DEE fence

To be fair, they have had a pretty good run with trading, Patton and Scully could have gone differently easily. As much as I loathe Jeff, they have had an awesome football department for a long time, personally I am not throwing rocks at them yet, they might be good enough to get going again in a few years, even with an anchor like Jeff at the club. Happy for them to be a basket case bit it is a bit like criticising the All Black's, just admit they are good and move on.

Do you have a link? Would like to tweet it!

We have, but so have they, a rough phone search suggests only just, same number of finals wins since 2000 though, alas they do have 2000. I would have pasted the details but on a plane.

One of the things I give the coaches credit for this season is planning for opposition, no one has really got off the leash, and we gave Martin his first proper bath. Libba is awesome, have real respect for him, and I feel we will have a plan here.

How do we compare to Essendon for the same period?

I believe as current front runners, management will be required, we are being hunted already, the Swans obviously did a huge amount of prep. And Carlton is a good team to practice list management with/against because they are what we used to be, front runners seeking glory with a lack of team defense. Gawn needs a rest, he also need to learn to put a hurt on those sniping him. Nev has an awesome record against Betts, never been beaten by him, give him a go. Only defensive change (for Hibberd) Change one of Melksham and Fritsch, not because we have to but this is a good game to practice in. TMac stays forward. Gus gets another game. Everyone in the club is so positive about Petty, I am feeling like it is trust the coach time, lets give him a longer run. Or if they go with no change I am cool with that. But there is no way we don’t have few unspoken injuries. Club to buy a hyperbaric chamber though, and I want our top 10 sleeping in it 3 nights a week minimum.

On a serious note, love the many comments comments about 'walking away' is better, this is different to the vibe that existed even just 20 years ago. I must admit I am far from calm, when someone physically touches a friend or partner in an unwanted manner, and was in a fight when a guy slapped a gf to the head for pushing his arm away, but freely admit there was a better solution than boxing on, to be had. It is also a thin line between standing up for someone helpless, and a man getting involved in a fight because he feels like his honour was slighted because someone touched his girl. In effect removing the right for a women to exercise her own agency (and also not be treated like property).

Yes, been out drinking with AFLW players, predators.

Is an expression for a small heart, i.e. not brave, a common insult. Not appropriate for anyone in our team at the moment.

So I was terrified in the 1st Quarter with how easily the Swans won the clearances, thank god for the team defense. I was hoping to discuss what is going on in the middle, my op in not meant to be definitive, more just starting a conversation. Our tactics have evolved quite a bit under Roos/Goodwin, we started at a team keen to shake the 'bruisefree' label, as Roos/Goodwin stated 'We built from the contest out' or words to that effect, and you could see it, especially with early Viney, and it was something we could hang our hat on, even if our defense was shakey and we had lovely but useless guys like Dawes in the forward line, we had become respected in the center but other teams worked that out. Then we got better and we had Goodwin Game-plan 1.1, which was to hit the center bounce at speed with blokes running in from the back half and using Oliver's great clearance skills to extract and charge down the ground like a rapier thrust - this was quite enjoyable to watch. The AFL buggered that for us with 6/6/6 and we needed a reset, this took a while, also as seen after 2018, while we were quite good at smashing the opposition, we dinged a few of our own bodies with this high attrition style of collision footy. We then struggled as everyone gathered at the contest and we were put to the sword on the outside. We needed a reboot, as we had reached the Windows equivalent of the bluescreen of death with versions 1.2-1.9. Under much pressure Goodwin has bravely come up with Game-plan 2.0 ( which has also involved some brave and so far fruitful recruiting), what I am particularly impressed with is the players have given up none of their desire for contested footy but are much smarter about leaving a few on the outside. We have also seen an absolute evolution in our defense without ball in hand, meaning we can cope with a loss of a few center clearances. Watching today to see Sydney transition to the fat-side only to find Melbourne players covering the switch made me happier than seeing a forward kick eight, this is a Melbourne I have never seen before. But anyway this version 2 does seem predicated on Max's radar working a bit better, I would argue that if we had won center clearances we would have one easily by more than 6 goals as we make much better use of f50 entries than previously, others have noted, high risk high reward with where Oliver starts and hits the clearance from wide and at speed. But as the coach has said he expects us to win from a superior number of f50 entries, that comes from winning clearance. I am keen to hear what others have observed about center clearances, what they think our plan is, have we given up a bit of our clearance ability to obtain an advantage in other areas. In other words what is going on, is Max a bit off, etc? As others have said I actually thought we were looking better with Jackson taking clearances during today's game.

