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??? " 9 contested possessions, won some tough ball, backed his speed, clean handballs in space, tackled and pressured very well", but your assessment is he didn't play well at all? He's a debutant back pocket and spent large parts of the game alternating with McVee on Cameron or Bailey, both of whom are amongst the best small forwards in the game and both of whom had pretty minimal impact. Genuinely bizarre self contradictory take

A great debut.. leave him in the seniors for the rest of the year. The more game time and experience he gains the better he'll be at AFL level.

And makes you appreciate the fatigue he must feel when going for goal.

Yep. Heartbreaking result. But a fantastic performance. Most on here gave us zero chance. Lucky to get within 5 goals and all that. On that logic we smashed the expectations of most posters. I haven't read this thread yet - I hope those that had such expectations are acknowledging how good our performance was and not taking the loss at yet another opportunity to just pile on. Any in the 'we are so hopeless we wont get within a bulls roar camp' who still choose to pile on are showing their true colours. And they aren't red and blue. i was bullish about our chances and was confident of a really good performance. I was not in the least surprised that's what we got. My expectations were we set ourselves for this game and that we would see a much more dynamic team running over the ground better and being better in the contest. They met my expectations as that's what we got. So much better in the spread, so much more gut running (which is why our all team defence was so good for most of the game - and why it dropped off in the last as we tired). The intensity and contest was great - though the pressure wasn't as good in the first as it needed to be. We we were lucky they only had a 15 point lead at quarter time. Viney was immense. Clarry was terrific, and worked himself into the ground. As did chin and others. Koz was simply brilliant. The second quarter was our best quarter of footy for a long, long time. We ran out of gas in the last, but not too badly - certainly not as bad as last week. (In terms of running out the game, it's worth noting we only had a six day break to their seven). Not helped by petty rolling his ankle or goody not bringing pup on early in the last, or even late in the third, to inject some fresh legs and run. Losing bowey really hurt, particularly given salo was out too. Woey struggled down back and would have been sub if bowey played. And would have been a much better sub option than pup. More flexible in terms of role, more experienced and stronger. Goody would have brought him on earlier. But the biggest he issue was once again our inability to kick clutch goals. 2.8 in the second half was why we lost. Same story Poor kicking is our biggest weakness - and really the evidence is mounting up we have issues under pressure (which by the by is exacerbated by poor technique). The other big factor was we couldn't generate enough intercept marks - though they are less relevant in the transition game we were playing for much of the game. On the free against nibbla, he was unlucky because he was tripped. But the free was probably there and I want umpires to pay frees they see regardless of the point in the match. But what drives me insane is that free was in the context of us not receiving mutiple frees during the match and late in the game, that were also there. Where were our holding the bloody ball frees (made worse pinging us in the middle fir tge htb). Or May's mark that wasn't paid. Pay them for God sakes. And was that 50 to rivers against rayner at the end? Marginal perhaps, but so was nibblas. We are still well in the hunt this season. As goody had said all season, we want to be playing our best footy in August and September. The second quarter looked like our best footy. We need to see that for longer in games - and I expect we will. To misquote Paul McCarthy, reports of our death are much exaggerated.

Just a little postscript - the Club needs to call out BT and Hodge after they suggested Tholstrup should be cited for staging. An absolutely disgraceful and bias call from two morons in the media. Absolutely pathetic. 7News running it as a story on their main page. It was clearly a late hit. Taken by surprise. Had disposed of the ball. Zorko is a complete f..wit. If anything comes of it, challenge it. That goes on in every game, every weekend. [censored] me right off

We got our identity back tonight. We beat them in clearance 40 to 36. Smashed them 14 to 7 centre clearance. Smashed them by 24 in contested possession. We had 18 more tackles. That was the best we have played in a long time imo.

I know this will fall on deaf ears right now, but that was a cracking game. Both teams had so many missed opportunities. We had so many young players, we were always going to fade late. Disappointed with the result but proud of the team. Lots to work on though and a few clear gaps still in the list. Vent away demonlanders!

