KingDingAling

Same. I feel good about today. I haven't felt good about any of our games this year. I think we have played really well today.

Hogan, Gawn and Oliver are just really good football players. They are A+ players most weeks. I reckon Bayley Fritsch is a player who may reach their level.

Nah, not really. Gus is just an inside mid. I liken him to Sam Mitchell. As good as Mitchell was, you couldn't really play him elsewhere. He can only play one position. Gus is the same.

Fritsch is insanely good. I cannot believe I started Spargo over him in SC this week.

Everytime I watch Oliver play I thank our lucky stars we taken him ahead of Parish.

Salem looks real good off the HBF.

Fritsch is just a gun. What a beautiful mover.

If anyone is labeling him better than Petracca that might be by default - due to Brayshaw actually getting a kick the past fortnight. Petracca has dropped off of a cliff. I remember watching this guy as a junior and I'd of punted the house on Petracca making it. Just looks a burst player.

Sh*t like that annoys me from Brayshaw. He has clearly called for the ball (when he was under the pump), its sh*t like that - that makes me pull my hair out. I haven't got much left either.

We are playing well. 3 points up for all that. Salem is playing really well which is good.

Gerard isn't the most objective type. He would have known Bomber and Hird had history with the gear. I have no affiliation with any club and even I knew Hirdy loved the snow, and according to every Tom, Dick and Harry - Bomber loved the gear for a long time. Gerard is either very bias or just sh*t at his job, and I don't believe he is sh*t at his job.

I think he is a reasonable commentator, and so long as he knows the players then he is receiving a pass mark. That is my base level expectation from Gerard. We know he hasn't played football, but he is still a contributor to game. Hutchy is the same. They know their role, and even though they may have no idea when they step outside of their role - I still appreciate them. May as well.

I am going to put it out there that Christian Salem tackles as hard, if not harder than Nic Nat, and will need to change his technique. Should the club get on the front foot or wait for this to happen? I hope the club get on the front foot here. Salem absolutely drills opposition players and he doesn't need to. Putting so much into a tackle affects his ability to get the ball himself.

Looks like just another chump looking for a dollar.

Just because they were great footballers it doesn't make them exempt from criticism. Both men have an issue with MFC and have been called out on it. Watson called out on other things, but that is what you get when you defend drug cheats.

Brayshaw was excellent. He is an upgrade on Salem in that midfield. Brayshaw did well. He will be a good addition to our midfield should we keep him in there.

Watson is a Hird and Thompson apologist. His son also got stripped of a Brownlow due to drug cheating. At this point in time he isn't getting much right, I'm ok if he doesn't like MFC. As for Bartel, he has always been very sulky. Good player, great to watch, probably knows his football, but just a sulky type.

And what standards did anyone in the box at EFC set? There is no doubt those in the coaching box would have known about Bombers drug addiction. It is also a fact those in the box known about Dank's suspect doping program (as they were all on board). Any of the individuals tied to Essendon at the time of the saga have no business in the football industry IMO. There is just not enough scrutiny being placed on them and Bomber was a prime example of that. A lot of the blame shifting during the saga ended up being very effective in shifting the blame - Hird was painted as a hard done by and naive coach, and Bomber the guy who wanted to speak up and stop the program but didn't (and lived in regret). Perhaps there was some truth to Bomber wanting to speak up, but ultimately he didn't speak up, and therein lies the problem for many of those in the coaching box - they didn't do anything to prevent any of this mess (and that includes Bomber's drug addiction whilst he was coaching). None of these individuals belong near a football club IMO. Essendon is better off without them all.

Oliver has been massive this year. He has stepped it up even further, and its good to see him kick the ball more. I see no sign of Oliver slowing down.

Oliver has been massive this year. He has stepped it up even further, and its good to see him kick the ball more. I see no sign of Oliver slowing down.

Just goes to show how much of a rabble Essendon were under Hird and Thompson. Two drug addicts at the helm, implementing a drug program with help of a shady scientist. Anyone who was at that club and didn't stop it, has absolutely no business in setting standards for AFL level players. Its just disgraceful what people will justify and put up with. I knew something was up with Bomber Thompson in 2010 when he basically pushed Ablett jr up the GC. People just automatically assumed Ablett was going for the coin, but Bombers behaviour at the time (in alienating Ablett) didn't help, and it was unprofessional. It was around that time that I speculated to my family that I think Bomber has a drug problem. So I suspect he is long gone.

If he is up to standard then he is playing below himself - because his results are not that of a standard AFL footballer. There are question in regards to Weideman. But ultimately, if he does play, then he needs to apply himself more. This is elite level football and players simply cannot go missing for large portions of matches. We have too many of those players and cannot carry more.

We moved Salem out and Brayshaw in. I thought Salem looked better down back, and actually hits targets when he kicks out - unlike some others that kick out, and Brayshaw helped with our pressure in the midfield. No doubt Brayshaw adds a lot to the midfield, but he still needs to lift. We bat deep in our midfield.

We must think alike. Scary.

Hannan was a good inclusion and adds A LOT to our side. Fritsch, Spargo, Hannan and Hunt need to stay in the side, they all add far more than any vanilla inside mid.