2 hours ago, Red But Mostly Blue said:

How was Mills’ bump ONE WEEK??!

Left the ground, elected to bump, could have concussed Spargo, may have?

What a joke.

Koz got 3x that for Moore diving into his hip.

It’s because the MRO has NFI.

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

Thank you.

Here's hoping he gives Maynard a warm reception.

But I've been teetering between AJ and Jvr for selection this week. It's not an easy call. Those for Roo argue his marking prowess was back at Casey v AJ who you adroitly mentioned struggles in this area.

I think with Jvr he may get down on himself in games when struggling so he gets worse. But with AJ I wouldn't say he doesn't care but he seems like he's just happy to be out there.

I know who I'd prefer to have a beer with at least if that helps. No disrespect to Roo.

I like the fact that AJ probably intimidates defenders more. And I'm not saying Jvr doesn't give his all but I do reckon you can definitely say AJ does.

Just now, Willmoy1947 said:

  1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

Thank you.

If you keep talking about AJ come the birthday game all he might do is run out on to the ground and he'll get four weeks from the maggots.

1 hour ago, Engorged Onion said:

Any more big wins coming up in the near future?? Asking for a friend.

I actually think we'll eclipse the Syd win with an even bigger win against the Saints (who I rate really lowly). The Saints seem to be spiraling big time - perfect time to play them really.

1 hour ago, Demon Disciple said:

It’s because the MRO has NFI.

Well, that’s a succinct and accurate summary.

16 hours ago, picket fence said:

Wrong, I didn't like playing him on no form and yes the result was minimal possesions, and knew he would be dropped and was! I MAINTAIN Goodwin does this a lot, plays out of form players for an eternity or players who have come back from a long layoff, thus setting players up for failure. I have put up suggestions for a better functioning forward line without Jefferson, and until he kicks multiple bags should stay at Casey. JOHNSON should not be in the team based on his meagre possesions in the last two games and I dont care if he is the incredible Hulk!

Sigh!

I've now had the chance to watch the replay and my first thought was that @fr_ap was spot on to highlight Sydney's pressure. Yes, they were poor at moving the ball, and they fell apart late, but for most of the game they were giving us properly strong opposition.

We were just better than them, and had we not had a series of unfortunate misses in the second, we should have been 60 points up at half time.

The other main thing I liked was seeing Sydney seriously challenge us early in the third, only for us to steady and bite back. Hayward had a chance to bring the margin back to 11 points and they looked like they were about to have their one good quarter but thankfully he missed, and from there we put them away.

We're as in form as anyone else right now and we're playing a brand that stacks up - it starts with proper defensive pressure across the entire 18, and we're outscoring on turnover. This football can win us enough matches to make finals, even despite the 0-5 start, so long as we can keep it up.

Enough's been said about Koz and Gawn but I absolutely loved Langford and Lindsay - we have nailed those two picks, so much so that I genuinely no longer give a rat's tossbag about Essendon holding our first rounder this year.

Enough's also been said about AJ but my view on that is pretty clear - he holds that spot until JVR puts together weeks of consistent VFL form. Then JVR can have that spot back. JVR's clearly the more talented long-term fit for the team.

13 hours ago, HarpenDee said:

12 hours ago, Earl Hood said:

Yep it’s difficult to work out what Mills thought he was doing. It didn’t look like a “football act” to me. The Pearce Freo hit, to me was an unavoidable, unfortunate football act. What exactly was Pearce to do with the opponent running back with the flight of the ball?

The one week is because Spargo wasn’t concussed I guess but I can’t remember was Moore actually concussed from the Kossie bump?

The commentators, e.g. Bartel, Hird are saying the MRO findings are injury outcome based.

Yep it's injury outcome based. Except when they want to say there was a "potential" to cause injury.

And when I say "they" I mean Michael Christian. How this incompetent nuffie has been allowed to be the sole arbiter of these decisions for so long speaks to the amateur nature of the AFL. It is a farce.

Re: Johnson, the only thing I would change for him at the moment is the coaches telling him not to kick for goal unless it's a set shot or he is wide open with no options ahead. He burnt someone against the Lions which ended up in the Langdon goal and he did it again against the Swans when he had handball options and kicked it out on the full. Know your limitations mate! But otherwise he stays in the team until another option can replace him (JVR/Campbell most likely).

12 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

I think with Jvr he may get down on himself in games when struggling so he gets worse. But with AJ I wouldn't say he doesn't care but he seems like he's just happy to be out there.

This is an underrated point, he wasn’t having a day out against the swans but he stayed up and about and stayed in the game and did some good things late where he could’ve been kicking grass in the goal square.

I don’t think anyone on here is kidding themselves that he’s gonna morph into Wayne Carey 2.0 but he’s doing his job, staying on the move and bringing teammates into the game. Long term I think JVR has his job but for now it’s his..

18 hours ago, BDA said:

I reckon Bowey deserved a vote instead of lingers (close call, lingers played well also)

Totally agree.

Bowey comfortably in my top three B&F at the moment, not far from Gawn at number one.

1 hour ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Re: Johnson, the only thing I would change for him at the moment is the coaches telling him not to kick for goal unless it's a set shot or he is wide open with no options ahead. He burnt someone against the Lions which ended up in the Langdon goal and he did it again against the Swans when he had handball options and kicked it out on the full. Know your limitations mate! But otherwise he stays in the team until another option can replace him (JVR/Campbell most likely).

disagree. he had an open goal against the lions, he should have a shot and did but missed it (badly) . against the swans he had a millisecond to get the ball to foot and have a shot. he missed, that happens a lot in matches.

