Leaderboard

He's doing just fine. Leave him alone.

I’ve mentioned it on here before, but with no crowd present, Levers leadership on field was even more noticeable. He’s the general out there, like an onfield coach similar to Luke Hodge back in the Hawks prime. Those types of leaders are worth their weight in gold. Look at how well organized we are defensively out there this year, and he’s a prime driver of that. He barely had a voice by the end of the match when Richardson interviewed him! Just a shout out to Jake. Having a great season, but also proving to be the leader we hoped he’d be.

He is a victim of the position he plays. There'll be some days where it just doesn't work for him. Overall, he's having a very good year. If he kicks 50 goals for the season he'll have done a wonderful job. That's the pace he's on now.

Rivers' turn this week. Bombers folk annoyed

I can't believe this guy attracts so much criticism here. From the Hun today (OK I know it's Mark Robinson): Melbourne’s Bayley Fritsch has played 10 games this year and kicked 25 goals, which is the second-most goals of any mid-sized or small forward behind Essendon’s Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. It is said Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman are keeping Ben Brown out of the team, but the ability of Fritsch to play as an undersized key forward means McDonald, Weideman and Brown will never – OK, rarely – play in the same forward liner. Fritsch is tied with McDonald as the most targeted forward in Melbourne’s forward line this season. Because the other big guys require key defenders as opponents, Fritsch often gets the third defender and his marking and ball smarts make him a dangerous player. He had Zaine Cordy on Friday night, and before that Jake Kelly and before that Luke Parks and Lachie Plowman at Carlton. He is currently ranked No. 9 in competition for forward 50m marks and No.1 for general forwards. What a weapon he is.

Play it at the gabba. Dees members, of which there are many up there get first crack. Then just general admission. So neutrals will come- and there will be heaps of ex vic footy fans who will up for seeing one of tbe best games of the season. So it might only be 50% lions fans. Full house. Friday night. The big light show and big game buzz. Channel 7 love it. Our sponsors love it. The team love it. All coin goes to us. Maybe 700k. The ground suits us perfectly. It is short and their forwards will have zero space. And we can trap it in our forward half. Our clean centre clearances will go 20 metres from goal. Their scrappy centre clearances will go 40 metres from goal into tbe lever zone. We will win. And make one hell of a statement. And a heap of moolah. Stay at our tweed heads qld base and play pies at the gabba too. Maybe Monday night football on the queen's birthday. Big TV ratings. Better than a Monday arvo. Plenty of pies fans up there so we will get an ok crowd again A bye the following week Can plan the mini hub perfectly. Do a mid season reset and mini camp. Bring all the players up at some point if possible. Move our gws home game to the Alice later in the year so we get that 700k. Do it dees

I've been married for so long ( 37 years) I apologise for things I haven't done yet.

Coaches Split: 5/4 Oliver and Gawn 3/1 or 2/2 Harmes/Lever 3/0 Petracca 1/0 McDonald Interesting that Beveridge said he didn't see a 28pt loss as something to worry about. That he couldn't find a single vote for any of his players in his up till then top of the ladder team, suggests he has quite a bit to worry about. Only 2 defenders on the leader board: Lever and Salem. Our defence is certainly getting a lot of respect from opp coaches. Of course May deserves to be there but there are only so many votes available.

Just like Luke Bruest. Not many rated him highly and still don’t even after 400 goals. Medium size forwards are always underrated. He will never be a power forward. He did kick 6 when north were all over us though for much of the game. He is a clever strong mark and gets himself into the weak spots of defences.

About the most natural, instinctive footballer we have, someone whose body couldn’t seem less suited to the modern game, and yet he crops up consistently, making the most of his talents. Too many ignore his positive output, yet when he has a quiet game, jump on him like a ton of bricks. Easily our most productive forward, as the numbers tell.

What a bizarre comment. Do you have something against Beavis?

