RalphiusMaximus

The thing I'm loving most about these reports is the bit where they list finding an opponent as a strength. He clearly already has a good defensive mindset to go with his outside run and carry role when in possession. That is gold. It basically makes him what we all want Sam Blease to turn into, although I don't know if he has comparable speed. Still, a skillful quick flanker with a good defensive side sounds like a great addition to the team.

If I'm honest, I always thought we'd wind up paying a second round pick for Stretch, but it's fun go the other way. I think it's brilliant that he's made the AA side. If he keeps working this hard to improve once he's at Melbourne we'll be damn lucky to have him.

Great Signs? It's a terrible sign! At this rate we'll have to use our second round pick to get him.

The thing you need to understand when looking at the inconsistent performances by umpires in our game is that it is a problem that goes right to the top. The AFL has created a system in which there are virtually no professional standards being maintained in their umpiring ranks because they are terrified that they won't be able to maintain sufficient numbers. The Umpiring administration, training and lack of disciplinary process is laughable. If you look at the truly successful sporting codes around the world, you see that they have real oversight, consistent administration and both rewards for doing well and penalties for not. If the AFL were being run to the standards of the NFL or FIFA not only would we see many of the current batch of umpires not working at AFL level, but most likely the entire administrative arm at AFL house would be removed for sheer ineptitude. The AFL like to talk themselves up and proclaim themselves world class, but the reality is that they are not even close. Being one of the bog fish in a very small pond has given them a false belief in their own abilities. The reality is that while the business is growing, the sporting administration is largely populated by hacks. In a weird parallel to Melbourne of the past 5-6 years, they don't even understand how far behind the frontrunners they are, much less how to catch up.

I was at the game and I had Frawley clearly BOG. Liam Jones had 1 possession and was subbed off at 3/4 time. He absolutely dominated them in the defensive 50. As good as he's been presenting as a lead-up forward his real position if Full Back and he showed today that he is still AA quality.

6. Frawley I don't know how he's getting so few votes. He dominated the defensive 50 and his man had 1 touch for the game. 5. Jamar We haven't seen a game like that from him in a long time. 4. Grimes As above, it's been a hell of a long time since we've seen Grimes play like that. 3. Viney It's been said. He did a great job on a very good player. 2. Watts The usual. All class with the ball in hand, but some of his contested efforts sucked 1. Jetta Continues his good form. Probably less effective today that he has been but it was still a very good game. Vince could have been in there but for a couple of disgraceful turnovers.

Casye's biggest issue is poor management. The pokies debacle a few years ago gutted them and they show no sign of recovering from what I can see. They have consistently lost their best players, a couple to AFL sides but more to other VFL teams with better prospects. They have been forced to put together a team of kids and discards because every decent player has walked out on them. Add to that the fact that most of these guys hadn't played together before this year and it's a recipe for disaster, which is exactly what this season has become.

Sadly true. He's doing his best to increase his value at exactly the wrong time. Fortunately we should have a pretty early fist pick so I doubt we'll be forced to use that on him. A pick in the 20's however I can see being very realistic given his current form.

Brilliant effort from Nev. I am over the moon that he finally seems to have nailed down a spot in the side. Let's all wish him well for the next fifty and hope that they come a hell of a lot more quickly for him.

Assuming losses to Carlton and GWS, the winner of this game goes up to 12th. Not a bad incentive.

IF you look at the VFL player review it's pretty clear that they are rewarding the people who are playing their role as instructed. Barry only had eight touches on the weekend but he was given a tagging job on one of their better mids and shut him out of the game. I'd say he's in with a chance of getting Jordie's spot this weekend. Likewise Georgiou did a good job playing fullback. Blease on the other hand, despite a good possession count got slammed a bit for his inconsistent defensive efforts. Gawn had 20+ touches and plenty of hitouts but isn't in consideration because his man got away from him and kicked a couple of goals. Of those included, I back Terlich to be the first choice, and then either Nicholson or Barry to take the tagger's job. I doubt we'll see all five get a game.

I too am upset we couldn't get him, but it was never on the cards given his draft range. It would have been an insane bit of luck for him to drop far enough for us to grab him. I will be very interested in seeing what he can do and speculating on whether we might trade for him at some point.

Riley - One Massive Tackle.

It will be up on 'Ology at some point. http://demonology.me/index.php?pages/fullreplays/

6 - Dunn 5 - Kent 4 - Jetta 3 - Frawley 2 - N. Jones 1 - McKenzie

I would have gone with a yellow card personally. Unbelievable win. I kept telling myself we were in the game with the Bombers blowing so many chances early, but I never really believed we'd get over the line.

I always backed Dunn, I never declared Jetta Gone although I did express doubts about his ability to overcome his setbacks, but I will happily concede that I was wrong about Pedo. He has come on amazingly this year and fully justified the trade. Well done to all of them on their form this season.

In the post match interview Roos talked about the inexperienced players getting tired. I think that would suggest that one or both of them might be in for a rest. If he does drop one or both of them then he's unlikely to drop anyone else. Kent and McKenzie are probably the most likely replacements for those two. I don't think anyone else has really been putting their name up in lights. The other item would be Jamar and whether he has actually hurt himself or if it was just a minor knock. IF he is out next week it makes things a little more interesting. Do we go with Gawn/Pedersen as the rucks or do we bring in the Fitz?

The umpire said he was off his line and couldn't play on until he was back in line with the mark. Absolute BS call. If he's run off his line it's play on and the goal counts.

Roos has always liked his talls.

He took a big two-grab mark on the wing and as he walked back to take the kick he was rubbing his knee. He was subbed right after that. I'm pretty sure he jarred it when he landed and lunged forward to get the second grab. Didn't look like it was too bad. Of course, I could be completely wrong, but that's what it looked like to me.

Watts was one of our best today. You're selling him short. Bail played a solid defensive game. McDonald was pretty poor. I think you're being a little soft on him.

I'm pretty sure Jamar jarred his knee taking a mark and was subbed off a couple of minutes later. Before that he was playing really well. Garland had a shocking disposal game. He couldn't hit the side of a barn today. McDonald was just well beaten. They took him to the goalsquare and led hard and straight and just burnt him for pace. Salem and JKH, I agree were both shown up today. I think Salem getting pinged early for that shocking HTB might have dented his confidence and made him hesitate attacking the ball. Both of them looked uncertain and lost. Maybe time for a break at Casey to find a bit of the ball? On the bright side, Pedersen continues his good form, as does Jetta, Dunn did really well on Cloke, and probably has to be called the winner on points. Grimes and McDonald kicked quite well as well which is noce to see. Vince and N. Jones were very strong in the midfield and Cross tagged nicely. Jamar is rucking really well. Watts kept leading hard and was rewarded today with people actually spotting him and giving him good service. Would have been close to BOG if he'd nailed those two goals. Overall, it wasn't a great day for us. Not enough players stood up for us. The eight listed above were winners, but the rest I think could have done much better.

6. Dunn 5. Vince 4. Jones 3. Pedersen 2. Jetta 1. Watts

We matched them for 3/8 of that game, but they kept putting pressure on until we cracked. The umpires were shockingly one-sided, no question about that, but it was the relentless pressure from Collingwood's midfield and defence that really did for us. I agree that Jones, Dunn and Pedersen were great, as was Jetta. Watts worked his ass off also, and they actually looked for his leads which is a refreshing change.