DEE fence

Agree - He hits targets with handball more than some of the mids.

Love it when someone can be polite about a player, even if they don't rate them, thanks. I went and reviewed his highlights from last season because of your comment, and while there is not a lot of footage of ground work, (so you may have something there), his pickup from the ground while running seemed pretty flexible to me, however I have seen him lay some heavy tackles, and think he's braver than Joe Daniher. With what he could do in 2020 and the quality of his kicking (which has stood up over time) I would say one more season. If he was 5cm shorter I would agree with you however.

I could have just agreed with you as well, makes my post redundant.

Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” What to do with Sam?, with such a lovely kick and big frame, I was firmly of the opinion that he was a Full Forward (looks like a duck, walks like a duck etc). On ample exposed form that is not the case, now instead of getting sad about that, and what he can't do, I am hoping the footy department looks at the tools he does have, and goes to work over summer and builds a new role for him. Not that I am saying he is close to Buddy, but remember Buddy has never been good as a high marking FF and had 'iron hands', not too many are worried about that. In many ways SW is an alternate to Tmac and not BBB, and TMac is not going anywhere. Tmac has also clearly struggled as the FF and is much better in the roaming forward role. But depth is important for every position. Sam has a good attitude, has a heart, lovely kick, can run, can tackle, and currently has a mid range tank. It is worth the effort to retool him for a role up the ground or even defense. I would not be trading him, give up on the FF role, and explore what else he can do, I reckon he would be up for it, and we will have injuries. I still think he has more upside than say Joel Smith due to his size.

Yeah yeah (-; aged about as well cold McDonalds... Great result for Dees

Pity the Pies couldn't/can't cause a boil over. Am hoping for North with Westcoast. I want them in bottom half of 8, no home final and touch wood they are easy beats. But all in all a good weekend. Edit so it turned into a better w/end and my efforts at prediction merde

One of our improvements this year (and teams like swans) is the ability to absorb bad umpiring decisions. Seen many of our folks get riled by a bum decision, only to see their head back in the game moments later and not sooking it up. Very impressive. Reminds me of the ice hockey the way a player can cop a rough check and go back to playing and not looking for blood.

I am still dark Simmons isn’t in the olympics, Delly, Mills, Simmo etc could really give it a shake if they wanted.

I thought the Danes were truly hard done by and I was watching ten pin bowling the way white shirts were falling over. But then no chance I can barrack for Italy. Apathetic about this sport when diving with no water can win you a trophy. Danes were playing like a team. And all the dog acts of the English towards Danish supporters, just feral, as bad as any Collingwood trash.

Huge Joy for Ash, she is all class, just a ripper Australian. I can even live with her as a Tigers supporter. Edit: Now that I can breathe, (was very invested), I imagine watching Melbourne in the finals will be a 100 times as stressful, when she started going backwards in the 2nd and her 1st serve wobbled, my MFCSS was definitely bubbling, as I definitively believe her getting up would be/is a good omen for the club.

I was in Vicpol for 12 years, he was hated by everyone, and universally described as a thug who would whack a bloke in cuffs, and other gutless stuff. Was a shame the toe cutters never managed to charge him. Lucky for him his era was pre camera phone.

Always gets a bit salty about a Carlton loss though (-; probably why his profile dropped the last 15 years. He is good with other teams.

They said the age he had died, and as such he would of have been playing as a 40y.o., only reason I knew it was garbage.

I think they will rob each other’s of chances, although Adelaide once had 8 in the squad, and Sydney had the most in the team with 5 in 2016 (note I only went back as far as 2011). FWIW I find Lever and May super hard to split, Lever organizes things very well, May has the most responsibility. On balance since I am not King Solomon I would go with May, as I think it is the rest of the back six that allow Lever to do what he does (which he does very well). The comp is tight enough that the last 6 games will make a power of difference. Squad Gawn, Langdon Oliver May Lever Salem Petracca Team Gawn Oliver Petracca May If it was position based add Langdon Lever and Salem

Thought the same, but they played as individuals , If I was Clarkson, Port’s list would be super attractive, maybe more so than Suns. I actually waded through all 14 pages of Teal big footy, and didn’t see one post sticking up for Hinkley (who while a good human) has according to most has sucked the initiative out of a talented bunch.

Just rewatched the game stress free, and am moderating my criticism on ANB, he gets ‘par’, there were more good touches than i felt watching the game live. Also the Adelaide oval with it’s nice fat wings really suits us. If finals get moved (god forbid) this would probably be the best alternate ground for us.

That's my point, the scars made them do dumb things, On big footy the teal folks are burning the house down about it, they are furious, calling for Clarko.

