Adam The God

It's pretty rare that every player puts in a dreadful performance in the one week. That speaks to mindset. I'd like to say it speaks to mental fragility, but all past premiers failed to turn up at times too, so no need to read into that too much. Our leaders were well beaten today or played Hollywood football. Petracca, Oliver, McDonald, May and Gawn all dreadful. Jackson possibly our only winner, but even he was caught ball watching in transition a few times too. I don't think Rivers had an effective disposal until the second half. He certainly had 3 direct turn overs by foot in a row. Kozzy played hero, selfish footy. Sparrow was his untidy self. Our forwards barely sighted for the game. Another average performance for Weideman, but delivery to him for most of the day was average. Possibly Lever was our best, aside from that brainfade early. In many ways it was a vintage Melbourne performance though. Expected to win, important game and then we go and let a very ordinary player like Cameron play his PB game. It's extremely disappointing given they'd just won my trust, but I should have known when Ed threw up on his MFC gear earlier today (he'd done similar the day of the Adelaide game), we'd put in a stinker. We'll welcome back Viney into the team, although winning the ball wasn't our problem today. It was taking the first option, not something Jack is renowned for. Clearly, Viney for Sparrow and hopefully Brown for Weideman or McDonald. But McDonald has enough runs on the board to this stage. In footy, things can change quickly and we could well look back on today's game and say that it cost us a top 4 spot.

Clutch from West Coast, but "the Tigers of old..." what a crumble. Yeo is a superstar. Did he win the last 10 clearances? Insane last quarter.

Definitely outside silk, but in his draft year I thought he looked more like Ben Newton than Isaac Smith or a confident Brad Hill.

Unless there's some contractual renegotiations and a few take less in order to win a flag (or another!).

We've traded back into the first round repeatedly. We'll do the same again. That said, a pick in the 30s for Jason Taylor is like a top 15 pick for us.

And 2018 tbh. They were so high in that last quarter and very little two way running. It's a real pity Port didn't win tonight. Not only would it have put the more threatening Geelong on the back foot, it would mean our game against them wouldn't be even bigger (ie to get the monkey off the back).

Yep, agreed, given they'll get the double chance and Richmond won't.

Keep the ball off Geelong's interceptors and get them on the outside. Basically play them how they played Port. Port's defensive system doesn't hold up btw and too many of their players don't hold up under pressure. That is the problem. They rely on too few and moments of brilliance, rather than replicatable system. Geelong have a very potent forwardline if you let them get out the back all day. That said, there was no Cameron, Rohan or Dangerfield when we played them. Also, they were already the biggest figjam's in the league, then they went and added Cameron, Smith and Higgins. The most punchable team in the AFL. And speaking of punchable, see Hawkins try and accidentally whack another bloke tonight? He's a dog. For the record, Geelong and Richmond are our biggest threats IMO.

Yeah, I thought there were a few. An important period for cementing the top 2.

You have to wonder if Carlton's review and now Buckley stepping down shows these two clubs are panicking about missing out on Ross Lyon.

Completely agree, mate.

At 25, he's certainly in our age bracket. Depending on cost I'd go there. I'd equally trust Taylor to get us a second or third round gem that could play a similar position, so cost would be important. No more than a second rounder.

I'm not worried about Yze leaving and certainly not leaving us in the lurch halfway through a season that we're 11-1 with the best shot at a premiership in 50+ years. I'm more worried about Collingwood playing out of their skins for Buckley's last game.

Surely that's 'support' though.

And Worsfold of course...

Richo said on radio that Brown's intensity at training has been high and that we try to make training as close to game day intensity as possible. I reckon if Casey aren't able to play, Brown will play anyway.

Interesting. I hadn't heard that, but that will definitely stop us going up.

How impressive is Richo? Fantastic. Sounds like Brown will get another block of games post bye, which I guess most people knew. Interesting to hear Yze is responsible for stoppage and ball movement, as well as "midfield", but that does make some sense.

Yeah, it's all about what the NSW Gov says once restrictions are eased. I reckon they might allow it, because it'll add to the NSW economy, a bunch of Victorians coming up for the game.

I'd consider flying in on the morning and flying out at night, but will we be allowed back and forth? I suppose it depends on what level of restrictions the NSW Gov imposes on Victorian travellers after the end of our lockdown on Thursday night.

I thought Gawn was respectful and non committal about Weideman's form. He said that we definitely want to keep playing three talls. Jackson, McDonald and then one of Weideman or Brown. He then said there'll likely be a bit of back and forth on this particular spot for the rest of the year. I didn't feel like he threw Weideman under the bus, but he does say Sam would prefer to be kicking more goals. I reckon he has this week to keep competing and hit the scoreboard and if he doesn't snag a few goals (2 or 3), I think it'll be Brown in for Weideman after the bye. That doesn't mean that's Weideman's last look in this year, but I think Brown will then get a look in for a stretch post bye.

Don't care if we win this by one point. Just get to the bye 12 and 1. That psychological break on the rest of the top 4 will be massive. I'm hoping the Bulldogs drop a game or two in the next month too.

Well, it's more than just McKay and Weitering. It's McKay and Curnow down one end. Elite. And it's Weitering and Marchbank down the other. Two of the three starting mids are A grade in Cripps and Walsh. This Carlton ship can unfortunately turn very quickly IMV.

He's worth a look if Carlton determine he's not in their plans, but I reckon they might come around on that.

I said to my Blues mate yesterday I reckon Barker will go as he's been there for ages. And what do you know? He announces today he'll resign. I reckon they've spent so much of their cap on half forwards and half backs (Martin, Saad and Williams) and are likely to sink more of that into McKay and Cripps. Weitering is on a long term contract too. They can't sack Teague just yet given what they've done with Martin, Saad and Williams. They need to get some better assistants around him and see if that changes things. Unfortunately, I think it will. Their spine is great. They've got two star mids. They've got some zippy smalls that can play wings like Fisher and SPS, they've got two attacking half backs that can springboard attacks from back to front. I think if they get their coaching set up right and get the defensive mechanisms going, the Blues will be a top 6 team in the next 12 to 18 months.