Jeffo, Brown, Howes, hopefully Sestan in addition to the guys in the team in Kolt, Windsor, AMW, Woey, Disco should all be expecting to the play senior footy next year which is exciting. Plenty of work needed from all those guys but they’ve got tools to work with. McAdam had a nightmare preseason and Fullarton a nasty hammy right when match simulation kicked in. Both flawed but if they have big summers they do have things to offer

Picket what does that actually mean? I mean, it's your right to post what you want about the club. Vent all you like. Ditto for others too of course. But are you seriously suggesting a fan knocking the club on a footy forum will actually help us improve - ie is part of the solution? The only realistic way fans can be part of any 'solution' that leads to on field improvement is SUPPORTING the club. Turn up to games, if you can (I was shocked to read someone on here saying they would refuse go to games as some sort of protest- that is literally the opposite of support). Buy a membership, if you van Don't buy into, and reinforce, the nonsense the media peddle about the dees (we all can do that). Hell, even push back against such nonsense. That's what we can do to help.

This is what I thought too. Whilst we don’t get the result we all wanted, I thought we played with great intensity and physicality for the first time in weeks Clarrys quick hands were back viney the bull was back maxs tap work was back Viney, chandler, kozzie and clarry - 27 tackles combined Kolt getting in zorkos face all night - loved it I hated losing but was glad to see some of the demon dna back on show tonight

Got to meet @WalkingCivilWar last night. Anyone who is critical of her really should think before they post. Umpiring was rank at best. Nibbler tripped, and even worse the ump right next to it said boundary throw in but the ump from 40 metres away paid the free. Presuming Stevic as him and #22 cheated all night. Worst miss of the night was Lingers in the third. Lions fans are classless bumpkins. Have not won a thing for a generation but think they are the Patriots.

All of us should. There is a season left for us to make something of.

Professional game with amateur style umpires, afl keep stuffing around with the rules and their interpretation, 4 umpires is too many.

Absolutely. 8-7 means we are still in the season. 8 games left and need to win 5 of them. It's not over.

I haven't been well, went to bed at 8.30, looked at the quarter time score, and shook my head. My wife woke me up at 10.25 or so, we were 6 points down. We all know the story now... I have only watched the last two minutes. The first thing I saw was a Brisbane player jump into Lever's back near the wing - no free kick. Next, May knocks the ball towards the boundary - allowable under the rules, cos it's not deliberate, see - Neale Bullen picks it up two feet from the boundary, is surrounded by three Brisbane players, moves towards the boundary - where else could he go, Daniher had him covered? - and the ball is actually over the line when he falls. Free kick to Bris Bane, naturally... In the last minute, Viney passes to Rivers who marks and is hit after he marks. The commentator asks the rhetorical question: Was that a high hit? Of course not...

Collingwood lobbied the AFL to play on the Gold Coast in the school holidays, so more of their supporters can go. I hope that ruins a lot of people’s holidays. Have fun at Movie World. 👋

fullarton was much better as a ruckman today definitely assisted by playing there continuously due to verrall's concussion sestan impressive second half, bill laurie consistently mid, while pup brown and howes are starting to get that 'too good for vfl' look about them - not quite there but getting there

If we look at this game with a glass half full mentality, (which I think is the more healthy way of looking at it for the sake of everyone's mental health) the trend is that we are improving. Yes, we need to work on our fourth quarters, but at least we are back at winning key performance indicators in the game. The woeful performances against West Coast and Freo weren't that long ago, and many had written us off last night. We performed really well, and many of the Brisbane errors came from our pressure, rather than them having an off night. Much of the improvement is due to our younger players stepping up. This is so encouraging. We will continue to improve and I'm so proud of being a MFC support today.

Put in a hell of a shift. Keep him in. Hopefully a rising star nom in the bank.

Nibs got a stack of runs on the board. No way I can blame him.

Tholstrup and AMW must play for the remainder of the season. Both showed plenty tonight and deserve time in the seniors to develop. Kynan probably deserves a full game but will likely be dropped for either Bowey or Salem pending their respective niggles. Demonland will be on full Jefferson watch tomorrow.

Ben Brown was sat in the grandstand near me...along with a stack of senior players and Goody.

I dont enjoy the game as much now. Umpiring is as unpredictable as Joe Bidens toileting and speech .

For mine, an elimination final and a shot as underdogs to get the finals monkey off our back is worth playing for, and a finals win from here is a fantastic result all things considered.

The variability in 50m especially annoying. 70m sometimes 30m the next.

Well AMW is certainly playing again next week. What a great effort from the youngster.

JVR will be a monster KPF of this league. Top 4 for years to come.

What’s this supposed to mean? He’s in our top 5 players this year and has become a senior figure who can be relied upon week after week. He was as cooked as anyone in the last, just our luck that McCluggage arzed it through. Certainly not blaming ANB for the loss.

I couldn't be prouder of the boys. I gave us no chance. That's the best footy we've played all year bar the last quarter.

