pitmaster

Given his place in the throw-in drills he looked like a mid but as for his starting position I can't say. I first noticed him in general play as a 'release' player outside the contest. Partly he stood out because he had no number but he looked agile and in Jack Dyer terms, got to where the ball was.

Sorry Ben. I saw him dob two but another observer who had been there the entire time said he had three.

Viney was moving really well. Looked right to go. Brown also would have to be considered given he clunked a few and kicked mostly straight. The rucking contests I referred to came after the two quarters. Brown stayed out practicing goal kicking after the others went in. Clarry also stayed out, doing some extra running on his own. Good boy.

Unfair to Nibbler who has improved his accuracy markedly.

Only two, 20-minute quarters. Hardly a big workout and not a lot of goal scoring. Four in total if the scoreboard told the truth, but I was a few minutes late and missed some action. Weed did himself no favours and barely touched it, if at all. Sad but he is going to have to be relegated to find some confidence. Brown kicked a couple of goals that I saw, missed one, and marked a few. De Class looks very likely and was noted in heavy traffic and was included in post-match boundary throw in drills. Daw rucked well against Gawn in the same boundary throw in drills. Red headed kid Bowey was busy. In the first quarter the teams were probables (including Weideman) in blue and possibles (including B Brown) in red. Think of your first choice team and they were the blues: Jones and Jetta for example were among the reds, although so was Petty. May, Lever, Hunt, Langdon, Gawn, Gus, Clayton all blue - get it? For the second quarter Weid and Brown exchanged places. Melksham was also a possible (red) in the first term and a probable in the second but I did not see who he swapped with. Annoyingly some random passer by insisted on engaging me in conversation so I found it hard to concentrate even though I tried to ignore him, so I don't have much more to offer. The most promising element was De Class who really looked at ease. Oops. Late edit: should have added Viney was with the reds - don't know what it means, if anything.

Could not believe he did that. Absolute scum.

Terrible result. Dogs were brave. Hate those hicks.

Great effort Dogs. Still might get up.

Same for my single report - didn't know about the joeys then!

Goody spoke of four days off then a good hit out Saturday. Anyone going to Casey for that? Anyone know if it's a morning run or afternoon?

Good in theory but haven't we been told how strong he's become? I am not giving up on him but he needs to rethink his approach. While he has not been contributing a lot directly, 2 goals was his best haul and had he kicked straight it would have been three, until Monday he was creating contests and our smalls were roving to the spillages he was creating. On Monday he made one strong spoil that ended with a goal to LJ but otherwise had little impact. I agree his game meant we were playing one short and he must be dropped for the Bombers. Nonetheless given he has limited if any trade value atm we should persist. We saw in 2018 that he can play but clearly something is missing. Given the age profile of our current forwards we may as well persist. Having said that, the suggestion of Petty forward is not totally out of left field given his game up forward against the 'Dogs in 2019 when he marked almost everything that came his way and kicked three goals (I think).

Right now he has next to zero currency. He needs lots of work maybe with Williams to build his confidence. I couldn't see us getting better than a late third round so maybe if Williams/Yze whoever, think they can get him firing we are stuck with it. As for the Bombers, Viney is a certainty probably for Sparrow who had his worst game, and while B Brown is likely I'd be just as happy with M Brown because he works hard up field in a similar manner to Hogan and TMac. So depending on training form B or M Brown for mine in place of Weid.

To elaborate: We have four matches against top eight sides. Unfortunately, three of those are on the opposition dung heaps: Adelaide Oval (Port) which should hold no fears given we have played well over several years there; the Eagles in Perth which is truly tough but I still have fond memories of wins there despite the prelim, and Geelong's paddock. We also have the Bulldogs at the 'G. If Covid allows the club could actually make that an earner. So as the ladder now sits we play 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th. Outside the eight we have 10th, 11th and 12th (Giants, Bombers, Crows) and 15th (Suns) and 17th (Hawks) with all but Suns at the G. The Bullies have a similar draw with Cats and Eagles away and four top eight sides including Port and Swans, but they have a bit less travel in their fixture against top eight sides (Port and Sydney at Marvel). They do however travel to Launceston where the Hawks are a challenge. I'd like the extra breathing space a Dogs win would bring.

Dogs win: we drop to 2nd BUT remain 2 games clear of 3rd spot. Cats win: we remain 1st BUT just 1 game clear of 3rd. Dogs for mine.

That I know but it's predictable and as Petracca and Brayshaw's ootf efforts yesterday showed, has limited room for error. We need to be less predictable and we need someone leading elsewhere to create options which the Weed did not do that I could see.

and in the pocket.

I understand it's partly a function of an emerging competition but one thing that is holding back the women's game is the constant shifting of players. I know it happens everywhere but with Daisy as the exception, in the AFLW it seems no one is willing to commit to the guernsey. That makes it harder to care much about it.

His second half was much better. He created several contests that set up goals for others, including Kozzie. His kicking has not been good but I think he needs a grab closer to goal to build some confidence. Apart from not hitting the scoreboard, he contributed. Take a look at the pic in The Age of Kozzie celebrating. Weid is in the background clenching his fist: he knew he'd done his job.

I can't believe this guy attracts so much criticism here. From the Hun today (OK I know it's Mark Robinson): Melbourne’s Bayley Fritsch has played 10 games this year and kicked 25 goals, which is the second-most goals of any mid-sized or small forward behind Essendon’s Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. It is said Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman are keeping Ben Brown out of the team, but the ability of Fritsch to play as an undersized key forward means McDonald, Weideman and Brown will never – OK, rarely – play in the same forward liner. Fritsch is tied with McDonald as the most targeted forward in Melbourne’s forward line this season. Because the other big guys require key defenders as opponents, Fritsch often gets the third defender and his marking and ball smarts make him a dangerous player. He had Zaine Cordy on Friday night, and before that Jake Kelly and before that Luke Parks and Lachie Plowman at Carlton. He is currently ranked No. 9 in competition for forward 50m marks and No.1 for general forwards. What a weapon he is.

Hannan 57 games 54 goals 152 marks 591 disposals Fritsch 70 games 81 goals 376 marks 1003 disposals I'll let you and BBP do the maths.

Harsh on Fritsch, very harsh.

What do you hate about them Mr Balls? The fact that they are a media favourite or that they are an umpires favourite? Or is it 1954? Or the fact that they stole our sponsor back in Jimmy's time? Or that they are a footballing Bambi? Or that for almost their entire history they have been rubbish and yet still are a media and umpires favourite and a footballing Bambi?

I think Grant sacked the Saints.

What is it? Anyone know anything, including likely return this week?

Gaucho's is very expensive and most likely booked out but nearby there's an Italian joint in Gouger Street that's good. I don't understand the troubles with tickets. I picked mine up late Wed - on the wing, second level - and will probably be surrounded by the other mob but so be it. If we win it'll be extra good viewing.