Tony Tea

Stinger in 52, and looking about a foot taller.

At least our struggles have forced the so-called pundits to take off their blinkers and concede that Melbourne didn't just have to turn up to win this year's flag. It's not a VoN to recognise that Melbourne have weaknesses, that Melbourne played a lot of also-rans in the first ten games, that many of the other teams would come up with countermeasures in 2022; that without any clear improvements in game style and tactics - the old if you stand still the others will go past you rule - that without a similar run with injury and fitness in 2022 we would be up against it. PS: Does Ben Brown standing in packs and putting one arm up constitute a new tactic? Maybe he's trying to bunt the ball down to crumbers, and at least it is preventing opposition marks. I'd like to see him occasionally flip the ball over the back.

I hope the umpire told McGovern to get off the grass, both metaphorically and actually.

The heading is misleading: "Milkshake May get new deal."

I've always wondered how Hawthorn players felt after seeing yet another Matthews king hit.

We're just realists, Chooky.

QCs are paid by the syllable.

Oh, and purely on the less cynical merits of the offence itself, I reckon there's wiggle room for his people to win the case.

In these situations I usually bet on the player getting off, and I still reckon he'll get off. He has too many votes this season to allow an asterisk on Brownlow night.

Arguably "got what he deserved" will provide more potent ammunition than the original duck, dinner, etc.

We've played pretty much the same way all through Goodwin's tenure, and with one obvious period where it all came together, we've struggled against organised defences. In my opinion we are strong from the backline through to centre/half-forward but weak in the last third of the ground because we overcommit behind the ball at the expense of someone to give the ball to running from the centre to just inside the arc. This means our all important kick to forwards is always drawing them outwards away from goal rather than allowing them to double back into space. Defenders can then set up in front of our forwards and not have to worry about the forwards running different patterns. Compounding the problem is that defenders intercepting inside our arc, say, 40 from goal means that they have an easy break with space behind our now out of position ball carriers so the ball is whisked down the ground. It's our kick to 35-40 that's killing us because we can't get the opposition guessing where we might kick it. If we make them worry that a kick might go to 10-20 out from goal, we open up a kick to 30-45. For that reason a line breaking runner is essential in the off season. That said, if we took our chances on Friday, and Pies weren't gifted free kick goals, we win easy. Also, our front line players are made for finals and I don't half fancy a final against the other contenders (except Sydney). Hopefully we can finish top 4 and get to play Geelong or Collingwood in the first week.

The trouble with Smith is that, despite his pace and rocket fuelled leaps, he lacks the tricks to find space, make space, boss his own space, etc. He's a footy numpty. And then there's his injury prone landings and the soft cap, which rules out the involvement of Air Crash Investigation.

As usual over the last few years, we are fine when we have the game on our terms, but we struggle with opposition countermeasures. Are we prepared for contingencies? Do we have too many role players who work really hard, but lack natural ability? Then again, all would be fine if we could make more of out I50s. (Although I worry that we over-commit to defence at the expense of attack.)

I think the teams you mentioned are definitely the three biggest challenges. But I also reckon we could beat all three in a final.

Remember the rule: nothing you say on match day matters.

Can we win the flag from outside the Top 4? At this rate we won't make it. But if we win a couple of finals we'll give nightmares to whoever is still in the running.

Soft. Can't handle the heat.

Unfortunately we couldn't deal with the heat. Yet again.

Collingwood do what Clarko did to us last year in the draw - push up each line to pressure the Melbourne ball carriers. And since we are prone to fumble and miss targets under pressure, I hope we are across our tactics and can deal with the heat, as well as maintain intensity for the whole game. We couldn't on the QB. But at least May is playing this time.

I had automatically assumed Mundy was pushed. Be very surprised if that wasn't the case.

Zurharr could be a jet in a good side. Well worth a polite enquiry.

I'd have Kelly or Whitfield. They are both superb kicks and would complement our inside game with outside run.

Best we just shrug and concede it's business as usual and ignore it.

The fact that we have been off our food all year and had plenty more injuries than last year, but have still won lots of games, and have hardly ever been out of games, is enormously promising. We mightn't win it this year, but I wouldn't want to face us in a final; especially if we have some unplayed cards. I reckon our development jumped ahead of the curve in 2021, and we've come back to the field in line with development in 2022. 2023 and onwards looks good.

I give thanks to the Cats for putting their cards on the table in the H&A season. Would we do the same kick outs in a final?