Gameday:Round 18 - Essendon vs Melbourne

[gdaytiger2001]

To be honest i would prefer McPhee not to take more marks than anyone else in the league as you say "be it lunging or diving forward on the lead"
Each and every time he does these things he leaves his feet in the contest. (Which was my original point if i am not mistaken)

At no stage did i say that Mcphee did not play a good game today, i would be actually very suprised if he didn't figure in Essendons best.
But if you go back and watch today's game you will see that McPhee is a much more effective player for us when keeps his feet in the contest.

Especially being our hit up forward beacuse not going to ground means he can play on quickly or give a second effort if the defender spoils the ball.(All of which things when he did resulted in goals for us today)

But when he does Lunge or dive forward on the lead he is effectively out of the contest if the ball hits the ground and can't apply pressure to the rebounding half backs.

Good sides are going to really hurt us on the rebound if he is out of the contest or by slow play of the ball by going to ground in the marking contests especially in the position that he is playing.

Just to add to these thoughts after listening to the Matthew Knights press confrence.
Knights actually said that Matty LLyod form turn around can be partially attributed to Matty now keeping is feet in the contest.
If he belives that keeping his feet in the contest (which doesn't just include around the ground but marking as well) has been an influencing factor in the recent form of Matty.
Do you honestly believe that he does not not share the same thoughts about McPhee when he looses his feet in the marking contest?

 

[Yoda_]

Most pleasing thing was the continuing development of Monfries as that hit up third/fourth forward, is really starting to repay the faith that essendon put into him, has finally found a position in the AFL, Jay Nash is starting to use the footy we know he can, 87% for his 23 touches sureal, Lovett has shown why we cannot let him go, I was all for letting him go, but is too valuable to let go, got us going in the 2nd or third quater when it was tight, every team needs them, every team has them, Paddy Ryder is our CHB, he cannot play forward, seemed lost at times, NLM, will become a star if not already an underated one. And as for the old timers in Peverill, Lloyd and Fletcher, awesome they were, absoultely awesome, IMO, that if we go into next year without Pev, it will be shattering, he is past 30 and as Crawf and Lucas are doing, over him a one year deal so he can keep going, one bad year then let him go, seemed depressed and distraight when the triple M team interviewed him after the game, seemed sad his AFL career is almost over, as he said, 'just have to go out their, and have fun with the boys'. And Lloyd, never forget that one day in 1999 when we (Lloyd) tore Sydney to shreads, was reminiscent of that game, everything went right,