1 hour ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Re: Johnson, the only thing I would change for him at the moment is the coaches telling him not to kick for goal unless it's a set shot or he is wide open with no options ahead. He burnt someone against the Lions which ended up in the Langdon goal and he did it again against the Swans when he had handball options and kicked it out on the full. Know your limitations mate! But otherwise he stays in the team until another option can replace him (JVR/Campbell most likely).

Yes I saw the incident you are talking about at the time where he had several players around him to dish off to but chose to try the snap. I put it down to his decision making is not yet tuned to AFL to speed, rather than selfishness. Of course his decision making may never catch up, but it should improve the more games he plays and if his confidence builds.

1 hour ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

Totally agree.

Bowey comfortably in my top three B&F at the moment, not far from Gawn at number one.

Bowser is definitely top 3 or 4 in the BnF, but we was definitely less influential this week, in part due to the JJ tag, but he did have 9 disposals in the second quarter. Outside of that, he was more quiet than he has been.

Apart from the skill requirements for Kozzies first goal, I loved the way the Swans player was distracted. Goodness knows what KP said to him..."did you remember your mom's birthday,? ". But it worked. Swans player looking at the ground for a good four seconds while the crowd is celebrating a goal.

Loved it. Someone on the game day thread encouraged Kozzie to perhaps slow down at his shots on goal but you can't alter his fashion

That's the way it goes and he plays. Fast. Yeah great to see him kick a worthy bag of eight but if he slowed it all down , he would not have the five. Like that isn't enough.

Don't go changing Kozzie. Especially clubs.

15 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

Bowser is definitely top 3 or 4 in the BnF, but we was definitely less influential this week, in part due to the JJ tag, but he did have 9 disposals in the second quarter. Outside of that, he was more quiet than he has been.

Where does Langers for in ATG,? Ed , that is?

2 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Where does Langers for in ATG,? Ed , that is?

Yeah, Lingers is probably up there this year too. TMac bleeding votes now, but he was up there IMV too.

1 hour ago, Adam The God said:

in part due to the JJ tag

Yeah, and what recognition of his season to date from Cox!

I was surprised when I looked at his stats at the end of the game. I thought they would be higher because I seemed to keep noticing him at important moments. In hindsight, what I observed was less of the dash and delivery that have defined his season so far, and more of the little stuff - a hand in to stop a Sydney attack, for example, or strength in a contest that didn't always result in a possession.

1 hour ago, Adam The God said:

Bowser is definitely top 3 or 4 in the BnF, but we was definitely less influential this week, in part due to the JJ tag, but he did have 9 disposals in the second quarter. Outside of that, he was more quiet than he has been.

might not have had his normal number of disposals but still got 17. and didn't waste any as per usual.

i loved his double block in the 4th to stymie a certain swans goal. not sure if he got a stat for that but it was excellent

Edited Tuesday at 03:113 days by BDA

8 minutes ago, BDA said:

might not have had his normal number of disposals but still got 17. and didn't waste any as per usual.

i loved his double block in the 4th to stymie a certain swans goal. not sure if he got a stat for that but it was excellent

Don't get me wrong, he was great. Just not as influential.

On 26/05/2025 at 13:18, Willmoy1947 said:

Got a vague feeling you defeated your initial argument that AJ and his errors were more on the negative.

With marks and free kicks not being paid on all clubs forward lines, getting the ball to ground there is paramount.

I'm more saying that the defensive roles inside our f50 have been a really good coaching decision, this isn't just about AJ but Melksham and Fritsch playing a lot more defensively. AJ played a role within a system, but his errors were still very costly. If JVR can play with 80% of AJ's physicality he'll be offering more overall due to his cleaner skills.

10 minutes ago, Greendale said:

I'm more saying that the defensive roles inside our f50 have been a really good coaching decision, this isn't just about AJ but Melksham and Fritsch playing a lot more defensively. AJ played a role within a system, but his errors were still very costly. If JVR can play with 80% of AJ's physicality he'll be offering more overall due to his cleaner skills.

I'm waiting

18 hours ago, Cassiew said:

Gross

Whoops, sorry. I crossed the line. Unreserved apologies to you.

5 hours ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

Yeah, and what recognition of his season to date from Cox!

I was surprised when I looked at his stats at the end of the game. I thought they would be higher because I seemed to keep noticing him at important moments. In hindsight, what I observed was less of the dash and delivery that have defined his season so far, and more of the little stuff - a hand in to stop a Sydney attack, for example, or strength in a contest that didn't always result in a possession.

On the topic of opposition players....I thought Grundy was actually ok. But his lack of marking reminded me, he's no loss. Tackled hard with around nine...the same as Max and in fact both their basic stats count were similar, including clearances and hit outs, but Max seemed far superior. Surprisingly Max only took three marks...just one more than Grundy. And usually if Max's mark count is low it's not a good sign for the team.

But for us he was again one of the best so basic stats don't always tell the story. Max did kick that beautiful goal and would have had two if AJ didn't touch one. But Max was everywhere as usual and I'm sure there is an unmeasurable, somewhat indefinable, inspirational factor to the other players he provides. He's the sort of bloke that would inspire one to get of the trench. God forbid.

He so deserves a Brownlow. If not as a ruck, then a midfielder and or defender.

Is Max as good as Jimmy Stynes was?

And has anyone been watching Nibbler this year. Has he been playing and how well? I do know he's a big loss. JJ and Grundy not. Maybe that's why Sparrow played better showing Jordan up.

15 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Is Max as good as Jimmy Stynes was?

Yes. No disrespect to Jimmy but Max has gone past him.

And I bet somewhere there's a certain Irishman grinning ear to ear.