DeeSpencer

I love Sparrow. What a booming goal. He's the type of player that wins you flags as a role player. But Cerra is the type of star that wins you flags. Like Petracca, Oliver, Lever, May etc. And we need more skill in our midfield because as fun as it is to crash and bash at some stage hitting some easy targets is probably the way to go! With so few clubs in the race for Cerra we've wisely thrown our hat in the ring. He's a premium player being made available with only 1 suitor. But sometimes you're better off sticking with multiple team first role players than going all in for one more star.

All I wanted is 1 flag. All I really wanted was a group of players who were proud to play for the club and resilient and didn't back down. Physically or mentally. And boy did we get that. The Dogs midfield got on top. They tangled our intercept defenders and had weapons at ground level that would trouble any side. Plus a skilled ball use game to move the ball around. But a teenage ruckman and a collection of hard nosed maniacs in the midfield said not today and all of a sudden the game completely changed. Our players were proud and were incredibly resilient and gave us everything we could ever wish for and more.

We simply don't have the picks or players to offer to get Freo to agree to a deal. They'd rather force him to the PSD than accept a future first rounder and some change. Because for the first time in 57 years we have premiership players that we can't just toss aside.

Pats, Broncos, Saints

I can't believe the Ravens lost to the Raiders. Such a crazy finish. The Raiders defense does look stronger and they'll always be able to do something on offense. Interesting team. Cardinals, Eagles and Saints the big winners from week 1. Time will tell if they are quality teams or not. The Eagles jumping up in the NFC East as the Cowboys (turnover luck) and Washington continue to be lopsided teams would be very NFC East. Packers and Titans the big losers in terms of teams expected to be at the top of their (very weak) divisions.

6 - Gawn 5 - Petracca 4 - Viney 3 - Salem 2 - Oliver 1 - Pickett Apologies to Brown, Spargo, Bowey, Langdon and many others.

Vikings 49ers Ravens

I'll have another go and try to stick with it this year. AFC North: Steelers AFC East: Bills AFC South: Titans AFC West: Chiefs Wildcards: Pats, Chargers, Browns In the mix: Ravens, Dolphins, Broncos NFC North: Packers NFC East: Washington FT NFC South: Bucs NFC West: Rams Wildcards: 49ers, SeaHawks, Saints In the mix: Cowboys, Vikings, Falcons Teams in Bold are the ones I think are genuine superbowl contenders. AFC North and NFC West (both 3 genuine chances) and the AFC South (0 great teams) probably the hardest to pick. MVP: Stafford

Really sucks for Joel, but I think the hope is Hibbo’s had a good freshen up now and can do a job as required. The reality is we don’t have perfect match ups for Cameron, Esava and Rohan no matter who got the nod as the 6th and 7th defender. Especially with Duncan, Touhy and Isaac Smith rotating through the forward flanks and demanding attention. Throw in Max Holmes too who can really motor from contest to contest. Sadly Geelong have moved away from the strategy of loading up with nothing half forward flankers who could be zoned off.

The Cats had us covered until they started resting their stars at 3/4 time last time we met. It's going to be a huge test. They've definitely improved their side with their changes this week as well. Sounds like our boys had a good first week in the hub, getting some much deserved rest, but it has to be all business from here.

Surely he’s just specifying which car park it is. He could easily say ‘which is further to the west’.

He completely lost it at the umps at one stage in a fashion that really should result in a fine if we're trying to protect umpires and set a good example. Not a huge issue, players from all teams have done it, but that kind of stuff isn't on. Otherwise I thought he was fairly restrained.

Smith came in for Fritsch in the prelim

Spargo played in 2018. Langdon is the other one.

Birchall was in a genuine marking contest, nothing wrong with that. Was a hospital kick from Gus I think. The only positive was Birchall couldn't get his hands on the ball and gave away the free kick

Sounds a bit complicated, I was just planning on borrowing Tony Mokbel's yacht and wig and hoping the winds are favourable. Might stop at Rottnest rathing than sailing all the way up the Swan to Optus just to be on the safe side I guess.

