Farmer

That is dead right. I noticed that. Max is so much better when the ball is bounced

That’s about the strongest team we’ve fielded all year .I imagine it will be wet and slippery, not great for a few of ours

With the forecast weather., the decision was spot on IMV

Well I agree with all you say, but what you don’t mention is that we lost Brayshaw just before the start of the season . Had he still been playing would JJ be?

Well the Grundy interview on the Seven network shows that Grundy wanted to go, we could have insisted he stay, but we agreed to let him go. IMV the correct decision tho I share the disappointment that the plan failed.

Whilst I agree with the thrust of your post I know no evidence that Grundy wasn’t fit . That’s unfair

Because that is precisely what was proposed. Problem was that Max proved to be a great ruckman, but not a great forward. It was not a bad idea, but it failed. He is a terrific bloke and I wish him well at Swans

Well at 7/6 after 13 rounds the great forward line was not exactly firing. Overall our side in 2024 is superior to 1998, tho the latest report re Tracc is devastating

The last few weeks have triggered my memory of 1998 when we had a good team and ended up third . in Round 12 we kicked 7 goals 4 to Geelong 22/9, loss by 95 points the following week we kicked 5.13 to 18.15 v StK. , loss by 80 points both matches at the MCG, and after round 13 we had won 7 lost 6 yet, we beat Adelaide in R1 of the Finals and Footscray in R2 with G Lyon kicking 10. We then lost to North in the Prelim. I recall the sense of hopelessness after the above losses. Reminds me of 2024!

Except that he wasn’t !!!! Often in mid field without an opponent whilst Boweynand McVee were on HB Flanks

Well the first quarter was our best, we absolutely dominated. Just missed several set shots but terrific footy

Absolutely correct. He was the general whose delivery, almost always, set up so many attacks. I rated him our second best

I think everyone overlooks the fact that our list is 2 places short, with Smith and Brayshaw missing

Honestly, give up on criticising the umpires. I thought they umpired poorly. Didn’t reward good tackles, very few in the back decisions, but I didn’t think the Blues had a particularly good run

Surely we have 2 great wings, Langdon and Windsor . I agree Billing’s doesn’t fit in and I was disappointed with his decision making . I thought Woewodin was quite good . And I’m uneasy about Bowen playing without a Casey game first

Correct. All you guys who suggested he be dropped can go to the headmaster’s office for a dunce’s hat

Just watch the first quarter . Petty lead or made possession 7 times but we failed to deliver the ball to him except once on the wing. Usual good disposers kicked it over his head or a yard short of him. Would be very stupid to drop him im more concerned about JVR . Not leading, not grabbing marks, yes he is useful when rucking. But if Fullerton is to come in I would leave out JVR

Don’t think we would have beaten Blues with the injuries suffered in the Prelim. Not that it matters much but the 1987 GF was played in extraordinary heat

Didn’t we win the night Grand Final in April 87? Brett Bailey kicked the winning goal

You are quite right! That happened after the Dees had won . But a few minutes before our win Dunstall kicked the second last goal at Geelong. We were all grouped around transistors and such a roar went up that the Footscray/ Melbourne players believed that their siren had gone off. Play stopped for a short while . Best football day ever in my memory even though I saw all the 1950s and 60s flags . And it must be said that watching the GF in 21, albeit on TV was pretty damned good

Not often the last three pages of the leading Melbourne paper ( The Age) are devoted to US. And they all present a positive outlook! Perhaps a response to Max’s stated views about the coverage of Michael Warner in The Hun “ I don’t read anything Michael Warner writes”!

I think he CAN play. Several very good periods for Casey especially as a ruck/ forward . Was ok in the one full match he played in the seniors early this year. When he came on as sub v Hawks he was right alongside JVR and it was hard to see room for both , but I concede that I was disappointed that day

Played well in second half IMV

Agree entirely. He was good in the first half when very few were