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The real thing to point out here is that in no way is an ellipsis into an exclamation mark proper grammar.

Went to Entrecote last night for a family birthday (booked prior to the stoush). Without diminishing from the severity of the issue and noting that the place was absolutely packed with diners, I was thinking that if a fight started at this venue, it should have been for the lack of value for the fare on offer.

I reckon I’ve watched all the Casey games this year that Daw has played. He’s very slow. Rucks well enough on the tap, and offers a presence there, but just wouldn’t be mobile enough around the ground, and his marking hands are only ok. Sam Weideman has rucked plenty enough to pair up with Dogga. I don’t doubt that’s how they’ll go. What that does to the Mitch Brown out equation, hard to say. The bold version is with May back in, Petty goes forward, and Tommo gets another crack down back. Either way, Max Gawn isn’t just our most important player, he’s the most influential player in the league. Could all just be ‘deckchairs’….

A lot of people digging into Jack. Haven't read the article but I think when Jack was drafted our club was a shambles. He went through multiple years of an unstable administration that lead to changing in coaches and his career only started to turn around when Roos came on board. I don't think he is being harsh on the club for critising how bad we were during his formative afl years. He clearly had the talent, but we didn't have the structure for him to succeed. That is partly on him, but a lot on us. As a club failed him. I think if he went to a club that had its [censored] sorted his career would be much different. I don't think Trac would be the same player he is today if he went through the club at the same time Watts did. I respect Watts because he truly loved the club. He believed in our goals and bought into the club. He was pushed out because of the bad habits that probably had a lot to do with where we were at the time. You could tell he was hurt by being pushed out and his heart has always lied with the club. A bit different to JHF who is talking about leaving already one year in. I really do feel for North and their supporters as it feels like we were probably in a similar situation.

Fair enough.

Carlton and Fremantle's midfield has gone to another level of dominance and depth... If the Dees are going to challenge for a Premiership. I am adamant Gus has to be playing predominantly as a midfielder. He can dominate this position. He is the Dees trump card...!

Were entering round 14 - and at worst will finish this round in 2nd place on the ladder. To put it into context, last year we were sitting in 1st place; in 2020 (a Covid shortened season) the Tigs were sitting in 4th; in 2019 the Tigs were in 9th (yes 9th!); in 2018 WC were in 3rd; 2017 the Tigs were 6th; and in 2016 the Dogs were 7th. So from the last 6 years (I couldn't be bothered going back any further) only 1 team - and that was us!!!! has been on top of the ladder and their game in June. You don't win premierships in June. The road to success comes from not panicking - too many want to throw the whole team around or implement new systems.

I'd pay for burgess to commute from Adelaide

Gus is having his best year at HBF. Our woes in recent weeks have been due to our lack of forwards and losing key defenders in game.

Forward coach. Get the best one there is.

What is wrong with Booing Essendrug I hate that Club and always will. Windy Hill was a violent place the arrogance of those [censored]…. Wake Up fella. Were you there in 2000? Essendon disgust me…

I'd run in with a chair WWE style to help Jones in that bout.

He's not a free agent so West Coast will have to trade for him. In theory they can try and walk him through to the pre-season draft where Jackson can nominate contract terms but this rarely happens. If they finish 17th then they run the risk of North Melbourne claiming him who will definitely have the salary cap space to match. For him to go through to the PSD and nominate contract terms, Jackson would have to be a willing participant and would essentially be giving the middle finger to the club that drafted him, also his mates, and delivered him a premiership (hopefully two). It won't happen. If he wants to go home, we'll get a trade done. How favourable it is will remain to be seen. Their first round pick is non negotiable at the very least in my view.

Nope. He’s been incredible in defence this year. He’s a very talented reader of the game and an excellent mark, so being behind the ball suits his strengths, and minimises his weaknesses. Whether folks like it or not we are a process driven team. You can want to swing Petty forward, put Gus on the ball, and try Weid in the backline all you want - but the club believes strongly in consistency of role. Last year when we struggled in the middle of the year did we swing the magnets? No, we gave players time to develop their craft and learn how to get better.

1. Get Petracca back in form. He is our X-factor and when he fires we normally do too. 2. Starting owning the corridor again. Take the game on when we have it with quick, efficient ball movement. Clog up the opposition's use of corridor by forcing so many turnovers they will never want to go through there! :) 3. Move Gus back to the wing or move Salem. We don't need two quarterbacks. Would rather Brayshaw playing a role in the midfield. to support Clarry, Trac, Viney, etc 4. Fix Lever's foot and Petty's calf (?). 5. Find a way to combat Langdon tag. He's our prime mover and so much of our ball movement relies on him. 6. Threaten to delist ANB again. He is no where near as effective as last year and maybe too comfortable! 7. Get our pressure up to at least a reasonable level! ie, not 17th! 8. Keep swapping our small defenders (Bowey, Hunt, Rivers, Hibberd) around until one of them finds some decent form! 9. Kidnap Darren Burgess. 10. Learn to kick a torpedo. At least that way if you are going to bomb it into the forward line is makes it much harder for defenders to read!

The only people who boo Oliver are morons. Problem was the "G" was full of morons on monday.

Geez I’m glad Howe will never taste premiership success.

