warren dean

Exactly how we should all feel about our clubs. Good post Ash.

Until the time he went off with 5 minutes to play in the third quarter Sloane had 8 disposals. Vince did his job very well.

They were a better side tonight than us and deserved to win. 45 points was disappointing as we had played well enough after quarter time to give ourselves a chance. Certainly a lack of assuredness - Frost, Hibberd, Wagner, ANB all fumbled at critical times. I still think Watts is so crucial to our forward structure. He creates space and we rarely look congested deep when he plays. He reads the play so well and moves into the right spots. Having Tyson back next week will make a massive difference. I fancy our chances against them anywhere with a full side. Hannan is a good footballer but he is not an AFL standard centre square player. Not a disaster.

6. Lewis - composed and used the ball well 5. Vince - clearly beat his man - not many did tonight 4. Hunt - great run and that goal!! 3. Kennedy Harris - got a lot of it 2. Hibberd - was disappointing with his ball use and a little fumbly but was still better than most 1. Melksham - kept us in it in the first half

Could not disagree more. He was very good tonight and I doubt he'll get more than a fine for the contact made tonight.

Really a much better win than it looked. 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th from last years Bluey didn't play for us today against a team that has rolled GWS and Sydney and ran the Crows to 2 goals last week. Carlton, as much as it pains me to say it, are actually not a bad side and within a couple of years will be a good side if they can keep Kreuzer fit. Young Curnow will be a player.

6. TMac 5. Jetta 4.ANB 3. Oliver 2. Frost 1. Wagner

Agreed. The man has accepted he's done the wrong thing and acted accordingly. Let him move on.

I'm old enough to remember our 1987 run - we were media darlings for that whole run into the finals and then right through September. Same in 1998 and 2000. The media love a good story. We will probably still be that if we can win 4-5 of the next 8. Unfortunately, some undisciplined actions have brought the blowtorch upon us. That's fine and deserved. It's part of becoming a successful and mature club. Our leadership group need to pull a few egos into line. Not the media's fault.

Tyson is absolutely integral to our side and is very underrated here. He is a slow starter because he lacks a yard but he finishes games better than just about anyone else in red and blue. His body strength on the inside is a real asset and he is a great decision maker despite the fact that the execution is sometimes lacking.

You're not wrong!

Extraordinary. There weren't 11 better players for the Demons last night than Dom Tyson.

Spot on. Real admiration for Vince's game tonight. Was very steady early and brilliant in the last. Displayed the urgency required to help us win the game in the last. Some of his sharp field kicking was wonderful.

Was watching at the ground today with an Essendon fan who used to work at the Bombers in the 80's and 90's. He made an interesting comment about Oscar. He said his development curve is very similar to a former Bomber premiership player in Kevin Walsh. Gifted games early in his career because Sheedy saw something in him; lampooned and ridiculed by fans for his first three or four seasons; by the time he hit about 50-60 games he was really finding his feet. Ended up a dual premiership player, multiple state player and All Australian. I think Oscar showed today in the second half that he can be a very good AFL player.

Petracca - like Tim Watson Tyson - influential second half