They should have forced the Essendon little league to wear a clash strip. I can't tell who's who. 

Thankyou Zac Clarke. We have finally found someone in the AFL that Oscar Mac can match up on.

Seriously though, regardless of which way this one goes, surely we cannot play him again. Enough is enough. The one on one beat downs are one thing...but I'm  sure our defensive coaches teach these guys how to try to make their opponent lead into spots they don't necessarily want to lead into...I've never seen a player stand on the side of their opponent that basically invites them into the most giant open space in the direction of the ball carrier...

Just now, Jaded said:

Shiel is destroying us. Curtail him and I reckon we can win this. 

We still look miles off, but they worked hard this quarter and finally got some decent ball movement happening. 

Salem and Oliver are class. 

Shiel is they key.  His breakaway pace from stoppages has been excellent all night, and we need to find a way to stop it.  Do that and we'll probably win this one.

1 minute ago, Jaded said:

Shiel is destroying us. Curtail him and I reckon we can win this. 

We still look miles off, but they worked hard this quarter and finally got some decent ball movement happening. 

Salem and Oliver are class. 

We still look very slow around the contest.

Shiel isn’t all that quick but we are making him look lightning.

Awesome atmosphere now at my house. Brother’s are getting hot dogs done and dad is giving me a FANTASTIC foot massage. Please don’t sour it for me. I’ve promised everyone savoury tartlets if we win 

12 minutes ago, —coach— said:

Wagner you little ripper!

Wagner having impacts, as is Lockhart. 

Smalls are making our team more lively. as needed.

Spargo gonna struggle to get back into the team with Lockhart playing how he is

All of a sudden we became unpredictable and dangerous up forward due to T Mac going off. Once TMac came back on he’s been lining up on the wing.  That’s how it looked like from ground level anyway. Keep going please.

I can’t work out C Wagner, he seems to be in the right places at the right times

3 minutes ago, Darkhorse72 said:

Twitter is full of AFL players/ footy writers lamenting the umpiring against us.

What’s been said? Sometimes I wonder if I’ve just got my one eye open but it’s interesting to hear other views from neutral supporters?

Just now, olisik said:

Spargo gonna struggle to get back into the team with Lockhart playing how he is

And that's a good thing.  Not because it keeps Spargo out, but because it creates that healthy competition for spots.  If Lockhart and Wagner can keep this up then it's a huge positive for us.

Loving the game of both Wagners tonight but especially Corey. Not hard to see why Goodwin liked him - he definitely plays the Goodwin brand.

Hopefully that quarter is the moment we officially “click”. First one I’ve genuinely enjoyed so far this year.

as a wise poster mentioned last week... one sparrow does not a summer make and similarly you cannot win a a game with one good quarter

At least it is a contest and there have been clanger frees given to both sides but really I have given up on what the rules are! Holding in a contest only involves the the last line of defence and then it doesn’t actually mean grabbing a jumper, just putting your arm across an advancing player, but yes you can grab a player by jumper anywhere else on the field and you can meet someone front on and hit them in the head and play on (Jetta). Otherwise I think I understand the new rules, can’t touch anyone in a contest, it’s all a bit NBA. 

14 minutes ago, The Swimming Dee said:

Petracca playing the best quarter of his career. Well done young man

If Trac ever plays a better quarter than the one he played against the Pies when we beat them in the Jack Watts redemption game, I hope it's not tonight. But yes, Trac is playing ok.

Just now, Megatron said:

What’s been said? Sometimes I wonder if I’ve just got my one eye open but it’s interesting to hear other views from neutral supporters?

They started with the Jetta, Stringer shocker and then just carried on how biased it has been against us.  refreshing really.

9 minutes ago, Cassiew said:

Be careful they’re going to come at us with everything in the 3rd

And 'they' better be careful of Us, as well.   We're coming our firing too.

That's one solution when your defence is [censored].

Don't let it go in there.

5 minutes ago, Demonland said:

They should have forced the Essendon little league to wear a clash strip. I can't tell who's who. 

Does it really matter? It means so much for those kids to wear their teams jumpers. I’m sure the kids k ow who is who. Let them be

As much as I hate the whole "season defining" and "line in the sand" cliche - its really on show tonight.

We can make a stand and come out in the 3rd qtr and put the sword to them.

Lets see just how much we want it.

Edited April 5, 20196 yr by DSP

1 minute ago, Stretch Johnson said:

That's one solution when your defence is [censored].

Don't let it go in there.

thats what worked last year..

Great quarter but still worried by how open we are on the counter attack. And that is what Port and Geelong have done to us big time. Fingers crossed for the second half. We played better but I am still worried about how we play as a group. 

11 minutes ago, Good Lord George said:

We are getting hung on to, smacked, pushed, and are getting nothing from the umps.

In the meantime, if we even breathe heavily near and Druggie player they get the whistle out.

Disgraceful

Some of No.9's best work going on tonight.  Extremely worried about the influence he might have in the 3rd.

7 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Shiel is they key.  His breakaway pace from stoppages has been excellent all night, and we need to find a way to stop it.  Do that and we'll probably win this one.

This is where Petracca should be...  a lighter faster Petracca, with the supposed explosiveness of the mark???

5 or 6 Kgs off him. and stick him in the middle.

Quarter 1. Gut wrenching, inadequate, sub-standard, weak in the contest, slow.

Quarter 2. Intense, running in waves, hitting targets by foot, actually marking the ball.

Following the Dees is always so Jekyll and Hyde. 

Wagners x 2 and Lockhart looking really good.

Gawn decided "enough is enough" and just started chucking himself at it and gut running two ways. what a difference it makes when his mindset changes.

The run-and-carry was back.

My man Brayshaw - gold!