Leaderboard

They are moody, inconsistent and emotionally fragile… tell me where I’m wrong 😂

10 Christian Petracca (MELB) 6 Aaron Naughton (WB) 6 Ben Brown (MELB) 4 Bailey Smith (WB) 3 Clayton Oliver (MELB) 1 Ed Langdon (MELB) A little trickier to work out how the votes split by coach, this week. I make it: 5/5 Petracca 3/3 and 4/2 Naughton/Brown 4/0 Smith 2/1 Oliver 1/0 Langdon A fairly even assessment except that one coach rated Smith 2nd BOG and the other didn't rate him at all. If my split is correct I would say Beveridge gave Smith the 4. Edit: An alternative split is in @titan_uranus's post below which I'm copying here: Could also be that Naughton and Brown were both 4/2, Smith was 3/1, Oliver the other 3 and Langdon the other 1. This split looks a better reflection of the game than my first guess. On this basis the voting is more even and Smith wouldn't be 2nd BOG but even with Oliver. Leaderboard Votes Player Club 10 Patrick Cripps CARL 10 Patrick Dangerfield GEEL 10 Dan Houston PORT 10 Luke Parker SYD 10 Christian Petracca MELB 10 Matt Rowell GCFC 9 Jordan De Goey COLL 9 Patrick Lipinski COLL 9 Joshua Rachele ADEL 8 Andrew Brayshaw FRE 8 Joe Daniher BL 8 Tom Green GWS 8 Tom Hawkins GEEL 8 Changkuoth Jiath HAW 8 Matthew Kennedy CARL 8 Touk Miller GCFC 8 James Sicily HAW 6 Ben Brown MELB 6 Adam Cerra CARL 6 Luke McDonald NMFC 6 Aaron Naughton WB 6 Brandan Parfitt GEEL

Isn't it great to see Essenscum on the bottom of the ladder?

Bevo has proven many peoples belief that he has lost the plot if he rates Smith the 2nd best on ground

Ben Brown seems sad about that

100% agree. But because Rowell walked away with seemingly no injury, the AFL's broken MRO system will deem it a fine or something.

One of the big improvements in our game that I don't recall as much of last year is the little tap ons, knocks and blocks from stoppage. Petracca, Oliver and Viney are very good at this part of the game. It enables our guys to get separation from their opponent in relative space and maximise the dangerousness of clearance wins. The aim.being to get out the front of stoppage as cleanly as possible. In their glory period just under a decade ago, Hawthorn were excellent at the little taps and footy smarts in these situations forward of centre. We're becoming very good in tight in stoppages like I've never really seen before. Richmond were also good at this sort of thing, but less so at stoppages and more forward of centre like Hawthorn. I can't help thinking Yze is having a big influence here.

Small forwards are, by nature, inconsistent. They are opportunistic players and sometimes they get no opportunities to impact the scoreboard. This is what makes Spargo and Kosi such good small forwards. Because whether they are kicking goals or not, they are impacting the scoreboard with their pressure off the ball or their kicking skills going inside 50. They don’t need to hit the scoreboard themselves to help the team, which means they are never liabilities, even if they have low stats. This is an incredibly rare trait for small forwards. Compare Kosi to Weightman. Both had identical stats. 5 disposals and 1 goal. But I know who I’m taking.

And just like the grand final he creates space and opportunities for other players. Langdons opening goal is a perfect example of that and it’s really selfless play, especially for a small forward that may only get a handful of opportunities per game. Pickett created that space to allow Langdon to kick that goal and post goal you could see Langdon say something in recognition and appreciation. Zero impact on the stat sheet but a huge impact.

Not saying he had a better game than either of them, just saying it's not that crazy he was in the coaches votes. Had a pretty fair game.

He's a good player, the winner he kicked in the semi last year was gold. Needed to start running more defensively which it looks like he's been working on. Still very young, i think he'll be a good player for years to come (not Petracca, Bont, Oliver good but very good still)

Salem is not really replaceable but I would still back is to win most games and we have some decent depth players. Having Bowey to release pressure and find a free target by foot is such a luxury.

Smith is one of the most overrated footballers going around. If he did not look the way he looks and have 15 year old girls swooning over him, he would rarely be talked about.

If we kicked straight in the first or the end of the third quarter, this game would have been a demolition. Ben Brown and Fritta missed two gimmes in the third they would both usually kick. Sparrow sprayed one too on the run. And let’s not talk about the umpiring. Absolutely putrid one sided rubbish. So many “in the backs” for minimal contact to the Dogs. Gawn has his head taken in every marking contest, play on.

