Everything posted by Dee-monic
- GAMEDAY: Rd 20 vs Richmond
- PREGAME: Rd 20 vs Richmond
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PREGAME: Rd 20 vs Richmond
There's been talk about resting players in the next few weeks. On the other hand, all this weekend's upsets have opened an unexpected pathway to second place on the ladder if we win all our remaining games. That's a big incentive considering that finishing third would probably mean travel to Brisbane or Adelaide. The Tigers won't be an easy kill, given that the upsets have also kept alive their finals hopes.
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NON-MFC: Rd 20 2023
Beat Richmond tomorrow and thanks to all this weekend's upsets second place is up for grabs if we are good enough. That's a big incentive that would rule out possible travel to Brisbane or Adelaide.
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The Run Home
Carlton's unexpected but impressive demolition of the Pies has kept them in the top-four equation, especially if we lose to them. I don't think we should be counting any chickens yet by resting several players in what is a medium-difficulty run home. And with Grundy seemingly on the outer for the time being, someone else will have to drop out anyway when (if?) OIiver comes back before finals.
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Harley Reid
May will turn 32 in January next year. Probably has two years left, maybe three. Key defenders of his quality don't come along very often.
- POSTGAME: Rd 19 vs Adelaide
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POSTGAME: Rd 19 vs Adelaide
A few points: Up front: BBB must surely be at the end of the road now. Joel Smith did more in his first 10 minutes than Brown did all afternoon. Kozzie electric in the first half, but eventually faded out. But the signs were good. Van Rooyen showing promise but not quite there yet. Midfield: Towering game from Viney was all that prevented us from collapse at times. Lack of pace a problem for Sparrow and Jordon. Oliver hugely missed when the pressure built up. Defence: Have May and Lever ever got themselves into such a muddle? Must be May's poorest game for a long time. Both kept making poor decisions all day. Tomlinson would be super unlucky to be dropped next week.
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VOTES: Rd 19 vs Adelaide
6 Viney - solid output in all four quarters. 5 Gawn - showed again he still has the tank to play almost a full game. 4 Pickett - the magic was back before he faded in the second half. 3 Salem - always cool under pressure. 2 Rivers - rapidly becoming a key player. 1 Brayshaw - worked tirelessly in defence. Petracca surprisingly missing from the list, with his radar going haywire.
- GAMEDAY: Rd 19 vs Adelaide
- GAMEDAY: Rd 19 vs Adelaide
- GAMEDAY: Rd 19 vs Adelaide
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My 3 word player analysis V Brisbane
Excellent analysis but a little unfair to ANB, who may lack finesse but was often in the thick of the action. And maybe a bit generous to Jordon, who strikes me as a trier who hasn't quite got what it take\s.
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VOTES: Rd 18 vs Brisbane
6 Gawn - back to his best in his true role. 5 Petracca - four goals and a mountain of work. 4 Melksham - showed the value of experience with a great mark and cool finish at the end. 3 Viney - usual tigerish effort all day. 2 McVee - efficient and well organised. 1 Woewoedin - sentimental vote for a memorable first AFL goal. Five minutes from the end the order might have been different!
- POSTGAME: Rd 18 vs Brisbane
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POSTGAME: Rd 18 vs Brisbane
The age of miracles is upon us! Like all Goody's critics I am absolutely delighted to eat humble pie. I never thought they could do it. Melksham literally our matchwinner with that great mark and ice-cool finish. Petracca, Gawn and Viney led the way, and Joel Smith was a big improvement on Petty, who looked out of sorts almost from the start. Puzzling how nearly-fit Oliver gets ruled out but clearly unfit Petty gets a start. But all credit to Goodwin and the players. Goody cops it whenever we lose so he deserves to share the praise for that amazing turnaround too.
- GAMEDAY: Rd 18 vs Brisbane
- GAMEDAY: Rd 18 vs Brisbane
- GAMEDAY: Rd 18 vs Brisbane
- GAMEDAY: Rd 18 vs Brisbane
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GAMEDAY: Rd 18 vs Brisbane
Take out the opening burst and we are getting a football lesson from a far superior team. Some of our skill errors have been horrendous and Goodwin seems helpless to change anything. Jordon all but invisible, hopeful long bombs into the forward line yet again, Van Rooyen anonymous, Petty struggling against Daniher. I could go on and on. Unless Goody can come up with a counter to this onslaught our percentage is going to take a battering.
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Time to put the 'Kozzy Form Slump' bias to bed!
Numerous posters have commented that what upset them about Kozzie's performance against the Saints was not his lack of impact on the game but the fact that at times he didn't appear to be giving 100 per cent effort. Some of his attempted tackles certainly looked half-hearted and he did a lot of aimless running. He is still relatively inexperienced and I wonder sometimes if he is uncertain of the precise role Goodwin wants him to play. We all know he is a potential matchwinner but lately his game has been below par. If people are worried about possible off-field problems that does not necessarily imply anything unsavoury. Young players can suffer from homesickness, worries about sick relatives or a host of other common issues that can put them off their game. At his best Kozzie is an excitement machine and we all hope he proves that in the coming weeks.
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Death Riding Fremantle 2023 - Feathered Cap Edition
Great result for us, and Jackson had minimal impact for the Dockers. Carlton looked pretty slick though and we still have to face them in what could be a key game for both teams. With Tasmania looming, the next draft could be crucial, so getting three picks inside the top 30 of a so-called super-draft would see us coming out on the credit side of the Jackson deal if our recruiters get it right (as they mostly have done in recent years).
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Time to put the 'Kozzy Form Slump' bias to bed!
There wasn't any need to tag him tonight. He was the invisible man. It seems that he is uncertain of his precise role in the team. Maybe a week or two at Casey would help him regain his magic touch.
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POSTGAME: Rd 17 vs St Kilda
We've just beaten a top-four contender and some posters are moaning. Get a grip, fellow fans, and accept that AFL football is a tough gig in which instant decisions need to be made under pressure and players, being human, sometimes get it wrong. We won the game, and in the end that's all that counts. Just like every other club, we have strengths and weaknesses which we need to work on. Any win is something to celebrate and enjoy.