SaberFang

Because they are allowed to become a delisted free agent due to the situation with WADA. It's not complicated. Did you miss the big song and dance about Heppell "recomitting" to Essendon last week, when he already had a contract until 2020? Every banned player can walk from the club if they so desire, and Essendon would get nothing. Hence the AFL's desperation to get players committing, even if it means allowing "compensation" payments to players direct from the Essendon coffers that conveniently fits outside the salary cap.

Oh great, expose our already exposed zone defence for every team to see. :/

Chook lotto. Can Jetta appeal?

If you think our club has problems, God help the Saints!

Geez we're slow compared to them, but FMD this umpiring is disgracefully one-sided.

He could be tagging someone. But, yes, ANB has earned his call up.

Just imagine if they had their preferred back line out there. Yikes. Also their throwing is at Port circa-2014 levels. Completely ignored by the umpires but they do it all game long and it allows them to execute their speed across the ground. So infuriating.

Just looking off the boil today. Young teams like ours are going to have fluctuating form, but it's frustrating that the so-called senior players seem to be the ones going missing every few weeks. Make no mistake, the Bulldogs are a well drilled team and they went in as favourites today for a very good reason. Would've been nice to finish inside the 8 for at least one round, though. Our percentage is being decimated. At least a few of the Casey boys will get a look in for next week, should revitalise the side for the Lions game.

We're 3 or so goals away from dropping out of the 8. At least try to stay in the game, Demons!

Zone defence just [censored] horrible against fast-running teams, it completely falls apart and good coaches know how to exploit it. Hardwick and Buckley are not good coaches, whereas Worsfold, Beveridge and Richo are. It's a simple equation Dees, man up or get thrashed. We're about 3 goals away from dropping out of the 8.

I find it incredible how poorly we score against teams with undermanned defence. It is perplexing as all hell; these are the teams we should be decimating yet we become timid and confused.

14 points scored in the game so far?? Come on Melbourne, they have no defence! We need to do better than this tripe... Yes, Port lost, but we'll still be out of the 8 if we get thumped today and lose a huge chunk of percentage.

Pretty bold comment from Goodwin if Hogan's still weighing up his decision.

I said before the Saints match that we needed to capitalise on the Saints undermanned defence with relentless attack. Unfortunately they anticipated that by playing relentless attack and making a mockery of our zone defence. They also found the way to nullify how heavily influential Gawn's ruckwork is. Bevo is no fool. He'll have spent all week working out how to win this game without much of a defence. They know we'll score heavily if we get it in our forward line, so watch them lock the ball into their forward half. I'm not nervous about today though I think we'll lose by at least 30 points; Bulldogs are a seriously good team and we're going to be inconsistent as such a young team. As long as we give it a shake, I'll be happy. Another Etihad capitulation like we had last year against the Dogs and I'll be seriously [censored] off.

Come on Blues, we really need the breathing space on the ladder. If Port win today, they leapfrog us into the 8.

Dean Towers is the man you're looking for. Wouldn't want to front up to Longmire after that total brainfade; it literally cost them the game.

North Melbourne are the least convincing top 4 team I've seen in my life. I just don't understand how they are 8-0. Frankly MFC, St Kilda and Essendon should all have run over them.

Yes, for whatever reason, we seem to become extremely mediocre against poor opposition, but seem capable of taking it right up to teams that appear better than us.

Beams, Harwood and McStay all injured in today's 90 point defeat to Collingwood. It will be a travesty if Brisbane beat us next week, regardless of whether or not we're aiming for 3 in a row.

As bad as Collingwood have been all year, they're only one win behind us.

Pretty much, they "peak" at the wrong time. You need to start the season strongly, then have a bit of a mid-season lull when finals seem certain, before warming up again towards the end of the H&A season. Richmond just have no idea, despite tonight's win.

Could Richmond make finals from an impossible situation for the third straight year? I'm saying no, but Melbourne could determine the outcome to that one.

Unfathomable stupidity, that's how. Buddy was free on the wing, but some player kicked it inside 50 to a marking contest with about 30 seconds on the clock. Lo and behold, Richmond got a favourable bounce and within two kicks they had it down to Lloyd. Longmire would be absolutely furious, there is no way Richmond should've won that.

Well, I didn't see THAT coming!

Truly the only positive outcome at this point is a draw.