Dee*ceiving

Maybe crowing too early but the last two games have a 21 feel. Not in terms of purely dominant footy more in terms of the team enjoying themselves and playing selfless footy. Defending as a team, extra efforts, looking to give off instead of blazing and celebrating good moments together.

Yeah maybe harsh in hindsight in an effort to give Plugger Mac some love

I thought JVR was terrific. I really think he's out best second ruck option. Competes in the air and on the ground. And time in the ruck gives him an outlet to get into the game if it's not working for him Inside F50.

One of Traccs best games, effective on every line, doubt he lost a contest Fritsch excellent, he embarrassed Sicily in the last quarter Petty a good in. Particularly when switched back in necessity. Pickett, what a player. Maybe top 10 in the league by seasons end. Staying optimistic on May and Lever, I feel like they won't miss long and if we have depth anywhere it's in the backline. If we can go 1-1 in Adelaide and then beat the lions on our home ground post bye and we've made a very good start.

6. Petracca - was everything, everywhere 5. Gawn - dominant with strength and class 4. Neal-Bullen - worked his backside off from the first bounce 3. Oliver - a very Clayton game 2. McDonald - held the backline together even without his two big buddies. stacks of timely spoils 1. Pickett - Irresistible pressure and pure class

The Duke

I can see your point too DD. The four points still most important but it seems in recent years clubs don't value the 'find form in the 2s' model we were used to in the 90s.

Could be @binman. They may even want to trial all of Brown, Petty and JVR forward allowing more rest for Max

Presume Petty will be sub. Maybe the thinking is 1.5 qtrs is more useful to find form and get miles in the legs than a full VFL practise match?

Reports suggest more cash and draft concessions for Tassie (rather than free hits at marquee players). Maybe some lessons from the the GC vs GWS approach early days. GWS seemed to do it better; Focussed on setting up the back of house. Old stager as head coach (more figure head) with a succession plan & experienced executive team/goverance Lent heavily on the draft Recruited younger stars from other teams using draft picks Went for less expensive mature age players that would provide leadership and set the standard, vs winning games off their own boot Tassie is a footy state so they should be able to achieve solvency sooner than the northern clubs.

I agree Rab. I was also disappointed with the turn out...1pm does feel a slightly unusual time, 1.45 or 2.10 might have been better but I find it hard to see that increasing the crowd by 10-15% Had a quck look at two comparable Dogs MCG games last year (vs Richmond & vs Hawthorn). Also at awkard times 4.35pm on a Saturday. With our membership base and quality of team I'd hope w could achieve at least half way between those two crowds (48k)

Agree, but on historical evidence TMac at top form is a better player than Thommo at top form. Still to be proven however if TMac is actually at top form and/or can remain there for some time. It could also be argued that Thommo was a better option in the slippery conditions at Sydney and TMac better on a dry deck in Melbourne?

If a 45 point win and 5 goals from your two key forwards doesn't afford Petty another week in the VFL to find form I don't know what would...

Now you're thinking like an executive chookrat! 😉

It's a fascinating conversation and it's definitely all driven by money but I would personally think fewer games, where there are a greater number of games with higher stakes would likely lead to making the competition even richer.

Shortening matches would actually make sesnse EO. Games seem to be going longer than ever these days with the number of score reviews and other nonsense. One would think ticket prices and TV deal money would still increase if matches were 10% shorter, especially if there's an extra 9 games on the TV. 18 minute qtrs plus time on? What's the down side? Is it a recipe for more injuries driven by less player fatigue hence greater volume and ferocity of impacts or possibly even the opposite?

Also, it doesn't come through in the stats but I thought JVR was excellent when he went into the ruck. Ran at the ball, competed on the ground and didn't really get shown up by his opponent. Is he our best 2nd ruck option, I am strating to think he is?

Agree. I think Ed's form from the Carlton game has been good. Looks to be on the improve compared to 2023. Covered a lot of ground yesterday to plug spaces and a lot of that running he does knowing it won't be rewarded with possession but potentially saves/sets up scores

The dogs backline was seriously undersized but one had to be impressed by Ben Brown. Seemed to move as well as he has since his time at Melbourne, getting himself high up on the wings to provide and outlet and then actually clunked a few with clean hands. Our fixture is a bit tricky for the next three games. Hawks then two games in Adelaide in the space of 5 days. It feels like Ben's form is good opportunity to get VFL game time into Petty and maybe seek to have him back for that second game in SA? That might also be a good time to rest Ben if he get's through the next two games successfully

6. Gawn 5. May 4. Oliver 3. Petracca 2. Chandler 1. Billings

Very good win, played four quarters and improved as the game went on. Very pleasantly surprised by the output from Brown and McDonald. The captain flexed his muscles and showed he's still the best in the business. Good game from JVR, may very well be out best option for 2nd ruck. May is the rock of Gibraltar. The astronaut must see him in his nightmares. And... welcome back Mr Oliver. Make them all eat crow Clarrie.

Report states AMW played across half back and kicked two goals. Normally plays forward? Great game or a confused writer?

Was just thinking the same thing BBP

Both Essendon and hawthorn have bottom ten defensive models but their disposal by foot is (sadly) better than ours

Archie Perkins. And 2 metre Peter would solve a few problems for us.