Webber

Great summary. He's all class, and starting to rack up his fair share of game-winning moments. Very hard to imagine this team now without him. And on that, for all the extra unfamiliar work he's done this year as the ultimate utility player, remains uninjured.

Pure genius. Don't know whether to laugh or cry. Both seems good.

Just watched the 2nd half. Our intensity was way up on the first half, resulting in a lot more tackles that went unrewarded by the umps, mostly in the last quarter. I just don't get the fantasy that the umps helped us. We helped ourselves, got some free kicks, but there were more there. And once more, the Collingwood crowd embarrassed themselves by booing at the end of the game, not to mention the booing of Jack Watts. For what reason, other than personally directed malice? Contrast that to the reception given by Melbourne fans to Lynden Dunn, and therein lies a story of two cultures. I know who I'd be prouder to support.

Bugg stays. His presence and 1%ers were excellent. Gives everything Dean Kent doesn't. A great team man also.

For a KPP of his size and age, he's way ahead of the curve, and always has been. Classic whipping boy status without an ounce of perspective or context from many posters. He's just gonna get better, and when TMac gets back down there as Gawn and Hogan come back, the brothers McDonald will become one of the great stories of the AFL over the coming years.

I would've hoped those who read the interview with Matt Jones in the Murdoch rag this week would think twice about angry, sometimes personal attacks on ANY player. But I guess there will always be thoughtless vilification of players who are giving nothing but their best by gutless posters.

Flanners is a rare one. He won't be left wanting for places to publish. He may even get to writing books again. I dare say there's a Booker-winner in him like his brother's. I had a painting exhibition a few years ago, within which I had painted a series of Tom Wills themed pieces. I had read Flanners' novel The Call, a fictionalisation of the Tom Wills story (everyone here should), and got in touch with him to ask if he'd consider opening my exhibition with a bit of chat about Tom Wills. He accepted the invite without baulking, and left everyone at the opening believing Tommy Wills was the great forgotten hero of Australian history, sporting and otherwise. You would too if you heard his passion for the man and his legacy. I sold all bar one of the Wills paintings (the one with Ned Kelly in it - pretender) and gave Flanners a painting I hadn't exhibited as thanks. I reckon he's the great Melbourne sports writer of our time, and not for disappearing.

I'm not sure Jake coming in means a huge loss of speed. If he effectively replaces OMac for knock-on structural reasons, speed is not a concern. Not forgetting that Jake is pretty quick, and in his career prime for strength and stamina. I really like that he gives us a better target for kick-ins, as we've been out-marked too easily there. Due to the rise of Maxy, we haven't gone close to seeing the best of Jake Spencer. I reckon he's ready to roll.

Yep. Jake would have had very little time off running, certainly not enough to compromise his aerobic fitness. Should be cherry ripe in that regard.

We've definitely improved. With a few tweaks of luck this year we would be top 3. The same could not be said of the same time last year, despite the same win-loss. Which makes the year to this point enormously frustrating. All things staying on our side of the luck ledger for the second half, and the results will start to match our true abilities.

Based on the fact that he was selected for round 1 when almost none of us expected it, the FD obviously saw something special in him. Well FMD they seem to know what they're doing.

Unless something has gone awry with Spencer's rehab, he at the very least will be available.

Best game: Adelaide Worst Game: North Melbourne. Most Improved: Frost. Run and gun, strong, and vastly improved disposal. Needs to Lift: Petracca. Harsh I know because he's just getting the feel of it, but it's his fault for showing us how good he can be, then goes missing. Could be a tank thing, but also a consistency of mindset I think. Bluey: Hibberd Best recruit: Hibberd Finals: Seriously NFI.

Dermie often commentates by emotion, or the vibe of the thing, at least as it sits in his mind. Facts are for others.

Melksham looked to be playing more wing than halfback. His efficiency and metres gained were excellent. His best game yet, and based on that, is in our best 22 easy. Harmes was good. Took his chances, and plays the physical running and playing on game that Goody likes. He plays like that, he's in the team. As we know though, he has quiet/sloppy games. ANB was excellent. Lots of 1% acts, lots of defensive actions, and used the ball beautifully. He might be part of a fringe group of players, but you'd never know it from yesterday.

