DEE fence

Hahah yes I was referring to Australian Rules, not sword play itself.

I have three metrics - There is the perception of the club, and then there are the fans of the club, and then the players. It has always been the tightest of races with Collingwood out in front now on all 3 counts. I have worked at Vic Park, their fans match the cliches. The fact that they won 4 GF in a row, bar them in ‘58 we would have had 6 in a row, generations of reasons to hate. And of course the ‘23 QF…funnily enough I have had grudging respect for many pies players it just doesn’t outweigh the hate. Essendon, mad hate leavened by some of the Madden brothers who I have met and consider good blokes, but then when you consider basterds like Sheedy, Long, Fletcher, Hird, Lloyd, Wallis, Duckworth, Andrews and Stringer, well its like the scales of justice with an elephant on one side and a mouse on the other. Supporters extremely arrogant. Carlton, Pig’s Ar$e Elliot, Sticks, 99% of their supporters, very small redeeming factors like Justin the clumsy giraffe, Doull, Jezza and Kouta. It is intolerable that they beat us in the semi last year, still burns Daylight to the rest, nothing beyond antipathy.

Lovely game to watch, if you’re a Dees fan, even team effort, evidence of plan and execution, and a real esprit d’corps across the whole list. My votes were a mess, still don’t feel like i did justice to all the effort. We were two weight classes better than the Hawks, had no problem with Hawks having a go in the 2nd, but there was always a straight right coming that was going to sit them on their [censored]. 1st shout out today is for Viney, while Trac played beast mode, I absolutely loved Vinny’s game at the bottom of so many packs, working hard inside. I was really worried about the absence of Gus this year, he did so many team role jobs so well (and selflessly) I was sure we would miss him more. Viney, who has never been shy about team roles, has however adapted his game and I see him as doing all his usual 1% stuff and fierce tackles that he normally does, but has somehow grown and doing all the tasks that Gus used to do. It also helps that Salem has got through his thyroid issues. Kozzie is going to be better than Cyril, I see the same aggression but a lot less stupidity, well done coaches, and well done club for keeping him in Red and Blue, the SA clubs would kill for him in their line ups. He might be a sneaky for AA squad this year. ANB played a fantastic game at high DE and great decision making, and across 4 quarters, his km would have been huge, today’s game was one of his all time best, would love to know the distance he travelled. I also think it is time for a reset in attitude towards him we can talk pre ‘21 ANB and post 21 ANB, he has been a different player since the GF year but some fans just can’t revisit 1st impressions. He kicked the two best goals last week with high difficulty factor, and his decision about retaining ball or tapping it on has improved out of sight. Marty Hore is playing every game like it is his last, just an amazing story, and between him and Howes look like serious players who I expected little from apart from cameos but were part of a backline that kept the opposition to 38pts. Ben Brown makes me think of a two sword duel in the movies, He’s the long sword, that you have to respect, but in paying attention to Brown and JVR, you find the short swords of Frisch, Chandler, Kossie, Billings etc have poked a dozen holes in you and you’re leaking blood everywhere. I know this tactic is 150 years old, but Brown is playing his role perfectly, and he combines better with JVR than TMac does, I still don’t understand why, he just does, no disrespect to Tmac, but I think it is something the coaches have recognized and it’s not just about Brown getting his knee right. Kudos to Tmac to not sooking about going back. Chandler > Spargo, unfair maybe, but Chandler is the Jack Russell of the footy team, keeps winning battles you don’t expect, and a much better kick from 30m +. Massive win at selection this week, also Goodwin had another great game with evidence of system and innovation. ‘Pacing’ with better choice of options going forward clearly on display. Not feeling the loss of Yze as much as some woe is us types predicted. McVee is a 2nd year player, 28 games, already his output this season is 30% above the 25 other games (except HB), could be driving in the Grand Prix he’s so cool under pressure. This season is feeling very promising, two hard weeks ahead but we are every chance.

Normally my MFCSS would be tweeking with May and Lever out, but I think Hore and Tommo are enough cover. TMac, well you have to take the evidence in front of you, absolutely Men’s department material. I guess Salem becomes back line captain, but really McVee looks so composed with the kick-ins (remember when you were scared of a MFC kick in), Rivers had more of a game today, Petty might not have match fitness but never looked out of place in a contest I don’t even know how Hunter or Bowey get back in the side at the moment. I like Duke more than Hunter, with Howes and Hore not doing much wrong and plenty right. So any way huge kudos to Troy Chaplin, the back-line still looking very respectable and composed. (BTW Hawks had been fuzzing about their forwards) For me next week is about Rozee and Butters, both silk gloves fitted to iron fists, must be respected, just not sure how. Really liking the deliberate use of JVR in the ruck, protecting Gawn is key, Port play Gawn as well as any team. (By cheating) I’m line ball about this game, but think we have Crows covered.

