pitmaster

Unless my memory is shot Neita was from Edithvale-Aspendale…you know, just beyond Mordialloc.

Yes well I do remember that.

Take a look at Hardwick’s reaction to speculation his time with the Tiges is done: no eye contact with his questioner, head weaving side to side like a boxer on the ropes, sour comments about ‘say that to my face’. It’s ever so with him after a defeat. Remember his “we know what it takes to beat Melbourne” a couple of weeks ago. (Sadly no journo responded “then how come you’ve lost the last three on the trot?) For a proclaimed hard man he’s very prone to sook. Other’s thoughts?

Yes but can someone explain the machinery of the corporate world that landed Scott Morrison a job? I assume a million pound sterling was squandered on a head hunting exercise when they could have asked any one of 11,000,000 Aussies about his skill set and saved the dough.

Funny that- Goodwin made a similar slightly offhand comment in the same vein of disappointment. I remember the times we could not be relied on to win the obvious ones so happy to have the win but giving up a 100-point marker takes the edge off.

Cannot agree. Saints have so many injured their efforts so far have been surprising. It might be that their wins are about their system and personnel matters less, but if I were a Saints fan I’d be upbeat, surprised and looking forward to the rest of the season (for the first time in a loooong time.

Kate claimed 60k today at training. Possibly gilding the lily. Who knows?

The most interesting thing Richo said was that the players and Simon were doing the review as he spoke and no, they would not be talking about energy levels. He went on to say they would only talk about things they could control. It seemed to be a veiled reference to the travel load (3 interstaters in 4 weeks) and prompted a question from the crowd about the wisdom of bringing the players home on a red-eye special rather than allowing recovery post match on a 6-day turnaround. Richo said that was how the players wanted it - getting back to family asap and so on. Richo went on to say the review would be focusing on defence and clearances which were lacking last week. Spoke to TMac who is still sore from the knee in the back he copped. Brown moved well, got down low several times to gather marks; Max looked good and seemed untroubled; Lever, too, although said to be in doubt by Richo showed no signs of discomfort running, kicking and walking. TMac and May did not do much - a bit of kick to kick and uncontested marking while I was watching. Trac looked good in some handball exercises moving the ball fast and low and Riv finished off a drill with a nice running goal that caused a few players to make some noise. Expect they will get up to some serious stuff later this week. This was just a loosener.

Be even worse if we lose.

If contemporary ground staff can handle six games on a wet weekend why can't we train on the MCG?

Rain forecast Friday through to Sunday with six games over four days at the Adelaide Oval should test the ground staff. Pleased to see that ours is only the third match and the first of a double header. It will be interesting to see the state of the surface by the time the Pies and Saints go to work on Sunday arvo.

Yeah...the old VFL said that about Waverley so I'll treat this news of Caulfield as of about as much importance.

Was telling though that he bustled past Hunter to make that chest mark and goal. Was making a point I guess. Good luck to him.

Frustrating first half rife with skill and decision errors but credit to West Coast who were undermanned but brought the heat to the contest. That explained some of the skill errors but not the decision making when in space and going inside 50. Tidied up second half and were never really threatened after the break. Good to see TomMac back, Kozzie finding his way after an errant first half, Trac work his way into the game and some great flashes from kids like JVR, McVee. Doubled their score, topped 100 points so it's miserable to complain but still getting used to a team doing just what it needs to do.

It is my independent and disinterested opinion that the umpires have been very generous to the Blues this arvo. Two frees to Curnow were barely discernible and Mackay's goal (their 4th I think) came from him pushing his opponent in the back (two hands!) and out of the marking contest. Adjuciate correctly and the Blues have at most 2 goals to half time.

Voice training needed urgently, breathing lessons - the works - or, as you say, Robbo makes a comeback.

That's the idea. I am sure any Dees who made the trip to the 2018 prelim, and who were hounded out of the place by hoards of drunks (I am relying on first hand accounts, not my own), will relish a caning of our tormentors.

Have you ever dealt with any of their supporters? I remember one of their [censored] players threatening sexual violence mid-game to the mother of one of our blokes who was ridiculed for becoming upset. No sympathy. (And their Americanised-name and colours are rubbish. Don't start me on their ad-jingle song. The entire outfit, name colours, song is an ad-man's wet dream.)

mongrel is an amazing website - very impressive analysis except I disagree Melbourne played "deliberately, cautiously". We had serious play on intent with rapid ball movement looking to run through the corridor when possible, otherwise attacking via the flanks/pockets. We lacked caution and played instinctive attacking football.

The free to Rooey in the last was dodgy. The Swan had no prior opportunity...but they paid several against us that way as well.

Hopeful, rather than confident today. Sixteen of the premiership players present, plus Hunter so 17 from the GF, No shortage of talent but the Swans have had the wood on us. Need a big game from Trac, Clarry and May/Lever. Pity no Kozzie. Hopefully he's learned.

Definitely worse about losing to the Lions, particularly as that is two in a row, but they got us at a good time and in a good place for them. Interesting that most of the tipsters in The Age have stayed with us for this week. Possibly they judge that last week was an aberration for our midfield down to Max's injury, the conditions and that weird thing that sometimes infects all teams of a generalised down game through the entire group. We are expected to regroup. Given it's Sydney, a win is not guaranteed but a cracking game is.

Which is why the merger chapter in Between The Flags matters so much.

Also, you might remind Hawthorn supporters that it was Melbourne that killed their first attempt at a three-peat when we beat them twice in successive weeks - round 22 and the elimination final 1990.

No, we did not vote 'Yes' - the vote was riddled with irregularities and dubious conduct.