pitmaster

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.

1947

Watching the replay: must agree with those critical of the barracking for Carlton, or Eddie Betts at least. Brayshaw's refusal to acknowledge Lever got his foot to the ball when tackled by Betts allowed JB to rabbit on for another minute about Eddie's glory. BT's "observations" about Melbourne supporters are utterly without value. So glad I was at the game and did not have to listen to these clowns. Anyone notice how quiet Bartel was? Maybe he was embarrassed to be associated with these two.

Boy, there's some tripe written at the start of this thread. I haven't bothered to keep reading. Anyone complaining about that needs to think (if they ever did) again. It was clear from the opening minutes - and bleeding' obvious by half time - that we were a class above them. It showed in ball use, marking and organisation. Their supporters knew it too. The only time they were excited was when Eddie pinched Langdon's handpass and goaled in the first. By the third term we're opening up a five goal break until dodgy decisions led to a McKay goal and moments later he had another thanks to the only bit of system they showed all day - man with ball bandpasses to Saad who nails a 40 metre pass to McKay. It was a set play and their best of the day. For our side McDonald was great again, Fritsch returned to form, Pickett was dangerous all day, Weideman did well around the ground and in the ruck, Oliver played one of his absolute best (BOG for mine), Lever and May did their thing and Petty showed he is going to fit in well. The only blemish I found in our game was that the forwards need to play together more. It was annoying seeing three talls flying simultaneously in the first half, but they seemed to have worked that out by the second half. On the same note one of Carlton's city end goals came from all the defenders going up together but that was an error not repeated. I worried that we might be 'due for a loss' as they say, but this was a game that said to me the group just sets itself for this moment, and this game. Very focused and well organised. Had it not rained at half time I think the margin would have been greater but in any case I am happy to have dominated an opposition that was supposed to be on the rise. The margin flattered the Blues and so did the umpires who were appalling. To have every player stop and wait for the whistle, then restart when the most obvious free all day was let go says it all. A 26 point margin that would have been in the 40s if the lime green fools had done their job properly. I'm looking forward to the replay to see what I missed. Maybe the dud comments are from people who watched on the box and weren't at the game because if they were there they'd have seen how well we set up around the ground. Or maybe their expectations were excessive, but this is a hard game and Carlton have some good players that make a contest. Anyway, a fine win, six in a row against the Princes Park Ponces.

There was a call of 'not 15' in the last quarter of the Hawks-North game that was laughable...since the ball travelled at least 30 metres. It was intended as a pass and the donkey of an umpire decided it was only going as far as the player whose territory it was...the ball flew over his head and ran out of bounds before he could gather. It simply exposed 'not 15' as the rule of the month. These blokes really don't deserve respect.

You're citing stats from one game? Season so far Fritsch 18 goals Melksham 5 goals.

Despite his dark side I have a lot of respect for Greene. Really puts in for his team. Not so much that No 11, who seems to be more about...ahhh...No 11.

Precisely. And this is why it's important Tomlinson is replaced by someone who has trained for the role and is a long term key defence prospect. Hence Petty goes in and TMac stays forward.

52,446.

Lynch looks like that kid who's always yelling 'kick it to me'. Can't go hard, appeals to the umpires, spent his junior footy years relying on his freak show height and has got nothing else.