1 hour ago, Wells 11 said:

Petracca is having a great year. I don’t mean to downplay his importance but he’s also not beyond criticism. His set shot kicking for goal has gone back to where it was a few years ago and needs attention. looks like he can’t decide whether to run straight in his run up or take advantage of the stand rule of the mark and run around and the confusion to me is visible,  He got called to play on at least twice today caught in that indecision. His misses haven’t hurt us yet but i’m hoping someone is talking to him. 

Spot on.

And it’s not just Petracca. Have you noticed how many players  - not just Demons - are playing on to the right side of the mark (right footers) when shooting for goal and then missing? They’d be better just going back and using their regular goal-kicking routine. 

The pic on the back page of today’s birdcage lining. ❤️?

7 hours ago, Pates said:

Did we seriously do that? I understand why we’d do that last year during COVID complications but no reason to do that this season. If we really did fly up game day that full explains our flatness and the club gambled with 4 points. I don’t care if it’s only a short flight, the actions of going to the airport and hoping on the plane is terrible preparation. 

Melbourne and North flew up on the morning of the game together on a chartered flight.

I suppose the boys should be applauded for coming back very hard and winning by five.

I guess that ground has always been a voodoo and Norf were fired up for a win.

The joy is beaten down by Tomlinson...Viney and Fritta.

Happy and sad.

Three positives then...

Kozzie keeps getting better and will win many games for us.

Luke J the same.

We are seven zero.

2 hours ago, Pates said:

been outstanding with him playing a big part of it this year. Goody has kept saying TMac won't go back, he was completely lost from the

Have we forgot that he was our best defender. He was one of the best defenders going around.

Adam T has been great but Tmac may be even better.

Lever , May and Tom is pretty frightening to other clubs.

Maybe having him back is how it will all gel for us.

It will solve all our forward issues so that Sw and Bbb can both play their roles.

Fritta, Bbb and Sw is pretty frightening to other clubs.

Maybe Tmac will be better than poor Adam down back and we are richer for it.

I just hope Viney gets better soon.

Edited May 2, 20214 yr by leave it to deever

3 hours ago, Cards13 said:

 

From another thread it was said BOTH teams flew in and out of Tassie together. No excuse for North. 

I wonder if the North players saw how relaxed/casual we were on the plan and used it as motivation? Pure conjecture on my part but I was thinking it during the game, even if nothing in it would be easy for Cunnington/Ziebell etc to say "look at them, they reckon they're in for a walk in the park, games already won" etc

Kozzie ♥️?

Dogga ?♥️

7 hours ago, Dame Gaga said:

Someone else mentioned they did and I assume they are right. I think it is because the Tasmanian premier didn't want the footballers to be wandering around, even for training. Fly in, play the game, fly out. All to do with the COVID. He was threatening to cancel the game during the week. He had an election to win.

Yes this is definitely correct. 

10 hours ago, hardtack said:

I’m getting the sense that perhaps you’re not a fan of Huddo?  I’m definitely a fan... I haven’t seen today’s game yet, but I love the fact that Huddo commentates as a genuine fan of the game and with unbridled enthusiasm; he doesn’t pretend to be some sort of an authority like D-wayne and other hacks... he just loves what he’s doing and he does it, for the most part, very well.

Ive never thought about him one way or another.

He did seem very much in favor of North winning but then again so did his workmates.

Maybe its just natural for commentators to want one side to win. Perhaps an upset win would make the day more interesting for them even if they try not to be bias.

Maybe they sided with the underdog.

Maybe Im just bias but it really did seem they were supporting Nm even if unintentional.

 

16 hours ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Fritsch has 18 goals in 6 games...  if he didn't miss that game with  busted hand he would be right in the Coleman race.  Still might be (unless he gets suspended for that elbow).

Nice to see a Demon player finally kick a bag.

I thought it would be Bbb.

Of all our forward firepower I didnt expect Fritta to be the most likely to win the Coleman.

He played with a dodgy hand and a knock to the head and booted SIX. Cant remember but someone here called that he would boot a bag in this game.

Hard to nullify. Teams cant work out if hes a tall or a small. His awareness of the posts location is Batmanesque..

A few weeks ago there were posters demmanding he be dropped. Wow. He won this game for us.

Sadly though, I think he will get a week.

16 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Can Fox footy get rid of "Huddo"...hes a complete spanner.

He’s my favourite commentator.

6 minutes ago, Jymothy said:

He’s my favourite commentator.

Huddo’s definitely better than Der-wayne and Hamish McLachlan. 

8 hours ago, Pates said:

Did we seriously do that? I understand why we’d do that last year during COVID complications but no reason to do that this season. If we really did fly up game day that full explains our flatness and the club gambled with 4 points. I don’t care if it’s only a short flight, the actions of going to the airport and hoping on the plane is terrible preparation. 

AFL organised

16 hours ago, loges said:

People are passionate about their side. Have you never been to a game ?

Fine line between being passionate and being a turkey. And yeah, you see people cross that line often at games. 

9 hours ago, At the break of Gawn said:

One last thing, what was with Ben Brown not extending the dukes at all for the whole game? Kept on trying to mark on his chest time and time again which allowed McKay to get a fist in.

