DEE fence

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.

I enjoyed that, loathe Carlton, and looking forward to us vs Crows, just quietly I still think our deefence remains the best and Crows won't get as many freebies. Also happy for Nicks to enjoy some 'limited' success, 13 losses to start your career was pretty grim. But anyway, knew Carlton are pretenders their defence isn't whole team, we will cream them as well.

The conversation around Cripps being better than Oliver just needs to end. You can count the games Clarry hasn't impacted on one hand. Cripps has half a dozen every season. That Brownlow last year was a total fraud. He can do special things when he wants, emphasis on 'He wants'.

I’m prepared to give it a go, we play better interstate, regardless of the Brisbane match, and I think it’s a nice sop to the crow eaters considering they are never going to see a Grand Final in their state.

Very pro Petty as a forward, but not silly, with Lever out he is required back, not sure Tomlinson is the right match up for Stringer, Hibbo would have been better. I guess Rivers can have a crack. I’d actually start JJ before Tommo, I think the team is too tall for the conditions as well.

Was stressed when I saw him standing the mark testing it, but we were 10 games up and they let him play on, so assume he rolled it only and they let him run it out to stop it swelling.

Nah not wrong, recency bias, he is a defender, he is learning to be a forward and I’m sorry but let me check, oh that’s right, we are 10 goals ahead of anyone else on the ladder, damn it’s been a total failure. He is not getting in the way of the other forwards, he contests and he provides great forward defensive pressure. Wasn’t his best day but give him a go, has truly earnt it.

Credit to WCE for not turning their toes up, that was a par win for us, even if there were many excellent performers. Yeo and Kelly had a red hot go. I don’t mean to whine but I think we left another 6 goals on the table, that said I’d rather we did that, than going back to bombing it, was clear they were trying to think their way through the fwd 50 entries and stuffed it up a few times. Also Kozzie didn’t get a great return score wise, but played well, he is from the JV school of strong. ANB is having a brilliant season, actually gets award for most underrated player, an immense game today. The tackles and contest made it clear what a professional unit we are, no hubris or disrespect on display, made for a relaxing game even if we didn’t smash them, everyone very accountable. Am hoping the AFL puts the Viney tackle on a video so we can add it to the JV made me cry thread. He was a great captain today, led from the front and monstered WCE packs. Grundy was very smooth, the only time I thought we looked a tad unsettled was with Petty in the ruck, I hope he can do this against some of the better ruck teams to come, but this was a great game for him to find touch. Also am ready for people to forget about him playing for Collingwood, much like May and Lever and Hibbered, he needs to be just spoken of and to as a Melbourne player. Bowey is starting to float his kicks a little, he needs to stop that fast, against another team we will get opened up on turnover, floating kicks defensive side is death. I thought this last week and more so today, it’s like with less pressure his kicks float more, he did have the time to execute (by his standards). McVee on the other hand has that same amazing mojo that Bowey started with, looks so classy with the ball, love that with hard work he has changed his destiny and where and what people thought he could be. Tmac did his stuff, am super happy for him, but again it’s par as he didn’t have Mc Govern on him, but did his job. What I did like was his timing, much better, and not taken under the ball. That said JVR is the future, did the future start today or a week ago or in 2 months time, tough to be a selector, but I think JVR over Tmac as he looks more dangerous in a pack. Chandler is growing each week, really loved that he got a classy goal, was reward for all his work. Hibbered is still best 22, great use of sub with Jordan as well, this arrangement with optional sub makes us stronger with all the depth we have now, more licks of the ice cream for everyone. Loved that Jordan came on bursting with energy and no sooking, just showed he has a big heart. BF 31 with 32 consecutive games scoring a goal is another that will be AA squad at least, leading, snaps and set shots is just special, probably the best pick of JT’s career apart from Oliver. Petty didn’t score but I like this experiment, one more week up front is my wish, I feel like he was a tad off in timing but not heart, and these games are a great time to learn forward craft. Hunter and Langdon are under done for praise so far but both played their role. Spargo some crafty goals, Sparrow played better than last two weeks, maybe a fire under him?. Brayshaw had good touches, with others all playing better he is perhaps lost in noise, but played his role and consistent. Lastly, Trac, I know he started slowly but he kicked the goals he needed, I didn’t think he linked with team mates as well as he normally does, but I love that he got a couple of goals. His link to team mates will come back, however getting the goal kicking monkey off the back is very bad news for the competition.

