DEE fence

Lots to like, albeit against mediocre opposition, even if belting North is always satisfying, some comments... Fritsch and Weid, I believe in the Weid, I know a bag is coming, his one on one work has improved out of sight, and the hip he uses for body position is perfectly timed. With so much scrutiny now having an exciting FF who can body and not infringe is super exciting. And also while he wears his misses he is not a sulker and kept on presenting. Fritsch, God Damn, the week he kicks straight we will kick a cricket score. Out of petulance I didn't give votes but should have, loved the ariel work. Our contest was as good as it is rumored to be but I think that was also North being Merde, lets see us do that against the pies. Clarry Truck (the new Kouta) and Gus just looking like men against kids. But let's not forget, Viney has been huge this year, I feel like people fail to recognize that he has come back strongly from a potentially career ending foot injury. Don't people remember when Hodge was beating us off the park? Viney is that player for us. He will be there when we are playing the strong teams not the cellar dwellers. I prefer that Viney is 1st touch and Oliver is 2nd (others have mentioned this) He and Gus can take turns, we need both, in the same team on the same day. He never sooks, the man is a Viking. Truck is just wow, but then everyone knows this, I particularly liked his throwing the ball in the air to kick it and avoid a ball decision. I also like that the umps know that he is not tackled, until he stops moving continually demonstrating a core strength that is off the charts. Jackson, reminds me of a young Paul Salmon perhaps? Kid is going places. I like the call to mix it up with Gawn, if they both rotated through the forward half other coaches would lose their minds trying to cover the marking threats, (I would still want Gawn filling a hole down back when we are not 'on'). My hamstrings shriek with pain watching a 200cm kid bend over like a rover and smoothly recover the ball and feed it off, it is like he is defying a law of nature, a balletic baby giraffe. Pickett is learning his craft still, some raw moments to go with the speed. He is like a GT 40 Ford before they ironed out the wrinkles, (I just watched Ford vs Ferrari), just to put a good solid moz on him, Cyrill who? is what Bruce will be saying in a year if dementia doesn't get him first. Coaching: I liked Jackson in the ruck, with Tmac roaming CHF, I wouldn't mind seeing this developed as an alternate to the Gawn model, we need two speeds (approaches) other teams are showing they will body Gawn and impede him, fairly or often otherwise, being able to use Gawn's ariel strength elsewhere could make us more and not less dangerous. Sparrow has showed some touch. Spargo, glad he had a good game, many would've been cruel otherwise to him and the coach. Wearing Goldstein's bump was a serious moment. Rivers is a brave man flying for the mark, had my heart in mouth that he would get cleaned up. The future is so bright with our age profile. I am a Lever fan and on record backing him and today's game was very solid, but I am not gushing, I feel like more of his kicks 'float' and are slower through the air than they used to be. I feel better/more motivated teams will get to the fall of the ball and pressure the receiver. He needs to fix this post haste, he used to have flatter/faster disposal, I hope this game builds his confidence and that he will improve the execution. I had no problem with him leaving his man today, it went wrong but he was doing exactly what we want him to do. My biggest concern is AVB, again numerous turnovers, has big heart and obviously a hammer looking for a nail, but against good sides when we are desperate for momentum I do not want him touching the ball. Jones played his cameo role well today, please could this giant of the footballer club be spoken of respectfully by other posters. I am finding the criticism of Harmes a bit OTT, he seems like he is playing a role/following instructions, and he does seem to upset the opposition he might not win the ball/silky disposal but he does seem to disrupt opposition attacks and create the pressure that allow our midfield to win the ball back. I am going to watch the game again because I am not seeing Harmes the way others are. Also I think we are a brutal (in a good way) team, North is not the first game where we leave a significant body count, we are the New Orleans Saints of the AFL, only a matter time before the media notices this, that was why Port hurt so much, I want one of these devastating wins against a top 8 side, then I will believe.

