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LOL commentator: 'They'll kick themselves if they lose this, but they'll probably miss that, too...'

Ladder doesn’t lie. Weren’t not frauds - we’re just not that good. We lost one of our best players before the season started, had multiple key players have shocking preseasons, been ravaged by injury, played the kids every game and clearly not got our fitness right.

I have not been as furious with the umpiring in I honestly don't know how long. I was apoplectic Simply appalling. I'm still seething. The blatant inconsistency is just mind numbing.

He has been our saving grace this year, against Hogan in his best year ever, and you want him to retire off 1 bad game?

We cost ourselves. They dominated us for long periods of time. Used it better and were just a class above. We tried hard but they’re simply better.

It's a saying dating back to the 17th century when heavy rain would wash dead animals down the street. Don't take it literally PF. You ain't gonna be hit on the bonce by a Great Dane, or heaven forbid, a big pu$$y.

Severe mental illness and not earning enough money will do it. Happy you’re able to go but some of us struggle every day just to survive.

Don't vent your frustration please. You'll hurt their feelings.

After being so good for 3 quarters, perhaps he didn't have the fitness base to go a 4th.

Billings and Laurie not up to AFL standard.

Yeah shizen feeling to lose, but they didn’t give up which is admirable. Especially with so much inexperience out there.

Horrible centre bounce work by Gawn and the mids in the last qtr

They made a prelim and should have won it last year if not for umpire corruption

Chin up young Caleb, there'll be plenty more opportunities to generate a match winner off the back of a burst down the mcg wing. He was genuinely gutted and it's great to see so much passion. Future is bright. We'll be back

Oliver is looking more like Oliver.

Main things I learned. Jefferson continues to develop but as he grows in some crucial facets that people were very worried about like the contested work and leading patterns, an early favourable aspects in his set shots has suffered a bit. I feel comfortable with the progress in as much as it is the 'hardest to learn' stuff which he seems to be making progress in. Yze appears to be a legit prospect, which is nice. And if you drop an Yze sandwich on the floor you get a Gruzewski. And Casey needs go recruit and reorganise in a major way. And the VFL is being relentlessly disrespected by The Corporation.

I read the comments on Instagram - so much hate for Simon. Seriously what is wrong with people? Great coach and the players agree.

On a positive note, with so many things going against us this year, we have lost to 3 finalists by less than a goal.

As my sister just said, we've had a nearly season. Lost by 5 to Lions, 1 to Carlton and 2 to GWS. Win those and we're top 2. And we've had a year blooding a bunch of youngsters on every line who are now all best 22. We're not far off. For the game itself, Clarry much better, really good game, Laurie's best game, 6 score involvements, 3 clearances, used the ball well, let's see it again. Our hot and cold two way running from midfield was a factor though. Our mids need big pre seasons. Finals not totally out of sight, but it'll be tough from here with our percentage.

Head in the sand. Their handball game in the middle of the game and our horrible centre clearance work were the difference.

No, he was a shadow of himself. Couldn't get off the ground, struggled to cover the ground and got our muscled. But tried his guts out Huge effort to play.

We need some new blood both on the ground and inside the coaches box. Some tough calls need to be made or nothing will change.

JVR infringed 10 times without a single free. May pushed in the back on their last goal, everyone but 4 umpires saw and knew it. We have not had the rub of the green with frees, injuries and other sides kicking straighter.

You'd think they would have put Koz in the guts with a minute to go. Instead they waltzed it out

Genuinely lost that game due to the umpiring.

No complaints. Obviously the last weekend off has helped.

Bomberblitz is gold, loved this one "Just apologised to my 12 year old son for “forcing” him to be an Essendon supporter.

Damned if I'm hoping for the likes of Gold Coast to lose games to help us fall into the eight. I want to do it on our own merits. I hope they hammer Brisbane today and I'm glad Carlton coughed up another four points last night. I want Carlton to drop out of the top four and go to Fremantle where they'll get a 2,000 ticket allocation instead of hosting the likes of GWS in front of 80,000 of their own knøb heads.

