Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Great moment for Chandler. He missed an absolute giveme against the dogs when we were already well in control, but I felt for him a bit, because of the pressure he would be under to make an impact and numbers against the goals column in his position count. But today he kicked at least a couple of really good goals from set shots and snaps when the team really needed to kick goals to get, the keep the game on our terms. That on top of his great tackle pressure, hard running, creativity and involvement in other chains that resulted in MFC goals. Also find him really selfless in the way I've seen him repeatedly dish off to others in better positions when he could have taken a shot himself. Everything that's valued by our team. Really important game today for Chandler, when he really established his credentials. He's been building, but I thought today he was huge. So happy for the guy.

He's a very important cog in our machine. Is also a tough nut, so good at applying pressure and helping retain the ball in our forward 50.

I think Nibbler is having a good year so far. No doubt he's playing his role defensively getting up and down the ground with his elite endurance, but I actually think his offensive game is better this year than last too. I think he's getting involved in more goal scoring plays and kicking the odd one himself too, by pushing forward into space and really following the ball forward and crumbling. In 2021, I thought Nibbler had a pretty good year, so hopefully it's something of an omen.

Sorry Frankie, I don't think you've watch Petty play that much lately. I've noticed that angry man that won't take a backwards step in him for a while now, probably ever since he really stepped up and cemented his spot in 2021. Playing with the likes of Steve May around would help that I think. Liked his work as a forward today and while I think it's great to have some flexibility to throw him forward, I think his best and ultimate position is as a successor to Steve May. I also think it is great that the team and our players are now reaching a point of maturity where Goodwin and Co have the confidence in them to play them in other positions and make more changes to the team, rather than stringenty stick with the stability and system is king thing like we did in 2021 and much of 2022. In the same sense, I'd also love to Steve May go forward every now and then, because he can be a real weapon up there on his day.

And a reliable kick that can repeatedly execute and hit his mark with precision right where they need the ball to be kicked.

Thought Grundies work with the ball inside 50 today was excellent. He does some really clever stuff.

Not just that Jaded, we smashed them! So enjoyable to watch. That Sydney are such a bogie side for us really irks me. They are so overrated IMHO, yet often seem to have it over us. Hopefully today sets the president and the red and blue print for how we beat up on them from now on.

I don't disagree with that either. He was a massive influence in so far as he did play an integral part in our midfield/centre square team that tore apart the Dog's in the second half of the third. However for mine, his contribution has become somewhat over hyped in the context of the whole game and the very worthy contributions of others to the game.

It's not apples for apples Re the salary cap situation etc, but our women's team reciently resigned pretty much the whole list bar Daisy (still irks me slightly she's now at Geelong, even though she's also MFC royalty and will be for life in my eyes) on the basis of continued success. Really hoping we can lock in all of Riv, Kossie, JJ and Co in years to come to build a dynasty and decade or more of flags/ real success for the MGC - that's what's on offer to these guys and I don't think that would be lost on a guy like Rivers.

Re JJ, for mine he's a borderline frindge player at the moment and by borderline, I think he's better than your average frindge player, but still not quite best 22 for us. But a season is a long time. Who knows what opportunities may present for JJ to get back into the team, step up to the next level and stamp himself as an undoubted best 22 player for the MFC. I also wounder if list age profile is an important consideration for the MFC. I personally think Harmes is currently a substantially better player than JJ as he's bigger, tougher, stronger and IMHO has much the same if not better footy attributes. But Harmesy is also in an age bracket where I think we would have a glut of players. If we are to avoid a Hawthorn, Richmond, Geelong age bubble, I wounder if that could make it preferable to keep someone like JJ over Harmes?

Not enough spekie bag defenders to launch off on game day!

Agreed + guys like Gus and Gawny, who stood up when it counted in the first half of the third quarter and stopped the dogs ascendancy from becoming an avalanche. Fritta held his nerve so well under pressure and got us back in the game when we were peering over the precipice. The difference and mismatch Jackson created threw the dogs midfield off their structures and Jackson's ability to keep moving from the ruck contest and involve himself in those chains was pretty slick, but Clarry, Viney and in particular Trac were absolute beasts in that third quarter. That dribble goal of Trac's that set the bang bang bang in motion was amazing and his bursts from the centre square on several occations setup so many of those goals. There's a very good reason he won the Norm Smith.