The defender continually held him down by the hips, out of sight of the umpires, which prevented Brown from getting separation or jumping at the ball.

Also his knee may not yet be strong enough to run, turn, leap or withstand the pressure when he lands.

The benefit of his presence was it  took one or two defenders which allowed Fritsch to roam freely until North realised who was doing the damage and double teamed Fritsch.

From a team view I thought the role he played and 2 goals was a good debut by Brown.

Edited May 3, 20214 yr by Lucifer's Hero

6 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

The defender continually held him down by the hips, out of sight of the umpires, which prevented Brown from getting separation or jumping at the ball.

Also his knee may not yet be strong enough to leap or withstand the pressure when he lands.

The benefit of his presence was it  took one of two defenders which allowed Fritsch to roam freely until North realised who was doing the damage and double teamed Fritsch.

From a team view I thought it was a good debut by Brown.

This is a great point and one thing I definitely noticed yesterday. It's obvious he will draw defenders to him. He's going to take the number 1 defender which mean this gives the opportunity to the like of Fritsch,  Jackson and Weideman to be let off the leash.

 

2 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Melbourne and North flew up on the morning of the game together on a chartered flight.

Up to Hobart, where from Antarctica?

Hard to judge BBB on one game at AFL in this set-up - a better sample size of three-four games will tell. 

An early observation was that our inside 50 entry was not good enough to use a lead up forward like Ben Brown. Reminded me of the last two years watching our players sit the ball on top of Tom Mac's head time after time. Oskar Baker, Clayton, Christian, ANB, all wasted un-pressured forward entries by being unable to kick to advantage. It seems that Charlie Spargo, Kozzie Pickett, and Melksham (one beautiful flat entry) are the only forward of centre players who can be trusted...

I couldn't believe how incredibly lack-lustre and poor some of our players where in this game - especially vis-a-vis Richmond. Max was terrible - and so is the umpiring, you cannot continually whack him in the back of the head, the club needs to raise this with the umpires as per Clarkson, it's not on to protect the head in some situations and yet ignore it in others. 

9 hours ago, Fanatique Demon said:

I am neither pro or anti Melksham, but I am anti prejudice and injustice.

My first impression was that he was quite good today so I watched the game again. It’s really interesting doing that after reading what people think of players’ performances. For those with the knives out for Melksham, I suggest you take a second look and see how many times he delivered the ball beautifully in the forward line, presenting opportunities for Brown, ANB, Gawn, Kozzy. Not every one of them was gobbled up, but that said more about the receivers than Melksham. For example, Max tried to mark on his chest instead of with outstretched hands.

Melksham was directly involved (twice) in one of Kozzy’s goals that went coast to coast.

He missed a tackle or two, kicked out on the full and was caught with the ball. But the same could be said of Kozzy, Jones and Brayshaw.

But as they say, haters gonna hate.

Well reasoned post

I am disappointed in Melksham in the past 18 months. I agree his kicking is great and when he has the ball is one of our best users.  The issue is his general lack of intensity. In the first half his half hearted tackles and not getting rid of the ball in traffic quickly enough were poor. He is a senior player and these type of weak efforts can spread through the group.  So does his quality ball use outweigh his negatives?  Not for me

 

3 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

The pic on the back page of today’s birdcage lining. ❤️?

Could you/someone grab a snap? Am in NNSW so can't get it.

When will Tomlinson's diagnosis/prognosis be confirmed? Presumably scans today?

That was a good game for the Dees to have, to show you can't take any team for granted: not North, not Collingwood, not anyone.

A good reality check.

1 minute ago, Superunknown said:

When will Tomlinson's diagnosis/prognosis be confirmed? Presumably scans today?

That was a good game for the Dees to have, to show you can't take any team for granted: not North, not Collingwood, not anyone.

A good reality check.

Today or tomorrow, but as others have mentioned, ACL's can be diagnosed by some basic tests at the time fairly accurately, the moment a club says "suspected AFL" it'd be a miracle if it was something else. 

Apologies if this is covered above (cant read all 14 pages.)

 

Viney out late a big loss, our back line thrown out early and the forwards still adapting was a lot to deal with.  However our coaching has improved out of sight on game day.

You can argue it came late but we put a tag on Cunnington in the 3rd and Fritta was given a role on Ziebell, Goody swallowed his words and put Tmac back and we moved Gawn out of the main ruck. Each of these moves (along with a returned intensity) changed the course of the game. What also struck me was each of the players clearly knew their role which indicates our preparation has been very good. Our kicking is vastly improved. 

Brown will be better next week on the G and having spent some time with the forwards. Swans will be tough but we are a real team these days. 

 

 

1 hour ago, Superunknown said:

Could you/someone grab a snap? Am in NNSW so can't get it.

Soz for the poor quality...

double Soz for not even sending the pic. Idk what I’m doing wrong ? 

curse you, error code 200! ?

Edited May 3, 20214 yr by Guest

Yay! I did it! Just like the mighty Deez I never gave up!

Edited May 3, 20214 yr by Guest