I think ANB needs a reset, to me it is the way he is fumbling that is more of a problem. I have patience for when a player takes something on and makes a boo boo, but my observation is that ANB has got the fumbles doing the basics and needs a spell. He has slowly dropped off from his best ever games for the MFC this season, to a level that needs work. I also think Harmes has lost something. Bowey, Sparrow, Chandler maybe Bedford, I would be keen to see a pair of them given a go. To be clear I am hoping ANB finds his form, as he is still a monster endurance athlete, and his earlier games this year had him getting plenty of well deserved praise.

Not only have I re-watched the game, I have re-watched TNF and First Crack, does give pleasure to hear pundits comment on how we have our mojo back.

BBB kicked 10 last time against Port, that is what I meant by scars in my previous post.

Your best post! God I wish this man had had a better run at it with injuries. Glad he's in the rooms.

6. Trac 5. Oliver 4. Gawn 3. Salem 2. Tmac 1. Petty Kossie/May very stiff

This drives me spare, May etc, we get burnt by this twice a game with our great tackling and the ball popping out.

So much to talk about... I knew we were on when a Gawn tap went to Oliver who had a clearance, it was clean and lethal. Gawn was huge today, his taps were some of the best I have seen this year, and he had a huge amount of work put into him by Hinkley to little effect. And one moment he takes the center bounce and the next he is in the goal square laying a shepherd, figgin awesome, his mobility was huge. Alir, what was Hinkley doing? He gifted us the first half (well our players did a little bit too). Alir had an immediate effect in 2nd half at the start of the 3rd when he went back. Hinkley lost a bit today in my eyes, he had the cattle but not enough of a plan. I disagree with Gerard on first crack Alir needs a spot, he is not a utility, moving him all game reduced his effectiveness. Viney had a great pressure game, and it is clear some posters here just don't value pressure and their idea of analysis is stats without understanding impact. Pressure in the midfield helps defence. Watch the Port interchange bench just before half time, they looked dead, that was a result of pressure. ANB (who I think has a great heart, and I can't stand the way he gets sniped on here) only had one effective kick (to Tmac for a goal), but this was his worst game this year and his last three have been average. I wouldn't mind if he had a spell to improve his disposal. I am also curious to see a bit more experimentation with the list as well. Harmes brings less to the table, he is the other option to give a spell, Viney brings more. (This is me arguing for Jake Bowey (-;) For mine we were kissed on the Richard by the umps early on, was actually pretty reasonable, a few bad calls but nothing near the normal level. Brown lets others off the leash, and since he kicked 10 last time he played Port, am sure the scars were still there. Playing him was always going to allow us to play our game and make Port a bit reactive. Overall Port looked off the pace, I used to be scared of them, not any more. Biggest take away, and the best thing though, was last week against GWS, the players were potting each other, their bad team mojo, and not as much work off the ball, very scary to see and it worried me more than the Pies/Crows losses. The way they came back today was huge tick to the coaching staff and the players owning everything. Yet another box ticked that we are the real deal.

Yes he is banged up, he is not the fastest or most skillful and he is not Mr. Conviviality, he needs to be managed, doesn't kick many, but he is fierce. And not only fierce, he is now very smart with his aggression, he's not getting rubbed out or throwing cheap shots, but putting the pressure on in a very legal way that harries ALL opposition midfields. This is quantifiable, this is not MFCSS or norm smith curse, or theoretical value. It is well documented what he does to the opposition, compare apples with apples, he is (excuse the hyperbole) a weapon and should be used carefully, sadly not a xbox cheat code that can be used all the time. Now think of the Finals we have lost over the recent years and certain 'big' games, we have always been a bit under weight and our best players have been sniped, for me JV value is that in the coming finals he will be the one to fly the flag, and protect the quick, the skillful and the goal kickers, so they get to do their thing and we don't look like school boys playing against men. Remember Gawn getting monstered against Port a few years ago, and no-one helped him, was a pretty bad look (no Viney), then think Viney ragdolling Rance, he and Watts weren't mates , didn't stop Viney getting in. The reason I criticize other who post that he should be traded etc, is I feel people forget too quickly, and don't understand the bravery it takes to play the way he does. Do you think he doesn't feel all the hits he takes for the club. Of all the people who play for the club I think only Jones bleeds more Red and Blue than this guy. You are kidding yourselves if you think we can win a prelim or a GF against a team like Geelong West Coast or Richmond without him. Maybe we don't need him against the Dogs, and on balance I would want him against the Lions. And AVB who is a warrior as well, I am sorry to say is a much worse decision maker.