6, Oliver - impossible to split that checkside goal vs Petracca's burst goal from the ctr, Clarry shades Petracca just. 5, Petracca 4, Langdon, runs as much as ANB and that's a compliment. Better decision maker. 3, Brayshaw, built all night 2, May, the reason Lever gets to do his stuff, and he hit some booming passes. 1, Lever, I actually thought his intercept stuff was huge but his disposal a bit more iffy, he floats too many kicks Stiff; Many, Salem was much better today, Weid and Fritsch (I'm leaving them out for the 9 goals they left on the table... joke)

Really not liking the trade news with the following going: O'Dea, Smith, Cordner & Guerin, I feel like we have been stripped a bit. It feels like more than the draft is going on.

Harmes has been part of the coal face, not the same week as last week (which was better) but I am watching a different game, his pressure acts and bravery are ace. We have a win and people need to find a new whipping boy because Spargo went ok?? FMD

Oliver Viney Petracca May - Monstered the Crows, also loved the big brother moment with Lockhart Harmes - no love here, but was in everything, absolute warrior Langdon : Lever, Bradshaw (prob better than Langdon, but Langdon ran 4qtrs), Jackson and Weid, also Melksham if he had snagged the last

Will lose my merde if he goes for this, while the impact was severe, he only had hold of the jumper, he did not drive the head into the ground, and the way he had the arm pinned was not a causes of the head going into the ground. Lastly the other bloke still had the ball. There was no reckless in this. PS Radar defective, get a clue, he had a solid game, laid heaps of tackles and put his body on the line consistently, was a good in.

Lightweight

Just to demur a little bit, Matthew Whelan, not quite as big as VDB but put the hurt on many, regardless of style, tidier disposal as well. What is excellent though is he puts the pressure on, but does not give away a lot of frees, and I can’t remember a report, very controlled aggression which is a fair skill.

It's a valid point, his tackling pressure is a definite asset and more than Tmac, and he is faster that he has been for a long time, I just think Tmac was so close in the last two weeks to his 2018 game, and that would be something. I also think VDB turnovers against a Brisbane/Collingwood type outfit could really hurt us, our back six did a sterling job yesterday both at setting up and pressuring the ball carrier and that saved red faces. I would argue lets see what it looks like with Tmac back? Only other option would be Melksham for Tmac, but he showed more spark yesterday, although I wasn't sure if that was because of the downhill slope he was on.. I guess I should switch this to changes for Brissie thread?

My thought was that Bolton had brought Carlton's intellectual property to Hawthorn....

Anyone else on their 2nd lap of the replay? Some observations - COVID... meh, who cares? We have been suffering from MFCSS for so long, we played 4 quarters of attractive football, the world just became a better place... But more sort of seriously.. 1. Koutoufides, that is what Trac has become, 1996 Kouta, just moves like a god, who would have ever backed Trac in a foot race with Scully. Playing with an Xbox cheat code this season. 2, I don't normally lose faith in players, but I must admit Oscar had lost me a little, so glad to be wrong, I think he will double his salary if he keeps playing this way. Our back 6 will be premiership standard before long, this has not happened in 50 years to have all the pieces. Hibberd for rebound playing like a man possessed. Salem sharp shooting. Three big tall bodies gliding across the park, I believe they can stymie any of the other attacks going around. 3, Harley is just amazing, before the end of the year his highlight reel will be all Red and Blue, starting with that handball, was a bazooka, like something from the 70's - a Chrysler Valliant V8 of a handball with a supercharger bolted on. 4, the love for each other is just like 2018, they really get around each other, back to valuing the score assist more than the goal. 5, Tmac for VDB, am sorry to say but his disposal was the only worry today, I know he is a beast but we have a couple. Don't go getting down on Tmac because he wasn't part of this win, we are better with him in the side, he is very close to a purple patch soon.. 6, Weid a serious step in the right direction, but I still think Tmac need to be in the same side, along with LJ, Fritsch and Kozzie gold dust. Can we get back to 2018 scoring? I don't think so yet, but I hope to be wrong. 7, it's been said many times, but what a game when there are no passengers hey!?! 8, Gawn as Captain, I don't believe it, when was the last time a Melbourne player got better while being Captain? Jones went close but I struggle to remember another. Note: (Please take the COVID comment in the light handed manner intended, seriously my prayers for anyone affected)

I would vote 7 for Hawthorn kicking it to Max all day and padding his stats. 6. Gawn 5. by a Bee's willy for Trac, best ever game 4. Viney, heart and soul, belted the hawks into submission when the game was in dispute. 3. Oliver better in 2nd half, felt like decision making was laser today. 2. May IS becoming a/the leader of the back 6. 1. Salem have been really down on him but last two games a huge change. Today was so good. Stiff: Weid, Langdon, Gus (much much better), Omac Also VDB really needs to fix his disposal, running pretty low on DE, great heart though.

