DEE fence

The obvious risk for the federal government is building a stadium that is never used properly the way some countries do with Olympic venues. We (Australians) are just not like that, we're the modern equivalent of Romans, we like our (sourdough) bread and (AFL) circuses. Even without the political spin the business case is pretty strong that it will drive economic growth in the area. I also don't mind the government money as football is thank god, not privately owned. It's not America where club owners hold a metaphorical (maybe they hold real ones nowadays?) gun to the governments' heads demanding public subsidies of privately owned enterprises or they will move the team.

Take a bow Tim Lamb, really good work, especially getting it done before mid season when the angst on this site would have been at nuclear waste levels..

I'm talking about whose 'game' is the best, when 'on', you're not responding to the opinion proferred. Where you finish, and banking wins, of course matters. But I was responding to the thoughts on Collingwood's luck and game style and people saying they're the best in it. Which I don't agree with.

Collingwood has it's strengths but hardly Essendon 2000, or Brisbane/Geelong/Hawthorn in their pomp. Our best is still the best going around, by a margin. The biggest factor this year between Pies, Us, Brisbane is the team we are able to put on the park. Saints, love their work but don't see them at the business end with their tall stocks. Am still not a huge fan of Brisbane away from the Gabba. And I think the draw has confused the seedlings early, a larger sample size will see a reshaping of the ladder. Love the Pies 'total football' though is very fun to watch, but Melbourne on a roll reminds me of the final battle of Avengers end game, the most ferocious contest, with a devastating result (for others).

Really wanted Adelaide to do us a favour, but justice was served in terms of result. Umpires need a full review at the end of year, I just get the impression there is not a big enough base to produce all the cream required for top level. I mean FFS, the standard atm makes Razor look good.

Was playing with the ladder predictor, and I think there are two/three clubs fighting for the #1 pick that just have better excuses to lose than Freo. If I bet, I would take a multi that they beat the hawks twice and WCE once more. Leaving a minimum of five wins, and maybe another one or two on merit. So welcome Pick 4, not a bad track record with it ;-)

Whatever

Very happy about this, consummate professional, elite runner, staunch team mate. Proof of what a championship team is all about. And just quietly, would be starting 22 in any other club.

Thanks mate, I bugged out and am currently ‘live’ in Abidjan, Cote de Ivorie, working remotely on Sudan. I notice you reside in Fitzroy, my spiritual home, used to love walking to the G when I lived there with one of the Mario’s from the cafe, who is also a Demon tragic, then a beer at the Napier after the match.

Trust Taylor, I'm just about to tattoo his face on my leg I love that man so much. I'm in favour of needs, and I think we are most susceptible to age/injury down back. For me nothing has transformed our team as much as when we went out and built the league best defense (to some derision on $ spent). When I was a kid I thought defense was so boring, was always about the power forwards, 70's (wasn't much of a tactical observer it must be said), 80's (fully into wanting a messiah), 90's (happy to not be merde, but anguish that Balme never got a great run with injuries), 00's (hoping to pinch one but always aware we had gaps). Anyway when I look at these teams, with many players I dearly loved, none of them were as tight defensively as what we have now. For sure a Wight, Whelan, Walsh, J.Rivers or Lovett would make it into the current team, but in the big defender department we had Ingerson, Carroll types, who had their (with respect) limitations. The best big defender I could think of was Shanahan who was a bit cooked and cameos from Nietz. I think our midfield will be set for awhile yet, and midfielders are more common, even if every new one makes the press wet themselves. Also I'm in favour of multiple options in front of goal, but what I really want a settled defense with new Lever/May types coming through. Petty also gives away a few too many frees for my liking in defense(if he was sneakier he could stay a defender). Petty might become a Lever type, but like Tmac, I think he's best suited forward, going straight for goal. Re Reid, he could be a superstar mid, but I'm pretty happy with the superstar known quantities we have right now. And I'm not basing this just on May's last few games, been thinking this for a while, Jetta had Hibbered take over his lock down role, I can see McVee replacing that. Salem is a question mark, Bowey is good but not Salem game breaking good yet. But Lever and May both seem fragile, and they are the pillars that everything else works off. More defenders please. I would even trade a picks to Carlton for Weitering, to take over from May and be our 3rd tall defender.

I am still not used to seeing a Melbourne ruck bounce the ball...since Stynes...

Like this, tbc wasn't potting Spargo, just that chances are difficult.

Joeboy - Clueless As Usual

Sparrow had a good game which was timely for him, Dunstan is banging the door down and deserves reward. Bare my ar$e in Bourke street though at the idea of Chandler getting dropped. Much more interesting is what happens to Spargo? He might be the Jayden Hunt of the season.

Just saying, I think there is a chance for World Peace if I can be happy about the Pies winning A great round of football. Things to love (non MFC): Weid having a good day out, really nothing but love and hope for the young fella. Geelong are done, nothing about the Sydney smashing makes me think otherwise. They have loaded up on easy kills as we did with WCE, but now they have to earn a few more. Darcy Moore well spoken young man, not better than Gawn, but still a damn fine captain. Collingwood, You can always judge a man by the quality of his enemies, who doesn't love that the premier rivalry from AFL/VFL history is back. I love the way Collingwood play, it is exciting to watch, will be even better when we beat them. All those shaking in their socks about Collingwood, we are that good, we make other teams scared, but they are not perfect, we have weapons, we only need belief, go find some. Nick Daicos, has transcended Collingwood, it's like potting the All Blacks, makes you look churlish, he is a phenom, that said, we have a couple of our own... Bradley Hill, love that he has found a path to clear air, consumate player, that Jack Sinclair goes OK too, St Kilda doing well and Carlton sucking balls is proof that AFL is a team game and that prima donnas (Hello GWS) will fail. Love that Carlton is still trash. Likewise several other games this year, effort brings reward. King's Birthday - 96,000 please Otherwise: Umpires need work, increase the cash or whatever incentive is needed, umpiring is much like policework, is not a skill that can be learnt in an academy, it involves experience. Getting the buggers to have a feel for the game, allow for intent and taking their own ego out of decision making requires alot more people doing it so we can get the elite for our game.