Trac 3 votes explosive and controlled ANB watch the telly, insane work rate, I think he did a 1/2 marathon. Zillion 1% ers Fritsch - a bag is a bag. Kozzie - beautiful moments perfect predator Gawn solid Petty, great call to play him, missed some shots but presented well, perfect wingman. Sorry to McVee, Sparrow, Tmac, Howe, Langdon, Salem & Viney

Maynard as Jaws

Sounds fair, Collingwood ferals come to mind.

I was responding to ETs query re goal celebrations, Maynard is in my 9th circle of Hell, the thing about Maynard is he doesn't own it, still pretending it was an accident.

In order... Stringer Papley DeGoey Ginnivan Weightman Higgins (except last night)

Collarbone hurts like hell, but fixes well, mine looked like chips from a woodchop competition #motorbike #abruzzo #[1diot]

Best I can come up with is a rainbow kick from May on the dog's head, setting him up for a kozzie knee. I say May as he never kicks Rainbows, we want Maynard to know.

I thought about this but he doesn’t replace May, and I like our guys more. There will be an article about how well we have replaced defenders in last 5 years, Hunt, OMac, Frost, Hibbered, Lovett, Tomlinson when he did his knee, have been replaced by Petty, Bowey, McVee, Rivers, Gus for a period, (Howe, Hore off a very small sample size), and it hasn’t missed a beat. You play in the Men’s department for Melbourne, you are a very serious player, anywhere…Me thinks we could do with more praise for Troy on this fora.

Too young, batting average in this place is about 50 from what I can work out, excusing Jane, Jaded and WCW of course.

As they fall, any pickings from the carcass? Apart from the Daicos brothers who will have to wither on the vine, who would you take, I used to like McStay, but feeling ho hum about him, Moore would never leave, Hill I rate, Quaynor also, but that is about it, everyone else is looking like a dollar special due to age.

'Fans of all persuasions engaged' good call by the commentator

Saints almost bottled it then found some heart, good on 'em.

Massive fun to watch, Pies given a few softies by umps now to try and even up the #'s, after the game is over. Who ever the saints player was that jumped under that 8m rain maker kick was crazy brave, got whacked hard.

please could you guestimate the timestamp, I need to rewind and watch...thanks in advance

Nice goal, was OBOF twice in the lead up, Pies will be melting.

This^^^, is a selection committee, last week was 5 changes, (Melbourne has changed the paradigm on how many changes you can make in a team, used to be 5 was a kiss of death) Spargo may not have worked and yes the Semi, but overall club has been getting it right for awhile. I have faith.

Back to the game... I respect Mitchell's coaching, the way he took away our wings a year or two ago, was well documented and showed some tactical flair, so I am apprehensive to see what he comes up with. However one of the things that I liked from Frogs game was the 'paced' attack with players clearly choosing between options rather than following a plan dogmatically. While we won't get 120+marks this game and Billings might not have 15 marks for the rest of the year, our switching between line and diagonal/short will be too much I think for the Hawks to have coached against in a week. And I expect to see some pretty dour defending by the Hawks rather than taking the game on. I also think we play just fine man on man, if they choose that option, we will cut them open, as we have great 1v1 players. Also watching several teams over the weekend I think out leg speed stacks up, Gunston is not the terror he was. Our greatest kryptonite will be injury (like any team), not just because of what certain players bring skills wise, (I think we do use a systems based approach that replacement players understand), but that players like Gawn, Lever and May give us a psychological advantage. I might be delusional but not having them in the team will give teams more confidence to take us on. Not including the Giants in this they are looking very very good. Also re this weekend, having re-watched the game several times now, (because watching long flowing chains of passes is very enjoyable) and paid a lot of attention to Tmac's game. I think he was almost disrespected (and I under-rated his performance as well at 1st, kudos to those that called it straight up) by the Dogs, and they were guilty of writing him off as the weak link. He played a Lever type game and was allowed much to much rope by the Dogs forwards, who were busy trying to work over Rick (and were scared of May). Anyway I don't think Sam will allow Tmac the same freedom this week, but with Rivers, McVee, Howe and Hore, I have great confidence that our backline might really stifle the Hawks this week. And I think Frtisch will get off the chain. Sorry a bit disjointed, sort of meant to be working.

He actually doubled KBs lifetime output, with 2 great HB, obviously one was sublime but the other was part of a score too.

I would sooner have a NZ team than a NT team if the competition was going to expand again, would be the largest domestic completion on earth geographically, not that I can see it happening.

More worried about someone like JT leaving as head of recruiting, will be an attractive job with all that trading to be done. Would want 4 1st round picks if he got poached.

I wasn't telling anyone else what to do. And explain to me what is the connection between me choosing not to watch sport sponsored by a government I consider abhorrent, and selling food to people who happen to live there (and don't get a vote)? The Saudi and UAE governments have direct and heinous responsibility for the humanitarian atrocities in Sudan and Yemen by enabling the RSF. Not much different to the Russian government for mine. I don't fly Emirates anymore and gave up a truckload of FF points/ Gold status as well.