DEE fence

I re-watched the GC game, Our defensive setup considering the current outs is just exceptional, huge props to both players and coaches. Our link up under pressure is still a thing of beauty. Am genuinely worried about injuries and exhaustion, not sure Rivers is fully fit, and the weather murdered our players, heat is literally kryptonite and might be why GC go well in the first few games of the year. If you read about the effects of humidity on elite athletes you will understand we gave a really solid performance but a few of our guys might not be 100%. Am actually sweating on Brayshaw he took some heavy hits. I also was super impressed with Dew's coaching, they came with a plan for us, fair play. So to selection: I am still not convinced re Hunt (not a popular opinion last week but sticking with it). Tmac down back, Brown in to play Tmac's role, Hunt out. Unless Hibbered fit, (I still believe players go well against their former clubs), in which case I would swap Hibbered for Hunt. Tmac is doing alot of role work, he wasn't missing, just didn't get reward for effort. Spargo wasn't bad. Smith improved on the week before, bit worried about his hand injury but his closing speed is a weapon, disrupted several GC attacks with it. Hopefully his disposal continues to improve, I see no reason why not, he is getting better every game. Dunstan as sub. I think he is more versatile than Bedford. All of that said, this is a good game to try something new selection wise, I don't think we want to spend all our petrol tickets early in the season and I think some players might be NQR.

Not wrong, losing Jackson would be like losing pre knee Schwarz and more frustrating. I am as nervous as hell.

As much as I love our players, Touk had an exceptional game. One or two Brownlow votes I reckon. A clear second to CP5.

6 Tracc (Brunette Kouta) 5 Bowey (Keith Greig, as per other poster, great call) 4 Dogga (McKernan-remember his breakout games for North) 3 Oliver (Best Redhead ever to play the game) 2 ANB (Langdon is not the only supreme runner we have) 1 Brayshaw (is it too late for him to be fullback for the Wallabies?) Stiff May

Be funny though, Premiership player as a rising star!

Time left?

Love Essendon on the bottom, but the travel thing, I don't care that we travel (I used to hate it), but now we are just as scary on the road as we are at home. Every team fears/respects us anywhere, I think it is amazing that we are now easily the best travelling side. Anywhere anytime as Max says. Kudos again to the coaching team for making this a strength.

Sorry who is wonder boy, forgive my ignorance

Wasn't convinced with Hunt last week, I was by Smith but I guess we are playing GC who will be quite quick.

Thanks for merging threads and sorry for missing this thread to start with. Revised for round 1 - AFL off to a bad start, I have tried every angle to see how it looked like a serious attempt to get the ball, never put his arms in the air. To be fair to the AFL it was the tribunal and not the MRO that gave Willie an out. Robinson actually got lower, first time I have ever had sympathy for this guy. Scoring for Head High: Correct call = 1 pt (think Toby Greene 6 weeks) Insufficient Call =.5 pt (half right i.e. Rioli) Bad Call = 0 (flat out wrong) Bogus Call = -1 (Star player like Paddy getting off or MFC Tax being exercised - where we get slammed extra) Out of however many possible HH Incidents there are during a round. Head High Running score for MRO r1, 2022 = -2/2

Do you have a link?

Bevo might need support, neither of us have enough info to compare Goodwin and Bevo, except for the info they are widely acknowledged as genuine people. Bevy OTT? Agreed, he apologized. Quite pathetic ? Too strong, he had a serious wobble. Quite pathetic is the media equating him to Richard Nixon levels of villainy, CW calling for a six figure fine is shrill, OTT and she is doubling down on it. She is just plain mean and frequently a hypocrite, going after the way he looks was just shallow.

Journalists are so precious - next idiotic question to a coach should be followed with the retort 'have you deleted your chat history'. Caro wants Bevo on a cross, totally over the top, and seriously they worry about his moustache, who are they going after next, Merv, Lillee? They want to turn everything into Disney, it's bloody Australia, chill out Brussel sprout - the Front Bar made more sense. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW5C9oDb3rQ Timestamp 47m21s onwards - comment at 49m

Going to try and keep a running update (with a bit of editorial as is my habit, and absolute bias in anything involving JV). Not going to waste time on the jumper punches etc. Feel free to remind me if I miss an incident and any constructive suggestions please share. Any ideas on other Tribunal matters I/ we should be watching. At the end of the year we can assess if the bump is truly dead, on current evidence no. This weeks MRO report. https://www.afl.com.au/news/724584/match-review-eagle-learns-fate-crow-banned-for-eye-contact Brisbane - Mitch Robinson bump on Xavier Duursma - was graded as careless conduct, high contact and medium impact. I say BS, Robbo is a (~^+, but conduct not careless, he stopped and propped and Duursma got pushed lower. Duty of Care exercised. WCE - Willie Rioli bump on Matt Rowell - graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact, resulting in a one-match ban that brings Rioli's comeback to a halt. I say BS, left his feet, no eye for the ball, impact should have been judged high. Intent also was clearly to bump. Scoring for Head High: Correct call = 1 pt (think Toby Greene 6 weeks) Insufficient Call =.5 pt (half right i.e. Rioli) Bad Call = 0 (flat out wrong) Bogus Call = -1 (Star player like Paddy getting off or MFC Tax being exercised - where we get slammed extra) Out of however many possible HH Incidents there are during a round. Head High Running score for MRO r1, 2022 = 0.5/2

Two after a guilty plea, should be used to that. That was text book of what you are not supposed to do. WCE will get some sympathy though for being out of players. If they are serious it is four, ( I don’t think they are serious). Nic Nat just can’t stay on when the game needs to be won, he sat on the pine at the worst time. Rowell was just fantastically brave.