Nah. You make some valid points but it's a bad idea overall. Smacks of hubris, over-confidence and pride before a fall. Why give the Lions a leg-up, they’re 8-3, their home form is very impressive. What if they beat us and it gives them a psychological advantage for later in the year. Imagine the scorn and ridicule from the media and rival fans. Why take that chance unnecessarily? The cost benefit doesn't work for me. If we can’t play them in the Alice (still my preference) then play them in Sydney.

I’m glad there’s speculation the Dees v Pies game will still be at the G, even without a crowd. Id rather play at the G in front of nobody than a pointless 1,500 at Giants stadium or Metricon stadium where finals won’t be played. We need to play as many games as possible at the home of footy in order to make the G a fortress come finals.

As incredibly disappointing and frustrating it is on a personal level, it is not worth the risk of having the game here now, there’s just too much at stake if the virus gets out here.

The only reason I believe there is a knock on him this year is his lack of defensive pressure. There have been numerous examples of opposition players stepping around him too easily with only an outstretched arm as a form of a tackle. I can't remember him chasing down an opponent (even to cause a spoil) so while I can appreciate his offensive work (which clearly he is brilliant at especially his body positioning in a contest) his lack of any defensive pressure is obvious to see.

I watch Fox Footy, never the commercial networks and they're on about us constantly. Looking forward to 360 tomorrow night and On The Couch. The latter will involve Gaz and Healy fapping each other off over our performance. Love it. David King showed a bit more down the ground footage on First Crack tonight too involving our defensive set up. He's all over us, but isn't screaming from the rooftops just yet. You can tell he's reading the stats and analysing our performances and thinking if this was just about any other team, I'd be backing them for the flag. He's still got the Dogs as his flag favourites, but if we can knock off Brisbane this week and the Dogs stumble a bit over the next few weeks, I think he might get on us for the flag too. He's just burnt by 2019. Statistically though, our defence is in world record areas for intercepts (Lever has the most intercepts to Round 11 that have ever been tracked by Champion Data as per King tonight), we're structurally really difficult to break down and almost impossible if we bring a four quarter effort. Further, as much as I hate the betting commentary that has infiltrated the media landscape this year on Fox Footy, Daisy Thomas for Sportsbet said we're now into $4.50 flag favourites. The hype is huge on FOX.

Top of the table and beating the top contender and we’re sooking about not enough media attention? Cmon guys If we got talked up lots we’ve be worried about too much attention and getting carried away. there is no hate out there. Just enjoy the win and being top. They’ll find it hard not to write about us when we make the GF!

Western Bulldogs v Melbourne 9 Max Gawn (MELB) 9 Clayton Oliver (MELB) 4 James Harmes (MELB) 4 Jake Lever (MELB) 3 Christian Petracca (MELB) 1 Tom McDonald (MELB) Leaderboard 61 Clayton Oliver MELB 50 Marcus Bontempelli WB 50 Hugh McCluggage BL 47 Touk Miller GCFC 47 Darcy Parish ESS 46 Ollie Wines PORT 45 Zach Merrett ESS 44 Samuel Walsh CARL 43 Max Gawn MELB 39 David Mundy FRE 37 Jarryd Lyons BL 36 Taylor Walker ADEL 33 Jacob Hopper GWS 33 Jack Macrae WB 33 Christian Salem MELB 32 Tim Kelly WCE 32 Dustin Martin RICH 32 Christian Petracca MELB 30 Travis Boak PORT 30 Mitch Duncan GEEL 30 Cameron Guthrie GEEL 30 Jake Lever MELB 30 Tom McDonald MELB 30 Nic Naitanui WCE Good to see that Gawn was rightfully acknowledged for what was an outstanding ruckman's game. He is now 9th overall. Oliver comfortably in front by 11 votes (61) to Bont and McCluggage both on 50. Gawn 43, Salem 15th on 33, Petracca 18th on 32, Lever and McDonald equal 21st on 30.

Jonathan Brown (On the Couch) stating that Melbourne should play this game at the Gabba for the good of the game. He thinks the fact that’s our home game is completely irrelevant.

Thanks Chook, and about time he was recognized. Not bad being on top of the ladder and having 3 rising star awards. JT is a genius.

