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From this point on we went to a level not seen for a long time. Picture Kozzie playing along with Byron in that era. He hurts.

I thought he was very good on Thursday. I tend to watch him closely off the ball. I have never seen anything like his chasing. He sprints even when it is likely the ball will be gone. His pressure and inferred pressure is outstanding.

Kysaiah Pickett could show no further improvement for his entire career and still never be out of the best 22 of a premiership-contending side. Also, he's still just 21, and definitely showing signs of continuous improvement.

This Package deserves discussion. This is such an incredible effort by our 2IC Jack was brutal and focused for 4 Quarters. It is relentless. AFL Players play like this for a Quarter and get praised and rightly so. Jack did it all night, even in the last Quarter This is one of the greatest efforts from 1 player in the History of the MFC I am so proud of him Thanks for this Edit Mighty

Coming home on the train last night after the Geelong v Richmond match I overheard two Richmond supporters. Tiger 1: "You know I reckon we can beat Melbourne" Tiger 2: "Yep, if Gawn, Petracca, Oliver, Viney, May, Lever and Jackson are all out we are a real chance"

Scott - We had the flu and covid and a tummy bug but we're not making excuses because we've been loading and Tom Stewart was missing and Selwood was scared of Viney and May is a bully and Max is too tall and I won't mention Oliver and Petracca are too good. The quarters are too long which isn't fair and we only got double the frees! I mean what are the AFL thinking, we are Geelong where is our new training facility and home ground advantage? It's a conspiracy! But no excuses from me.

Factually incorrect, I'm afraid. Caroline Wilson has been a Sports Journalist for 40 years including 18 years as chief football writer at 'The Age'. She has also appeared on radio and TV and has won several awards for her journalism. These are facts, not opinion.

