Bonkers

Had around 15 touches and contested in the air well. I think he gave us more of a contest in the air than what Hogan has been giving over the last few weeks. Today was a good step for him and you can see the effort and desire is there. The rest will come with time hopefully.

You can have all the talent in the world but if you don't apply it your just a waste of space. I'd prefer a talented player who works hard over just a hard worker. But if the more talented player isn't working hard you take the hard worker everytime. At least you know the hard working player will be accountable and play a role defensively. It's something you can never guarantee with Garlett, he picks and chooses when he puts in defensive effort. He has been like that his whole career. It was ok for us when we were a bottom side but it's not enough for a finals team.

He has kicked 42 of his goals this year against the bottom 10 sides? Barely averaging a goal a game against the top sides.

Said it was a fresh injury during the sydney game and he will get results from the scans tomorrow. He mentioned all players have niggles throughout the year. I have no idea how to read the situation and whether it is serious or not, seemed to have a pretty blasé reaction to question but maybe that's just his character. Judging by his comments on all players having niggles I am hopeful that it is just that and that it can be managed.

Richmond lost today, we need 1 win from the remaining 2 to take top spot.

7.11.53 - 8.6.54 ? 1 point in it.

Casey Radio suggested it was a dislocated finger?

Roughhead is contracted for next year.

I guess the answer to that question is how optimistic are you about winning 3 - 4 of the last 4 games? The Swans winning could put us into the 4 next week if we beat GC and other results go our way.

A couple of tough games for Essendon and North. The way Sydney is playing at the moment due to injuries Collingwood are a more than a chance. Collingwood are also in more injury trouble after this week. It's hard to know how much effect that will have, they've coped well so far this year with injuries.

West Coast were without Shuey and Kennedy today, I'm not sure how long they're out for? But they make a big difference to the way they play.

Goodwin said in his presser not next week, maybe the week after for the swans.

Pretty proud of the Dees tonight. I can't think of too many passengers from tonight's game. Overall our game wasn't the best for the year but they fought hard when things weren't going their way and then bulldozed the Crows in the 3rd in some of the best footy I've seen us play away from home. The last quarter wasn't pretty but they did show learnings from last week and somehow ground out a result. I think we still suffer from a case of nerves in big games but they took a big step tonight. The coaches have done a great job getting the players up for this game after last weeks game which could have been mentally draining. I know I was feeling pretty terrible about last weeks game still before the game. So to get their minds right after the disappointment of last week, to win against adversity away from home, to hold out under pressure and last but not least to stand up and honour a great of the game in Jordan Lewis it was a massive night to be Demon. Looking forward to see how this group of players will perform over the next 4 weeks and whether we are good enough to play finals.

Hope they've reviewed footage of last years GF to prepare. High pressure is how to beat the Crows.

I don't think it's damning. We've lost to 3 top sides (geel x 2 and Port) all by very close margins. It could easily have been 3 wins from 4 games against top 8 sides and we'd be sitting second on the ladder. I'd say it's frustrating that they aren't where we'd like them to be. Frustrating that they haven't taken the next step in the close games and evolved to be able to get the job done. The attitude is there just not the right application. They haven't matured to the level they need to, to be taken seriously as a finals contender yet. If they make finals from the position they're in at the moment, they will have earnt the right to be considered a threat. The next 5 games will tell us everything about this group. I hope that they make it because I don't know how many more chances players like Jones, Lewis and Vince will have left to give September a shake. Replacing them could be difficult and may take us a step backward.

We aren't mate and that's why it's such an infuriating loss. We have not learnt anything this year. How many times do we want to waste our midfield dominance and not put teams away? It's cost us twice against Geelong and also against Port. We are wasteful going inside 50 and wasteful on Goal. We had multiple opportunities to put Geelong away early in the last qtr as well as late. It's ok to make a mistake once but we keep making the same mistake over and over again. That's just [censored] stupidity or lack of ability, maybe it's both. To give up a 5 goal lead I think you'd have to say the occasion and pressure got to them in the last quarter. They literally shat themselves. I'd say there is a lot of things that they aren't doing in between the ears that is right. Goodwin again has a lot to answer for with regards to our defensive set up. Out coached again by Scott as hard as that is to say. This club never ceases to amaze me in all the wrong ways.

It's also partly an issue because by the looks of it we are letting them have a man loose in defence from the bounce. Just about every time we move the hall forward from a centre clearance we turn it over due to poor disposal or being out numbered. I'd like to see Goodwin back our mids and make Geelongs defenders accountable. We need to make more of our inside 50s yet again.

Geelong would back themselves to read Gawns tap work and potentially draw level in that part of the game. If that fails Scott could choose to concede the tap and then setup to pressure our first possession so it's a 50/50 at the tap or possible turn over on the next possession in defence. Even though we should have the advantage in the ruck it may not result in dominance on the scoreboard if Geelong set up to nullify our possession after the clearance which they have done in the past. A couple of years ago before they had Dangerfield sometimes they would concede a clearance and set up their offence from the next possession by working on winning the ball back via a turnover.

We have only scored below 90 points three times this season. If we defend well we have a very good chance of winning 3 of the remaining games.

If he can build his fitness up he'd be in contention for ANB, Garlett or Spargos spot I presume? He can kick the odd goal and adds a lot of forward pressure and ball winning. Great to see him back after 2 years, it would be a real bonus to our season at the right time for us if he can contend for a place in the side.

Salem, Brayshaw, Petracca and Oliver all had great games. Hopefully they will form the nucleus of a good side for years to come. Frost added much needed speed in the backline as well as height. Definitely stopped a few goals with his closing speed. Stretch did his job. Got enough of the ball and provided an option on the outside. He covered the ground defensively too. Hopefully he can continue to develop and the FD puts some trust in him over the next few weeks as we definitely need his run in the side. Spargo didn't have a massive impact but looked like he worked hard. Garlett wasn't a stand out either but he did lay tackles and give us a goal threat. The defensive side to our game looked to have improved. Quite a few times Freo had to stop their transition play. Not being at the ground it's hard to say whether it was because of how Freo set up or whether it was due to our accountable marking/zone. If we were to become more efficient with our forward set up and I50 delivery we'd be a top 4 side. Still a lot of long Bombs being dropped on top of a forwards head. I'd like to see the coaches do a lot of work on this part of our game. I don't think it's just the delivery, also the leading patterns and areas where players are being told where to run is having an impact.

To be fair he's just making a comment on what should be happening in this game. We should be up by 60-80 points. Shooting our selves in the foot repeatedly.

Dermie making comments on what should be a free kick for sniping. I've now heard it all.

Hard not to be frustrated by that half with the uncapitalised dominance. Probably should have been game over by 1/4 time. This game is almost a replica of the game against Gold Coast earlier in the year. We are on track for a record I50 count. I noticed Goodwin has moved smith forward in that qtr. Not sure why?

Stretch and Spargo are both players that have an extremely high work rate when they don't have the ball. This should provide us with more defensive cover in transition. Tyson and Hannan have been replaced by these two players so I'd assume that's some form of statement?