kev martin

How do the Cats get away with constantly playing the man, they push, block, hold, and scagg, at most of the contests and in their forward area? Our backs have to play in an uneven contest.

Good start, BBBB (big beautiful Ben Brown) great hands and finisher. Oliver everywhere, backline doing ok, Viney is fighting for everything. Sparrow can't kick into the mark twice! Pickett is dangerous tonight. Mids want the ball.

Can't agree, the change to coaching staff and associated game plan options has been a revelation for us. We now change up the structures, style and mindset during the game. The maturity is shown by our capacity to get back on top when teams get a run on. The players have "bought in", and trust the game plans. We have a few different gears, can go defensive and now we can be offensive (good timing to get this part of our game rolling). We can hold the ball, rebound it and get that important answering score. Get some of our contested and clearance work consistent then we are a very well rounded team. One trick was in the past (see and get ball, move it quickly). The game tonight will be primarily about the coaches. Will they show all the different strategies so keep the opposition guessing as to which style or will it be one style for the entire game? I suggest it will be a very defensive style, dogged and dour, with the occasional flair to get some score on the board. Though would love to see us take it on all game, so we have a hard hit out. I presume they will be saving something in the tank and mindset for the final series.

Not to bad for us. We have some incentive now to beat the Cats. Not sure if the Cats play well at home without their usual crowd. Must feel like a training drill for them. We have been winning and it is good form to go into a final series with winning form. Hoping we are too fast, fit and skillful for the old Cat. We could break them tomorrow, (as we have done to a few teams this year), and put their finals campaign in doubt. Great to see the Dogs fall, they have been called the team to beat, up to round 20. We have been the ones that they couldn't trust.

Will be a wrestle, as their skills have gone missing. Belt each other!

Wow, fumbles from many of the players. The B+ players are making lots of errors. Cannot find space or execute under perceived pressure. Alir Alir is playing well as is Daniel's and Easternwood, Bont is in and out of the game, expect more in the third from him. Treloar clean footy. Dogs backline holding well. English and Naughton well off. Gray to impact in the third. Port missing gettable goals is giving the game to the dogs, they seem to fall apart under pressure.

Changes from the coaches. Can see the Dogs controlling the ball, instead of going quick and Port looking to get access through the centre, maybe!

Dog's starting well. Port can't get the ball. If they do, they can't keep it, and don't make the best of their chances.

Such an interesting end to the home and away season. The Dogs and Port will be bashing hard into each other. Hoping Dogs get it, so our game against Cats hasn't got as much riding on it. Other than Dogs getting the mojo back on (not good for us), would not like the Port to get home finals.

We have had consistency at selection most of the year, not this one with the home and away season coming to an end. Three changes, with some old heads, and JJ who has always been selected, going out. A few of players still getting match fit in Smith, Viney, Sparrow and Bowey, though I think Bowey is setting for a fairytale final series. Therefore plenty of pressure to perform! Such a change up, it will have to effect our structures. Interesting coaching duel coming up.

Agree, it is no good for us to be watching the Maggie's do their stuff. Nor for the Maggie's being watched. Need to develop the Gosch's side of the stadium.

The score against from turnovers, were a worry in the thirst half. We need to keep control of it. Moths to flame at times. When the Crows were going quickly, we looked a mess. Used the switch of play early, then not much as the game wore on. Stood up when it was their time Petty, Bbb, Friita, Langdon, Spargo, Salem. Oliver's goal kicking, yips again. Worked his way into the game. Harmes worked hard all game, liked his linking handball, gets and receives. We fell off a few when we tackled. Tracc had answers, composure and became the steadying influence. Gawn and Jackson dominance is beautiful. Worried about Sparrow, disposal efficiency has fallen. JJ, Rivers, Petty and Bowey playing well. Well done Smith, ready if there are injuries to the big backs. Some soft frees to us. Need more outside run. The G is ours!

Not bringing in Weids means the small forwards would want to kick goals, kick straight and bring defensive pressure. Wouldn't be surprised if Pickett is a late withdrawal (Weids in), due to the effects of racism, the family loss earlier on, and being young in a long season, sapping him of some energy. Then again, "soldering on" may be best, so as to not let the bigots overtly effect him. After watching Betts, the bigotry does cause a mental toll. Get round him MFC, and help him play a blinder.

I listened to that as well. They said it was similar, a perfect tackle except the outcome and the player tackling not knowing if the ball came free. For me, Hawkins looked worse because he pinged both arms of the opponent and drove him straight to the turf. Holman had one arm and attempted to turn the player.

Agree, also pushed into the contest.

They won't be too desperate to beat us now. If they had of been playing for a top 4 finish then they would have been harder. Now just an even type of game. Both wanting to go into the finals with momentum.

Hill the play killer. Switches off too often.

What a let off, junk time goals for the Cats. Some of the Saints ball movement from the backline was good. Cats couldn't work out if they were switching or going down a corridor. Saints playing at a high standard, can they keep it up? Usually, giving the Cats the momentum into the quarter time can hurt.

C'mon Saints, take the GMHBA hoodoo from the Cats.

Wow, the Bulls kick 5 only. A bit of pick and choose when to play, or have they got some problems with their structures? In either case they have plenty to work on. They weren't close or even showed any real fight. It is not a good way to come into a final series. The game against Port, next week takes on more significance, they need to play well in order to build confidence.

Tigers will have to go on the offensive now. I wonder if they can still score a rally of goals. Their defensive pressure game also looks shot, with the GWS picking their way through them.

I understand the report was done by a Geelong faithful. Don't let any Geelong or ex Geelong affiliates touch anything outside of their club. Far too much self interest from them. Geelong won't ever relocate or even play in Tassie as the home game. The whinge from them would be unbearable. Why have them adjudicate for the rest of the Vic teams and in particular Tassy. Gee, there are no warm fuzzys from the AFL. Isn't it a non profit, community focused institution. That is a fail of a decision. Put the calculator and bottom line away. Give Tas a team of their own. League would be better off, in terms of warm fuzziness and bringing joy to the communities.

Would like to see Weids and BBB work together in the forward area. They did alright out at Casey. Vanders and Sparrow struggled in Perth, so both out for me. Interchange could be: Jackson, Jordon, Weids and either Hibbo or Smith. Hibbo is a known quantity, so Smith to get a run and see if he fits in, Hibbo as med sub. Not sure there is a forward position for Bedford unless they go small and have given up on the Weid.

Build a car tunnel under Punt road from St.kilda Junction to Vic parade or even the eastern freeway, include a few on/off acceses. Allows for both Gosch's and tiger land to expand. Will quieten the area and give another main artery into the city as well as connecting the eastern and south eastern freeways. The traffic jams for vehicles transitting during sport/music events won't occur.

I am so happy with this season. The end of the weekend, when we won another, was extraordinary, inspiring and set up my week up, beautifully. Our loses to lesser teams to keep us on our toes. The advantageous draw, the minimal injuries, not too many drama's, players appearing happy, stars performing, new players coming along well, coaches strategies and now guaranteed two final matches. Plus the AFLW MFC team leading the way, and nearly getting the cup. Much still has to go right and will need the footy gods on our side for us to climb up to be the premiers. Though I am satisfied with what the club has given me already. Happy with small mercies. Thanks MFC, however we end the year.