TURNING ON THE HEAT by KC from Casey The Casey Demons headed north to taste some Queensland sunshine and despite having to leave out skipper Mitch White who was stricken with the flu, they had little trouble in turning on the heat and disposing of finals contender Gold Coast. The Demons were dominant from the very start with exciting young key forward Jacob Van Rooyen on fire early and Mitch Brown destroying the Suns with his marking and leading despite his erratic kicking for goal. By the time newcomer Ryan Valentine goaled with his first kick at the 20 minute mark of the opening term for Casey’s fifth on the trot, the Suns looked completely demoralised. They were down by 34 points at the first break and then Brown put his kicking boots on after kicking 5 behinds to bag four goals. His half time tally was one point more than the home side’s 4.5 which had them trailing by 55 points. And it didn’t end there with the Demons ramming home another eight in the third quarter to underline their complete mastery over an enthusiastic but far less skilled and disorganised opponent. They pulled up a little in the final term providing the crowd with half an hour of junk time before they cantered to a 76 point victory that left them two games and percentage clear of the next best on the VFL ladder. Apart from the two key forwards, the Demons were well served by the usual suspects in Jake Melksham, Kade Chandler, Luke Dunstan and Jayden Hunt who, based on their respective performances could easily come into most AFL teams. They were a cut above the standard of their opposition in the game played in this paddock outside the main facility at Carrara. The Demons have the luxury of being able to nurture their young talent in the VFL. Besides Van Rooyen, Bailey Laurie and rookie Andy Moniz-Wakefield had some special moments during the course of the game. The Casey contingent blended in well with Jack Bell holding up his end in the ruck in the absence of Majak Daw. Riley Baldi and White’s replacement Roan Steele (two goals) were good again, Jimmy Munro led from the front and Matt Buntine was more than handy. Next Saturday sees the team head back home to cooler weather and Casey Fields for a clash against an improving Port Melbourne. CASEY DEMONS 7.6.48 12.12.84 20.15.135 21.17.143 GOLD COAST SUNS 2.2.14 4.5.29 8.9.57 9.13.67 Goals Casey Demons M Brown 6 J Van Rooyen 3 Chandler Melksham Steele 2 Baker Grey Laurie Moniz-Wakefield Munro Valentine Gold Coast Suns Oea Sexton 2 Corbett Day Faulkhead Hollands Nicholls Best Casey Demons M Brown Van Rooyen Chandler Melksham Bell Baldi Gold Coast Suns Atkins McPherson Constable Moyle Statistics Oskar Baker 1 goal 2 behinds 14 kicks 10 handballs 24 disposals 8 marks 2 tackle 102 dream team points Riley Baldi 1 behind 9 kicks 6 handballs 15 disposals 7 marks 3 tackles 70 dream team points 
Jack Bell 5 kicks 5 handballs 10 disposals 1 mark 18 hit outs 48 dream team points Mitch Brown 6 goals 6 behinds 17 kicks 4 handballs 21 disposals 10 marks 1 tackle 130 dream team points
 Matt Buntine 6 kicks 5 handballs 11 disposals 5 marks 1 tackles 42 dream team points Kade Chandler 2 goals 1 behind 10 kicks 10 handballs 20 disposals 6 marks 6 tackles 101 dream team points Luke Dunstan 17 kicks 8 handballs 25 disposals 2 marks 3 tackles 74 dream team points 
Corey Ellison 3 kicks 1 handball 4 disposals 11 dream team points George Grey 1 goals 2 behinds 7 kicks 3 handballs 10 disposals 3 marks 1 tackle 49 dream team points Jayden Hunt 11 kicks 9 handballs 20 disposals 6 marks 2 tackles 79 dream team points 
Bailey Laurie 1 goal 1 behind 10 kicks 11 handballs 21 disposals 4 marks 6 tackles 95 dream team points
 Judd McVee 6 kicks 9 handballs 15 disposals 4 marks 1 tackle 53 dream team points
 Jake Melksham 2 goals 1 behind 15 kicks 6 handballs 21 disposals 5 marks 2 tackles 94 dream team points Andy Moniz-Wakefield 1 goal 7 kicks 1 handball 8 disposals 1 mark 1 tackle 40 dream team points
 James Munro 1 goals 4 kicks 5 handballs 15 disposals 3 marks 9 tackles 1 hit out 95 dream team points
 Trent Rivers 13 kicks 6 handballs 19 disposals 4 marks 2 tackles 72 dream team points Fraser Rosman 10 kicks 4 handballs 14 disposals 5 marks 50 dream team points Deakyn Smith 5 kicks 6 handballs 11 disposals 4 marks 2 handballs 44 dream team points Roan Steele 2 goals 1 behind 11 kicks 6 handballs 17 disposals 5 marks 1 tackles 77 dream team points Adam Tomlinson 20 kicks 2 handballs 22 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 79 dream team points
 Ryan Valentine 1 goal 2 kicks 6 handballs 8 disposals 2 tackles 1 hit out 31 dream team points Jacob Van Rooyen 3 goals 1 behind 10 kicks 7 handballs 17 disposals 5 marks 1 tackle 4 hit outs 88 dream team points
 Taj Woewodin 13 kicks 4 handballs 17 disposals 5 marks 3 tackles 74 dream team points

The only thing worse than a Geelong V Carlton GF would be a Geelong V Essendon one. Either of those teams winning would be tragic. I’d have to leave the country for a bit

Andy Moniz-Wakefield has been terrific all year. He will definitely play some good footy in years to come.

Hardeman was a great footballer, McStay is a good honest battler.

Watched a good amount, and this was a very bizarre low disposal game. Mitch Brown on 20 disposals, but midfielders only in the teens, and yet was a complete domination, everybody played well. Much sharing!

The thing that annoys me is that the bump probably decides the game. A key mid is out for the game replaced by a ruck. Stewart gets 29 touches and the Cats win AFL. Need to consider a red card type rule for off the ball hits like this. It’s simply unfair

Was nervous this was an injury thread.. Let's not be surprised or Picketts intent hurt people when he tackles. I mean, he's uncle is Byron Pickett lol

Typical Cats, trying to get on the front foot to spin the whole thing. I couldn't care less about Stewart's "apparently" amazing ability to refocus and impact the game in the later stages or that he's such a great guy and didn't mean it. He could have meant it and nobody would be the wiser. Also, how about Prestia's opportunity to impact the game, he could easily have been the difference in that game. Anybody would think Stewart was the victim, the way the media bang on about it. Sorry, Scott and the Cats [censored] me to tears.

She mentioned the ‘fabulous crowd’ on Saturday on 3AW, and said well done to Melbourne supporters ‘especially considering Richmond only got 21k a few weeks prior.’

He is a gem. All of the Pickett bloodline brilliance and toughness, strong sense of playing fair and elite defensive efforts. I am so, so happy we drafted him. Could become one of the all time greats.

