P-man

Hopeful Viv gets another chance but it's a faint hope. He was quite good in this fixture last season. If Salem makes it through today then straight swap for Grimes.

It was a special thing they occasionally do called "Press Red for Ed", where instead of listening to normal commentary, you can listen to purposely biased commentary,

Grimes got caught HTB on at least three occasions that I can recall, with a couple more that were very fortunate not to be called. He did hospital handpasses. He kicked out on the full. He made poor decisions all day. To name him among the best ahead of the likes of Hogan, Viney, Jetta, Dunn and Garland is very odd.

Quite possibly. One of which is race, I acknowledge that. He also talks about other societal issues. He's also intelligent and articulate. Boofheads don't like their footballers that way. They don't like anyone that way. I think to once again brand a booing of a player who happens to be black as racism is a very slippery slope.

We were discussing why Pies supporters booed him. H is considered by the average knucklehead to be an outspoken, over sensitive, touchy feely [censored]. Surely this isn't news to anyone. That is why the average punter might see fit to boo him. They don't like him.

As though my adoration for the man wasn't already at ridiculous levels, I then had to to listen to PJ absolutely destroy Caro. What a champion. Starting to really love the club too. You can hear it.

There might be some contractual issues, especially with Lyon. Ox definitely if you could get him. First picked. I'd love to have Mike Sheahan in there. To actually hear what he's like when barracking would be priceless.

We're not seriously turning the booing of H into a race thing are we? Please tell me we're not. Go and watch his Pies farewell speech. He may as well have flipped the bird at the end of it.

Their walkout at the end was gold, and seemed genuine and spontaneous. The one they did yesterday was clearly orchestrated. I agree that other teams should get a run.

It looked like some sort of hybrid to me. An aeroplane celebration combined with the leg shake the indigenous dancers do. I liked it whatever it was. As Ron might say, I love Jeffy.

They won both times prior to this. This was the first Press Red for Ed in which they lost.

Okay, let's just say unfair then. Yes, he and Grimes stood out today. But when he has been given the rare chance to actually string some games together, he's been okay, e.g. towards the end of last season. If you're not a seasoned pro, it can be a lot to ask someone to immediately adjust to the speed of the game. I was hoping for more today and he may once again go through the revolving door, which is a pity. I have seen glimpses that make me think he could be a player.

6. Vince (easily, what a game) 5. Gawn 4. Jones 3. Jetta 2. Watts 1. Viney

It will be grossly unfair to dump Michie next week. He needs a run of games. Others have been granted that for just as much output.

How good was Dawes with the pivot and evading three players in the middle of the ground? Ol twinkle toes Dawesy. I hammered him this week but he was a solid citizen today. Hit his targets by foot which helps. Watts had a great game which in some ways was a tease. His burst of speed over 20 metres is elite when he really decides to hit the gas. Bernie won't get an AA nod because Melbourne, but he sure deserves one. Just an OUTSTANDING game. Maxy Gawn is starting to get a profile across the league. Contested marking is becoming a weapon, just needs to build an understanding with the back six when he's back there, Jonesy lead from the front as he always does. Special mention to Nev Jetta. Won some crucial one on ones in the first half and was excellent for most of the day.

Nasher, please feel free to change your name to Nashtrodamus.

I lied about not watching. GO you good thing!

It has to rank as one of the stupidest things ever said on air. I rekcon we might be able to squeeze Sam Mitchell into our midfield. It'd be tough, but I reckon we could do it...

Whilst this is true, there will be people who will boo Goodes because they are being told not to. They will do it as a demonstration of their rights as a fan. Deluded. Stupid even. But that's how some will view it. I'm hopeful this can be reigned in and Goodes gets to finish on a note befitting of his career, but the signs aren't good at this point.

While people are in the sharing mood, one of the more insightful opinions I've read on this entire issue has been from Dallas Scott: http://theblacksteamtrain.blogspot.com.au/ An Aboriginal blogger who plainly isn't terrified of the backlash that comes from being critical of Adam Goodes. A man who himself has experienced genuine racism. Some have seen fit to label him an "Uncle Tom". Pure class. In his latest entry, he states: "Of course, we have the regular roster of apologists come out, shaming the country and our society for cutting down a sports star who happens to have Aboriginal blood as part of his racial make-up. The caring, informed and sensitive city dwellers who, despite their alabaster skin tone and lack of racial diversity, can not only see, smell and hear racism, but tragically, are so deeply affected by it that they feel they must differentiate themselves from the white person next to them by pointing at them and screaming racist long enough and loud enough that somehow, somewhere in the midst of all their righteous shouting, their own skin tone will be forgotten or ignored." Bang on target for mine. The very term "racist" has essentially been worn out from overuse.

I agree with a lot of RL's post. This is a multi-layered issue and the myopic view that it is outright racism is simply wrong. That said, the booing needs to stop. Whether or not you see validity to it, Goodes is interpreting this as racial vilification. With some who are partaking in it, he is correct. If you boo a player after 17 consecutive weeks because he dives for free kicks, stop and consider whether that actually fits the crime. Also realise that you are providing a shield to those who are booing the outspoken black man, purely on that basis alone. This is a dual-Brownlow medallist we're talking about. An undisputed champion of our code. He deserves to play out what little is left of his career being recognised as such. I certainly don't agree with some of what Goodes has said and done, but to continue booing him on a weekly basis isn't just juvenile. It has become hateful. That isn't what the game is about.

And for God's sake give Michie a full game. This week and next week at least. If he stinks then he stinks.

I doubt I'll watch this week. I've not had the type of week where I need an enormous kick to the groin to complete it.

I'm loath to accept the Brisbane win. It certainly didn't feel like a win. They threatened to actually beat us towards the end, which quite simply would've been the equivalent of being beaten by a one legged man in an arse kicking competition.

This is one Dogs fan's summation on BF: "In the last few years our sole focus was winning the contested football. We'd look to create stoppage after stoppage to get a clearance forward then hope for the best. We had too many numbers at the contest and too many players entering the contest instead of being an option. This created a lot of rushed kicks forward and 1m handballs to stationary targets. Our defence was basically 1on1 defenders vs forwards and we'd very rarely get the 3rd man up coming across to spoil. This season we are playing a high zone setup to lock the ball in our forward 50 and our defenders are guarding space more so than guarding their direct opponents. It's backfired a few times with easy goals out the back but for the most part it's working well. We are also looking to play on at any opportunity which we never did under Mcartney. We've always been a tough hard at it side and that could be put down to Mcartneys philosophies but this year we function so much better in transition and that's where most of our improvements come from. Ironically we lost most of the players that would benefit most from the change of tactics in the off season. Basically we play a zone defence and play on as soon as we create a turn over."