John Crow Batty

Even the initial 50 metre penalty against Perkins was completely correct. Not only was he late getting on the mark after he was requested to stay out he lined up at least a metre on the wrong side. There were actually two clear infringements.

So you are convinced our season is in terminal decline then.

Mathew Richardson said we grind down the opposition at our own pace and they can’t keep matching us for the whole game. We don’t lose or win biggly. Other teams have had more inconsistencies between their worst and best. People like bright shiny things so they remember the high scoring one sided junk time games we don’t seem to participate in. Half the Bulldogs win over WC was played in junk time. The result reflected WC’s underdone players and tall marking forward line. The first half weather in Perth was terrible. Violent wind and rain that suited the contested ball winning game of the bulldogs. No home crowd support either. It was not as dominant a win as is being suggested.

We don’t have any players who have played over 200 games playing which can distort averages. Most of our stars are around the 100 -120 games played which bodes well for the future.

Despite being top of the ladder and having a 10-0 winning record against the next 12 teams below us it appears the local media pundits are not taking us very seriously. We hear comments alluding this is the most even season and anyone can win it. Two weeks ago the Richmond premiership machine was cranking up, then it was Geelong on the march and now the Bulldogs are clear favourites again. The bombers are charging up the ladder many say and are becoming a threat despite being out of the 8. Of course we haven’t proven anything yet and many of our wins have been hard fought but there is perception we are just a side show to the real contenders. Seems there is a trend to talk up all our Victorian rivals above us. Other interstate rivals don’t get much love either. Despite our continuing success we are still regarded as a Cinderella club in Victoria. Any other opinions?

So who does Hibberd wrap up in his spider web this week? Toby Green?

The Bomber fans are truly the psycho chickens of AFL supporters. In the bad old days Windy Hill was the most dangerous VFL/AFL ground to visit. It was scary and far worse than Victoria Park. Makes current WC fans look like reasoned intelligent persons.

As I said previously we need a dominating key forward. Tmac and Fritsch are solid contributors but not stand alone dominators at the pointy end. Only two goals from key forwards in the past two game is poor. Weid and BBB were supposed to be the prime key forwards but haven’t showed up and left a big hole. Get one of them playing to their potential we can think about upping scoreboard pressure. We could look to making Jackson a key target but have to look else where to assist Gawn in the ruck. I believe Petty with his hight and ability to contest a mark as an option also. But then we have cover his position.

Don’t worry, Brian Taylor has already written us off. Three days ago it was still Richmond. Today its the Bulldogs..

Until we can find a dominant key forward we are not going to score big wins. We rely too much on team contributors. BBB and Weideman aren’t playing. They were supposed to be the key forwards but haven’t showed up.

That’s the TransAsia crash in Taiwan 2015. 38 people died and it was a miracle 15 people survived. The plane was an ATR 72.The plane crashed because the pilot switched off the wrong engine after the other flamed out after takeoff.

100% DE as well.

That’s correct. The review umpire as well as the commentators are confusing the foot contact on the line with a touched or marked ball on the line. Totally different aspects of the game. There had to be a clear separation between foot and ball before the ball entered the plane of the line. In the Jones case there wasn’t. It was clear his foot and ball were still connected on the out of play side of the line as he completed his kick.

We were mightily upset after the Adelaide game but nothing compared to the bomber fans.They are hysterically psychotic. The worst sore losers that I have ever seen. I fear much spouse, pet and equipment abuse has happened behind closed doors.

Not surprised BBO that you appreciated the mass self flagellation spectacle of the druggie fans.

You what’s effing great? We kept them out of the 8 and we are 8-0 for the top 11 sides played.

It was a tough grinding win.Essendon we’re really good. But when are we are going to play a side that’s having an off day I wonder?

Petracca 15 disposals at 26%disposal efficiency. Wow thats poor. Needs a reset fast.

We have demonstrated this season that we take lower ranked teams for granted. After a bye there is resets and unknowns to fathom out. Essendon are playing well but I believe we can exploit their Swiss cheese defence. I doubt they can change their game to stifle us and will try to turn the game into a shoot out. Parish must be tagged.

I feel like a cat thats not worried by the pit bull but petrified of the mouse.

Jones has never been the enforcer type. That would be in AVDB’s portfolio. I would rather see him in the finals doing the protection.

Spargo and Melksham will get about the same amount of touches but ensure quality disposal. Jones mainly handball receives and give off’s. No way he can match Jordan’s defensive pressure and tackles. Jones will only get a final if attrition raises its ugly head assuming we get there

It got sidetracked when someone mentioned that Weid was gutted/disappointed with his very poor game and underwhelming return to the seniors. And now it must be a mental health issue. Well he should be very disappointed. A normal reaction for any footballer and especially for one of his ambitions. And something would be NQR if he wasn’t. If mental health issues are involved then he needs support, should not be playing and irresponsible for the club to persist in playing him. He has played 5 consecutive games and only the first could be considered satisfactory. I don’t recall Tmac getting the same kind of sympathy on here when he was having very poor form. I notice many of the Weid sympathisers here were very critical of Tmac at the time.

Goodwin is not noted for making ruthless abrupt changes if he can help it. Tends to resist external pressure from media and fans to team changes as well.

The Weid and Brown conundrum https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/viney-back-as-dees-debate-brown-or-weideman-20210623-p583ee.html