Other than telling them we're winning the next 3 I don't say that much. When they start frothing at the mouth I laugh at 'em from the mountain top. I did ask my Carlton supporting acquaintance who was pretty excited if he's booked in for his "Blues 2022 Rd1" tattoo though.

Brisbane impressive? If one quarter is enough then you can add Gold Coast to your list of impressive sides. Melbourne, Sydney, Carlton and Geelong the four most impressive. The first two beat known quantities (Dogs and GWS). Reserve judgment on the latter two until we see how they go in Round 2 (Richmond wasn't very good and Essendon was appalling).

Updated for two of our youngest Premiership 🏆 players: Bowey and Sparrow. Both have extended for two years until end of 2024.

Especially given how much he copes in the contest. Just about every marking contest he gets whacked in the head. But the big fella gets up and carries on like the champ he is.

Surely Rioli will get weeks for that bump on Rowell. Lined him up, late, no attempt to spoil the mark, leapt off the ground and hip to the head.

I send this to the Dons cohort often…

"Bailey, I'm rooted. I need a lie down. Can you do the coaches votes tonight? Thanks mate."

So what you're basically saying is that umpires are 15 year old girls.

I must admit I got alot of love from mates in the lead up and following the premiership. I was arguing we were going to win the premiership every year for 20 years straight and then when I realised it was likely last year I shut up and nobody could believe it. I am getting baited about back to back and a dynasty now. I'm staying quiet again for the same reason.

Fair corkie Petty must’ve copped on the calf if he’s another 3-4 weeks away. He was 3-4 after surgery in mid Feb.

How good will it be though to train Bowey or Rivers up on the Salem role. Excellent experience for those boys which may see us be even better come the business end of the year. #PositiveDemons

Mental?

Nothing at all. The silence coming from my corner these days is deafening

I love how little we have been mentioned in Mondays round reviews so far. Beating the second best team with 5 of 6 of our backline missing but it’s all about Carlton today. Magnificent

So I’m finally watching a bit of the replay on my lunch break (thank you Covid for this WFH win!). And one thing I really love is how well we play as a team. I watched a few teams on the weekend yelling and abusing teammates for bad kicks which I thought was so poor. In contrast we support one another, we group together and chat and make decisions on the field. We don’t attack, we don’t point fingers and we don’t let anything phase us. I think that is a sign of a really good team that trusts the process and trusts one another. For example third quarter, we just took the lead back. ANB gets BB and Fritta together for a chat to point our positioning. This is a guy who last year was on the trash pile and he’s now setting up forward structures. Just wonderful to watch.

I’m very glad Gold Coast won last night. Not only does it take pressure off them, it also makes it less likely that we take this game lightly. Our record against poorer sides last year was not good.

Will be interesting to see if Lever or Rivers get up for this game, or if they will give them another week. I saw Rivers is training with the main group today, albeit with his knee heavily strapped. Would rather they ensure they are both cherry ripe before playing them.

I’m confused. Are we supposed to be talking to people who don’t barrack for Melbourne? Why?

We should respect GC like we should respect all of our opponents this year. Rowell looked good last night, Miller is an A-grade midfielder, Rankine's just put up 4 goals from 23 possessions, and they have Witts back in the ruck after struggling to fill that position in 2021. Of course, they did just play West Coast's seconds, so that has to be taken into account. And we match up against GC well, we've won our last 9 against them.

I think the defenders we currently have available will actually match up well on GC. Smith will be a good matchup on Chol, Tomlinson will probably take Casboult, Hunt to Lukosius and I would play May on Rankine. Rankine is definitely the one forward they have who can go nuts, and we know May can definitely play mid size. It will also allow May to play as a third man up. I doubt very much we risk Lever unless he is 110% right to go.

They were just really grumpy about having to travel vast distances to attend the footy so late in the weekend...

Txt to my cousin who barracks for Geelong You guys were good. Could even finish 2nd this year.

Two after a guilty plea, should be used to that. That was text book of what you are not supposed to do. WCE will get some sympathy though for being out of players. If they are serious it is four, ( I don’t think they are serious). Nic Nat just can’t stay on when the game needs to be won, he sat on the pine at the worst time. Rowell was just fantastically brave.

I love it even more when other clubs aspire to be like us..

