pitmaster

Funny that because last night I was wondering how you would recover in time for the podcast. It will be missed.

So I am not the only one. Thanks for letting me know.

There are clearly doubts about Selwyn and the fitness program but yesterday was a mental failure. We never put sides to the sword. How often - when we were winning - did we get on top of sides and lament the fact that a four goal win should have been by much more. Other sides know how to make the most of a chance to utterly [censored] the opposition but we don't and that's a mind set issue. We are not, and I don't remember when we were last ruthless. At 3/4 time the right mental setting was to absolutely bury the Saints but we didn't have it. So yeah, by all means get rid of Selwyn, but we also need some Northey-like mongrel in the coaching personnel and the senior players.

Pert was the AFL's choice. Collingwood had booted him and it was a job for a member of the boys club I believe.

To be fair, that focus was the journos' choice and down to their questions. Goodwin did highlight the smashing in the midfield and loss of momentum which is on the senior players.

Seriously? The bloke who appointed Mark Neeld? No thanks.

He's done it before...and against this same mob...and cost a last minute loss as well.

My fear is that the fact that the eight almost settled - and you have to fear for the Dogs' chances with the Suns win over the Lions today leaving the western suburb crew a game outside the eight - the AFL will do something knee-[censored] and stupid, like introduce a wildcard round. Spare us! As for the Dogs in ninth spot with a percentage of 125-plus, that has to be the definition of flat track bully.

It's a dour struggle between Matt Hill and Mark Howard for the title of most useless, uninformative and distracting commentator. 3/4 time its Howard by a couple of points.

Jeff Gleeson, who cleared Maynard for his Brayshaw hit, finds differently for May. Go figure.

Remember this name and hope we don't see him in the final round. He paid two unjustified 50 metre penalties to the Filth in their game against the Dockers including the widely discredited "dissent" decision. From my viewing of the replay he was sweating on anything like a frown from the Docker and could not wait to call dissent when the players arm was raised but did not point at the screen. Has about 120 games under his belt which goes to show that experience doesn't necessarily make them any good. And BTW, how was Maynard not penalised for pushing Reid into the dugout?

Funny to hear Nathan Buckley raving about Carlton being "excellent". Yes he said it. Lauded their pressure (fair enough), rated Cripps over Clarry on the night (arguable but OK) and generally raved about the Blues. He said nothing about the Dees yet this was a game that was arguably decided by a non-free kick (to Clarry) that would have put us inside 50 with two points down and 90 seconds to play. Sadly, the free went begging and a soft as summer butter decision and goal was gifted to Curnow. I am not saying the umpires determined the result - although they did influence it - because we had our chances as usual with more I-50s and winning contested possession. However, Buckley cited those same stats going Collingwood's way in their loss to Freo to say their game was in a good place. Just goes to show what winning does to perception and "expert commentary".

Darcy Moore is a maggot and a cheat and should be rubbed out for that last act. Suck a fat one McRae.

Having seen such a dominant few weeks from Kozzie with him attending about 90% centre bounces I can't help wondering how much his absence in the first three weeks queered, as in compromised our season. We started with a narrow loss to the Giants that probably would have been a win with Kozzie playing even half as well as this week. If that 0-5 start never happened players' confidence and trust in one another would have been so much stronger and a new game style easier to implement and perfect. Can the panel please discuss?

Two very ordinary teams. I thought we'd win, not even thinking of their outs. I don't actually think they missed anything non personnel because they discovered Moir is an amazing kick for goal and he was the difference. The umpiring was every bit as poor as the teams and they too were the difference. They were instrumental in multiple Carlton goals and had a strange aversion to treating Melbourne equally in the matter of 50 metre penalties and free kicks alike. The new Melbourne style was there from time to time with some pretty good ball movement and intent to find targets inside 50 but our skills overall just aren't good enough. Jeffo teases. A great contested defensive mark followed by a clanger. A shot for goal that seemed to come off his shin. Each week of the past three he has kicked a goal but should have had multiple goals. I guess we persevere because he is improving. Melkie missing this week and failing to score from a deliberate shot I was certain he would nail. Fritter has come good in lot of ways and is really contributing. Oliver was great. Trac is a shadow of his former self. I am just hoping he comes good next season. Rivers was better, Kozzie brilliant, Viney a Trojan, Gawn mistreated and betrayed by the umpires who frankly are amateurish. Now to watch the replay and become angry all over again.