Because #22 isn't umpiring

Both are out for the season with long term injuries which is disappointing for the club as it was hoping that these two would represent the man body of experienced VFL players along with Mitch White. They were basically the replacements for the likes of Jimmy Munro and Matt Buntine and these players are important at AFL aligned clubs for the steadiness and consistency they bring.

Ouch. Houston is a good footballer but I think he’s overrated. Running half back. Not an elite mid. Not a goalkicking forward. Houston for a future 1st round pick is about right. NO WAY IS HE WORTH GIVING UP TWO 1ST ROUND PICKS. NO WAY !!!!

16k at a Saturday Prime Time Home game. I was there. If you weren’t whats your excuse? Want other clubs to respect us and stop saying we don’t turn up? Get off your [censored] and stick fat!

This is such a garbage post, I'd like to think you're better than that PF but maybe you're not. Dragged himself out of hospital to be there tonight and stood in the freezing cold on the boundary before going back into hospital tomorrow morning. Has built a strong culture around the playing group who clearly love him as evidenced by most players signing long term deals. Our only living premiership coach and the man who was able to break the drought after 57 years. Whatever you think of him he is etched in Demon folklore til they stop writing about the game. I think he needs some new voices in the coaches box but he is a damn good coach. Great at strategy, maybe not so great tactically but none are perfect. Clearly had us ready to play as we came out of the blocks red hot - reminded me of the Semi Final last year actually. How exactly was he outcoached? Giants are a flag contender, we will be lucky to make finals with our best player side lined and a raft of kids being blooded.

Jeepers there are some hot takes in here. Having a crack at Oliver when he was far and away our best player for the first three quarters and played his best football in months (all year?) is ridiculous - yes, his fourth quarter was no good, but he looked spent after carrying our midfield for the first three quarters. Having a crack at the coaches for having TMac on Hogan is easy but Hogan had kicked 1 goal for 2.5 quarters before getting on the end of their midfield going berserk for 15 minutes. TMac's problems tonight were his own fault, not the coaches. Having a crack at Lever for dropping an intercept mark late is harsh (that he was even able to get his hands to it speaks to his ability) particularly given he had kept us afloat in the middle two quarters. We lost this game due to our usual inability to execute fundamentals under pressure, coupled with carrying a number of unfit and either out of form or not good enough players. Some vital 50/50 umpiring decisions going against us sealed the deal.

I just want to say, how good is Windsor? Just about everything he does is gold, rarely makes mistakes and often beats 2 or 3 players 1 out. Absolute star. As is McVee. Who was not embarrassed tonight against TG.

What do you want us to say dude? Some of us tried. As for the fight I don't know what you'd want us to say there either, two reasonable sides, one is a very reasonable side and did well when it counted and deserved to win. Could we have pinched it? Sure. Over 80 minutes though we didn't do enough.

I really don't understand comments like this. It was always obvious that losing Brayshaw and Petracca was going to cost us the season, add to that an unfit Oliver who can hardly even get through games yet alone have an impact. Yet people are surprised and calling for heads to roll? It is what it is. Why can't people put on their big boy/girl pants and deal with it?

Yes when he is fit. What does a poor last quarter tell you? He’s cooked. Petty the same. They are struggling to run out games.

Yep….next year!

My dog ate my ticket

Time to give Jefferson and Fullarton a run and see what they have to offer.

Umpires genuinely cost us the game, no ifs or buts about it.

Ffs I wish we could help put you out of your misery. You are so depressing.

Someone needs to take that dog home.

I almost had my husband convinced to come tonight, then he saw the weather and politely told me to F off.

Jefferson is a really exciting prospect. Generally at VFL conditions don't suit him but he still performs. Will benefit greatly in AFL conditions and delivery. Ground work is exceptional for a big man particularly in the wet.

I prefer players who can think quick rather than just run quick.

Gosh I'm really really hoping Ross Lyon can pull out all the tricks today & knock off the bummers

We could win, we could also get flogged. Hopefully we see a team hungry for the fight and a win to keep the season alive.

Jayden Hunt would be in our back 7 each week. Having a far better season than Salem and Bowey.