13 hours ago, Earl Hood said:

Must admit Petty looks a different player when he is released into the ruck/midfield. At 6.7 he is tall enough to compete at CBs and today he held his own at times against Witts. But he also followed up at ground level, tackling and pushing the ball forward. Then as a mobile tall he was able to take a few marks and set up attacks. When released from the restrictions of being a key back or as a key forward, having a KPB breathing down your neck, he looks much more athletic, with Luke Jackson like attributes. Just how we utilise those qualities, if King chooses too, will be interesting

4 minutes ago, deelusions from afar said:

Left field suggestion - bring in Heath to give Gawn a bit more of a chop out. Surely Gawn can't keep this level up all season.

Appreciate its very hard to drop anyone from the team that took care of Goldcoast and there's a bunch of players coming back from injury / performing at VFL level - what a great problem to have!

I really don’t understand why you think Heath needs to come in. Gawn is the age he is but he’s not your regular human being. He’s supremely fit & he’s also smart. He wants to go with this King era for more than just this year so he will acknowledge when he needs a rest. King has also said this. Heath will play but I’d be be very surprised if it was this early in the season.

5 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

good to know

i think the trick is going to be in what role?

king has already said that he will play 'behind' the ball when he returns to the side rather than thru the midfield

personally i'm not dropping tholstrup from the half-back / push-up-to-the-contest lockdown role, so is it rivers or howes? does trent have the discipline to play as a locked-in defender that howes has been performing well in 2026?

There will be a spot in the defensive rotation on the basis of Petty playing a little more as a backup ruck/ swing than genuine lock down.

Pity Ess showed some grit in the second half last night.

They will take that and their record in Gather Round as a confidence boost next week.

We will still win!

1 hour ago, Maldonboy38 said:

The Bombers had a red hot go at the Dogs in the 2nd half and their pressure was outstanding. No way will this game be a cruise for us, and the South Australian grounds are normally smaller so will suit a less skilled team.

I love Petty as 2nd ruck. He was competitive in the air and adds another body at ground level.

As good as Luker was at Casey, his game was not AFL-worthy.

I feel sorry for Laurie who I thought played a good role yesterday, but is first in line to be dropped if Fritsch is ready to return. If Fritsch isn't ready, no change for me.

I am a huge Trent rivers fan, but did we miss him yesterday? Did we miss Jiath? Salem, Lindsay and Kolt worked so well with Lever Petty and TMac I would let them settle and build as a unit.

Agree, we have to be switched on, though I'd be beyond disappointed if we weren't (and very surprised) - we're a long, long way from being in a position to take any team lightly.

I expect we'll come out firing. Maxy in his interview on the ground after the game mentioned the bombers beating us the last 3 times in Gather round and that we owe them.

By the by, we're ay at Adelaide oval, which is aprox the same size as the G

27 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

There will be a spot in the defensive rotation on the basis of Petty playing a little more as a backup ruck/ swing than genuine lock down.

i don't think he will tho, cos plugger mac will come out for kentfield to go forward / ruck, and petty will return to being the #1 defender

petty's sticky mitts down the line were fantastic in the second half yesterday when he was playing fwd / ruck

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by whatwhat say what

We owe this mob.

15 hours ago, adonski said:

Double down on the forward pressure and run & gun game and get Matthews in for Laurie

Live vision of Tommy Matthews on debut:

Nup Mathews still a way to go on yesterdays display, but did some good things

I'm sure the win over Suns will boost our player's confidence. But hopefully they will be gently reminded that a team that allowed Cartlon(!) to kick 6 goals to none in Q1 can't take any other team for granted.

It would be nice to see Laurie get another run at it and get a chance to be accustomed to the speed of AFL. I thought he did some clever things from limited game time. However unless Melksham needs to be managed then he's clearly one of the first out for Fritsch should he be ready.

Jefferson or Kentfield could also easily come in, I though Jefferson had a stronger game personally despite his wayward kicking.

Do we drop one of our tall defenders as well? Or are we happy for Petty to play relief ruck and periods of the game forward of centre?

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by Nascent

3 hours ago, Nasher said:

Oh God, is that possible? Now that my age begins with a 4 I find I can trigger calf and hammy cramps rolling the wrong way in bed. Never had a groin cramp, or even really imagined it, but if that starts happening, I’m throwing in the towel.

Yeah, you’re in strife

13 hours ago, Rossmillan said:

Ins: me and my family

Outs: Today’s umpires

Nathan Williamson Umpire Number 22 clearly doesn't like us.

Funny incidents with him from yesterday.

First, he calls a mark to Lombard and then gets overruled by an umpire further away, who saw it hit the ground, while Lombard is telling his Dees opponent to shoosh and obviously don't tell anyone it wasn't a mark.

