old55

Titus https://www.titusoreily.com/afl/the-monday-knee-jerk-reaction-afl-round-fifteen2021 Essendon (57) v Umpires (68) The Bombers were cruising towards an enormous victory in this one, until the AFL hierarchy, who have been long involved in a conspiracy to destroy the Essendon Football Club, told the umpires to make sure Melbourne won.

Jones was great in that game but he's not going to play that role of #1 on-baller for MFC

It's B.Brown for Fritsch for me. I think Fritsch is a dangerous player who uses his smarts to get free, I also think he can play a negating role on medium intercept marking backs which is very valuable. He's a good player who has been key in some of our wins this year. But I think we need a contested marking target in our forward structure and something has to give. I don't want to go with one less mid to accommodate an extra tall. In the last quarter whenever Essendon had the ball on the back 50 I saw 4 MFC jumpers along the line of the centre square guarding the corridor and forcing them down the line. I think in the end that's why we won. That takes discipline and great running and I think we need the critical mass of mids to achieve it. Sparrow played limited minutes but had high impact for that time - he was involved in some great handball chains, tackles strongly and kicked a clutch goal - he stays in for me. Big finals are won in the contest - B.Brown offers more aerial contest deep inside 50 than Fritsch. They both have similar defensive profiles when the ball hits the ground and I think we can only afford one of that type. Fritsch would need to consistently kick more goals than B.Brown to make up for the lack of aerial contest and I don't think he can.

Did everything necessary today to keep his name in lights.

Well I think the player most likely to be out for a tall would have been Tom Sparrow and although he played limited 50% gametime I though he was very good and earned his keep. He seems to be getting up to the speed of the game and was very clean in some handball chains, laid 5 tackles and kicked an important goal.

For someone who loves to pump his own tyres about how often he's right you sure get a lot wrong. D for Dud?

That was a tremendous gutsy grinding win against a hot team with everything to play for. Go Demons!

Truly amazing - if we lose to all our top 4 competitors, we don't finish in the top 4.

Come on Demons - it's our time - bring the hammer down!

We used two last year so we're in credit.

As long as, unlike them, we win them!

Keep trading forward next year's first until we look like sinking back down the ladder in the 2030s rebuild

Great ruck depth, hope we re-contract him next year.

"Esserdun"

We want Victorian teams to win and fill the top 3.

Correction: Our first pick seems to be right around the number of points required for Andrew if he is selected in the early 20s.

Our first pick seems possible to be right around where Andrew will be selected anyway.

There's a good chance of some rain - we could just go Viney for Weid.

With 45 on the list, 23 required for MFC duties and 3 injured - I make that 19 MFC listed players available for Casey this weekend.

Cunnington the expert at this

Selwood ... https://www.afl.com.au/video/633548/is-selwood-in-trouble-for-these-incidents-

Hardwick surprisingly magnanimous: https://www.afl.com.au/video/631335/hardwick-we-just-lacked-composure-we-couldn-t-adhere-to-the-plan-?videoId=631335&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1623588209001

I think about the only player they are missing is Cam Guthrie who is closing on 29 and probably replaces 22yo Brad Close so they can go older still ...

Cats fielded the oldest ever team to win a game this week ... http://www.uselessaflstats.com.au/

But I heard over summer here that Ratten is a coaching genius and St.Kilda have zoomed past us with their inspired recruiting, despite the fact that we beat them last year?