This is the provisional draft order based on reverse current ladder position. It’s not final because clubs can still have additional picks if they nominate additional inactive players:- Rules regarding eligibility - Eligible players include: • A Player who nominated for the most recent NAB AFL National Draft. Please note: A Player who nominated for and was not selected during the Draft and who committed for a further year as a 19-year-old Northern or NGA Academy Player is available to all Clubs should they nominate for the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft. • A Player who has previously been on the list of a Club (not required to nominate for the most recent Draft) refers to the following situations: • A Delisted Player Please note: A Player delisted by a Club cannot be reselected in the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft by the same Club in the period immediately following their delisting unless they nominated for the most recent Draft. • A Retired Player and/or a Player who has delisted himself and has not been on an AFL List for one year or more. For example, a player who retired in 2020 is not able to be selected in the 2021 NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft. Players in their 18th year or younger are not eligible to be selected. Any player who does not meet the above criteria can be nominated by a representative of the AFL Talent Pathway, their AFLPA accredited agent or the player themselves and be considered for an exemption. State League Participation: Players who are selected in the 2021 Mid-Season Rookie Draft that stay in their original State are subject to the following: • They will not be permitted to play against their original Club unless otherwise agreed by all parties. • The player has the right to return to their original Club to participate in finals if their service is no longer required at their AFL Club.

The club has great faith in Spargo and who knows, one day, you might too, then we will know that miracles do happen.

There is no greater revenue generator for a footy club than a premiership. Whatever tiny advantage we can take right now, we should grab with both hands. Giving Brisbane an extra game at the Gabba, their home ground where they dominate, is just silly. Already this is a 50/50 game. Why give Brisbane an advantage, when they are coming in hot for our top 2 spot? We have some very hard matches coming up. This is one of them. There is absolutely no way I want to make it harder by playing it at the opposition's home ground, with a home crowd advantage. The last game we played interstate with a hostile crowd, was our one and only loss for the year. Lets not repeat this.

He'd walk into any other side in the competition. 40 goal forwards don't grow on trees

Arrogance? We didn't have a choice RE Cairns.

Another +1 here for coming around to the Gabba idea. I love the brazen arrogance of it. We don’t care if you’re third on the ladder and on your own dunghill, we’re not afraid and we’ve got you covered. Thanks for the gate receipts, see ya in September. Then the pies get to come visit us at our new Gabba fortress. *beats chest*

Predictable to opposition, but more importantly, predictable to us. It's just part of a game plan that has seen us go 10-1 and whilst I agree that sometimes there are some really obvious targets free, quick play from a kick in doesn't allow our defenders the time they need to setup. And that setup a massive reason in how we're choking teams atm. Can't have everything unfortunately. We don't have the list to play the dogs' style of footy and I think I've come to accept that our game is not always pretty or pleasing to the eye. But if we can win a flag through our predictable but almost bulletproof game style, it's hard to complain! It's just a [censored] pleasure to go into a game feeling like we're going to be hard to beat! Wild.

Rivers has solid stats every week but it is his energy and second efforts and spoils that go unheralded. He also stopped 2-3 certain goals for the Dogs through his smart play and clearing kicks. Gets plenty of metres with his clearances and rarely wastes the footy. Very positive outlook and hopefully we gets the nomination. Anorher excellent performance contributed to our overall team effort.

Loving the work Gus is doing on the opposite wing to Langdon. All the little things, positioning, winning/halving both ground and marking contests, he tackles with intent every time. On Friday it was the most obvious display but he's been consistently playing this role all year. As stated by Daisy he rarely loses a contest. The ball use at times has been the only knock but I think that comes out of being encouraged to be creative with ball in hand with his spatial awareness and vision. This is a player we thought might only succeed as an inside mid. Like Tmac, proving a lot of us wrong. Thought this might be a good place to discuss others favourite's for doing the little things/playing a less obvious but crucial role in this teams early success.

Well done to Daisy Pearce for nominating him during the broadcast.