I loved his game but that highlights package doesn’t do it justice. His influence isn’t portrayed as overly clean and meaningful to the untrained eye. His brute strength and will to win the ball and move it forward was pretty bloody impressive. ❤️💙💪

100%. It was a coward act and he should get penalised to the full extent. Hits like that can end careers. What if that was Gus or Paddy McCartin? Time for a statement punishment I think to really drive the point home that you cannot go past the ball and bump and expect a few weeks. Bumps past the ball with a concussed player should be 4 weeks minimum and an additional 1 week for every extra week (after the 12 days) the concussed player misses out due to ongoing concussion symptoms (max 12 weeks)

Glad they had such a great win for you mate.

Because he retired in 1998 and is now a rotund 57 year old?

The quote from the linked AFL article is from the journo (Troy Daniel). As far i as know Scott has NEVER said they upped the 'player’s training loads in between the Bulldogs and Eagles fixtures". And certainly didn't in the presser Daniels references. Nor does Scott mention a 'heavy training block over the break'. That is a complete fabrication from Daniels, at least based on the comments that Scott made in the presser, which is what the article is about. The best that could be said is that Daniels innocently interpreted Scotts comments as meaning that the cats upped the 'player’s training loads in between the Bulldogs and Eagles fixtures' and that they had a 'heavy training block over the break' . But that is being generous, because whilst the interpretation MIGHT be true, Scott did not make EITHER comment. At worst Daniels is making stuff up to suit an AFL narrative - nothing to see here, loading isn't a thing, every game is a cracker with poor performances being part of the rhythm of a season etc, etc. It is not Daniels job to interpret meaning, it is his job to report accurately what was ACTUALLY said. Did you listen to what Scott said in the post march presser, or read the direct quotes from him in the article? This is exactly what he said (spoiler alter - there is NO mention of upping the loads between the Bulldogs and Eagles fixtures or a 'heavy training block over the break' - the closest thing he mentions is 'the middle period of the year' - and it more tban a bit a stretchto intetptet thst as meaning a two week period): “It’s what we do through the middle period of the year, but we’re doubling down even more than we have done in previous years,” he said post match on Saturday. “We might cost ourselves a little short term but we’re going to try and set up our program to be at our best when it counts “If we finish ninth because we try to prime ourselves to be at our best later in the year, then we’ll live with that. “We haven’t been able to execute that over the last few years anyway. I don’t think that’s a reason to change that philosophy, it’s a reason to do it better.

Thank god you linked the original and best version of this song (the original), and not the Nazareth cover which too many people think is the original.

Can we change the thread title to Koz hurts. Then we can sing it to this tune:

The filth getting rolled by GWS would top off the round nicely. Very nicely indeed !!