Wouldn't you love a replay that you could choose the wider shots to look at this sort of thing. Very interesting post thanks.

Late bump on Viney

That was a brilliant game, all those dismissing it are not crediting Richmond who really brought the heat. Richmond won the 1st quarter and then our team went to work. Exactly the sort of effort you want to see. JVR, haven't been as excited about one of our forwards since Schwarz in 1995! McVee is playing like Jarred Rivers did on debut, just so bloody reliable and clutch. Quickly becoming my favourite player, he's one of those guys that doesn't drop his head, just goes every time, not a confidence player, just a player and will get a RS this year. It was a hard game to watch because it was close, we are too used to perfection, but we won, we are still a team you can trust. Jack Viney, people can go punch themselves in the heads when they bag him, you just don't understand football, it's not ice dancing. I honestly feel like he is one of the reasons (along with N.Jones) that we got through the dark years. Did you see the way he barreled in when JVR was getting kneed? (shout out to Grundy as well), provided pressure but didn't give away a silly free, tell me that you don't walk taller with the way the team back each other. Our defense is so much better with Lever and Hibberd in it, and I am still firmly in the Petty forward camp, feel like today was proof. He stretched Richmond and Fritsch was unlucky to not get off the leash. Time and again he provided body and protection. Gawn, welcome back, our rucks managed to swing the game after we arrested the early damage. Brayshaw super reliable, another huge team man, ran all day, huge km, likewise Langdon, just got where he needed to be, great efficiency lovely goal. This ruck combination, if fit, will clean up this season. Petracca and Oliver got into the game, Oliver looked to really think his way through disposals today, and that 2nd qtr goal was class under pressure. Trac did thing that I take for granted and shouldn't, great presence. Chandler another tribute to our recruiting and craft brining young men on. ANB provided huge defensive pressure and run, easily tracking for best season so far. Carlton can take their beauty queen bunch of a team, I will take the ANB's and Chandlers that just do a power of work to get the best out of themselves and play a role perfectly in a team game. May needs a reset, he's riding the wrong emotions in game, needs to get his head right, am worried he's NQR 'cos his calf isn't right for explosive movements feel like he's going to cost us a free or two in critical moments. Bowey is still a bit off but after a booboo he laid a smother that Bradley Hill would've been proud of, was pleased he kept his head in the game, but at the moment if Salem is fit, Bowey is who I would drop. Umps sucked, but our class is such we didn't drop our heads. Loved the Crowd, we match Richmond for Noise, well done @WCW and others. More to say but am dealing with Sudan right now, this is the first time off I've had in seven days, 18hr days, 3 colleagues killed, after distributing rations to refugees, another three shot (one of who we couldn't extract for 3 days, a good friend kidnapped, and dear friends still trapped inside. That and I've lost everything I own, clothes, photos/HD, blah blah, but seriously seeing the stress of friends who cannot get out of a warzone is emotionally tough, my french colleague was in Cairo for weekend and her kids were trapped for a week, one 10yo son with a family in Amarat, the 8yo daughter in Riyad with the nanny and noone else, they only just made it to Djibouti yesterday, mum is going insane. I needed today, thanks Dees.

6, Viney, 5, Gawn, brilliant game, we don't win without him. 4, ANB, critical game, pick pocketing Richmond in the fwd half was critical, defensive forwards are key, Voss needs to show vision of ANB to fix carlton. 3, Lever, such a clutch player 2, McVee, I swear he went at a 100% DE, clutch moments time and again saving goals 1, JVR, take a bow, probably stole the RS nom off McVee Chandler took his chances he needed to take. Grundy looked a bit lost but the way he stuck up for McVee, (1st time Viney has been second in backing up a team mate ever), really gave me the warm fuzzies. Feel dirty about Langdon, should probably have McVee's spot but need to share the love. Oliver and Tracc I have both taken for granted.

Loved Ralph for the 1st time ever, got real excited. Must say he's got some credit for awhile now. Kozzie staying is such a key piece of the team. He makes us hard to plan for.

And Bradley Hill could be best 22 at the Dees, I’m almost wondering if Weitering could be a replacement for May when he retires, and Jacob is looking to play in a successful team.

Umpires were putrid today for St Kilda.

I don't watch much of him, but the number of dog acts he pulls has increased.

I actually thought it was the second when we didn't adjust, the first was ok, effort was there, the second was trash.

I really hate Essendon, but the basterds turned up to play, that was honestly the best I've seen them since 2001. They marked everything. Ran like the wind and used Stringer as a decoy perfectly. We just couldn't take a trick and a side missing Lever, Hibbo and Salem notices it. Full credit to McVee I think he was the best defender today. Bowey NQR. Tmac has used up his credits for mine, a flat track bully against WCE was angry at how out of position he was all day. May had a bad day, has proved over the journey that happens, he will adjust. Likewise Grundy got too cute (4 bounces in one game, Max hasn't had one in 10 years) but with Gawn back we are a different team. Essendon basically played like we do. Overall a bit sad with our talls but think today is the aberration not the standard.