Webber

True this. Unfortunately, Jack Watts is the best of our non ruck rucks, because he reads the intentions of the oppo ruck, tries to influence their tap to our advantage, and is thinking as much about being involved at the fall of the ball (which he often is) as contesting the hit out. The good thing about that is it involves him in the game, the bad is that we'd prefer he were down forward more.

Incisive, logical, and with that all too rare thing on Demonland, perspective. A comprehensive and astute analysis all told.

Wow! Sold!

Massive loss for all the primary and secondary reasons as outlined in this thread. I like that Goodwin's attitude is to make the best of it as a sign of our flexibility, and we've shown how dominant we can still be in patches due to our exciting midfield, but Gawn's absence will be the statistical difference in our season when compared with last year. You don't lose someone of Gawn's influence and it not make a difference to the win-loss ratio. Simples. Ideally we learn from it, and truly become adaptable for the coming years, but many external observers will see us as having stalled. Gawn all year = finals. Gawn gone = back in the pack of wannabes. The club obviously won't sell it that way, but it's the truth.

Most of the assessments on here are for once consistent and obvious. Too many contestants in the air, no-one at ground level. JKH trial has run its course at this stage, and a tendency to overuse handball as a way to move around intense opposition pressure is failing because it has a greater margin for error. Because these are such glaring flaws, I'm inclined to think they should be easy to fix. Wishful thinking maybe. The other obvious, actually glaring reality, is the team's inability to react appropriately to expectation. I will be tipping against them all year when they go into a game as favourites now, because it's one of the most predictable things about this unpredictable AFL year. Is this lack of maturity, or lack of mental preparation on the part of coaches as well as players? When we put together a 4 quarter game, no opposition team will come near us, of that I'm equally convinced, but that possibility looks a looooong way off at the moment. Otherwise, Jarryd Roughead got a magic carpet ride from the umps yesterday, it was horribly apparent, and it was close to being a game killer. Influence on umpire psychology and emotion is still a major flaw in the game.

Certainly all science is fluid rjay, but a lot less than non-scientists would believe. The problem currently, and it's a very dangerous trend, is that poorly informed opinion is too often mistaken as evidence, and presumption given the same weight as fact.

Great post Vogon Poetry. The problem with people accepting the opinions of others (experts) as having more validity than their own is very topical. As a society we are arguably less likely now - than ever - to accept the very notion of educated or experienced authority. We suffer from the misguided belief that we have access to 'all' the information that those experts do, so are just as qualified (or more so, when a certain narcissism comes to play) to make judgements about that information. It's the reason the leader of the free world can openly reject scientific, historical and commonplace facts in favour of his own reality. Factor that in with the average adult male's often impenetrable belief in his own wisdom, which when it comes to football is tied in with issues of cultural worth and meaning, and you've got the perfect storm of arrogant self-delusion. As it is for the world, so it is on Demonland. Gotta love it, though.

Absolute reason, Vogon Poetry. Those knockers will only see what they want to see though, and never let reality get in the way of a good whinge. It's the reason why clubs have match selection committees rather than a single selector. Imagine how the team would differ if we each got a go at being sole selector. The list would be halved for starters.

Everything Judd says is true, but what he he fails to account for is (and I risk mozzing our skipper here) Jones basic indestructibility. He would appear to be one of those rare beasts in the AFL who are ridiculously durable. He will have to modify his loads no doubt, but I seriously doubt injuries will claim him like they did Judd.

Jon Ralph in the little right wing rag gave Tom MacDonald the 3 votes, Dom Tyson had 29 possessions as you state, but also had a booming 637 metres gained (the most for either team, and yes, not all of them hit their target; 69% disposal efficiency). Jayden Hunt was next for us with 465, nobody else even in the 400's. Yeah yeah yeah, neither are perfect players, their foibles are frustrating, but that's football. Neither are anywhere near being de-selected, because as Simon Goodwin, the rest of the coaching staff and the players keep telling us, whether we understand it or not (many on here don't), they play their roles to a high team standard. Congrats on the life commitment AF, for better or worse, and all that good stuff.

And he's not wrong, but there are also other commentators.

You said arguably our most frustrating player. No argument from me. He isn't.

Apology accepted, and it's great to hear his qualities given praise.

An argument where for me he wouldn't even come into the conversation.

Obviously personal attacks make you feel better, so be it. Do you think TMac has any qualities, and if so, what are they?

And you're just one more to state the obvious. Which has been stated and restated, again and again, incessantly. We all know his limitations, but if you just got your info from that's all he would have. Plain truth, or too know it all?

No kidding. And yet he is vitally important to us and an excellent footballer. Try getting your head around that, because he is what he is, he's improving still, and no doubt trying to get even better. Or is that still not good enough?

Tell me why all the game's commentators (TV and radio) thought he had a great game? What are your thoughts?

I thought this might be the game after which Demonland gave rightful praise to Tom McDonald. I now realise that's never going to happen. Those people who continually (zzzzzzzzzzz........) criticise him for his imperfections are clearly unaware that the football world at large sees him as one of our most important players, our most important backmen, and one of the league's best. He got media votes today, but still gets shamelessly and pathetically pilloried on Demonland.

Vale Tony. Seems a lifetime ago that we briefly met and chatted, and on the occasion of the Dees first win at Etihad for many a moon. I suspect that given the club is rightly sacrificing Jesse's place in the team this Sunday in your honour, that you will feel duly obliged to deliver us a win. You impressed me as a proud father, but with an essence of humility and a realist's view on the future. For you, that view was too quickly justified. I have no doubt your son Jesse will continue to make you proud, and equally those Demonlanders and MFC supporters who will now have some perspective on, and sympathy for, the personal issues affecting form. Rest well, big fella.

TMac has seriously improved both his decision making and disposal this year. He's much quicker in assessing risky options and shifting to handball instead of kicking, selling a dummy, and avoiding being smothered. He backs himself to mark, halves contests he shouldn't have any right to, and frankly has become a mountain down back. That he is one of the first five players picked each week, and for good reason, will continue to evade the whingers on here who can't see past their historical bias. The boy is a gun.

Perfectly put Demon77. There is a large group on here however who can't see it, don't want to see it, and won't get past their own frustrated petulance to ever have your perspective. Footy's a tough game, and sometimes it's more satisfying to acknowledge the qualities in honourable defeats than easy wins. Last night was one of those times.

Slow down there Scoop Junior. Haven't you heard we've got a team with no leaders, too many VFL players, an irresponsibly competitive list clogging ruckman, and coaches who don't adjust tactics to game ending injuries? Fatigue and bad luck simply have nothing to do with it. We lose, we're rubbish. There it is. You heard it here.

Yes they will.

So really, you're making a presumption, and otherwise talking rubbish. Genius stuff.