Viney - gets six because where our class was on display was contested ball, he loves Perth. Another tackle for the JV made me cry thread. Oliver - Contest king, if he’d had a few outside possessions we would be losing our minds, is sometimes hard to appreciate how good he is. ANB - great effort, 111 tackles, huge pressure and km all day, having a killer season. Grundy - a great display, but not against a recognized ruckman, so am paying those who won contests more, he did also crack in at ground level Rivers - In everything down back. Will be a sneaky for AA squad this year. Tmac - 4 goals, would have been higher if he’d snagged the 5th, also normally he’d have McGovern, did like the mark he took though, clean hands at the top of the balls’ arc. Stiff : Fritsch - just silk, pokes holes in the defense. McVee - very stiff, when does he get his rising star. The team all good, the tackle sheet demonstrates they are drinking Shiraz and not bath water..

GREAT BUMP

https://www.titusoreily.com/afl/the-monday-knee-jerk-reaction-afl-round-three2023 Titus going missing again with the 'Really Unhelpful', been wondering if his talent was fuelled by his MFCSS, and now that we seem like a legitimately good and consistent team, that has wavered. That or maybe he got a girlfriend, who knows? Anyway if he ever lurks (which I doubt because Demonland would make for some pretty decent source material) he should know that he's missed. And that I am not going to brain him if he tips Melbourne... he was a fair kiss of death some years.

Gold!

I actually think Adam Simpson is not a bad bloke, WCE supporters not so much, don't agree that we are not ruthless, there have been a couple of games in the last two years we have put the foot down, different to pre 2021 era. I just don't see anyway we cannot win this handsomely, with a system that should be good for 25 goals. Sadly I felt this way before the Brisbane game...

I thank Jason Taylor at least once a week, with what he has created at Melbourne he has painted his Sistine Chapel (props to Tim Lamb as well, (Borromini minus the angst)).

Poor goal kicking efficiency has proven to be the highest contributor to early mortality in all supporter groups, including driving increased alcoholism, anti-social behaviour, compulsive eating and property destruction. Conversely efficient conversion has shown to be one of the best drivers of domestic happiness and well adjusted children. Therefore Choco Williams for 2023 Australian of the Year, and a gig on Dancing with the Stars.

Interested in this observation - the McCartins were diminished from the Semi Final when they cut us up, I was really feeling calmer with this game as they were not rebounding with ease. If that was Melksham's influence Kudos to him. I do think I like him more as a decoy forward, because a team role is emphasized, and IMHO plays better.

Not fair and I thought he had a better game than the last two. but I'd swap Sparrow for Kozzie, If BBB is fit. I like Sparrow, loved his snap but he does not do what Viney does as well as the VC. Also the VC had a solid game, is running well and only had a couple of boo boos, that at the coal face were entirely justifiable, we play on and we play hard and fast, not perfect skill but perfect effort and process, he does that, some other posters need to take a bex and a lie down before criticising Viney. Anyway rant over, Sparrow's hardenss is equalled by Kozzie, and Kozzie will increase the number of clearances we wine with the speed he hits the pack in the middle. I would like to see Sparrow work on his timing when he hits a pack, he is not malingering or anything but of the mids I see him out of the contest more often than not and think some magoos could work for him. Chandler cannot be dropped was in the votes, worked his [censored] off. Likewise Jordan was an upgrade on Harmes and I particularly liked the way he connected with team mates, fitted in as part of a unit. ANB is having a great season unsung hero from the Swans game, but every touch was a winner on the replay, and even his snaps were legitimate, didn't see a better alternative than having a ping. Hibbo is a keeper, so smart with his touches, and he reminds me of Sean Wight, so there is a soft spot factor. Without Salem he is the guy with smarts that steadies the ship. McVee and Bowey are both a joy to watch. Football brains both of them, we are a very merit based team ATM. Would prefer a tall as sub, either Tommo or Tom.