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Petracca was best on ground. Petracca had 5 goal assists. To put that in perspective, Joel Selwood's career high from his 355 games is 4. And we all know how Geelong liked sharing it around in their dominant years. Dustin Martin's career high is also 4. None of the other 45 players who took the field had more than one. Petracca also had an equal high clearance game, was second in contested possessions with 15, had a game high score involvements (12 - next best 9), and the most metres gained of any player.

These sorts of wins are what should set our H&A season up. If you’re expecting flawless football and 100-point wins you’re not thinking right. We are winning games by comfortable margins while actively experimenting - we are trying new things forward of the ball with personnel and structure and we are learning how to score from sources other than stoppage. Imagine what happens when we settle. Yes, we need to show that we can produce good football against Port (and Collingwood, and Brisbane, and Geelong), but to be banking wins whilst developing in front of our eyes is precisely what we should all be demanding from this part of our fixture. Not 100-point wins.

I don't think Rivers is getting enough love for the outstanding season he is having.

Too bloody right. I have made this point many times, so apologies for the repetition. I'm a punter, but I'm not trying to promote punting. Forget tipsters and so called experts, the line in football betting is by far the best representation of the relative strength of two opponents and the best most accurate predictor of the likely winning and losing margins. It the closest thing to an objective prediction there is. Thousands of individuals all making an assessment on a likely margin. But not pontificating - putting their money where their mouth is. Millions of it. And that includes professional punters, whose money makes up the majority of the betting pool and who only remain pros by being correct more often than not. The line in our game was 42 points. We almost had that covered by the end of the first quarter. Now, some might say we should have therefore won by 100 plus points and smashed past the line. But that is not how footy works. It is rarely so linear. Take last night's blues dogs game. I backed the dogs to win (it was even money, so the line was 0.5 points). I also backed them to win by 40 plus points. Halfway thru the third when the dogs went up by 5 goals and the blues having only scored 1 goal, it looked for all the world like I was going to win both bets - certainly the win. But I know from bitter experience that the more likely scenario is it would go back towards the line. Which it did. And so it was in our game. Having backed the dees at the 42 point line, the bet was seemingly in the bag by half time. But at the start of the last quarter it was well and truly back in play. In fact we had fallen behind it. We ended up beating the line by 2 goals - which is statistically significant. But more the point, leaving aside people's 'feel' for how the game should have played out after half time, it indicates that we surpassed the well informed market prediction of this game. In other words, people's feeling about the game notwithstanding, it was an impressive win - albeit not the greatest watch. It's worth lining up pre game predictions on this site with post game lamentations. Few would have been unhappy with a 54 point win. Some might have even worried we would take them too easily and have a shock loss or a scrappy win. But because we so thoroughly thrashed them up to half time some of the post match commentary suggests the second half was a failure because we didn't double our half time lead or run away with it. Poor in the second half, didn't keep going, exposed our issues, we get smashed in clearances, how could we let the hawks mids dominate yada yada yada. So a 54 point win suddenly becomes a disappointment. But all that happened was the score reverted to the line. As goody said in his presser, it is not possible to keep an AFL team scoreless - every team will have a period in a given match where they get the momentum. And interestingly, we actually only had two less scoring shots in the second half than we did in the first half. Honestly, some people need to get a grip. We have had a VERY tough fixture in terms of travel and breaks between games. And we have gone into two games losing a critical, senior defender right before the game - not to mention losing our most important player for three of our nine games. Seven wins from nine games, with a percentage of 143 - 22 points ahead of the media's darling the pies, all while still experimenting with roles, structures and systems and not looking for perfection. By any measure - well except those used by some dees fans - we are travelling very well. And whilst we travel on a six day break this week, after that we have three consecutive games at the MCG, the bye then play the cats down in Geelong. Meaning we stay in Victoria until round 16 at the beginning of July. So, six weeks without having to travel. The hardest part of the home and away season is behind us after the Port game.

The temperature dropped really dramatically between the first and second quarter and there was a bit of dew. It made the ball and the ground slippery. I think that contributed to the fumbling. On JVR you can just tell from the small bits of play that he’s going to be a player. He has such a good attitude. He loves to compete and isn’t shy about asserting himself in a contest. He played higher up yesterday when Petty was off and did well to position himself in dangerous spots. Finished with 14 touches and 5 marks plus a goal. That’s a really good performance for a kid in his 7th game who just went through the week from hell.

Do you mean the free kick in front of goal where he was pushed into the legs of a player?? And we’re dropping Fritsch again are we? What’s the weather like outside?

It won’t happen Hunter is an elite endurance athlete and covers so much ground. He is incredibly underrated.

I actually like going to a game against one of the lesser clubs like Hawthorn. Plenty of seats in General Admission and on the train, generally relaxed atmosphere. You know, I really posted this so I could get in that 'lesser club' jibe at Hawthorn's expense. Happy days.

