pitmaster

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.

I thought that last year we were rebuilding on the run before it became something that lots of people said. I'm not claiming special insight but that was how it looked to me with Luke and Gus gone. I don't think the expression excludes making the finals, however. If you are easing a few kids in you'd still be looking to make finals for the opportunity to bring the young ones on as quickly as possible so I don't see it as the club spinning anything. It's a frank admission of where we are at given our losses since the flag are substantial: Brayshaw, Jackson, Brown, Hibberd, Harmes, Jordon, effectively this year Spargo, and more importantly Burgo and Ooze. That is a lot of talent and fitness and footy smarts we are missing.

Agree. We have won the first of four so-called winnable games. Hopefully we take the points in at least three of them. Then, the big test of how much we have or haven't improved is the final three weeks against teams playing for a finals or top four spot will really tell us how we're shaping for 2026. I'd want to see us win at least one, but hopefully two of the Bulldogs, Hawks or Filth, and be nothing less than competitive in any we don't win.

Pretty sure I don't. One former Demon with a solid CV in assistant coaching who I would hope is in the frame once Simon finishes is Cam Bruce. His time at Hawthorn and Brisbane as assistant includes multiple premierships which, while not his responsibility, shows he has seen how it's done. And he's had a different kind of experience at Carlton. Bruce's CV vastly outweighs anything Jones is going to be able to present. Assuming he wants to step up to the main job, of course.

True, but I think the decision to leave was only finally crunched when he was told he would not be in the GF side.

I admire these guys for their commitment but their opinions are no more valid than some of the bitter, doomsaying Dees fans I already avoid. In fact, to call them superficial, lightweight , knee-[censored] and reactive about sums them up. But they care and if you need someone to vent on your behalf, these blokes will get the job done. Just don't expect anyone to take it too seriously. (And maybe I'm getting old but could they lay off the F-bombs?)

Thanks for the reply. I was looking at the Trident waitlist as I normally sit in the MCC area but I am sick of sharing the space - and being outnumbered - with opposition supporters. I was assuming I'd still be on the northern stand side. But I noticed that some Warne stand Trident seats are better positioned and might have to consider them if the opportunity arises. I'll seek no more information from yae, and should I proceed I'll make a point of not disturbing the Solitary Silent One. 🤫🤫

Northern Stand or Shane Warne Stand?

This absolutely. Also with a Kossie goal assist out of a contest.

Well done Ross Lyon for calling out the Daicos friendly umpiring.

Awww Geee...are the farmers gonna hafta drive home with their pants around their ankles cos the [censored] stank up the game. So sad. I feel for them. BTW is Bailey Smith the single most over rated [censored] in the game?

Yep. You'll see elsewhere that goal kicking is a big bugbear of mine too. The creativity I mention is upfield and how we move the ball. The goal kicking is so fundamental I am mystified why it can't be better addressed by line coaches and head shrinkers.

I had some bloke tell me last week that we had the best list in the AFL. That's the sort of nonsense that is thrown around after you win a flag. The same sort of people earlier this year and for the past couple of years have said the Dogs have the best list. Also nonsense although the Darcy kid elevates them a bit. The truth about 2021 is that we had one of the best few teams in the competition and we had a great run with injuries with only Jayden Hunt unavailable in the immediate preview of the finals. And even Hunt could have been selected by the first week of the finals but he had lost his place in the team and Goodwin was keeping a winning group together. In the two years afterwards we were cruelled by injuries to key players at key times and that famed list was nowhere near as good as it seemed. In fact, it was, and is shallow even though I agree there are some promising kids developing now. Goodwin did a great job with the list he had and ran with his luck. He is now trying to craft this group that won a flag with one style of play into something that competes with a very different style. It is a work in progress. He has not lost the players. Some time next year, as his contract begins to peter out, we'll make a call on whether he stays or goes. Given this year is pretty much shot I reckon we sit tight and see just how creative he can be. He still has the players and some coaches improve over time. Goodwin might be one such.