Chook

Almost the best game of Oliver's career. He destroyed it against Adelaide in R10 2021 but we lost, so it takes a tick of the shine off, but today he was brilliant in everything he did, and also played just a fantastic team game. The next 5 weeks/4 games are so big.

This is going to be a better start to the year than last year (something I never thought I'd see), and most of the people here sound sad. Bizarre turn of events.

Bedford has blistering pace. Would not be disappointed in seeing him on grand final day, though he's probably a year or two away from being truly ready.

Great pressure and speed there from Bowey to pressure the North player enough that he kicked it out on the full. And then the effort from Bedford.

Oliver has played a spectacularly disciplined and team-oriented game today - and has been brilliant in his typical Oliver way on top of it. Absolute gold-star performance.

Great courage from McDonald particularly today when north have been less than clean.

Keep 'em to less than 60 and hit the ton and I'll be very pleased.

Aww don't make a thread about it. Now he'll never get better!!!

Gawn's radar is back off again, and that is just what the whole team is like at the moment.

lol I should pot this bloke more often!

MELKSHAM!!! GEE, GOD, BOY, WOW!!!!!!!

Sorry Melk. We'll get you to 200 I'm sure but the days of gee god boy wow are long past you my friend.

Spargo in defence when he's found himself there has impressed me. He is a cool customer, and I could see him moving back there and Bedford taking his spot in the forward line as a different look/to cover injuries.

Spargo's inside 50 delivery is the bomb.

North trying to make the only impact on the eight they can - through inflicting injuries.

That's a lot of emojis.

As we all thought - it's ribs. Damn.

You guys want to win 32 on the trot and have a perfect year? Smashing North is small beans compared to that so let's keep an eye on the big picture hey?

Still the most handsome winger in footy. I'll let you know when I know more than that, but he's hard to track down.

Amazing work from Oliver there in the defensive 50 stoppage to win the ball on hands and knees and have the smarts to handball BACKWARDS towards the goals where Lever and Brayshaw were waiting for him in space. Great growth and team play from him to use his strengths (ballwinning in the contest + handball) in a way that helps our defensive setup. Love it.

He has never lost? He is an elite intercept mark and defensive organiser? Oh - Jake MEKLSHAM? Yeah, me either.

Petracca is starting to annoy me. He thinks he can do it all, and he clearly cannot. He's a really good (EDIT best in the comp) in tight player with burst speed but isn't a great finisher especially when he has to think about it. Play to your strengths mate.

Brayshaw is having a day he will not want to remember. Not all his fault, but man nothing is going right for him so far today. Where's the dangerous tackle ump?

That Fritsch goal was something out of the 2013 Melbourne vintage.

McDonald in the short sleeves now - thank f for that. I think we'll be ok now.