Rivers of Belief my friend

100%. where the hell were our local supporters? Why so many Saints supporters in the local crowd? Beyond disappointing after 10 years. Why bother. (I’d like to sincerely acknowledge our cheer squad and all those who travelled - massive kudos)

I’m not a fan of this fixture. Also, why are there always many more opposition supporters at this venue?

Totally agree, Binman. And as you’ve mentioned on the poddy before, it’s a particular manifestation of MFCSS (self-loathing?) when our supporters do that kind of thing. (I’ve certainly been guilty of it before.) The positive framing would be: ‘we broke Sydney’, not: ‘our win was not as good as we thought’. Also, we beat the Lions who bounced back this week. Or maybe that was because Essendon is horrible. And when they beat the Hawks a week later, that’s only because the Hawks are pretenders. I mean, at some point, we have to try and cure ourselves (as a club / supported) of this consistent type of self-loathing. There’s a lot of trauma there though!

Or: “we broke Sydney”

Winter veggies planted 👍 Chooks given a run in sun 👍 Dog [censored] picked up and binned 👍 I’m all good to go too.

Yeah I grew up in Kew near Vic Park and went to quite a few games there with a friend who was a Magpie supporter. As you say, lots of rough but friendly and funny jest. (Although I was a kid so wasn’t ever going to be at risk!)

There’s something about Swans supporters that really gets my goat - have had a few run-ins after games at the G. (All unprovoked by me, of course.) Anyway, to be fair, there’s a few comedians over on their Big Footy forum. General gist: Gawn looms large as a threat, especially his intercept marks, and whether he goes ‘beast mode’ They don’t seem to rate May and Lever much any more, although acknowledge we rarely lose with both in team They think it’s a toss of the coin who’s fwd line is worse The intro had an amusing tale of the tagging that may take place - a merry-go-round of tags on tags on tags (starting with Claz on Chad) There’s a cheap jibe about Dees supporters only being relevant for the Mt Buller tourism trade and propping up VIC’s struggling economy. Or maybe that was about their player Buller - it was confusing They were lamenting their two suspensions from last week’s game and nervous about the Dees’ return to form They’re very worried about Kozzie running amok, and the only viable match-up being Wicks They seem quite obsessed about what the weather will be like and if it will be wet or dry (sound familiar? 😄) Overall, they’re not particularly confident, and a little nonplussed about their season in general.

Hell yeah I love youse all

Oliver kicked that as a torp. No joke

Lions Definitely wearing the butt crack shorts today.

Or, Xavier is from 1923, carries around a Tommy gun in a violin case and wears a pair of wingtips.

Looks like our trademark final quarter fade has kicked in.

Goal kicking killing us. should have been easy goals to: Sharp Windsor Fritsch It really starts to make the opposition feel more confident. Nothing to lose / no penalty.

I’m a little bit nervous before a game again. I’m taking that as a good sign…

me too - he had a few great moments last night. But clearly still coming back. A dynamic player. In the right mix of teammates / balance, can be devastating. So good at following up the groundball after rucking, and setting up a teammate with a forward space handball.

I remember when after winning the Brownlow, Woey was asked what had changed that year for him. I mean, he did have a breakout year. He said, amongst other things, that before every game he wrote in black texta on his arm: "run, run, run".

Just don’t confuse it with ‘the clap’. That’s the last thing he needs.

Free parking at Gosch’s paddock, free city loop tram - unlimited journeys, corrugated iron beach hut on Port Phillip Bay.

Yep those two are such quality players.

It is hard to believe just how bad we were for rounds 2-5. Not saying that’s totally in the past, but it feels like it. We were horrendous.

My fave player. Still a bit awkward moving, but has some great skills and endurance. We all thought he was cooked when he went through some ankle trouble - couldn’t seem to turn. We were calling him a straight line runner. Just shows how much effect injuries have on a player. legend.

Yeah I think all this is pertinent. There’s potentially a role for a silky, gold-laced opportunist like Fritta - I mean, he’s a joy to watch in full flight when brim-full of confidence, but most teams are so good at bouncing out of defence and running the ball to the other end in audacious chains, that you do pay a price to include a player like that. Where’s the threshold / risk/reward?

He’s been a bit like that lately…

VFL thoughts after watching: Laurie: classy/silky, and generally a decent decision maker, but a fraction slow - in running and being aware of what’s around him JvR: back to his physical / athletic best. A good kick for goal too. Billings: good all round player who is a class above at VFL. But lacks one or two key strengths that would set him above at AFL (and a little slow with a shorter kick) Taj Woey: like Laurie, but even more so, too slow in decision making and not aware of what’s around him and the urgency required sometimes

Could JvR be a half forward in the mould of Carey? (A stretch at this point I know, given current form, but marks well, decent mobility, good kick)