Mel Bourne

I hope you’re not including the goal where he should’ve been awarded a HTB free for his tackle in the goal square.

Sorry if it wasn’t clear, was specifically referring to the younger players/future of the club’s forward line.

With the unfortunate need to fill the gap of AVB, the most obvious attempt at a like-for-like sub would be Tomlinson. Curious though, have folks basically committed The Nibbler to the too-hard basket? He doesn’t get mentioned around these parts very often lately, but he’s our best two-way runner in the team. Not enough perhaps?

He probably didn’t tell anybody he had a busted cheekbone with blood dripping down his throat till yesterday. Agree with all the comments here saying how much psychological edge he brings to the team on game day. He’s our modern day Rodney “Balls” Grinter, with a slightly better haircut.

I like the optimism! And I don't see any reason to strongly disagree when you lay it out like that, BUT, I do think we are lacking the kind of forward line that rivals the the top teams for now. As it stands, we are pinning our hopes on Weid, Fritsch, Kozzie and perhaps Jackson and Sparrow to be that forward line and those targets we are so genuinely lacking right now. It's a big ask of such a young group, and there are no guarantees they'll all rise to the task. We hope like nothing else they will though.

I’m pretty stoked about having the option of watching a game every night.

I’d say the best coaches of the game have all been of the “emotional” persuasion. You could hardly call Barassi, Matthews, Malthouse, Jeans, Whitten et al “whingers”.

Putting my faith and trust in the selectors this week. I’d say no changes, unless players genuinely need a rest (hopefully this doesn’t include Harley). This next game is huge. A lot of folks praising Goodwin as a tactical genius now, a mere two wins later from one of the more emphatic collective blow-torchings I’ve seen on DL. Of course I took immense pleasure watching yesterday’s match (twice), but Hawthorn are a club out to sea right now, and Gold Coast could have beaten us with the mere inclusion of a guy playing his 5th ever game of AFL. If the Dees can provide the same connection and cohesion against the Lions (a club who know how to play us) then I’ll be genuinely excited for the first time since 2018, but these last two wins aren’t enough to solidify my faith.

Not sure if you’re serious, but I’m thinking AFL coaches don’t help other coaches win games!

God that was great to watch twice. Gawn was ridiculous. Petracca has officially arrived. We can use the term “elite” now Langdon, Viney, Oliver Crucial players. Hannan dropped off a little, but his first quarter really steadied the ship. We need him game in, game out. Weid, playing with confidence, makes TMac instantly depth. I don’t think we had any particularly poor performers today. Brayshaw perhaps. But watching the second time, it was interesting to see how many times he was the victim of questionable delivery. He does need to lift though. AVB needs to work on his disposal by foot. Kozzie and Jackson are contributing to the team like second-year players already. Particularly Koz. Great signs. Omac playing with composure and poise which is great to see. Theres more to say but I am lockdown-sozzled. Watching Goodwin slam his hand down in rage when we were 38 points up in the last quarter with only five minutes to go gave me a very unexpected feeling of hope. I like seeing such obvious signs that he’s expecting a standard to be upheld, no matter if the game is effectively won. Essendon are holding our rightful place in the eight right now. When are we going to get to play this missing game of ours and smack those bomber-pretenders? The only thing better than beating Hawthorn is beating Essendon. And vice versa.

Anybody else get nervous when there’s still two minutes to go and we’re only up by 48 points?

Well, we could have had both! Let’s hope Luke Jackson is also talked about for the next ten years. In a good way, of course.

Well Goodwin did very recently say... ”I think it’s time as a club we started building that winning culture and building some momentum going into our season.” Very excited for the next 100 games, now that this has been decided.

I can imagine Donald Trump reading this aloud.

From chaos-ball to zen-ball in one week.

I love that people are still taping shows. VHS?

The albatross around Jake Lever’s neck is not going anywhere, anytime soon... Any observations/criticisms about his games will always be held up against the backdrop of the $$$$ we paid for him, which mean “average to solid” efforts become deemed as “not good enough”. Personally I don’t think we’ll ever see Lever play like we hope a $600k footballer should. He was simply paid way too much, but that’s not on him. For our own sanity we’d be best to try and erase his salary from our minds and view him in a different light - that of a player on an average AFL wage. Those who say things along the lines of “Why isn’t this guy playing to earn his massive paycheque??” Well, he’s trying to but the problem is the club buggered it up, and he’s not a player that belongs in the tax bracket he’s in. But should we have expected him to say “C’mon guys, I’m good but I’m not THAT good. Let’s make it $300k” at the negotiating table? The next time Lever puts in a non-game I will try to remind myself to spare him some shade and turn my surly gaze to our list managers and his agent. I will say though, he is a mostly dreadful kick. This alone should have been discussed in the negotiations and gone some of the way to reduce his paycheque to a more reasonable figure. Oh, and that moustache is doing him no favours (unless he’s secretly running a boiled sweets shop at Sovereign Hill).

If you looked like Huddo (sun-dried E.T figurine) you’d be bitter too.

Ah Dees. Just when I think I’m out, you reel me back in. Great to get a win, but not what you’d call an overly dominant display. Suns missed plenty of opportunities. Viney & Gawn showed excellent leadership (with the former playing out of his skin). Hannan is becoming indispensable. And the best game Ed Langdon has played in the red and blue. Harmes worked some great centre clearances in the 2nd half and has great composure in the tight passages. Loving Hibberd’s return to form. Many thought he’d run out of gas Great to see that proven wrong AVB getting acclimatised, and gaining in confidence. Harley made further progress, which we love to see. Love that purposeful, relaxed style of his Omac did his job, looks in good knick, and should get regular games this year if he can keep it up. And I agree with Binman that he should kick out. May basically kicks to a contest in the left flank every time. And while on May, he seemed kinda panicked at times and made some terrible choices. Not his usual character Trac had one he’d rather forget (except the last bit), but can’t be faulted for his effort and intensity. Pickett learning all the more and deserving of a place out there with the big buggers. Just needs to get himself in the right spots, which takes experience Lever and Oliver did a few useful things from the waist up, but their kicking is an ongoing concern. Particularly Lever. Nev was up against some wildly confident youth, and his age showed a little. Lockhart didn’t get amongst it much. We may see Rivers come in for him. Weid should get games pumped into him now. He needs to become our principal target going into forward 50. Fritter did some nice things but undid his good work with some butchered kicks. Seems a bit off compared to last year. Should come good. Brayshaw was ok at times, but was a bit of a spectator out there tonight. Melksham needs a rest. BOG - Viney. I’ve been enjoying the last several Akermanis-free seasons, but that ride is possibly over with the introduction of Rankine.

BENNELL TO WEEEEEED

Pickett needs to Learn to never kick to Viney in a one on one.

It’s kind of amazing how the sins of the past take a back seat on game day. Come to think of it, this particular feeling is the thread that my allegiance hangs on.

Man, you really don’t like Lockhart! I reckon we should give him another week and take it from there. I can't help but feel he'll come good.

Well, this has come from out of nowhere.

They both remind me of Robert Wagner. Look the part, but ultimately made for TV rather than the big screen.