What a load of BS, ANB plays with his heart, god I wish he was a better kick but that pays no respect to him, and he deserves it.

6 GAWN, Best Captains game in I can’t remember 5 VINEY, Getting some sleep after new bub obviously helps, fair dinkum he cops merde on this site. 4, LANGDON, his run was good when we lost momentum at times. 3, OLIVER, really strong 4 qtrs 2, SALEM, best game in a long time 1, Can raffle this, but Omac great job tonight, felt like the missing piece of the puzzle he made MAy and Lever better.

I strongly agree about how effective our 2018 hunting the ball carriers was. Apart from I appreciated the effort and consideration given to the subject well done. I do have a comment though (not a but), Watching 2018, I thought they played their hearts out, hunting and hurting the opposition AND themselves. I never thought it would be sustainable. We were so banged up at the end of the season amd this is the reason I thought the game plan changed to guarding grass as you call it. We need to change the game plan without doubt, but I couldn't see our list surviving long with that style played all game every week. Would be much better as a shock and awe, switched up with something (I don't know what) other than this play on garbage that is killing us.

To be fair to Oliver, the opposition put lots of work into him, and he hasn't worked through that. He is not soft, he rides alot of physical pressure, and I saw him running. What I don't see anymore is real connection between him Viney and Brayshaw, just a few times a game, this was his best card trick, releasing a player into space, doesn't happen anymore. Our coach needs to work this out pronto.

I noticed that as well, had been looking for part 2, but I think Sydney has been living off that for a while and playing like crud in the meantime, not a surprise he's dropped.

Bennell, seriously could the club stop the BS and tell us whats up,? on one calf he is ahead of: Spargo, AVB, Brown, Melk, and Hannan. That said I think Petracca is a much stronger unit that Fritsch, a'la Dunstall, and like the idea of him at FF.

Rewatch the Dees whip Adelaide in NT in 2018, he was one of the reasons we got going in that game. Keep in mind he's come back from injury. We all give HB a pass and are super excited, let's give Lever a chance as well, stop being obtuse.

I saw Tmac at more contests as a presence, I felt like he was getting to the play more. Would I like to see 8 contested grabs and 4 goals, of course I would, the point is their is improvement. There are a few sides with rust it's a call for 3 more games before we get properly snarky about the coach. I'd like to see a little more fire and brimstone, sometimes it feels a little to millenial the coaching. Also I don't think he would naturally be like that, his style seems a bit forced and without passion, I want passion from the coach too. Deh, yes they have won 3 games, your point being? Lever this season or ever? The problem with a loss is all the flaws just seem like one big issue an inch from your nose. Breathe in your own time, take a step back and look a little more calmly. Lever has for instance shown he is capable of playing...

God that was tough to watch. 1, Tmac presented way more, this is a positive. Brown in for Melksham, Fritsch to fwd pocket. 2, Poor bastards are out of touch, is this the coach or two serious games in 10 months, breathe folks. 3, Goodwhen is like the anti-Neeld, he needs to find a compromise as the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Kudos to Waynewussel for calling for calm, but I just really would like to see a 'run' option game plan that uses our so called Burgess fitness. Or something, anything, this rabbit in the headlights instinct the players have developed terrifies me. 4, I really don't care what the whole footy world thinks, they can GAGF. These Einsteins thought the Sun's would be the spoon. Our list is not that bad, it is just about buying some belief, (could you tell me where it is for sale please?). 5, Lever needs touch, his 2018 was like this as well, he gets another game.

I hope the club could own it and fix it, this stuff always comes out in the end. I always thought the way Gary Lyon put his hand up as part of the problem was decent!

Roo is going to regret putting his head up last week after the game against GC. Media is going to hunt him now, Adelaide is the equivalent of chum 5 miles off shore from Port Lincoln...

Jacob Weitering has been having a stellar season and added another scalp this season, Tmac has another 2 weeks before going back....

Scratch match at the G curious to see what that tells us...