Deemania since 56

You are correct. The result is left resting with the umpires; their obvious preference(s) lie time and again with GWS.

I feel as if our games this year can be described as 'warming up the engine'; we are moving to operating temperatures across the ground and across responsibilities with a common focus. In a few weeks - perhaps, sooner - we are going to be hot, hot, hot and each line of our team is going to be rampantly unstoppable. At the present moment, opposition teams have the luxury of putting a tag on some of our elites. The is short-term, we are going to give them hell.

Mr 'Gus' Playmaker is one of our greatest assets, turning the tide for many of our opposition ' big noters' with calm, steady and readable innovation in the propulsion of the ball, to advantage. He signposts how to win the game, others read and adopt his message.

Both were close to terrific! Folks, they're both still improving, as well!

That performance was regretfully and expectedly going to happen. He must adapt to putting in (at least) - because of the excellence of his teammates delivery to him - several consecutive games of earnest desire for the ball demonstrated by the one and two percenters should an outright mark not eventuate, novel leading to space and general lead directions, improved short-game passing by hand and foot, anticipated teamwork options. At the moment, he seems to be playing for himself, not the team about him in the crunches. Importantly in these processes, he must realise that he has an obligation to all, is accountable for ground space(s) and physically, should not tolerate being bumped or jostled out of his best line in his best presentation for the ball.

Here in Adelaide, many of my acquantances are Port supporters (strange that!) What you say is true, DS; their GF aspirations were centred on playing the Dees (because they could beat the Dees allegedly). Then, in mere days, it became embarassing for them and so they (nearly) all jumped ship, becoming Dees supporters with a deep knowledge of Dees' players and respective strengths. Most of these turncoats had MFC flags prominently displayed in their front yards, the facade of the triple-fronted brick veneers, in trees and dangling from their motor cars. After the GF, I became a very popular footy fan and quite the footballing authority! Streaming from my Port friends and many strangers were a series of continuous pats on the back, congratulatory comments on the game and predictions of the short-term to medium-term invincibility of the Mighty Red 'n Blue.

I think there is something wrong with TMac at the moment, perhaps longer-term relative to recent games performances. TMac just ain't getting off the ground as he used to - he now tends to rely on reach, alone - and this leads him to have his hands somewhere lower in the pack than a few hopeful opposition players who negate him. As a known, elite runner, he is a little too static on the ground these days, as well. Still, he may come good - it's in his nature to compete and win the ball.

In that first qtr against Essendrug, we had golden moments to score goals, it should have been all over. Chocko has to go out and refresh a few 'free wheelers' on how to kick goals.

All is in the open, Comrade loges. 'Just don't get caught' is the whisper...particularly if you don't wish to work in the ice and snow on meagre rations.

Fritta usually does his best work leading out laterally or to a frontal space. We cannot allow him to become static so it's heads up for the leading Fritta, for mine.

Shhhhh! Tacticals are our secret, there are a few of these. Just be glad Yze is onboard.

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.