Surprised how much midfield Sparrow played, especially in the first half. Whilst they sent Harmes forward to keep an eye on Rich and Birchall. Was a bold call given how strong the Lions midfield is.

Being completely surrounded by the free way and off ramp isn’t a great plan. Doubt it’s functional. The club has to know the best car park is the one facing Gosch’s. There has to be a reason why is isn’t preferred. - expanding aami stadium? - foundations, pipes etc? - access to the medical centre? - access to the rugby field or public access to aami Theres got to be reasons. How valid they are we clearly don’t know.

Thought Smith was clearly on Cameron for the first 2, but the first one he had to go for the aerial contest. Relies on his team mates to cover the ground ball. 3rd goal not sure. Free kick goal was rubbish, but a more experienced defender doesn’t get sucked in. Allowed Cameron a simple mark to set up the Daniher shot too. Im a Joel fan but he still stops to think which costs him half a yard. That half a yard kills you more than lack of speed.

I feel for Teague in that he didn’t get much support, but every club is dealing with the same soft cap now. So it’s a question of resource allocation. It’s hardly the days of Daniher going solo whilst the big clubs invested millions. I also feel for Teague with the way the last few weeks have unfolded, that speaks for itself. Otherwise, Teague took over Bolton’s defensive structure, put the mature players back in the midfield and went 6-5. He then went 7-10 and 8-14 with no defensive structure and consistently giving up 5 goal runs. Yes they had injuries and some interesting recruiting choices but they seemed to be going backwards. If he’s lost the playing group as well then there’s really little choice but to start over again.

It's far too close to the city and Docklands to really justify it's own small stadium and if it did they'd probably just use North Port anyway. The existing plans only really add a little bit of open space and my guess is the planners want it to be exactly that - open space. Not taken over by an AFL team. The population leading to new members just wouldn't happen. It's going to either be people from other parts of Melbourne or Australia who mostly have teams or overwhelmingly immigrants and students like Docklands who just aren't that interested in Aussie Rules. Clubs grew their fanbases in the post war years when people arrived and had no option but to follow the footy. The people move here now might have a bit of curiosity but they can easily follow their favourite soccer, cricket, basketball or whatever team without leaving home. Gosch's is a great option for us, particularly with the oval expansion. But we have to make sure it gets built on the right car park, not overlooking the Pies!

If the voting is based on week by week performances and value to the side I’d probably go: 5. Georgiades 4. Green 3. McInerney 2. Schoenberg 1. Jackson That’s not to say Jackson has been bad, we’ve just simply had a lot of games where we’ve played 2 rucks and 2 big forwards and limited his minutes and role. If it’s based on upside and best ‘star’ performances then maybe: 5. Georgiades 4. Jackson 3. Green 2. Gulden 1. McInerney If it’s pure upside then you can add Thilthorpe, Perkins, Cox, Jones and others.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/561218/2021-nga-list Made the official list in March, but we haven't heard anything about him and several of his squad lists call him an NT Thunder Academy player and don't mention Melbourne. Maybe just an oversight but I do find it strange Cal Twomey would have JT on his podcast and ask about Mac Andrew, Taj Woey and not this guy as well.

Yep I reckon there were 4 big factors: 1. We didn’t have a winner down back. May was battling with Hawkins, Petty with Cameron. And neither Lever nor Gawn could find any intercepts 2. The centre clearances were terrible. Gawn was getting smashed by Stanley. We couldn’t hold a tackle 3. No winners up forward. We couldn’t retain possession. That changed when Petracca played as a CHF in the second half 4. The backline were panicking and not using the ball. May started switching the ball and opening up space. Suddenly our forwards and mids found room and we got some quick transition. Definitely agree on Langdon. He’s not getting that extra yard and balancing up. Low and wide or chips out in front are his best go.

Had a terrible first half, punched balls he'd usually mark, gave away the reversal free kick and panicked with the ball. Townsend got under his skin a fair bit in the 2017 grand final. Whatever the coaches said or Jake did at half time last night we need to bottle for the rest of the year. When he plays with that confidence and calmness and the team gets it right up field he really is a special player to watch.