Chook

How good is Caleb Windsor playing at the moment. He and McVee are a touch of class.

KOZZY!

What a goal from Melksham! Love this bloke.

Clear free unfortunately. May whacked him in the gob. Not.

Jeez, the live ladder has us less than a game out of the top 4. What a bizarre season (port and Brizzy have a chance to leapfrog us still this round).

Great grinding performance across the first 3 quarters to win a three-goal lead. Can't be scoreless in the last again though. I worry about Jake Bowey. He's a very little guy, and is often caught out in one-on-one marking contests or moments where he has to lay tackle pressure.

Look we knew it would be an uphill battle in the ruck, but credit to Goodwin for cobbling something together with Petty, Turner and Roo. I feel Roo has kind of had to be called in because Petty's pretty hopeless unfortunately. Great work to break even and even win the contests in the 2nd quarter. Hoping the weather stays poor because Essendon's running handball game has cut us to pieces when they've been able to implement it.

Windsor does great stuff but at his best he'll be a top tier wingman - a much lower ceiling than Jackson. The other two boys are untried at AFL level. Given we're in our window now (or were in one, it's probably closed now to be honest), potential is worth a lot less than current output. If Windsor becomes Robbie Flower Mk.II then I'll re-evaluate the trade.

Melksham and the kids should be very very hungry given most or all of them missed out on 2021. Hopefully it's enough to light a fire under the bums of a few veterans (Salem, Clarry, May, Langdon in particular come to mind).

Luke Jackson is an absolute star and we were royally ripped off when he left.

Win tonight and it's still going to be a tough road to make finals. Lose and it's almost impossible. As others have mentioned we're showing some really positive signs with our tackle pressure and forward connection (Roo is looking like a gun in the making imo). I'm cautiously optimistic about Petty and Turner tonight in the ruck. I think Roo should play forward 100%, as he's so critical to our structure. Melksham will play a big role in keeping the forwards functioning as a unit, and will be instrumental in us getting the best out of van Rooyen. Let's go Dees.

Petty has had a lot of trouble getting into the game as a forward. Having him be a defensive ruck following Draper around the ground and helping out defensively could work very well in theory. 1. Gets him into the game 2. Utilises his defensive nous and knowledge of the backline structure 3. Potentially providing a good marking target down the ground 4. Keeps the forward line open for players who know what they're doing (Roo, Melk, Fritta, Kosi) to go to work Better than Fullerton, who wouldn't really be able to do any of that

Agreed. I think JVR is a great 2nd ruck but we need him at full forward more. Carlton get by with Cripps at stoppage, so surely we can fill the position when Gawn is off the ground with someone who isn't quite so vital to our structure up forward (as JVR is).

Personally, I think this is a wonderful decision. Melks should return via the AFL team to help us win. Supporters continue to show they have no clue with their team selection advice.

Cooked by his thyroid stuff. Was elite before that.

Finally Petty off. C'mon Browny.

My god does either side want to win?

Viney what a superman tackle.

Petty and Lingers have killed us with their 4 misses tonight.

Handy point. Please just goals for us from here on out thanks.

Lions are trying their hardest to allow us to keep our necks in front.

Petty seems to go OK up the ground as a link up mark player, but unfortunately that role usually also plays ruck, which Petty is hopeless at. Really a puzzling player for us to use to any good effect. Meanwhile we cannot score again.

Petty actually has no idea what to do when kicking for goal. It's a coaching thing more than anything. He's crying out for someone to tell him what to do.

Why is Goody delaying the sub with Petty's foot like that? Honestly, Goodwin's boneheaded use of the substitute does my head in.

Petty injured again. Rucking. You don't ruck Petty given his injury history. Robert Walls could tell you that.