pitmaster

I don't see how anyone can watch the games and take time to post in the game day threads except maybe at 1/4 time and 1/2 time. I'm too focused on the events onfield to worry what fellow demonlanders are rabbiting on about, but these comments do make great reading with hindsight. Heh heh. Not that I am suggesting I saw that ending coming. I'd written us off as having been exposed as pretenders so I was very calm at the finish, and until we hit the front, happy that we'd been able to stop Brisbane's run and overlap which carved us up for two quarters. For me the disappointing thing was that we had not regrouped earlier, at half time. We stopped a similar style of game when we played the Woods but were slow to match the Lions. Their dominance stemmed from a mix of superior leg speed, our poor positioning, lack of concentration in the back 50 on our part when they were in possession and stronger foot skills on their part. They made great use of the MCG's expanses and had no trouble with the venue. That we were able to wrestle back that advantage is testament to a different kind of Melbourne team to what many of us have been used to. Gawn, Viney, Petracca just made it work. Melksham, the hero at the finish started badly with a couple of bad blues but was clearly determined to make amends and did so with assists in the first half as well as nails in their coffin in the last. A very mature performance. And while Woey did not do a lot that running goal showed presence of mind and the skill to match. Now off to watch the replay to try to work out how we did it.

Given that Geelong will virtually live at home for the rest of the season, enjoying the advantage that confers, best it be the Bombers that win this one. Also hoping the Swans knock off the Dogs (not impossible), the Suns to account for the Saints so we score some breathing room.

First, spelling ain't grammar. For the record, something else that gives me the irrits is the fact that almost no-one knows the difference between "less" (which relates to quantity), and "fewer" (which relates to number). These two are messed up constantly, as in "we have less games at the 'G", or whatever. And, BBB, rest assured it doesn't take any spare time at all, merely seconds, and most of the time I let it go but every now and then I can't resist. I'll try to avoid policing you next time.

Why is it so many people can't spell 'lose'?

No chance. Nor should there be.

My understanding is that he told Roos he was not quite ready and needed more time. Suggests he's an honest man and a realist.

That’s the spirit.

But do you find yourself counting his steps? I've had to force myself to stop. Got all the way to 27 one time, 26 another...there's no single result.

I was snarkey about Darcy's barracking too but I don't think it had anything to do with us making amends for 1954 (with interest). It was solely about what would have been a great talking point had the Saints been able to win against the odds. The problem was, talking about it before it happens puts it in the if-your-aunty-had-balls-she'd-be-your-uncle category. Seems the fool can only handle one idea at a time and worked it over and over.

Never before have I worried much about the commentary but Luke Darcy's barracking for the "brave Saints" was so damn irritating it drove me to the mute button. Yes, if they'd won against the injury gods it would have been historic but wait until it happens FGS. And don't comment on any of the dodgy umpiring at any cost. Since when was an over the head handpass penalised as a throw? As in, almost never, until Spargo fired one off tonight. Elsewhere I've moaned about the non-free to Grundy directly in front of goal when he appeared manhandled by a bouncer. Some good stuff in there - Sparrow has grown these last few weeks, young Woey showed promise, May, Lever, Petty and Salem were brilliant and Trac should have gained confidence from that. Brown was better and threatened. Glass half full.

How was that not a free to Grundy??? These umpires are seriously crooked.

Love the way even players who may be displaced by these announcements share in the celebrations. Happens every time.

A key being McVee is a slippery character able to find space where there is not much. The reason I think he's worth a run in the middle - as an outside mid - is his ability to evade tackles and create room (and time) for himself and he is a strong kick. Absolutely he is worth a run in there because it's our delivery into the forward 50 that must be fixed or we're going nowhere.

It's also wrong. Total 46 shots comprising 12 goals 19 points and 15 misses. Still bloody terrible.

Hunter for Hunt not the gain we were hoping for. Would not have lost anything had we kept JH.

Small forwards nowhere to be seen when the ball hits the deck from marking contests. But Trac may be the worst offender with 12 goals from 46 attempts.

Little impact today. 1 mark. 1 hit out. 4 handpasses of which 50% at least were ineffective, 3 kicks and 3 spectacular but unsuccessful marking attempts.

Loving the movement through and around packs that the Bulldogs forwards are creating. There're lessons for our blokes there.

Glad to have BBB back but puzzled at JVR's ousting unless he is being rested. With Brown there JVR could have played with more freedom. Hopefully he is a smokey late inclusion.

BT is terrible. Thinks it's about him. It ain't. Darcy is a goose. McLachlan not so bad but has some terrible turns of expression like "such and such and change". Hudson sounds like a hyperactive 12 year-old. Whately is OK. Underwood dreadful nasal tones and talks in the cliches she heard growing up (like Eddie McGuire who was a shadow of Lou Richards) Wish Cometti was still at the mike.

I understand this has become a painful issue for you binman, however I have to ask you to dig a little deeper and go again because I have obviously missed something in this discussion (which I have not followed since last season). Can you please outline the interplay of loading and the bye and explain how training around that time away is fatiguing players?

I'm loving it.

Nathan Brown. Courageous, great reader of the play. Matt Whelan and Brett Lovett worthy nominations above.

Personally thought it was a great tackle that should have won a free, not the reverse, but at least there's no longer term penalty. https://www.afl.com.au/news/954595/match-review-fritsch-learns-fate-for-tackle-star-cat-fined

Don't want to get between you and those with whom you might have enduring arguments except to say that every week under (comparatively) little pressure Gus will send a couple of spearing 40 metre passes in the general vicinity of team mates only to put it directly down the throat of an opposition player. Alternatively, an attempted switch will put a team mate under the hammer in the manner of TMac in his old time defender days. I'm not bashing the bloke but it worries me that he has not been able to work this out of his game.