Excellent summary. Just watched the last half after abandoning the unwatchable rabble that lead up to halftime yesterday (for reasons of sanity). Here's a few truths for the Demonland whinge brigade: * Alex Neal-Bullen's vision, playmaking, and disposal efficiency were outstanding. Same can be said for Jake Melksham. *Other than Jones and Hibberd, Dom Tyson was the major playmaking force in the second half. *Apart from Tom Bugg's goal kicking inaccuracy, his game was also excellent. Bugg, Hannan, ANB and Harmes are each and all going to keep their spots based on performances like yesterday's. Oh, and so is Oscar McDonald.

Unwatchable rabble

Because this season more than ever, nobody knows anything!

The Bugg hate on here is ridiculous, but he seems to be this week's whipping boy. His kicking for goal was bad, his role-playing was good. Weideman is clearly lacking confidence, as he consistently runs under the ball in marking contests (last quarter grab excepted). Who to play instead though? Convinced he will be good however. Kent is NOT playing his role, he will have another, this time career defining, make or break dose of Casey I suspect. Watts seems tired. Intensity was lacking as a whole, as it has been at the start of every game this year after a good win, and in an unpredictable year, this is unarguably our most predictable trait. We are too short when a taller opposition play well to their strengths (hurry back Max and Jesse), Cunnington and Higgins are very smart, experienced footballers, and the umpiring (Nicholls in particular) was woeful. Too many underperformers today, and with the injury disadvantages we have, it's surprising once more how much we were in the game. Finals talk seems crazy, but if we beat GC next week, and Gawn and Hogan come back after the bye, it's all on again! Crazy.

Not so sure Jesse won't be back around the same time as Max.

A ridiculous thread, particularly when contextualised with the other 'Clanger Kings'. Dom Tyson is one of the first picked every week, and deservedly so.

True thing. When I chatted with Jesse's dad two years ago, the main issue they had with Jesse as a kid was trying to stop him burning himself out with all his training and physical preparation. After school he would apparently go for a surf, go to training then do a gym session and an extra run. He lived for footy, and the more he trained the happier he was, sometimes to his physical detriment. Much like Jack Viney at school/underage footy, his dad also had to coach him in not hurting people with his physicality. I suspect we'll find that footy IS life for Jesse, and his idea of the best psychological/emotional and physical recovery will be to get back out there as soon as he can.

He's had a bastard of a trot, and is probably wondering who's dog he kicked. Very treatable, and in respect to recovery, wound healing is the only barrier to returning to footy, which I'd reckon he'd be hankering for as soon as humanly possible. The distraction and focus of playing is really what all ill or injured pro sportspeople really want. They'll probably have to hold him back if anything. At the risk of getting too intimate, he'll undoubtedly get a prosthetic companion to reconstruct the original pairing, and nobody'll be the wiser. We can only hope Jesse gets a clear run at it soon enough, and look out football world when he does.

Yes, I know.

Play the ruck as no more than a diversion, and keep Jacobs guessing as to where the contact/opposition will come from (excluding centre bounces of course). Commit to halving as many aerial contests as possible with a frenzied attack on the ball at the fall, emphasis on forward momentum at all costs. Bring the ball through the corridor as much as possible with smart handball (yes, handball) and same emphasis on forward momentum. Our midfield extractors are the key, and Watts, Petracca and Hunt must run all day to present as the feed/run option through the middle. Play Hannan out of the square and give him space to avoid minimise influence of extra defenders, with Jeffy on the hunt. They are the two who have the most X-factor, and worry solo defenders. Also give Jeffy regular stints through the middle when we're coming out of defence. If Weeds plays, he must be the marking contest target out of defence (even from kick outs). He and Pedersen are our only tall marking targets and must be used appropriately. Overall, speed, directness and high risk footy are required. Shackles are off, all day.