Nasher

Because it's interesting?

Who is worried about tackles?

To answer my own question a bit, looking at the numbers closely, our defenders are nearly all in the bottom few players for tackles. Hibberd and the McDonald bros regularly feature at the bottom end of the ladder. The inside mids (Viney, Oliver etc) sit at the top. The ladder for 1%ers - of which spoils is a key feature - almost looks like the tackles ladder in reverse, with Hibberd, McDonald bros, Frost and Jetta often featuring at the top.

I don't understand the lack of tackles - he's such a strong competitor in general and very hard to get the footy past; winning tackles seems like the next logical piece. He's got 4 tackles in total in 7 games for the MFC. That's a very low number whichever way you cut it. Maybe it is a genuine weakness in his game, but so far nobody cares because his contests and use of the footy out of the back line are first rate, and an element we've been absolutely screaming for. I'm sure not complaining at all, just trying to understand.

All three teams are below us on the ladder Steve. I know that doesn't necessarily mean we're better, but it does mean they have plenty of flaws to be exposed, just as we do. Get around us!

There are so many posters who are guilty of being biased towards 30 seconds of play DA (read: probably all of us), but very few capable of recognising it after the fact and correcting. Great post.

Not a bad effort for someone "completely and utterly out of his depth".

No, it's bagging him incessantly when he isn't playing well that isn't right. Your claim that now is the time to show respect nearly made me throw up - it's always time to show respect, and you don't. Glad you were happy with his output yesterday.

Nah, I reckon it's yet another soft effort from PF. The time to show Oscar some respect was before, when he was struggling a bit, rather than laying in to him excessively. Supporting players when they play well is the easy bit.

With pick 9? And being Nathan's brother would have been irrelevant to the recruitment team. If I was going to rewrite history on that draft I'd pick Cripps at 9 - but I'm pretty happy with Salem.

Great compilation - a mix of clutch moments in games (how calm was Jeff White?) and just miracle goals. Funny how to passage of time becomes blurry after a while. I had to double take when I saw Dean Kent on screen in one of the Flash goals. Hard to believe Flash has only been off the list for four years, that feels like a bloody lifetime ago.

To be honest I reckon ANB was expecting a kick, but I agree all the same. Watching "all the goals", ANB was instrumental in a number of them. I know not everyone loves stats but he lead the team for goal assists and equal second for inside 50s. He was a key link in the chain. Probably never going to be much more than a decent foot soldier, but he has been good for a lot of the year.

Out in front of ANB running at full pace?

I am showing forum leadership and considerate restraint by posting this post about not replying instead of posting what I'd like to reply with.

Was he this good at Essendon? Easily in our top 5 players at present. He looks elite.

This feels to me like one of those topics that we heatedly argue about for ages, then he signs a long term deal with his current club in July. Surely he's not going anywhere.

He even lists a top 10. Jarrod Witts is in it. Whether the oversight was intentional or otherwise, it is credibility destroying. Hibberd is clearly performing well above most of those players and has been in our top 5 consistently since joining the team. Anyway, whatever. I'm long past looking for external plaudits. Hibberd was a fantastic trade and I couldn't be more pleased with his output to date. I knew he was a decent player but so far he's been even better than I anticipated.

Hah, Phew. I'd instantly consign anyone who questioned Petracca's body shape to the "never to be read again" bin.

I'm starting to think Oliver could be a pretty good player.

I think so long as he finds himself on the inside, he's always going to default to handballing. It's how the game is played - you don't kick from congestion because it's too risky - and it's his strength. If we want to see him getting more kicks, he needs to get the ball in space more. This really is splitting hairs, though, when talking about a 19 year old midfielder. He'll find the balance soon enough - it's not like the team is suffering until he finds it.

I'm all for a good Neeld bagging, but gee it's stiff to blame him for Cook.

Hogan has 94 in 45 games. This year, when he's been ordinary and distracted, he's kicked 3, 0, 3 and 3. I think we still underestimate what a weapon he is.

Hogan?!

Weid is in his second year and already playing AFL footy. Cook was delisted after 2 years. Weid is clearly a vastly superior player. I take your point, but if you want people to take you seriously, probably best you lay off the hyperbole a bit. Casey watchers last year said he attacks the ball in the air. We've seen first hand that he is also capable of moving the ball very quickly and involving himself in general play - see Hawks game last year. He's only 19 - you have gone way too early I reckon.

I came to terms with the fact that I don't know jack about footy years ago. Makes reading old threads much more bearable - and every now and again I surprise myself!