JTR

Oliver butchers the ball by foot when under no pressure at all, sometimes in crucial moments. He does it every game, but the most glaring example (which incidentally is where all this talk started) was a few games back vs Richmond. I assume you actually watched that game rather than just look at his stats afterwards to determine his impact? If so, surely you recall the moment late in the 4th when we were still in it, he gets a free in the middle, shanks the kick intended for Petracca straight to Rioil who swoops, gets it to Lynch who scores? And with that killing any chance we had for a win? Plenty of eyebrows raised after that game.... https://www.afl.com.au/video/462040/oliver-embarrassed-tigers-are-home?videoId=462040&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1593935743001 https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-demons-clayton-oliver-under-the-microscope-over-kicking-flaws-c-1146697 https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/07/08/is-the-fundamental-flaw-in-olivers-game-a-liability-for-melbourne/ His kicking is my personal gripe and it's probably the gripe of most here that have any problem with Oliver. (Some may also argue that a lot of his handballs don't actually hurt the opposition which is why he is rarely tagged). On balance though, is any of that worthy of him being omitted from the team? No, probably not as the good he does far outweighs the bad. That still doesn't change the fact that he butchers the ball by foot when under no pressure at all, and at times it has been very costly. Thats not good enough for someone that is always in our best 22. Keep going with your little crusade though.

Kind of keen to see Spargo play now for some reason.

Spot the difference.... ?

Is this going to be you shtick every week now?

Umpire #21 has almost gone past Nicholls on my list of most disliked. More shockers from him tonight on the back of his debacle in St Kilda v Adelaide game on Monday

Definitely a game we lost rather than they won. Missed chances by Weid, Harmes & Bennell crucial. As for the yellow maggots... ?

If it was Selwood they'd all be saying it was courageous and talking about how many weeks the other guy should get

"The Ds particularly the players criticised responded with a solid win against the Suns. Changes were made to the structure by bringing in McDonald (the younger) and Weideman, pace was introduced with Jetta and Bennell; and VandenBerg got through a second game" This is not the first time I've seen an opposition supporter say this. Are the confusing Nev with Lewis?

Lions have been playing two rucks all season. Mostly Martin/McInerney but in the couple of rounds a few weeks back when Martin was out injured they brought in Archie Smith to pair up with McInerney.

Has anyone managed to find the incident where the injury occurred? I watched some of the replay tonight but couldn't find anything obvious early in the 2nd.

Imagine if it was us vs them in the last round with the winner making finals. I'd love nothing more than to smash them off the park and send them packing, but how bad would everyones MFCSS be in the lead up! ?

Carlton not travelling at all. Head to Perth after this weekend then sit over there whole time, with a bye to boot. Downside for them I suppose is playing WC/Freo over there in front of a crowd

So Brisbane on Sunday followed by Port on Thursday.

Especially critical for us, considering the fixture is going to be condensed and we are not going to get a bye like everyone else.

So what are the rules here? Only Oliver? Are there allowed to be calls for other players to be dropped? If so, and if those calls are also wrong, will those people be expected to exit demonland? Cause... As to what expect from our players, Oliver is one that most would rate as one of our best and rightfully so. I wouldn't expect then to find myself cringing any time he so much as thinks about kicking it. His kicking is a problem. Certainly not drop from the team worthy, but it's something he must work on. We can't afford to have multiple players in the middle butchering it by foot, especially when under no pressure at all and he is one of a few

3:05 mark, in lead up to Bennell goal General play, not centre clearance, but still.... ?

I forget what quarter it was, but the moment where Jackson recognised we were likely to win a centre clearance, burst forward to take the forward handball, then run away and get it inside 50 was a thing of beauty. Legit plays like a mid.

On the day sure. Not overall though, which was my point and what I think binman was getting at with his comment re us being a better side than Geelong.

There wouldn't be any such thing as an "upset" if that was the case.

I'd like to see Jones in there somehow. Still think he has a bit to give.

In: Tomlinson, ANB, Smith, Jackson, Jones Out: TMac

Probably more interesting (to me) from that article, was this... "The AFL is hoping to hold this year's Toyota AFL Grand Final on October 17, which is the same day as the Caulfield Cup is currently scheduled for. However, the sticking point remains the contract situation that has prevented players locking away their future, particularly for those who are unsigned beyond this season. The injury risk that comes with the truncated fixture was "unacceptable" when footballers' futures were in doubt, Marsh said, even though it was "an extraordinary year" with the COVID-19 crisis. Marsh had an online discussion on Wednesday with all players, who stated this issue was "critically important". He has presented that stance to AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, and expected to hear back from him on Thursday. "If we can't get this contract situation sorted out, then it becomes an unacceptable risk from the players' perspective," Marsh told SEN radio. "So I think we then get back to just playing weekly, like we've been doing, which is an option. There's no reason the season couldn't extend for another three weeks. "We've said since day one here that the players are prepared to play until the end of the year, and that hasn't changed. We may need that runway depending on where this virus gets to." Sounds like a LOT more water needs to go under the bridge yet. This contract situation has been lingering for months.

Geelong would love that.... GMHBA - 170 x 115 Eden Park - 137 x 110

It is true the bloke that got TMac in the eye actually dislocated his finger while doing so? It was mentioned on some show earlier in week, but I was only half listening.