He was EASILY in our top 6 Hunter playing very good footy

Agree, from watching Hunter live the running he does is incredible. And bobs up in good spots. Don’t think he’ll be getting dropped anytime soon.

Yes, I agree with you. They should all be dropped. Langdon was particularly disappointing. Only 22 possessions, 8 marks, 1 goal and 306m gained.

Fair dinkum. It’s time for Christian to go, he’s lost all objectivity. Not to mention the plot.

Melbourne win by: 1-30 Phew, embarrassing we nearly lost that one, we are so lucky. 31-60 Uninspiring, underwhelming. 61+ Other teams were Witches hats. I just think it’s a bloody tough competition and opponents will get a roll on at some stage of the game. It’s inevitable. We were good enough to not let the Hawthorn momentum cause any major concern because the damage was already done. For clarity the bottom 3. Hawks average losing margin is 47.4, Eagles is 52.5 and North is 50.

The FD can't really win with some supporters. Last year, many bemoaned that there wasn't more rotation of the squad. This year, we're clearly rotating in game and still winning comfortably, and now supporters aren't happy that we're only just winning clearance and only winning by 9 goals at round 9. Look at Geelong last year. They were 5 wins, 4 losses to the same point in the year. They had a softer draw in the second half of the year, with majority of games down at their funny shaped ground. By the end of Round 10, we'll have travelled interstate 5 times in 10 games. Whatever happens next week, we'll have a better record than Geelong last year. Patience is a virtue. It doesn't always pay off in footy, but the FD are on the right track IMO.

Adelaide's currently leading St Kilda 31-7 so let's assume Adelaide wins and passes Carlton into 8th. The top 8's record to Round 9 vs the top 8: Collingwood - 4-1 Port Adelaide - 3-2 Adelaide - 2-2 Brisbane - 2-2 Geelong - 1-1 Melbourne - 1-1 St Kilda - 1-3 Bulldogs - 1-3 So only Collingwood and Port have winning records against the top 8. Like Geelong, we've only had 2 opportunities and have split them 1-1. But interstate travel-wise, we've had 4 road trips to date, compared to St Kilda's 2, Geelong's 2, Collingwood's 2, the Dogs' 3, Adelaide's 3 and Port's 4. That's right, only Brisbane in the top 8 has had more games out of their home state than us. And we have a 5th next week, whilst Brisbane are at home, meaning that through 10 rounds we'll have done the equal-most travel of all top 8 sides, inclusive of three interstate sides. None of this means we're certainties to romp it home after next week but it's important context.

Round 9 banner, front… Round 9 banner, back… Those of us who made this banner got to sign a card for Maysie’s 200th which was stuck on the banner and carefully removed afterwards and given to him. ❤️💙

"Yartapuulti" obviously !

True but you can only beat what's in front of you. We have a proper bloc of games from here to the bye. Port, a resurgent Freo, Carlton and Pies. We'll know a lot more after those games.

I think people like to complain. They forget that we are watching a team that would match it with any side in the modern era. The team has 10 genuine AA players. This might never be replicated again in our lifetimes. make the most of it. Cherish every moment

How can Christian grade it as high contact if you cannot see the end result in the vision? Just a guess? Staggering. If that is the only vision that exists we should appeal and Christian will look like an absolute goose. Be a shame for Sparrow to miss a game in front of his family in Adelaide.

and sack christian

Also, Dwayne Russell pandering to a perceived audience makes me want to vomit. He is such a sycophant.

Absolute drivel. Hunter was terrific yesterday. What I liked was he played a more contested game this week. Attacked the ball and the man with more ferocity than the previous week. Gave a couple of frees away but i don't mind that.Number of people game him votes.

Agree. But Lyon seemss to bend over backwards to appear that he is not favouring MFC (which is annoying). Can't say the same for the others.

I reckon you're being a bit tough on him. He had 10 possessions and 210m gained. He's not a showy player. Just plays his role and contributes to team performance.

Good win, just wish we'd stop fumbling so much and handballing to people's feet. Best game Petty had played as a forward. Rivers is a gun. JV7 bulldozing is a sight to behold. Pig is still a great player. PA game will be heart in the throat stuff I reckon.

Did not see this young man coming at all! It’s an incredible transformation over the course of a year at the club. A lock down back pocket who is assured, polished and classy with ball in hand. He frees up Bowey and Rivers to be more attacking. We may have found an absolute gem.

It looked very good in the first half. Petty was playing the perfect CHF game we’ve needed. Not sure who will come in for him if he’s out but it’s super frustrating he had just put together a fantastic half

Ben Brown needs to come back in, forward line structure isn’t as good as it could be right now.

I don’t have it in me to go another 5 rounds with the tribunal and appeals board 😂

Give it a rest demonsterative. Lots is said on here others don't agree with. Most let it go.

