Having now watched the game, Griffin's stats flatter him. His impact on the game was minimal. No influence in the first half, a lot of statistics added in our fourth quarter fade-out which wasn't all Nicholson's fault.

Nicho's tagging job wasn't flawless, it wasn't even great. He made mistakes in positioning and lost touch at crucial stages. But his overall job in quelling Griffin's impact was felt, and IMO was a good reason why the Dogs were struggling so much for 3.5 quarters.

Also don't agree with the notion that we're playing a Bailey-style game of all offence and no defence. I thought our pressing, zoning and pressuring was still pretty good.

I also noted from watching the game that, for once in recent memory, our senior players stood up when required (fourth quarter). I noticed Dawes, Sylvia, Watts, Trengove, Garland and Frawley making some key plays and stepping up at key moments in the fourth. At the same time, it was our junior players tiring out late that started to cost us. The fact we'd played as a far better team prior to the fourth and thus had a lead was crucial to us winning, but so was the ability of our senior players to lead us to the end when the younger kids tired out.

Gawn's first half was really good, but went too hard, too early and was out on his feet from three-quarter time. With Jamar and Spencer still out, he has to continue to ruck the whole game, but we're going to need to use Fitzpatrick as back up more than we did last week. We can't afford to have Gawn losing all his energy so early.

Toumpas again showed improvement (his decision-making is fantastic, which isn't something we say about MFC players regularly), Watts was great, Howe looked dangerous as a forward, Fitzpatrick showed that his upside is enormous and he seems to be developing confidence by the week).

Still problems with clearances, still skill errors, but it's clear that we're playing with more freedom and our players seem to be growing in confidence.

Also don't agree with the notion that we're playing a Bailey-style game of all offence and no defence. I thought our pressing, zoning and pressuring was still pretty good.

Really important point. Sunday will give us a really good indication of how successfully we're striking a balance between the defensive aspects of the game and our willingness to take risks and move the ball quickly.

And hopefully we'll win a bit of contested footy.

The press we implemented was critical, especially in the first half. They were completely unable to clear the ball from our forward 50 and regularly just hoofed a guy on our team standing on his own in the middle of the ground. It was like we were playing against us, honestly.

The press we implemented was critical, especially in the first half. They were completely unable to clear the ball from our forward 50 and regularly just hoofed a guy on our team standing on his own in the middle of the ground. It was like we were playing against us, honestly.

we were definitely playing a better thinking game and by that I infer horses for courses and not a regimented locked in mindset

It was like we were playing against us, honestly.

That would be a pretty close game, most likely ending in a draw.

Probably 5.8. 38 each, or thereabouts.