I was feeling that way too, an argument could be made, he is a 30% better player at the Dees than the Dockers, #positivelingers, I like him as much as I liked Brett Kirk, so so courageous, so much more than just a running machine, his defensive efforts were tremendous.

I am clearly in the Melk is not best 22 camp, but I actually think the last 3 games he has continued to improve. Not sure I'd drop him yet and I think his replacement would be Jones and I think he has Jones covered. Harmes is super frustrating with is decision making, but I want to see him play a lockdown role on Sam Walsh, I think he is much better as a tagger, so he gets to stay. We really miss Viney, clearances would have looked different. I really rate Jacob but they only have one of him, I don't see a place for Weid yet. @RPFC - ANB hit his targets and his tackles, 2nd best game this year. Best 22 at the moment and will have a great final series. Brayshaw was off but just by fractions, nearly a good game but ended up looking bad, endeavor is there. No change, bar injuries.

6, Oliver (or give it to the team defense (or coach), every wide shot on turnovers showed the Dees covering Sydney, no easy outlet) 5, Langdon, doesn't just run, his tackling and pressure acts were amazing. 4, McDonald, Offence and Defense, Utility of the year! 3, Jordan, Best game for Dees. 2, Hibberd, Best game in 2 years. 1, May, Bullied buddy. Spargo - if it was on 1% acts would be 6 votes. ANB stiff - good moments across all quarters Harmes - was in it but needs to be cleaner Leaver - awesome work.

16:38min 3rd Quarter - May and Buddy wrestle, end with Franklin on the ground, (with a small assist from Lever) love it. I am deeply in love with Langdon, Tmac needs another contract, Trac working his way into the game.

Was going to say the same, has done ok against buddy.

ANB doing some nice things, Melk, loved that 1st goal when heat was on, Tmac work down the ground was key, he can go back but then the 1st goal was clutch. Lever jumping up and down with frustration was funny. So many moments in this game be still my beating heart. God bless Langdon. Benny doing exactly what we wanted. So many more comments for the end of game. Also kudos/ hat tip to Longmire - he is scaring the crap out of me, Syd winning clearances, stalled our intercept marking and has numbers at the ball. That said how good are the Dee's didn't drop their bundle - thanks Goodwin!

I think it is too early to call the next Captain, mainly because I see several options, Lever, May though probably too old, (I was a big fan of Tmac as Captain for a while too), even Jordan down the road shows signs. Trac is the amazing player, we all acclaim but I am not sure he is Captain material yet, need to know that the lair he was, has passed. I think Viney is awesome but I don't feel he quite had the right touch as Captain much better as VC. If the sky fell in and no Max/Jack, my call would be May C, both Lever and Tmac as VC.

Richmond is a gun side without doubt, but they have lost a bit of their run, just 5%, but is enough, Cats had enough time to beat tackles and the big forwards were all firing. Of Geelong, Richmond and us I rate our run as better at the moment and just as fierce in the contest as either, with the best defense and a forward line equal to the Cats. It is small small margins and thinking with head and not heart, I think the season will come down to injuries. Of the coaches, they all have a clue, and as much as I dislike the Scott brothers, you have to be impressed by the fire in the belly Chris has not to give up. Finally, to ask a useless 'what if' if our game against the cats was replayed, no Tomlinson and Cameron in, a scary thought for finals.

I wondered if there was fractional hesitation, because of a desire, sub conscious or otherwise, to protect his recently broken hand, that caused the delay in the arm going out? Was very happy with the tribunal result btw.

What do the Saints call their MFCSS?

Sorry to spam, but I actually thought today was Tmac's best game. He did a dozen things, right place, right decision, huge tank, super mobile defence, when things weren't going all our way. Don't get me wrong I love him marking in the forward 50, and I might finally be getting old, but his decision making and disposal was much better than I ever remembered from when he played defence regularly.

100% accurate, I don't think he is best 22 but his game was better than some of his others this year. Everyone's a politician now days, the narrative has to suit the agenda.

Just want to put my hand up and say I never thought he'd come on so quickly or demonstrate a tank like he has. Anyone else? I was very impressed with his draft video, but all the same his growth has been exponential.

Yeah, a few Hawks chirped up.

6. Fritsch 5. Langdon 4. Jackson 3. Pickett 2. Oliver 1. Salem