Agree with the spirit of your post entirely. Just on your last line though, I would qualify it by saying the hardest part of the H&A season in terms of travel/venues/breaks is behind us after this week. But in terms of opposition, it begins this week. Ou next 8 games are Port Adelaide (away off a six day break), Fremantle (we lost to them last year and they may have turned a corner in the last few weeks), Carlton (off a six day break), Collingwood, Geelong (in Geelong), GWS, St Kilda and Adelaide. GWS is the only one of those sides who isn't currently considered a challenger for at least 8th (assuming they don't beat Collingwood today that is).

I thought the Hawks looked threatening early. Then the game started.

Sparrow is going along very nicely I think. Applied a lot of pressure especially early.

Dropping Sparrow?????? Tough call I reckon.

Gawn - imposing all game Petracca - best afield again Oliver - dynamic but wasteful May - impassable all game Rivers - mopped up impressively Bowey - calm when challenged McVee - temperament belied experience Lever - excellent first half Hibberd - dynamic first half Chandler - was rarely sighted Pickett - exciting in bursts Fritsch - rarely got involved Neil-Bullen -just a game Sparrow-some important touches Viney - 4 consistent quarters Grundy - rarely imposed himselF Hunter - take first options Brayshaw - strong and reliable Petty - excellent until injured Spargo - typical Spargo game Jordon - had some involvement van Rooyen - couldn’t get involved Langdon - better second half

Somewhere right now Michael Christian is settled back in a Chesterfield armchair, puffing on a Havana cigar, swirling a generous slurp of brandy in a balloon glass, thinking "yes, indeed ... revenge IS best served cold ..."

I call BS (based on this vision). Christiansen unhappy that JVR got off. Sparrow is trying pull him down in the tackle - not sideways. The sling is a result of two players moving in different directions initiated by Day’s rotation trying to break the tackle.

Overrated because he came from another club? Perhaps the opposite is more accurate. Some strange animosity towards him on this site. Regularly plays well.

After watching our game last night, pushing in the back with both hands appears now to be completely legal. It's just against the spirit of the game to see a player well positioned in front of his opponent to be just shoved completely out of the contest. And, it's dangerous. It will lead to a serious collision with some shoved headfirst into a contest. I'm watching our players do it now and I don't blame them. Everyone is getting away with pushing in the back. At some point the media will point it out and the. There'll be a weekend of pushing in the back free kicks before it's forgotten about again. Frustrating for everyone involved. Why did they allow hands in the back in the first place? It was obvious the likes of Hawkins, Lynch etc were going to exploit it.

This is a hugely underrated point on here IMO. Yesterday May and Lever played 100% TOG and Hibberd 93%. But no one else did more than 88%, including Langdon, who in 2021-22 was a regular 95% TOG player. Oliver was 87%, Gawn 86%, Viney 80% and Petracca was BOG despite just 77%. This, IMO, is one of the many ways we are approaching 2023 in a tweaked fashion that gives us good reason to believe our platform is stronger going into the winter than it was last year.

He isn't flashy but does what he does well on most occasions - clean by hand and foot, strong over the footy, smart around goals. Looks to be being seen/developed as more of a mid and we all know there is a long queue there. Got a good footy brain - does little things that perhaps go unnoticed in the flow of the game. Wouldn't be surprised if he is chased by one of the cellar dwellers looking for a solid, big bodied mid - but hope we keep him on. Better value than Harmes??

Agreed. I must be watching a different game because I really rate Hunter.

It's not just you. There's a push in the back epidemic. And it should be called out. It's not strength in the contest. It's cheating. Hands in the back rule should never have been rescinded. It made it easier to adjudicate and disarmed players like that Collingwood / Freo nuffie James Clement who built a career on cheating.

joeboy as a body of work your 3 word player analysis at the core is pretty spot on. But the path to transcendence is not always whole or smooth. Just the ocassional ragged edge to tuck in. Neil-Bullen -just a game ? or Neil-Bullen - significant team contributor ( 6 tackles, equal team highest), (17 disposals at 76.5% efficiency), (including one goal scored).

When Petty lined upon front for his goal, Clarry called all the players downfield to get close, and when he kicked it they all mobbed him. There was a real team celebration of Petty kicking that, and I wondered if it was a behind the scenes confidence thing (you've been doing everything right and even though you haven't hit the scoreboard we know you will soon). After he kicked the goal he started clunking some good marks around the ground too.

FGS, Hawthorn kicked 7 goals and 3 of them were in about 3 minutes at the start of the 3rd Quarter. We won by 9 goals. Hawthorn played about as well as they could have. We drew with Hawthorn in our Premiership year. I'm amazed about the negativity. The main reason I'm surprised is I would have thought all of you would already have slit your wrists (and therefore not have been around to currently post on Demonland) somtime during the 11 year period we didn't make the finals (2007-17). I avoid going into Demonland following a loss because it would appear some have absolutely no perspective. Maybe I'll have to avoid going into the the site until we win another Premiership (but maybe not even then because we won't have played well enough or won by a sufficiently large margin).

Rating the top 3-6 players is an art... rating all 23 is a skill Respect to Joeboy for attempting it One of my must reads.. post game