’m convinced. If they avoid injury, they should be favourites to win it all.

 

[Lampers]

After last night I’m getting some confidence Melbourne at least belong in the conversation about who are contenders, but it’s a long, long way to go. On another night Rochmond’s first quarter could have broken the Demons.

As good as Melbourne’s system seems to be working now, just like any team there is reliance on the individual brilliance and continued good form of the top tier being Gawn, Trac, Oliver, May and Lever in particular. I think there’s reasonable ways to cover with downgraded versions of similar for any of the first three, but if May AND Lever got hurt things would get very dicey.

If you add the current ladder positions of teams Melbourne’s defeated you get 62. Very simplistic way to look at it but it means they’ve averaged playing against the 10th placed team (including last year’s grand finalists).

Bulldogs are 76, so averaged playing against the 12th (closer to 13th) placed team.

Melbourne have North and Bulldogs have the Tigers next week which will have those totals 80 and 83 respectively so a more even comparative draw after 7 rounds.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

No need to be calling them flag favourites just yet. They're not the only undefeated team, nor are they the only team to beat Richmond.

From what I can see they’re the only team to be both.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

After last night I’m getting some confidence Melbourne at least belong in the conversation about who are contenders, but it’s a long, long way to go. On another night Rochmond’s first quarter could have broken the Demons.

As good as Melbourne’s system seems to be working now, just like any team there is reliance on the individual brilliance and continued good form of the top tier being Gawn, Trac, Oliver, May and Lever in particular. I think there’s reasonable ways to cover with downgraded versions of similar for any of the first three, but if May AND Lever got hurt things would get very dicey.

If you add the current ladder positions of teams Melbourne’s defeated you get 62. Very simplistic way to look at it but it means they’ve averaged playing against the 10th placed team (including last year’s grand finalists).

Bulldogs are 76, so averaged playing against the 12th (closer to 13th) placed team.

Melbourne have North and Bulldogs have the Tigers next week which will have those totals 80 and 83 respectively so a more even comparative draw after 7 rounds.

Genuinely curious, which team was the last to lose their two best key defenders and somehow manage to continue playing just as well? Feel like most sides would struggle if that happened.

 

[Topkent]

No need to be calling them flag favourites just yet. They're not the only undefeated team, nor are they the only team to beat Richmond.

They still have some issues, like their current forward line, and they're heavily dependent on Langdon for outside run. Let's see how they go.

Averaging 90 points a game with our 2 'key' forwards out.
Forward lines looking pretty good to me.

 

[Scray89]

From what I can see they’re the only team to be both.

Give it a week.

 

[Lampers]

Genuinely curious, which team was the last to lose their two best key defenders and somehow manage to continue playing just as well? Feel like most sides would struggle if that happened.

Yes, but I feel that’s where the depth is the poorest plus the confidence in the back six allows the rest of the team to play a certain way so the flow on effect would be huge.

Midfield and ruck/forward there is better depth.

Jackson and one of McDonald/Weideman/Daw/Ben Brown could do an OK job as ruck/forward combo and maintain the team structure.

Brayshaw, Jordon or Sparrow could do an OK job if one of Petracca or Oliver went down.

Lots of depth in tall forwards and pressure small forwards.

A tall backline of Tomlinson, Petty and Joel Smith. Yikes. Hibberd (at 31) would probably do the Lever role, but still...

 

[Scray89]

Averaging 90 points a game with our 2 'key' forwards out.
Forward lines looking pretty good to me.

Let's see if it holds up. Guys like Melksham, Jackson, Neal-Bullen and Spargo in the forward line hardly send a shiver down my spine. McDonald's been extremely inconsistent for two years as well, let's see if Mr. Hyde stars to show up.

It's the same with the Bulldogs; our scoring numbers are higher than ever this year, yet most Bulldog fans would say forward line an area of weakness with the mediocre lineup of small forwards (Vandermeer, McNeil, Scott). It's more a credit to our midfield we're able to score so many.

 

[Topkent]

Let's see if it holds up. Guys like Melksham, Jackson, Neal-Bullen and Spargo in the forward line hardly send a shiver down my spine.

It's the same with the Bulldogs; our scoring numbers are higher than ever this year, yet most Bulldog fans would say forward line an area of weakness with the mediocre lineup of small forwards (Vandermeer, McNeil, Scott). It's more a credit to our midfield we're able to score so many.

Melksham is just hanging in there probably loses his spot to Weideman soon

Jackson is in his second season and is a star if the future watch this space.

Neal Bullen and Spargo don't need to kick 50, they're defensive pressure is top notch. Ben Brown is playing reserves.

What forward line does scare you?

 

[Lampers]

The difference in scoring between Demons and Bulldogs this year is Bulldogs have played North and Melbourne hasn’t.

Knowing Melbourne I would be surprised but not shocked if North run them really close and not suggesting Melbourne will rack up a 100+ win either.

I think @Topkent’s point would be Melbourne aren’t playing their nominal best forward line yet so there’s room for improvement. It’s debatable the loss of ground level pressure Ben Brown

50

Ben Brown

Age

31

Ht

200cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.7

3star

K

7.7

3star

HB

3.0

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.2

3star

G

2.2

5star

D

7.9

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

1.6

1star

M

3.7

4star

T

0.9

2star

G

1.0

4star

D

8.0

2star

K

4.6

2star

HB

3.4

3star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.2

4star

and Weideman would represent, with Melksham also back now who provides little pressure, is actually the best combo. The sticky taped forward line for the first six rounds has probably been better than the best on paper forward line in many ways so I’m not sure there too much improvement left.

On the other hand the Bulldogs are already running with their nominal best forward line so far and can’t expect significant increased scoring from the midfield. So less scope for on paper improvement. English being out will be an interesting challenge.

 

[Scray89]

What forward line does scare you?

Fully fit West Coast: Kennedy, Darling, Allen, Ryan, Rioli.

Richmond the last three years: Riewoldt, Lynch, Martin, Lambert, Edwards, Caddy(pre-becoming bad).

Peak Hawthorn 2013-2015: Roughead, Gunston, Rioli, Breust, Puopolo, (Franklin for a year).

GWS over the years with varying combinations of: Cameron, Greene, D.Smith, Himmelberg, Patton, Lobb

Even Adelaide 2017: Walker, Lynch, Betts, Charlie Cameron

You're delusional if you believe Melbourne's current forward line is anywhere near the level of those.

 

[Xtreme]

The real deal and the (Howard Finkle voice) newwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww number 1 contender for the 2021 premiership.