That's exactly right. Our game plan, our 'method' as Goody has been calling it, is completely dependent on players doing the sort of all team gut running and covering the sort of distances we saw on Thursday night. Our offence is completely dependent on that all team gut running. Take it away and our scoring falls off a cliff. The same is true of Freo. But not of Carlton or the Cats We saw the difference to our offence on Thursday night. Brown played better, but was no star. Same goes for weed. Our three genuine talls (Brown, weed, jacko) could only manage two goals between them (and ironically Jackson's goal was from a ground ball get, not a mark). Yet, we pulverised the lions, kicked 16 goals, our inside 50 to score ratio was off the charts and we took 14 marks inside 50 to their 8 (a function of of our all team, gut running creating free players inside 50 - a good example is the possession chain that ended with a pass from Jackson to spargo inside 50 - he had 2 or 3 free players he could have kicked to) Which shows how shallow much of the media analysis is, and how unhelpful it is in terms of helping fans understand what is happening. As an example, montagna diagnosis of what was going wrong was our forward line, and in particular our talls, was not functioning. But that was a symptom, not a cause. At least partly based on that analysis, he suggested there is a chance we could miss the 8. I know he probably said that to create clicks, but I mean c'mon - if you are a fan thinking the wheels have fallen off after 3 losses and trust his judgement you are perhaps going to believe his nonsense. Take our all team gut running away and our 'method' simply does not work. As many posters noted, we often seemed so stagnant and moved the ball so slowly in our 3 losses. I have no doubt that was both a direct function of the impact of loading (ie tired) and also a mitigation strategy (ie conserve energy and try to stay in games by taking the speed out of it, and try and limit getting exposed on the spread and/or with fast ball movement the way all 3 opposition teams ultimately did). Two other variables to consider in terms of the impact of loading are age profile of the list and athlete types. The performance of younger players like Jackson will likely be impacted more by heavy training blocks than seasoned players like gawn. Jackson struggled big time last year in this phase, and again this year. Gawn, not so much. As -coach- noted, there are power players like trac and runners like nibbler and langdon. Each type will have different programs and will be impacted differently by the loading they do. Anyone watching could see trac lacked his usual power and drive away from the contest in our three losses. Equally, they could see how much more dynamic, energised and powerful he was on Thursday. Same is true of viney, harmes, oliver and sparrow We allow opposition teams to bring an extra, sometimes two, to stoppages. We rarely match that extra (i don't think we have done so once this season), instead relying on our inside bulls to at least halve the contest or if we lose it, put pressure on the clearing disposal. Doing so means we can play our extra as a loose down back. Again, this is a key part of or method as when on we intercept down back and slingshot forward. The method breaks down if Trac, Oliver, viney, harmes and Sparrow are down on power and strength. We lose more clearances, but perhaps more significantly we can't put our normal pressure on and opposition teams get out the front of stoppages and/or cleaner, unpressured entries inside 50 as a result. Conversely, when fatigued, when we do win a clearance we lack our normal drive and power from the contest, meaning our clearing kicks and handballs are often under pressure, which causes the sort of turnovers and high number of opposition intercept marks we saw in the three losses. Again, if we look at the stats as symptoms not cause, we can see the impact in the numbers. We are the best team in the AFL for scores off turnovers - it is a critical element of our method. In our three losses our scores from turnovers fell off a cliff. On Thursday night we scored 77 points from turnovers. I thought it was a real insight into Goody's coaching philosophy that he not once looked to match the opposition's extra at stoppages in our three losses.

That's a great word. Well played !! 'Crotchety' is not bad either, but not as good as 'pernickity'.

Mcstay is currently our most likely target — would be fitted in without losing anything other than fringe ie Hunt, Brown Retirement & Melksham moving on. Amon will be tougher but word is we are easily his pref destination esp with Brayshaw moving to HB so watch this space — will depend on what occurs but if we somehow lose Jackson then the space is there if we keep him we will need to move on all aforementioned and likely 1 more like Baker as well.

One thing I have been wanting to see the last few weeks was an intent to tackle to hurt opponents. All within the rules, but statement tackles. Was so pleased Thursday. Picket tackles in a way that opponents are always keen to know where he is on the ground.

He layed some ripper bumps on Thursday. Was great to watch.

Her appearance???

Viney's game was an absolute ripper, but i also really liked Bedford's game. He'd have to be pretty close to being a permanent selection now Bedford, just about every full game he's player this year he's been excellent. Weid did ok without setting the world on fire. Maysy is just so important to the way we play. Wasn't exceptional last night and he had that massive clanger kick that resulted in a easy goal against the play, but you can tell he's just such a steddying influence on our defence. Clarry was Clarry and the more I watch him, the more you see those brilliant hand passes and subtle knock ons that so often end in goals that would otherwise have ended in a stoppage or turnover. Harmes Jimmy Jordan and Tommy Sparrow also continued their great seasons. That goal marked over the goal line of Harmesy's was karma for that one Tommy Mac stole off him by marking it on the line!

People often credit Max's leadership with our flag, but it's pretty clear to me that between them, Jack and Max make a pretty dynamic duo. I think Jack deserves to be captain in his own right again some day and think he'd do a great job of it too.

The Captain just set the Agenda for the Run Home

To go from being pummeled and struggling to walk to laying a bone crunching tackle in the last says a lot about the guy. He makes Chuck Norris look like a pansy.

The most important distinction between caro and 90% of tbe other other nongs paid to discuss football is tbat she is a trained and super experienced journalist.

His mental health issues? What are they? Not ADHD obviously, because that is not a mental health issue, it is a neurodevelopmental disorder. And blaming it for his behaviour is pathetic, and insuting to people with ADHD and similar neuro diverse conditions.

You can if you dont bomb it in. I actually think it also works just as well if not better with Gawn resting forward as the second tall. The 4 smalls meant ANB and Spargo could continue to play higher almost mainly wing/back half connectors and Pickett and Toby could play more mid to forward 50.

