Deemania since 56

Must be decoy-time.

Reasoned. My thinking reveals that it is now time for the forward line to augment one another and establish some scoring power from familiarity with teammates that we have never seen before, plus, TMac is primed and due for a change in his own fortunes, by returning to the form required as an opposition threatening forward now we are in the deep end of a season of change. He has 'come back' up forward many times, across many seasons and he is match fit right now! He ain't too bad at bringing the ball to ground, either - perfect for our ever-improving smaller forwards and utilities. The leads of Brown down the field are ideal in creating space in the midfield-forward zone and in the hot zone, plus he is doing much to mop up loose gaps before him. He is a roaming target for our backs and midfielders for considerable durations during recent games - opposition sides are not expecting to see a utility/ruck rover role from Brown - and he has done these stints really well over the past month, getting better at the tricks each game Carna Dees!

The angst grows in this regard; we are not the only team to suffer. It is the umpires and their credibility is rapidly waning in a now-consistent fashion. There seems to be an incestuous onfield weakness between the 'governors' of the AFL, the personnel selected to be umpires, the implementation inconsistency of the AFL rules and the overly apparent inequity of many clubs for the benefit of the few. Gillon, clean up our game!

Bulldogs slightly ahead to half-time but made every attempt to fake and drop to win frees or to achieve ball-ups. For quite some time, they were challenged, too busy looking for their weekly quota of frees and 'unobserved' rule violations, in general. Whilst this was occuring, the Lions came back up in some encouraging displays of good football but lo & behold, the umpires had to stop them challenging the Doggies - and so did - through the free kick differential and an imbalance of 'who done wrong, where the ball was, what could be the outcome' interference at the whistle-face. Some of these decisions/non-decisions were atrocious, blatant and game-affective to benefit on nearly all occasions, the Bulldogs.

That instance of tishbull still amazes me; reality says it cannot possibly happen; blatant Geelong-nourishment.

I know it is unlikely for so many reasons, but his presence at that training session in such a cluster could also be unlikely, surely? He just might be considered for an extended, big-body role and quite honestly, could be seen as an effective and unexpected weapon in such a role.

Umpires, free kicks against us, overlooking screaming frees due to us because of the throws, holds, punches, elbow jabs and the like that the insulated Cats dish up in the name of footballing expertise, and catch-up\ keep-Geelong-in-the-game before the final quarter through the umpires' interferences in the game; all part of creating a Geelong-opposition loss that is now as ingrained, endemic and corrupt as Gillon needs and wishes it to be. Feeling sick, CBizkit? It will be attempted - I feel sick, as well, about the game even though I wear a ring of confidence about our abilities to win and win well. This margin of excellence we hold over Geelong will be prevalent throughout the game and will therefore be countered, eroded and killed by any means after the first bounce. For those who, in their blindness and good faith, believe it won't happen, consider the Bulldogs win against Brisbane Lions last night. Check the free kick differential. One AFL executive wish achieved, with another to come and experimented with from the MFC/Geelong game.

In the footage of the Perth hub for the Dees' training this week, I noticed that Majak was on the training track doing some heavy body work and recovery drills with our most powerful operatives. Is this an ace up the sleeve? Might Majak have a role ahead with Hawkins up close? Might Cameron have a dance partner in May up close as a consequence? May and Hunt combined could fully negate the Cats' half-forward line, when one cosiders their pivotal structures.

An insult on the mechanisms that uphold Aussie Rules' integrity. Gillon is too scared to challenge the abomination.

The writing is on the wall, an eternal privelege of the Cats, alone. The umpires, representing the AFL Board onfield, must be attentive by applying penalities for what will be ahead, as you advise. Otherwise, for all other teams, the whole season has been a sham and a construct of particular disappointment and selected liberties outside of football standards. Honouring the time-honoured rules of the game - even the more questionable, recent rules - must be achieved.

Very noticeable, and constantly interrupted most GWS forays both in the backline - and in particular, as they moved with embarrassing (for Geelong) speed into their forward line. We do that at both ends (and through the midfield from flank to flank) very well, so watch it, Cats, your number is up. Hawkins got away with four head-high swipes during the game and several blatant 'pushed in the back' demonstrations against his opponents. His number is going to be up, as well.

If the Cats make it to a GF with the MFC, they will drop dead mid-game from exhaustion but, against the Giants, they could put in three good quarters and hang on to a small lead on the scoreboard provided that the umpires render standard procedural assistance and keep the Cats in the game.

Selwood has created a monster - the AFL condones the clones' cheating and deceiving. Umpires aren't as smart as they were years ago.

Too right. Phenomenal footballer, gutsy player, appears as if he is on a tireless mission to the benefit of the Club. Enormously skilled and inventive yet at the same time, relentless, modest, humble and understated. Has he got a brother?

One must concede that TMac could be replaced by Melksham, based on current form.

The ideal scenario.

It declares a certain lack of resilience amongst our leaders at times. Shut the mouth, get on with the game, don't acknowledge the umpiring errors and the less-than-acceptable decision-making. We clearly see the situated interference with games through the umpires where history dictates there ain't no point in complaining, anymore.

I reckon that doing the 'team thing' dominates Brayshaw's forward movement. Whilst he is a 'killer' in his own right (due to his abundant class as a footballer), I'd reckon that he now might feel '... I could have got that goal which would have been a better "team" result..." When Gus is moving with the ball towards the big sticks, he has a terrific kick that is quite reliable to score a goal. Now that we are into the interesting part of a finals campaign, it would be beneficial if he did line 'em up for a 6-pointer.

Down back, Bowey dispatches useful short kicks and handballs, and tackles rather well for a bloke his size and weight. In an overall sense, I reckon that Hunt gives us far more metres gained, at a twice the pace and is a bit of a loose cannon for all opposition teams to stop - quite often. The scales of justice tip both ways but with Hunt, tip deeper into the positive domain.

Comments on Gus were spot on! Classy outfit doing the things we need, gaining the ground and maintaining ball possession across the team.

TMac has been around a while - perhaps he is sorted by other clubs and their strategies. MBrown in is a change and can contribute with those coupla marks and coupla goals, most likely. He is also more mobile than TMac, at present.

Nahhh, Hunt may well come in - benching I'd reckon at the start - but I'd keep Smith as he is full of the one-per cent coverages that contribute to the lines of defence, at present. I'd still like to see Smith back into the forward line for some minutes - perhaps later in the game to come, whoever it may be against.

Anticipating umpire-led Bombers supremacy?

Robinson can damaging.

I just wish Tecketek were out of the scene. Always had problems with them, no matter what the attraction that we wished to attend. interestingly, with football, Ticketek are very pricey. Ticket-vending is not a difficult task to perform - but so often with this company the pendulum of good fortune jambs and they become unco-operative and twice removed from what you might want to purchase, in one way or another. I would love to see ticketing/game entry back in the hands of the Club, whose services were quick, desirable, value for members, assured and on-time. The only tickets worth buying here in Adelaide for the Dees' game against Fitz-Briz start at $96 (each) with no mention of MFC membership claims - no an ability to cite your MFC membership details. It became such a brick wall dealing with $Techa-Tic-Toc that we both gave up trying and have resigned to watch the TV telecast instead - at least $192 will go to a good cause at the bottle shop because it will be a champagne event no matter which side of the sore cheek you sit upon. Carna Dees!