5 contested marks, anyone?? He will find his accuracy soon.

ANW. MCVEE. RIVERS. JVR. KOZZY. THROLSTRUP. WINDSOR. All are part of our future.

You really actually have no idea, Fritta who I have been critical of recently played a very solid team game tonight and played as a defensive forward on Andrews. And you claim you coached Sweet Jesus

Thought the debut of AMW was outstanding

Umpires from hell

Ed Langdon ran 17.5km in last nights game according to the AFL app. This is the most distance ever covered by a Dees player in a game since they started reporting this data in 2017. It also moves him into the top 10 of any player in the AFL over this period. Well done Langers!

I thought he showed quite a bit. Certainly enough to keep McVee or Rivers up the ground. Same with Taj. If this year is not a waste it will be through making Rivers a mid and getting reps into McVee through there. Can only happen by letting these kids shoulder some of the burden.

we had the most under 22s in the league. It you watch the game it was the younger legs that tired in the last half and we started getting opened right up. Just too many kids compared to the lions. Overall it isnt as bad as some on here think. the old Dees wouldnt have found something especialy with so many young players.

I’m kinda done to be honest. Up until a few rounds into this year I would watch 3-4 games a round but it’s gotten to the point where the umpiring just frustrate the [censored] out of me. It has gotten that bad. There is no consistency within games and it’s a joke. I don’t enjoy watching AFL anymore. I’ll watch Melbourne games and finals but outside of that, I don’t want to waste time just getting frustrated. If anyone reckons things have always been like this then that’s fine, I would say it has gotten much worse in the last couple of seasons. And I don’t blame the umpires, it’s the AFL for allowing interpretations to be so loose.

More umpires has made the standard much worse. Within the game we have four officials adjudicating the rules differently. I could show 4 marks from last nights game (arguably the simplest rule they need to adjudicate) that were paid, and 4 that weren’t that look identical, and that was for both teams. I’m over the AFL and the umpiring. They’re deliberately made it obtuse, so they can use it to their advantage. It happens so consistently that it’s clearly by design.

6 tackles last night, equal 4th on the ground with Clarry

I fear I've actually been gaslighted to the point of not being sure of the rules any more. Can someone clarify for me what the rules are about players running into an opponent during a marking contest to keep them out of the contest, when the instigator has no intention to compete for the mark? Genuinely seeking clarification.

This is my explanation. Last week we didn't score a point in the last quarter because we completey ran out of gas because we trained hard in our bye period and set ourselves for this game. Last night we also ran out of gas, though nowhere near as much. The six day break and travel was no doubt a factor. Last week maxy said an issue in the roos scoring we were trying to score too much rather than control the tempo. That's to say we let the game open up And so this we tried to control the tempo in the last mote effectively. And did a good job of doing so for much of the last quarter. The critical problem was missing four very gettable goals in the last quarter - petty, clarry, langers and fritter. Kick one of them and we likey win (or perhaps draw in fritters case).

No it wasn't lol. They were both smiling and having a chuckle together. They both have clearly had interactions previously with the whole Petty and Zorko situation few years back.

That was a really good performance given where the team is at. But don’t expect that kind of performance (and that kind of second quarter) as becoming more of a regular thing with the youth we have in the side, the injuries we have, and the burden we place on fewer and fewer. Need to keep our expectations in line with reality.

As the raw disappointment fades...I just cant help but feel proud of the boys. Our pressure and energy was fantastic and the Lions away is no small task. I think with all the young guys and some unfit older guys we just didnt have the legs. Petty was great but his misses continue to hurt as did fritters and Langdons... but Brissy missed plenty of their own lets face it.

Yes, lots to take out of the game: Starting to look like the Clarry of old, Petty clunking marks. If he didn't have the yips we'd be saying he's Back in Town Viney immense, AMW showed a bit The intensity was back Chandler's pressure also huge Great game from JVR The brilliance of Kos River's transition to the midfield as well as his run - brilliant Judd McVee gun

Great debut. Stuck some fantastic tackles, seemed to play naturally and not overawed. Rivs ain’t going back the back line and Bowey, Salem, McVee, Howes have comp for the spot back there.

An excellent debut. Should've played earlier. Should be rewarded with a position on the senior list for 2025.

Projecting forward, and I may perhaps be in fantasy land here, but in a few years I can see him with the tools to be a very capable midfielder. He's tough, got agility and speed, tackles well and can break lines. Give him the license to see ball get ball and he's going to win a lot of contested footy.