This would be utterly terrifying

We surely saw it coming. Half games and 3/4 games versus lower opposition. Not putting them to the sword. “A win is a win, albeit ugly” was the chorus. But now those warning signs of imprecise footy are flashing red. In the words of Simon Goodwin after losing to the filthy pies (3 straight losses) “There’s some pretty clear trends in the last few weeks,” “ We played with heart, we played with spirit, we had a group of players that wanted to do well for their footy club, but our method wasn’t quite to the level” “We’ll find ways to get better”. so how does our method get better? Perhaps I’ll lead off. 1. Connection inside 50 (forward of Centre). Surely it’s number 1. Our inside 50s are still very high but conversion and connection are poor. Reasons? A) Forwards Marking power. Firstly absence of Tom Mcd. Absence of strong key forward. Either marking it or bringing it to ground. Contested marking by the opposition in our forward 50 has recently never been so high. B) But what about the delivery to the forwards. High bombing skyscraper kicks are useless. Like NFL punts. Lower your eyes, look for targets, even kick to space , don’t kick to the deep forward pockets 🤮 (C) goalkicking accuracy. It’s still golden. We got away with it versus lower teams but it’s still a thorn. D) crumbing the packs and pressure. Kozzzy yes a pass mark. But he needs to stay inside 50 more than ever. Up the ground he’s ok but we need him at the foot of the forwards. Too often no one is there. Kozzzy stay in the 50. And maybe Bedford could get a run of a few games alongside Kozzzy. 2. Contested footy and Stoppage clearances yes usually our strongest point but we have been matched in this and we are getting exposed on the defensive end. I think our run and spread has dropped off with overuse of “little handballs to another player within 2 metres”. We create pressure on ourselves 3. Run and carry and be smart with the footy We have been beaten by sides playing “our Melbourne plan”. Yes hold up the mirror. Slow and chip footy until we get to 60-70 out, stop and stop and prop and then bomb it (usually to a pocket or tallest opposition defender). How does Melbourne beat Melbourne. Others show us. Run and run and create defensive pressure. Don’t allow defensive walls to form. We looked good in the burst , running. Tidy up sloppy disposal (Sparrow, ANB, Harmesy) and we’d have a few more goals. 4. Injuries and fatigue Yes we need May back desperately. Lever still doesn’t look as energetic as in 21. Petracca has struggled for several weeks and doesn’t look like the ‘21 Trac model. Surely we needed a rest v eagles or Kangas to refresh. Gawn was obviously hurt v Pies. With May back and others recovered, we have 21 of the premiership’21 team for game v Lions. We need to find our mojo. Watch the 2021 highlights and GF and you can see it. Goody and team need to showcase our best to our team. It’s there if we are still hungry enough to execute it.

End of season trip

Lure Daisy back.

Some here speak go Majak as though he isn't capable of playing at the level. He isn't Max, but he isn't a novice! In 2017 for North he averaged 16 hit outs per game. In 2018 he played 18 games and averaged 12 disposals a game. He has played a total of 54 games and kicked 43 goals. Yes, I have selected the stats that are supportive to remind posters that he isn't an untried novelty!

Yeah in a way there is some fortune needed and very fine margins between 'acceptable' and 'unacceptable'. Had Max have kicked that one against Sydney and we snuck home or if we managed to grit out an ugly win over the Pies then would we even be mentioning loading? 2-1 or even 1-2 would have masked over the debate a bit more than 0-3. It's unfortunate, I'm sure none of the coaches/fitness guys wanted it this way but if they're sticking to something because they firmly believe in it then I have no choice but to back them. They've proven themselves right before.

So why aren't the other possible flag contenders loading? We've just been beaten by 3 of them, presumably it would cancel out. (If it were happening of course ... cough, cough). Fairyland.

looking forward to some headlines next week “Time for some Majak” “Dees turn to Majak” “Dees open the Daw” Surely he comes in. Offers more than Weideman imv

Suggest the cctv available shows nothing much Insufficient evidence to overturn decision on the field... Umpires Call

If you support the MFC you are certainly not “fair weathered” or you would have left decades ago.

Don't mind Wattsy coming out with this stuff. Just goes to show it's not such a big deal really

North don't look like turning things around. Insert a couple of paragraphs about the sheer variety of ways they are a mess. Meanwhile, Horne-Francis is copping grief from all directions while under all kinds of unreasonable expectations at a club where every reputable leader is on the brink of retirement. He's in serious danger of getting the full Jack Trengove experience. No point waiting six more years to then limp home to Adelaide.

Excellent points. As dpostive correctly notes we were ahead late in all three losses. So we had our chances to scramble a win. I was really impressed by Freo's win against the hawks for this reason ie they did scramble a win when clearly fatigued. Last year we did well to scramble some wins in this period (though still went 3 losses, 1 draw and 2 wins from rounds 13 -19). The Port, Swans and Bombers games were all good examples of us winning when playing sub optimally. Unfortunately this year the outs and injuries, and in particular the in game injuries, have made things that much harder for us. For context, we were 11-2 at this same stage last year. We are 10-3 now, so in much the same position. I actually think we have played really well in all three losses given the challenges we have faced. Yes loading carries a risk in the short term in terms of losing games we might otherwise win, but we have no chance of winning a flag without loading now. Nor do the Freo, Saints, Lions or the blues (the teams fighting for a top 4 spot - no other team has realistic chance of winning the flag this year) Nothing has changed. We are the best team in the AFL. By a significant margin. That is of course no guarantee we will win this year's flag. By far the biggest determinant of success in the AFL is injury. Always has been and always will be. If we have a bad run with injury between now and the end of the season then we won't win the flag. If we have a good run with injury, i am extremely confident we will win the flag. Goody has said we are in better shape this season than last year. People can scoff all they want, but that is his stated opinion. And i'm happy to accept the word of our head coach. All the hand wringers (i don't count you in this group layzie) should harden up and have some bloody faith. Surely the club has earned that.

Another thing that is happening is the fumbling. It could be confidence, who knows, but it is becoming a real game changer, as we give up the ball when we are running forward and on rebound we then get killed. Our turnover scores for and against are now diabolical.Turn this stat around and we win our last two games.

Calm down mate. You don't cover yourself in glory on game days.