I would fly interstate and suffer 2 weeks in quarantine to watch us play in a GF. Who knows when the next would be. Won't miss the first chance in over 20 years.

Again, I understand the pessimism, but I think talk of the lockdown taking 6-8 weeks and/or all of winter is unnecessarily pessimistic. We went into lockdown on Thursday when we reported 12 new cases and had 26 active cases. We went into Stage 3 restrictions last year on 7 July 2020, on a day when we reported 191 new cases and had 772 active cases. The situation right now is significantly different to the situation when we entered lockdown last year. That means the prospect of it lasting 6-8 weeks like it did last time is significantly less than it was last year.

The 3/0 split on Petracca is interesting. Was it Beveridge giving him 3 votes because you really notice him, and Goodwin thinking 'meh, just another good game, nothing special' or the other way round? I think it more likely that Goodwin gave Harmes 3 votes given the way Goodwin, May etc spoke about Harmes post-game. (BTW I don't think it's possible that Harmes/Lever were split 2/2 but my brain is hurting with the maths).

Maybe if they handed out rotten tomatoes and got Joffa to parade around the MCG in an open vehicle at half time we could attract a few more.

I won’t last 6-8 weeks of home schooling with my 7, 5 and 2yo at home ?

Indeed DubDee, in the air Fritta is as brave as they come - I don’t think he gets anywhere near enough credit for that. He also judges the ball in flight so well. He could teach the Weid a thing or two about positioning and marking. The only knock I had on him prior to this season was his set shot kicking, but he seems to have got a good and effective routine going now. Love ya work, Bayley!

An integral part of the team. Good in the air, clever and creative at ground level, and finds space. Provides balance, mobility and goal kicking ability.

I could hear him clearly on the TV. Very very demanding leader who expects 110% from everyone. I use to rate Nick Maxwell as one of the more demanding captains going around at the time they won the 2010 flag. He was very directive and vocal and it was as clear as daylight. Those types of leaders are absolutely just worth their gold.

Also his inconsistency, his poor games are horrendous, if he could improve his defensive pressure & consistency he could be a 60+ forward

I think McLuggage could well be in Harmes Crosshairs this week, and if so he may end up spending a fair bit of time on the wing I reckon it's gotta be Tom Sparrow who comes in though

Yeah, I like the quiet approach. Let them talk about Essendon as if they’re the best team in the world.

Salem’s other role is team hairdresser

You would assume wrong. another frustration is for the Santa Teresa community who were going to get a visit from some at the Demons to open the newly grassed oval that that this week had the goal posts from the MCG installed. Saw them Friday, they look brilliant.

May is kicking to the Langdon wing ie our attacking side. Whether the ball is marked or it comes to ground we can set up to take the ball fwd. How often do we see the end to end ball movement with overlap handballs involving Langdon with Salem or Hunt. Gus on the other, defensive, wing is rarely seen in those overlap runs. For mine, as long as that system works May can continue kick ins to the left.

The thing that sticks in my head is a post match interview is Gawn saying “Lynden Dunn kicked a torp to the middle. Unfortunately he forgot to tell us he was going to do it.” I saw another quote from a player (didn’t hear it first hand) which might have been ANB, saying their forward connection has improved because they’ve had years of learning where each of the forwards wants the ball kicked, and that they haven’t developed that with BBB yet. What that tells me is that players want predictability from their teammates. Rather than being a negative, it’s a must have. The players receiving the kick-in have to know how and where to set up. It doesn’t necessarily mean he has to kick in exactly the same way every time, but the playbook can only really have a couple of items in it, otherwise it will be too complicated and hard to get right. The way the opposition set up from one of our kick-ins is going to be largely determined by how we set up anyway. Their backs will position their wall wherever they want, but their mids and forwards are just going to go wherever our mids and defenders go, because they know that’s where the ball will go, irrespective of whether they knew it in advance or not.

How many came straight back? The kick out seems to be doing ok. If we mark it or win the contest we are away, otherwise we lock it in. The open side has less players to do this, and the chance of interception and return are higher.