Webber

It’s ONLY Demonland who are questioning TMac’s value, or lack thereof. The external footy watching world are rating him as one of this season’s best performers. Not only does he stay, he’s one of the first picked every week. Selection dilemmas do NOT include him. Just as obvious is Mitch Brown going out, and slightly less obvious is Petty (he’ll be back) for May (if ready). The rest (Weid, BBB) is a selection headache of the best kind. Glad it’s not my job.

Yep, my bad.

Wondering if Jordan might be given a week’s rest, or maybe get the sub gig. Have loved his debut games, but he was less involved in the Cats game. Petty needs the reward and incentive, and deserves the call-up. Petty for May, Sparrow for Jordan.

I was sitting ground level, southern wing on Sunday, so had a close-up experience of Ed Langdon’s game. What struck me, other than the sheer mileage and fluidity of his running, was his absolute calm command. Even in the tighter keepings-off type stuff that happens near the boundary, he’s never panicked, always seems to know how he’s going to create best effect with his disposal and positioning, and executes brilliantly. He’s right there with Alves, Tingay and of course Flower as a pure winger, a joy to watch, and the kind of player who makes our game.

90% luck.

The idea that some are suggesting we shouldn’t be celebrating a 3-0 start, without any game being in doubt in the last half of the last quarter, considering we have our two first choice tall forwards out and 5 players who’ve played less than 10 games, is frankly mind-boggling. Or incredible, I dunno. What did you honestly expect?!!!!!

Need to play above the umpiring. Don’t let them control key moments in the game, which unfortunately they are. Clarrie will open it up this half. Too strong and fit not too.

The truth of football, particularly early in the season, is that ANY team can beat ANY other team. If you’re a bit off and the oppo are on, it’s even likely to get ugly. Momentum is EVERYTHING, and if it can be sustained, it breeds confidence like a virus. Likewise the converse will make you look slow, unskilled and lacking method if you're trying to come back from a margin of perhaps 5 goals. Beware teams with nothing to prove or significant expectations to meet. If the Dees should be aware of anything tomorrow, it’s that. Not confident. At all.

The Weid’s ‘stressy’ sounds like femoral neck, given he has hip pain. Should be on the quick end of healing (fit, young, best care) but as off-loading is the required management, getting back to full loading ‘match’ fitness is the time swallower. 12 weeks at absolute best, think more 16+. It’s much simpler than a stressy of the foot, so there won’t be complications. Just time. On the plus side, he can go nuts on upper body.

Agree. Petty looked very good up forward in 2019. Great hands, aggressive, straight kick. And then there’s Joel Smith!

The assumed rotating of players will be exercised on a case by case basis. Biometrics (distance covered, time spent in heart-rate zones) will be taken into account, but the overriding qualification will be based on subjective reports of recovery. Thus, players will have to be brutally honest about how they’re travelling in the days post-game. With our lack of injuries, we couldn’t be better placed. Hopefully that remains the case.

Petracca is RIDICULOUS!!!

According to Max ‘On the radio’ (MFC app), Oscar is the best defensive reader of play at the club. This guy has been underrated (a lot of the stuff said about him on Demonland is shameful) his entire career. The very definition of a whipping boy. Max also said that neither of the McDonald brothers ever read anything ‘external’ about their performances. Ever. And just as well.

If the current NSW Covid cluster takes off, things are going to get tricky for the NSW hub. This flexibility the AFL talk about might soon have to be acrobatic.

Hmmmmm.......not a single moment of that suggests we have come anywhere near the corner we need to turn. Still, a win’s a win, and it’ll give them some confidence. In what, I just don’t know.

Honest to God, our ability to self-destruct attacking opportunities is like nothing I’ve ever EVER seen, often hilarious and sometimes spectacular. If it weren’t so hair-pullingly frustrating, it would be hilarious. Neutral supporters must have a whale of a time watching us [censored] it up so reliably.

Our decision making is just comically bad. We just have no idea how to compete under pressure. NONE!

Bennell kicked 4 in Sunday’s practice match, thinking he might get the nod at expense of AVB.

As if any more proof were needed, chaos ball is not a game plan. It’s high risk, low percentage, and easy to exploit on the breakdown. I don’t think there’s any doubt now that Goodwin needs to pull something out of the fire, or he’s gone.

Lockhart’s last 3 possessions have each been holding the ball frees against. Needs to improve that.

I think James Harmes might be back in the midfield for good after this.

We only won on the scoreboard. Carlton were/are the better team.

This is just a comically bad team. A less deserved win I can’t ever remember.A woeful, fumbly, low skilled horror. So many passengers.

If the match sim footage of him isn’t some weird genius CGI magic, it’s time to get excited!

Just a training run for Eagles.