Second he refuses to review an "on the full" when Ed is pleading for him to do it and he can be heard saying "NO" on his mike and then the arc overrules him.

I would love to see an analysis of his games with Melbourne.

Yesterday the callers about 10 times said that a Dees free was missed and yet only said it once about the Suns.

Is that just bad luck?

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by Redleg

15 minutes ago, Nascent said:

It would be nice to see Laurie get another run at it and get a chqnce to be accustomed to the speed of AFL. I thought he did some clever things from limited game time. However unless Melksham needs to be managed then he's clearly one of the first out for Fritsch should he be ready.

Jefferson or Kentfield could also easily come in, I though Jefferson had a stronger game personally despite his wayward kicking.

Do we drop one of our tall defenders as well? Or are we happy for Petty to play relief ruck and periods of the game forward of centre?

Agree Jeffo had the better game.

I would rest Max on an interstate game most would believe we wouldn't win, as he needs a freshen up at some stage and Moose will need to be played, as that is the reason he left the Saints.

BTW, I thought he was BOG for Casey on sunday.

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by Redleg

In the past this is a game we would drop. Let's see just how much we have learnt and how Steven King goes about getting them ready for next week.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

We owe this mob.

Incredible that they’ve matched the losing streak they endured when they were playing a top-up side. Golden opportunity for us to assist in their record breaking endeavours.

Assuming Fritsch is unavailable

IN: Jeffo, Rivers***
OUT: McDonald, Laurie

***Pending proof of life

1 hour ago, whatwhat say what said:

i don't think he will tho, cos plugger mac will come out for kentfield to go forward / ruck, and petty will return to being the #1 defender

petty's sticky mitts down the line were fantastic in the second half yesterday when he was playing fwd / ruck

Generally agree with this Re Petty and somewhat Re T Mac. In my view T Mac has done his job well enough and hasn't actually played that poorly, but not sure he's in quite the same great form that he was last season and I'm seeing more and more moments when his lack of mobility and agility makes him look like a potential liabilty. On the flip side, IMHO, he did do his job and stability and winning games are also important to us.

It's something of a luxury that all of a sudden, we have a batch of developing forwards to pick from and a legitimate developing backup for Max. Personally I don't think it would hurt us to let them keep pushing and putting together a string of form before promoting them on our tems / when the opportunity suits.

The other things that haven't really been spoken about Roo's form was just OK yesterday, but a good fight back from where he's been in recent weeks, so we need to keep the faith. Similarly I hardly noticed Mihocek in the second half, but his consistency and experience keeps him in the side for now for me. AJ also put on a pretty good display for Casey yesterday as well. I think we should be looking to unleash the beast against someone like Hawthorn, Geelong and/or Brisbane where a bit of mongral and extra edge could be important.

2 hours ago, binman said:

Agree, we have to be switched on, though I'd be beyond disappointed if we weren't (and very surprised) - we're a long, long way from being in a position to take any team lightly.

I expect we'll come out firing. Maxy in his interview on the ground after the game mentioned the bombers beating us the last 3 times in Gather round and that we owe them.

By the by, we're ay at Adelaide oval, which is aprox the same size as the G

I assumed we would be playing at Mt Barker, Clare Valley, or even in a Ceduna grain paddock, considering the disdain the AFL shows us in fixturing etc... I am genuinely surprised that we have been fixtured on the Adelaide Oval. Happy though.

28 minutes ago, Maldonboy38 said:

I assumed we would be playing at Mt Barker, Clare Valley, or even in a Ceduna grain paddock, considering the disdain the AFL shows us in fixturing etc... I am genuinely surprised that we have been fixtured on the Adelaide Oval. Happy though.

we've been on the oval every gil's round thus far

Whilst I think Laurie is likely to be replaced if we have a fit replacement I think the kid deserves 3-4 games to see if he can find a role.

Not ideal

4 hours ago, Dannyz said:

Very important to play Rivers here.

Two weeks for the knee to settle is nice and an obvious reason he didn’t play at Casey.

I’ve heard the inflammation has come right down.

He’s a talent who has been loyal and he deserves to slot back in for Laurie.

Agree, too good a player to be out of the side for long

24 minutes ago, adonski said:

Not ideal

We need to be beating Essendon regardless of their lineup.

Essendon are going to win at some stage and I just hope it's not next weekend

51 minutes ago, Rrrabit said:

Essendon are going to win at some stage and I just hope it's not next weekend

Will be entirely our own fault if we drop our guard and lose to them this week, not saying it can’t happen of course. But on talent, confidence and system we should be able to get over the line.

Thankfully we have the bombers this week

We need some percentage if we are make top 6