Nice work @Big Col. It's good to see that even AI is on board the mighty Demons. Having said that, I think AI would probably be on board anything you ask it to be. I'm not denying that it's a worthy subject matter, but I actually find the so called Chatbot's effort repetitive, fairly vanilla fluff. While that may be fine and pass for HS type journalism, it's hardly a Martin Flanaganesk from the heart type motivational contextual specific references. AI may be increasing in its intelligence by some measures, but human it isn't yet - which may be good or bad, I'm not sure yet.

Pure gold (And brown - poos). Lap it up Hawks fans and eat s**t - you deserve it. "But there was a feeling on Sunday, playing a club I thought we had a chance against" "There had already been a flirtation with Richmond, fed by him clocking that his interest in another club got under my skin. Kids can sense unease in their parents, and needling dad is a fun game. It’s also hard to mount a case to a child that, as animals, hawks are cooler than tigers." "Other fans helpfully chatted away about how it was a long road ahead, told him that losing was character-building. " “Dad, why aren’t we allowed to go for another team?” "So I admitted the truth to him, that the Hawks aren’t going to be good for a while, but when he’s 11 or 12, I’m hoping they’ll be on the right side of the rebuild and stealing some wins. " I love it!

9th - 13th. Finishing frequently around 9th there would be too much hope. A few 13th position finishes there's a certain hopelessness and reality of patheticness sprinkled in, without getting access to the real quality 'top end tallent' like the Pertracca's, Olivers, Buddy's etc of the comp that will deny them any future A graders.

While in a sense I'm not that personal about it with LJ and share your positive sentiments for his contribution to our flag (along with a whole bunch of players who played a bigger part IMHO), I'd also like it if he can provide a good example to others of what it can look like to leave a team with huge potential for imeediate sucess for other aspirants where that on-field sucess may turn to carp and all they are left with is money and living in their 'home state' of birth.

Or maybe it's harder to take marks when you're not getting the 3rd or 4th key defender? Kind of hope the good time continue to roll at Freo.

That's quite true. Cox/Cousins/Kerr/Judd only actually played in the one flag together. Even though they played in a team that was capable of multiple premerships. I'd go as far as to suggest that their poor off-feild culture of getting on the gear together was probably the reason they didn't become a great team and win those multiple flags. Gawn is a much better captain than Judd and that the latter bailed to Carlton soon after the 2006 flag confirms Gawn's value to the MFC was greater than Judd's to WC. If we win another flag, I think our mids would easily rank as a better combo than the WC one mentioned. The other midfields that I think would be a more than worthy comparison would be those of the Lions 2000 era, three peat midfield of Voss/ Black/Ackermanis (Clark Keating in the Ruck?) etc and probably the Hawthorn 2010 era great sides, but I can't recall the individual mids they had of such great brilliance Cyril/Lewis/Hodge perhaps although McAvoy was hardly a super star.

Calling out the players by number at the start of the game reeked of American sports hyperbole though - absolutely hated it.

Not sure if it's quite the same thing, but I've seen Viney do standing front/back flips. Perhaps a few of our players could make good professional gymnists or circus performers when they retire from footy?

Thought we did the 'tempo footy' game pretty well last night. Played defensively and slow around the boundary when things were tight and we didn't have the options on, but then flicked the switch and moved it fast when the time was right. There were alot of times the Dogs tempted us into switching across half back, leaving a few of our players faurly open, but within striking distance of their opponents, but we were smart and didn't take the bait. Even in at the start of last quarter when we a good 30 points up, we didn't rush any attacking moves and let the Dog's desperation to score play into our hands and pounced on the turnovers and opportunities that created. When we did attack, I was pleased with our quick ball movement and ability to run back into space. The number of times guys like Chandler, Spargo, Kossie and even BBB had a good paddock to run into because of our willingness to take the game on at those times was most refreshing. Loved that long goal of Melksham's that bounced through - he's a smart and more than capable player around goals and his last quarter cameo last night bought back flashes of his 2018 finals series form.

Made one bad error in my book, missing that goal after the siren under a bit of pressure. But asides from that I thought he was pretty impressive tonight.

He played in a few flags though and that probably means much more in the end. Kossie should take note and sign on the dotted line for the Red and Blue for life!

So many players from other clubs get off for more all the time. If Kossie gets rubbed out for that it will be a travesty. There are players that could (and probably should) get suspended due to the potential for harm based on their actions. The AFL usually suspends based on actual damage done, but watch the move the goal posts for us. Time to hire Patrick Cripps lawyer.

Thought Nibbler was pretty good tonight, along with Spargo and Chandler. Melksham also more than handy when he came on. Could have found himself a role as super sub?