"Greivous Angel" is one of my all-time favourite albums and still sounds great today. It's a shame that Gram Parsons is not more widely recognised.

I usually try to avoid father/son comparisons but jeez that would be epic to see Jack vs Todd in his prime. The universe would probably implode such would be the impact of them coming up against each other! Jack took the dropping of the captaincy like an absolute champ and now that he has it back (if only temporarily) he has gone to beast mode x10.

I agree, His father was a determined, see ball get ball type. Jack has all those attributes but his game on Thursday night went to another level. He has brought the fear factor into the heads of any opposition players for a long time who watched that game.

Acquire all tapes of the Friday night game against Freo where Modra kicked 10 and burn them.

Caroline Wilson is not a Sports Journalist. She is a person of limited intellect, a reasonable but not particularly impressive vocabulary, arrogant disposition and she has an extremely large chip on her shoulder which seems to boil down to being generally unappealing in both tone and appearance.

Handy that Tom Stewart will miss our round 17 game with suspension (unless he somehow gets 1 week) No change this week unless someone has a niggle. Don’t rush Max this week with a 5 day break between Adelaide and Geelong. We need to somehow find a happy medium between getting the 4 points against Adelaide but not going “Bull at a gate” like we did against Brisbane, considering we have the toughest assignment in footy 5 days later.

Another player that is easy to underestimate is Charlie Spargo - he was instrumental in 3 goals in addition to the one he kicked. Love what he brings.

As I have said before, Hibbo is only noticed after he matches up with a big name player like Franklin, Martin or Cameron and renders them impotent. When he plays against lesser lights his efforts go under the radar because his work is usually just boringly efficient. The only decline I see is that his kicking skills are not as good as they once were but he has compensated in other ways.

I love it how everyone knows there should be no change but everyone loves to change things. The only best 22 player outside that side that could be available at any point soon is Gawn. Whilst his ankle may be better sooner than expected he was already carrying a dodgy back. We should be doing all we can to freshen him up until he is cherry ripe and champing at the bit for the rest of the run home and finals.

Wilson is brilliant IMHO. Do I always agree with her? No. Does she sometimes get it wrong? Yes. Who amongst us hasn't made mistakes? We're all keyboard heroes to some degree, including QD. Pointing out the errors of others whilst being reluctant to admit our own is par for the course online. She has been brilliant in holding the often nefarious VFL/AFL to account for decades. She used to get suck into Oakley and Vlad on a regular basis. And as for the morons in clubland . . . she's been superb. For example: the hypocrisy of the Swans whinging while benefitting from COLA, draft concessions and AFL handouts to recruit stars, the series of completely dysfunctional administrations at Linton Street over five decades, with a spectacular highlight (hard to pick one admittedly) being the duplicitousness fiasco involving Blight (thanks for all the headlines Minibus), she was the first to go after the Golden Child at Windy Hill before it became popular game fishing, she couldn't stand the Elliott cheating regime at Royal Parade, she chased down the Crows in 2018, called out the finger up-the-date debacle at Bunt Road for exactly what it was, she went ferreting after Meth Coke, and called out the sanctimoniousness at the Filth on a monthly basis. And finally, I would say this. If she is talking over Triple Chins, I am not surprised. She has been subjected to, and had to put up with, sexism, prejudice, misogyny, behind the hand sniggers, and white male 'right to entitlement' at all levels of the game for a long time. How she has survived it is amazing. She must be a strong person. She has had to interrupt to be heard over the egocentric, self-important, arrogant and attention seeking FWs for a long time. Wilson has played a huge part in paving the way for a greater role for women in the game. Her legacy is assured.

Amongst a sea of utter nonsense perhaps she’s ok. The standards of the afl media are the lowest of low. There is no genuine football analysis anywhere, just inflamed opinion, high horse editorialising, cheap, shallow points on the game disguised as analysis. She hates Melbourne, refuses to ever bash Richmond and she really doesn’t report on the game. Just the “saucy” stuff outside the actual game. Which I wish the afl media would stop. It is they who create endless problems for players. Most afl “stories” aren’t really stories. They are the media yapping at each other. The industry doesn’t need half of it. Oh and she absolutely wreaks of entitlement, but a lot of the industry does.