Hell yeah, look at his half Ironman time, and he knows the gameplan. Not like he fell off a cliff. NJ.jfif

She’s not BT

I think Brayshaw was key, going down back and picking up Salem's role, 1st test of the season for the club passed with flying colours. I can understand why Goodwin was so effusive with his praise for the defense. Left field - Tmac, Tmac used to do a great job on Riewoldt, who was murder in the air. Keeping Naughton to 4, I would almost say is a pass though for May, Naughton is just a brilliant player, Only player apart from Bont I would take straight into our starting 18. I also really thought that Smith had a brilliant game, his closing speed and size is scary and if he continues to improve ,he might have a role to play, as Naugton's timing in the air is as good as a Russian Ice skater high on 02 boosters. For me cobwebs - also see post clearance contest wins (as per the thread ' Centre Clearances - Considered Analysis Requested'), that said I think the Doggies read Maxy better than most teams - I actually think Bevo put a lot of work into the Ruck, and as he mentioned before he had his minor wobble, they went with a different ruck plan of pinch hitting ruckman. What he didn't mention, which was probably the key part of the plan, was that they reckon they would be able to shark the tap. I agree, didn't run the same he did 1st half of 21, but he must have done enough in training, will be interesting to watch. I thought Hunt need to do more as well, I want Rivers back urgently. I was down on Harmes years gone by, but he had a great finals series and role in r23 that he has credits in the bank for 2 more rounds, but if he drops off the way he did at times last year would love to see Dunstan. '21 really did change my mind on Harmes though and I used to be critic, I felt like he demonstrated good coachability and adapted a lot. The thing is our zone and marking ability (contested/intercept) is so strong we nullify what he does, am still in favour of sticking to our D style. It comes back in over his head and I'm not ready to sacrifice our zone defensive style. would rather do a few things very well than try and do everything. If Caleb could kick it 45-55 then I might have different ideas but as brilliant and brave as he is, and I respect him, his short kicks don't hurt us because he is not releasing other players in a way that gets through our zone often enough for the dogs to win. I also am a fan of Kossie doing a bit in the middle and maybe this is an idea. I actually thought Kossie's pressure acts were Davey and Uncle like and upset the Dogs' carry, to me 'cameo' is faint praise. I did like how Kingy highlighted on 360 how Kossie is taking 'wickets' this year. Viney fit is a weapon, and he is our much needed hard man, watch the 2nd Gus and Gawny with Viney. and a fit Viney is now running on the top of the ground. Clearly ahead of Harmes and Dunstan while fit. As others have mentioned working better with Clarry now. Petracca is a blessing, it is like having Christmas 27 times a year. He had two eyes and both his hands on the ball, a shocking free, he does not get a good go. I almost think there is a Maxy tax as well, for just being so dominant, there is not another ruck who gets such a hard time, even that dog Mumford. How I loved our Captain walking up and calming Smith down from dissent, never stops being a leader. Weightman will only have so many flops in the bank. I think it's a plan to drop back and set up the zone. Normally our zone is great, this I felt (as others have mentioned) is because Lever wasn't there in his General role. Zones are super tricky to perfect and we had gaping holes with the change of cattle. I am prepared to forgive on this occasion but will keep this in mind going forward. Personally I still think we are best practice on zone defense. Many thanks for your great thoughts, gave me something to bounce off.

I thought ANB has grown so much, last night was comparable to the day out he had in his 100th match. Bugger he missed that icing goal.

I loved that it was a 'Home' game, yes I would have like 80+, and you're probably right on the fixturing/numbers - but flip side is, we got 100% media focus. But still listening to the crowd on the broadcast, it was absolutely our home game, sounded like a WC match on the broadcast. Thought the Dogs supporters were weak for not turning up. I also don't mind the 10 day break between games with our current injuries.

'Just one beer/drink' is one of the most oft told lies in English or any other language.... just sayin

Bevo has apologised, matter done. Morris has to live the rest of his life knowing the world thinks he is a pajero. Great result. And am rapt First Crack won't have his insipid sniping blighting what is generally some good analysis.

Bedford for Hibberd Smith stays, his best game. Don't rush Lever, Tmac back and Weid gets a go. Not sure re Hunt, would swap for Rivers on balance.

Huge love for the team discipline-no dissent 50m give away-allthough Max shaking his head was clearly a comment. I saw BBB run away quickly after his signature seagull flap of the arms too which was funny as he knew he was on the edge.

6 Tracc 5 Langdon 4 Viney 3 Brayshaw 2 ANB 1 Gawn Brayshaw played out of his regular position and covered for Salem so well. I mark BBB and May too hard probably