That is one of the many things l love about this team which can be summed up as “selfless football” ie the most important thing is we win and it doesn’t much matter who does what as long as the end result is success. Kossie is a classic example. He does a lot of his best work off the ball (aka his bump off the ball which led to Trac’s spinning goal from the pocket which set us alight in the grannie). He does this sort of thing all the time as well as his individual brilliance as a goal sneak. No-one at melbourne questions his importance to team success, even though individual commentators often don’t understand his value (hello David King and that light-weight Kane Cornes). Goodie knows his value..

Not a single person has seemed to realise that Kozzie put a lot of time into being a defensive forward on Caleb Daniel. When the Dogs beat us in round 19 last year, Daniel had 34 possessions, 128 AFL Fantasy Point and kicked one goal. Even in the Grand Final when the Dogs barely touched the ball for 45 minutes, he ended that game having 37 touches and 126 Fantasy Points. On Wednesday night he was kept to 26, and they weren't overly effective - only 89 fantasy points. Anyone that didn't see what Koz was doing and the role his was playing needs to watch the game again.

I've been watching most games this weekend - and texting mates along the way when their teams are playing - and I've realised what a pr*** I've become. I've dreamed of being in this situation. To my Carlton friend: I think you guys have something this year, you might make the 8 if things go well. Good on you. To my St Kilda & Essendon friends: It's only round one, don't stress too much. I'm sure you'll win a few games. To my Collingwood friend: Maybe you guys won't finish bottom four. You're looking like a 9-12 side! To my Hawthorn friend: Impressive given your outs. I think you guys are building something (this text was given with particular glee) To my North friend: Looks like you guys nailed a no1 pick with Horne-Francis, you need one or two more high picks though, so don't worry too much about this year. I could get used to this.

I don't want either of these playing until they are absolutely 100% Saying that it would be great to see both in for the Essendon game

Jaded, sure you don't mean Hunt on Rankine and May on Lukosius? Big mismatch otherwise. Hunt has the speed to match Rankine and May has the height and strength to match Lukosius.

Fair point. I just don’t like Sam Mitchell. So, any chance to take a pottie… 😁

I just ask a couple of my Bulldog supporting friends "are you sick of Petracca yet?" 😄

I think what gets to people is that Weightman, in a situation like that, always goes to ground instead of just going for the ball.

I say nothing Just leave em waiting and expecting But also, be humble

I walked the replay today and have watched a lot of round 1. There seems to be a set of rules in the ruck that solely applies to Gawn and no other ruck. Joel Smith’s game really stood out on the replay. One of our best

Why should Smith play Hibbo's role if Hibbo is playing it well like in the 2 big Finals. Hibbo is tougher more versatile snd has proven over 5 years he can mind a stronger or bigger or quicker/smaller opponents biz. Dusty Johannissen and others Cameron I believe. Until he fails in form he should remain as a first selected defender in our team. I was very pleased with Smithy's effort on Wed and he is developing in his skills in football well with more opportunity. We/ most of us have a soft spot after that practice match vs Adelaide and no one can not wish him success in his AFL journey which will also give his family a great boost. With our current elite Coaching panel I can see his development from Last year and Thursday night was a great example of this. Credit to Joel as he maintained a cool head was decisive and skilful and very unlucky with that free on Weightmann on quarter time. But let's not get carried away yet with similarities or statements that his kicking is better than our wonderful Full Back Stephan May. I actually don't think he makes the disposal errors that have been credited to him. 85/ 90% would be my card on his efficiency. Only Salem and Bowser and Spargo achieve that or more!! The greatest thrill for our Club on Thursday night was the special night for all fans ( Yes I estimate 45/50,000 were there ) closing our triumphant 2021 Flag celebrations. Added to that was the confirmation of more of the same ( with all forward line improvement evident that we can now hit the scoreboard in many different and challenging ways for our opposition, plus the team strength to maintain our superb backline defensive expertise under pressure ( after the initial shock of Salem and our lack of Centre bounce influence till the last 10 mins of the second quarter). Shades of Term3 in the Grannie without a bang bang bang! I am not sure but can't remember if we have ever been so well off in personnel or options in depth many of whom are just starting their exciting AFL careers with the the team ethos, selfless teammates and elite environment yo succeed, 1950/60's is that last time I suspect. We don't know how lucky we are really watching players of a generation like Gawny Clarry Trac Maysie Lever Lingers Viney Fritta and future stars already effecting games such as Dogga Kossie Riv Bowser and others. Never please take this for granted as many years of frustration has now been replaced by special times that only evolve with a Special Group like our 2021 heroes and their resolve for the future success.