Little Goffy

Lindsay just had the defender's equivalent of shave the post on the way through. Got up, timed it, connected with the ball, but didn't quite knock it enough to stop Wilson collecting it on the second grab. I'm gonna say it, though, this has been a fun half of footy. After a half of football Van Rooyen is the leading goalkicker of those without a second game. Which presumably means by the end of the second half he will have caught up. Noticing Tholstrup working really hard to get up and down the ground. Hasn't always gone well for him when he has been on the spot (such as that behind) but his head is in the right mode.

Latrelle Pickett also bringing good advice on how to make friends. That's hilarious, do it again!

Geebus, Mihocek, if you want to make friends, then "Looking for the team first option, not seeing it so kicking a nice goal under pressure" is a good way to start!

After all these years of structure structure structure in defence it is a bit hair-raising not quite knowing who is supposed to be doing what in a given situation. Bit of a feeling that the defenders are having a bit of the same feeling. Also, no way in hell that was a free against Lever then.

You are mistaking quantity for quality. Collingwood have very poor attendance rates 'per fan' and drop away more than any other club in poor seasons. There's just a whole lot of the little buggers. That's what happens when you share condoms.

There would have to be ten players at the Dogs I'd barely know on a team sheet - some I'd only know because they have a fun sounding name. But they appear to be doing their jobs and giving the big names the freedom to absolutely crush Western Sydney. If this is what Bontempelli is going to look like every week with a team which doesn't need to be carried, then we should all be afraid. Meanwhile it would appear that Oliver is going to join Stringer in the 'yeah, I'm great, but just once a month' club.

I raised an eyebrow at that one, too. "Look, Bayley, we know you've kicked 14 goals in your last four games, and even your defensive efforts have been going well since Brown and McDonald have both been available and the structure is all set, but what we desperately need right now is to find a spark, an avenue to goal of some sort, to capitalise on our plan to have our midfield guns all fresh in the 3rd quarter to seize momentum, so we're taking you out and bringing in a tagger." Personally I'm hoping Fritta sticks around Gunston style and gets to be football's first boyishly fresh-faced grizzled veteran.

They have a thread reflecting on the shining contract extensions of the likes of Henry Slattery and David Myers way back, and then this beautiful effort; who have we got that can’t string 3 games together at the moment? "Essendon."

Don't discount that there will be games this season where Essendon click and their opponents don't hassle enough, and the Bombers will get momentum going and kick some big scores, even against notionally much better sides. On the other hand, the scoreboard flattered them significantly and at some point this season a talented, disciplined team is going to absolutely ragdoll them. Getting a real 'Demons of 2011' vibe about Essendon 2026. I should have had 'no Scott twins coaching before the end of the season' in the big predictions thread.

You hit that change of momentum like Wile E Coyote hitting an anvil!

Nick Watson's make-up gives me the uncanny valley creeps. Overall this game looks like it is being played on top of a wobbly table.

Premium solid gold sincerity. You and the family are a credit to the club.

I call it 'woo woo culture'. Where absolutely anything, no matter how inane or just plain wrong, has to be followed by a crowd indicating their group membership by going woo woo. Prominently American in English-speaking culture, but not uniquely American of course. You can see it in anything from Korean dating shows (I think she has nice hair... woo woooooo) to the Nuremberg Zeppelinfield. Those who recall the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy might remember the alien planet where everyone had telepathy, but it got really awkward knowing everyone's thoughts so to mask them everyone began talking constantly about absolute drivel. Yeah, this kind of [censored] is just that - a screen against sincerity.

By al acounts?

Funny to think that both Petracca and Oliver and the Melbourne Football Club are all closer to a next premiership because of the "Great Enema of 25". (I'm trademarking that expression but Demonland members are welcome to use it) Throw in Nibbler and Grundy and there could be some kind of Demon playing a major role in every premiership for the rest of the decade. Hmm, have we got any agents planted at Brisbane? Does Fagan count?

Can't we have goal novels instead? Kick a goal, read a page. Actually we could all do with a bit of 'kick a goal, listen to 30 seconds of Orwell's The Lion and the Unicorn' as read by Ian Mckellan'. Kick a goal from a snap shot, get Penfold from original Danger Mouse going 'ooh crumbs'. Kick a goal, Kermit the Frog celebrates continuously until the restart.

Gold Coast are given a 92% chance to best West Coast in that squiggle system. That is pretty good progress for the Eagles when you consider they are 11 wins from 91 games across all opponents. Interesting to see Squiggle just slightly favouring Collingwood over Adelaide and North over Port. Wow, Melb v St Kilda is match of the day on Sunday.

Indeed, they don't bloom every season, but they are always worth keeping an eye on. He already has his grandad's arms. (See also what the gypsy woman said about 2028)

Hope he's all right. Tough time.

Okay, genuine question, what are the best options for an 8-month old? Is there an academy program he can join? Highly mobile big man at 75cm and 12kg, powerful kick, loves a contest, great below everyone else's knees. Fast learner, appreciates guidance, but DOES NOT UNDERSTAND OUT OF BOUNDS.

Just go to use the toilets and not flush. 'For history's sake'.

It is a feature of the rucking world. Preuss, Grundy, and arguably even McInerney from Casey was missed because the position was filled. At the same time, having that second ruxk option who can also be respectable - just a role player - as a marking target makes a great difference to a team. They stretch defenders and if they are fit enough they really stretch wingers when they offer the long lead. Right now I'm also recalling Darren Jolly and Stefan Martin who were stuck in the traffic jam behind Jeff White, and Mark Jamar who was the emergent successor. Ruck is a merry-go-round and having the best is not a problem. We may yet be extremely lucky to have Heath doing the big target 70-30 fwd-ruck role. I have my own suspicion that Gawn will often drop back to provide some intercepting height, which we know he does well, and that Heath will be a continuously present ruck for the forward portion of the ground. Saves Max a ton of running, supports our vulnerable tall defenders, and is also very appropriate with the new faster ball ups.

On the bright side, in 2028 while we are winning a premiership, Collingwood will have no Pendlebury, no Moore, only one 30yr old Daicos and a banana's chance in Hobart of rebuilding smoothly. Not only are the drafts compromised, but Tassie will blow out the salary cap market.

The only conclusion is that Geelong and Hawthorn are both unaccountable easy beats. Huzzah!

Kind of wishing Clarkson had gone to Gold Coast while Hardwick had endes up at North.