kev martin

Good test for us to play the 3rd and 4th quarters well.

Carlton can be hot or cold, from one week to the next They can play fast, down the corridor style and have the balance to kick goals and defend. The fast, take us on footy has been our Achilles heal this year. We thought we could control the Pie when they came at us. We need to be ready for their best. Against Brisbane, they can't get their hands on it.

That's it.

Fisher is a momentum killer. Misses important goals, and it goes coast to coast.

Those commentators! Cripps left the ground, bumbs from behind/side, hits the head, didn’t get near the ball, Che subbed out. Mathews says going for the ball all should be fine, the rest follow. Where is the 'duty of care.' At least 2 weeks.

I believe the second half fadeouts are more about their heads, then skills. In finals I can't see them taking the foot of the pedal.

The optimists take indignation at the half empty. The pessimist expect the worst so their sensitive souls do not crack, and can tell us "I told you so". The realist see all is possible. Me, we have a great chance of getting the cup. We control much of the game. The other has to play well to knock us off. We are finals bound, and that is when we do it for the 4 quarters. Go Dees.

Not adjudicated consistently for both teams, and line frees given infront of the goal. Seems like if it pops out when tackled it becomes HTB. A split second, or minimal movement isn't prior. Prior has to be enough time to dispose of the ball, not attempt to dispose of ball. The attempt to dispose comes after the tackle, when no prior. The taller, lankier, slower players are being discriminated against as ball getters. Lifting the eyes shouldn't be judged as prior. Can't all be Clarry, who is super quick. Again, prior must be enough time to get a correct disposal away, a reasonable amount of time. I don't like the getting pinged when unable to dispose, due to tackler holding an arm so cannot handball, and pushing down on the body so can't get the leg out for a kick. We don't seem to get much reward for our tackling.

I have confidence when it is a centre bounce. We can score or control the opposition. In the second half last night, I felt uncomfortable when we had the ball in general play. When we have a kick-in, we are happy to get a stoppage near the wing, the same seems to be when slinging off the half-back area. (Worried a turn over is coming). I feel it then becomes a 50/50 proposition at the created stoppage. Our angles, lack of switches, and inability to find space are telling. The contested game stats look big when we constantly put the ball into packs. Missing outside run, good decision makers and getting any overlap.

Long bombs, need to change it up and do some stab-like kicks. Too many handballs to players under pressure, need to use handballs to make space and/or break lines. A few too many times we went for the same ball, getting in the way of each other way and leaving an easy out for the pie. Need to really work on teamwork and helping each other. Stop the selfish acts. Some players need to stay in the game, and others need take it on when it is their time. We have had some terrible second halves this year. Hoping this is our last one. Do they get ahead of themselves? We become the dope that is roped. We need to move the ball with better angle and have a pressure game for the 4 quarters and across the entire field.

Love the difference in approaches. Maggie's all gee up. Dees with strategy. Go Dees

Rain appears to be easing.

It is raining now!

Still no rain, just some stray drops. Grey skies, Certainly no downpours. Hoping for the same as we head into the evening.

We are a well structured and disciplined side. We are playing a rather arrogant, high risk to reward team. If a few words can get them to try a different approach, then they will be playing into our hands. We will build our wall and have a strategy to blunt their corridor runs. I can't see them going with another strategy other then fast footy and pressure. We will outlast them. They could drain themselves early with having to chase us, and to get the ball in front of us, then all the better. I reckon, it will be the 3rd quarter that decides this game. Don't let them get momentum and we have this. Salem to hit his straps. Petracca to kick straight. Kossie and Sparg's to light it up. Gawn, to feed Oliver with a duck entree, a Mag pie, and the sherrin on a platter. Be ruthless. Go Dees

They're hunting magpies

Last out on the track, was Tracc, Kossi and Melky, oh, and of course Viney who was playing with his doggy. After the warm up they kicked to the 4 points of the square, where the groups gathered, with run throughs and some handballs. Split into their lines, they then moved a kaos ball from defense to the forwards, and finished with a goal. All at about 3/4 pace and no opposition, apart from a coach getting in the way and bringing the ball to ground. They finished with individual goal kicking. They appeared nervous, though upbeat and focused. They look powerful. I think they are ready for them. Tomlinson trained with the back-line, Harmes with the mids, and Chandler with the forwards. Go Dees.

Talked to the ground staff today. He said they still have to put up, a or some, small sheds, no toilets. The fencing restricting the use of the paddock is down. The ground will be able to be used by the public.

Wandered past the magpies. I thought they looked a rabble. No numbers and all in different types of black and white. Plenty of banter, from Howe, "you're a d'ckhead", to one of the younger, smaller, long hairs. Both with arms out. "If you can't do it seriously, then f'ck off", said another. The drill stopped with two wrestling each other, seemed in good fun. WOW! Maybe they will get serious when some momentum turns their way and then work together. Hoping we have a plan for when they decide to take the game on. Addit: also using the red ball to practice with.

Started at 9.30 AM In the captains squad: JVR, BBB Can't see Weids. Boisterous out there. Finished at 10.15 AM

They have suspended open trainings due to covid, and haven't reinstated them yet. I use the old intuition and guess work. On Monday, it all happened very quickly, cart drove out and the players and entourage (coaching staff and some guests) followed. When I walked around Aami park I could see some footballers getting out of their cars, so at least I knew they were here, and not Casey or Port. I am of the suspicion that a captains run will be 'on' at about 10 AM Thursday, on Gosch's. Could be wrong. The arena is fenced off by the ground staff, as the area is still under repair. There is plenty of room between spectators and players, maintaining covid distancing with the fence. They also allowed some observers and film crew into the fenced area. You could try your luck! My guess of the training routine is; Monday morning, and a captains run the day before the game, at Gosch's, with a full training either, Tuesday or Wednesday at Casey.

Tmac also appears very much lighter. Whether it is muscle mass, or just an illusion I couldn't tell. If he has dropped some weight, it could make it easier and perhaps quicker to rehab. He is a focused individual and I wouldn't put it past him to have a chance at being ready.

No, doesn't seem bigger, though I know it is. Soon they'll finish the final touches of the landscaping for the non-playing area.

He trained with the back-line.