Deemania since 56

Lever for Tommo, Hunt offers too much and might just bring it to the game. BBB for TMac, yes.

Difficult to overlook what Gus adds each week. Creates plays left, right and centre.

Likewise, he did surprise me and my mates, but it took a few first qtr jolts. Can he improve on this performance? It would be good to see it take place, reliably.

I'll have what 'Roost it far' has been having. Having read all of the pro-Weed considerations and the contributed warnings of those not preferring his presence in the team against Essendrug -then balancing these opinions to assist formulate my own - all that I can say is that I, too, need 'mother's little helper' to get me through the game - including the post-match shockwaves that many of us are expecting.

Watching Mitch who knew when to lead and how to get in front - and out-reach every opponent taking significant marks whilst kicking very accurately at goal - who the hell is Weedinthecorner?

'Cana Frit-Coz - stick it up 'em!

Yep, the terror and cant of Windy Hill is a historical fact. Getting out of the ground at the end of the match, and getting home safely with children and wives - risky business.

Doggies' frees are prolific - common sense says this is intended. I keep harping about the umpires (which is not actually my intent, nor particularly flattering about my love for the game) but free-kick circumstances and differentials get worse for some clubs at the expense of the fans and players, for the benefit of emergingly obvious AFL/umpire preferences - nothing more. When game differentials for free kicks are more evenly distributed, closer recount ushers in the three 'w's; it thus affects when the free was given, where the free was given and why the free was given. After analysis, it appears, for example, that the Doggies get a free kick tally mounting when they are falling behind or their oponents are surging towards goal; the Doggies get frees within goal range or are compensated for their opponents' good plays in their backline; the Doggies frees aim to even-up the scoreline, put them ahead on the scoreboard, and keep them ahead or enable them to ameliorate a lapse in scoring capacity relative to their opponents' endeavours (up to that point of the game). For the AFL, this makes for their interpretation a 'keener' contest, a more 'knife-edge' game, producing higher levels of anxiety in spectators and thus a supposed increase in the entertainment valuation that is provided; and, assists to assure a game result that is consistent with desired turnstile turn-over in the longer term. It is selectively applied and discriminatory, so who cares?

Beautifully posited, MR.

Fully agree. For some time now, I have often wondered (and hoped) that Lewis would '... join/have more to do with...' the Dees in the coaching/motivating mode, as a complement to the Goodwin-Yze-Chocko-specialist arrangements due to the recency of his experience and its success, including his great communications skills at the player level. I am not sure if this is overload, too crowded, unnecessarily top-heavy, or just plainly a waste of time but I do hold his knowledge and communications in very high regard. Lewis, as a footballer, so often displayed that 'killer' and unexpected flair in the crunches; that is something we could always benefit from - an adjunct to good form, execution and intent.

No need to be 'shocked', Pates. They are in for a creaming against the mighty Dees.

Fritta and Brown - due to turnaround form from last week and certainly have the weapons Petracca and Clarry - the best and most consistent in the AFL ANB, Spargs and Kozzie - most dangerous pressure smalls going around, as one onfield and mentally switched on to the network Gawn (owes himself one) and Jackson - unbeatable by any measures Our backline - makeshift but reliable and integrated, almost unbeatable Our flankers - knock-out, 2-way, space-makers, distributors, opportunists Nah, we will kill them in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Dees by 60 points.

Should a backman re-emerge from injury, then it is time to put Smith in the forward line to surprise most of his detractors as a free-renging forward target. He can kick 'em, too.

Yep, I am a prejudiced fan of Gus ... but still, I reckon I saw him 'save' us several times - and reliably, too - getting our intercepts sorted and preparing several forward presses that moved the ball to 'unexpected' locales on the field where 'space-makers' had made the effort to receive, unhindered. That is what Gus brings ... he sets up plays.

No flash in the pan - just an honest, modest and 'bestest' type of young footballer doing all the correct things, consistently, and these attributes have clearly shown his talent, longer-term potentials and matching performances with some of our experienced best. Hearty congratulations young man, not a step wrong so far with an enormous upside to come.

Bedford could be a future AFL play-maker, alongside Woey's son. The Weed still looks disinterested, unmotivated, hesitant, seconds behind his role for the team.

Brown is on the money, reading the incomings very well and towering over the packs. A couple of 'gettable' misses that may well have been converted if he took a longer run-up. Dunstan looks capable but is lacking in explosive pace for a senior role (at the present moment). Woewodin is good value but the 'cramping' of the game, packs and loose ball receives are doing him no favours. We are well ahead at half-time, but need to lift the pace considerably in the second half. There are signs of some good young talent for the Dees - some of these young guys need to experiment with being play-makers in advance of the ball - just like the work of Tracca, Fritta and Clarrie.

He played another great game, tonight. It was made more impressive in the oppressive humidity..

Neil Diamond wrote quite a few of the Monkees' songs. Others were syndicated through the writers of the TV networks producing the MKees series and recordings. In this regard, they were totally controlled. Shame, because they actually had talent!

Funny that. I have turned off for two televised games this weekend - just not interested in other matches, now that '... we can beat anyone...' The only pre-game interest is: who is in the team, predicting how much ahead on the scoreboard at the end of the game, how badly will the umpires' displays be?

Awww, c'mon, Bbo, nothing better on the beach than a cray, some fresh oysters, a blonde and some reisling. Surely?

Should put us on the top rung of the Ladder, as well. Kick straight, boys!

The GC team is full of young blokes who are mobile. Skills fail them often, they run so much. Hunt is needed to catch them up forward to then rebound the ball for our opportunities. Bowey should handle Salem's role quite well and should be a great 'assist' in the close backline clearances. Hunt, Bowey and Smith - equally mobile and really good interceptors/defenders against this mob, I'd reckon. Dees by 50 points.

To see Alves, Hassa, Wells, Barassi et al - altogether legendary.

....lest it interfere with administrative and governance wishes and intentions.... Fully agreed with your position. Umpiring has become (progressively) randomised crap. It cannot be rationalised under current processes.