DEE fence

Media last fortnight - Wilson and Cornes, 'Bevo's lost the players'. & 'Lyon the super coach' Dogs, 'Hold my Beer'. Have always thought these two snipers play the man and not the ball. Really glad the Dogs pulled together. I have no great love of the team, but always felt the coach was a stand up guy and cops a few low blows. And Sam Darcy is going to give Jackson a run for his money in the hybrid ruck stakes, amazingly well composed young man.

Are you saying that about his form or Fox? I have no doubt about his bona fides.

Dogs getting rolled with the umps, it would be funny Karma if it wasn't Essendon benefiting. BTW that was a Mark to JUH, umpires have no feel for the game at all. I liked when there was a bit of the benefit of the doubt in favour of the guy going for the ball. I see alot more not paid than the 80s/90s Dogs should be 5 goals up and are going to lose, neither team looking good for finals but will trip a few up. GWS SYD MEL BRI GEE POR CAR FRE alt GC

6 Gawn- tackling with intent, liked it. 5 McDonald - having a season. 4 Rivers - has some steel 3 Chandler - love his running 2 Langdon - good 1-Viney - doesn't give up

Was worried about this game, said as much in prematch, in that I wouldn’t throw my toys out of the cot if we lost, still doesn’t mean I’m not very flat. Looking forward I am a bit worried, however clearly want to say the attitude of the team is OK and very proud of MFC, they do care and I think they will be motivated in the return bout. Fagan was like a school boy at the press conference he was so stoked they knocked us off. They had a pretty good game, are a good team and that useless basterd Hipwood suddenly found his mojo, and Hibberd was the Cameron specialist. But what worries me is I think we have three issues going forward, one is down to luck, one can be fixed, and the other worries me as it seems endemic to our style. The issues are: Injuries, Mids, and Conditions. The luck thing is injuries (and 3 games in two weeks) - we have a lot of niggles early, am sure Trac is carrying a leg injury, Petty is NQR, and that is not his attitude, Oliver was a mistake to play, we are missing Brayshaw and that hurts, Salem gone early, Bowey, Hore, Turner, Hunter (not that I’m that keen), McAdam, Melksham, Spargo, these injuries can change or not, but the reality is we are up against it early when we require collective effort to achieve the synergy our game plan requires. While noise is made about our stars, it is actually our team game that makes us awesome, I’m thinking we need freshening up because it is that team defense that allows us to transition back so well and we basically have too many midfield holes atm. In terms of just poor performers -JvR is in trouble, would love to know why, McVee had a bad game and is mortal. Howes ditto, Brown needs to be spelled regardless of what he says. The thing that needs fixing is the Midfield, we have had challenges all year and for a lot of last year, Kossie is basically our best speed through the middle, looking at Port/Sydney/GWS and today Brisbane, they all have higher top line speed (not necessarily effort). We work hard enough, it’s not a fitness issue, but we need more speed, Maybe we need Windsor on ball? Our pressure is ace in the middle, no bruise free players, but not sure how we are going to go with the best if we can’t get some speed. Contest alone is not enough anymore, we have been worked out there. I also think that is the worst you will see our stars play. The 3rd issue for me is conditions and we’ve had this challenge for awhile, have spoken on this before post Sydney, but with our manic style we need a very good 1st touch, one fumble and the other team has caught us. Because we are a great team, work ethic, and defensively minded etc, we get a lot of these booboos back. But the good teams are better with a slippery ball than us, if it is not a dry footy I am very nervous against the good teams. It seems like a long time since we were good in the wet, dew, humidity. I haven’t seen anything doe to address this. Love that Langdon, May, Lever, (a goal, wow) Tmac, Chandler, ANB and the Captain all had a go. I thought even though they looked likely to lose from early, the team still played with pride, and I would have clapped them off anyway. It is such small percentages between winning and losing, I hope we find those inches. Love the team and the staff.

Having seen Viney roast a few younger players (no longer at the club) I take Viney’s endorsement as absolutely glowing praise. If Viney thinks he’s up for it I have no doubt.

Actually 4th was born 32-33 weeks but until she hit her due date we called her minus 4 weeks old etc, so that was a fudge...

Same, i went early with my 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th.

I can't help but think someone on DL is the parent of this charming young person. Anyway I would like to nominate them as Mother/Father of the year, they have clearly done an OUTSTANDING job. I am planning on upping my game as a result. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5fqM8FygJX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link To this child, (free from MFCSS) I wish you future happiness and a life completely different from my childhood in the 70s/80s. (It moves me to think that this child has only been alive while Melbourne has been good...)

I actually believe the coach on this, that they have worked on Kossie, and that he wasn't trying to snipe Soligo. Sadly while I believe his guilt to be less in this specific case, he's getting the tax for his prior actions. Whoever pointed out the hand being open is also correct, goes a long way to towards intent not being a bump. He's still going to get a week and I still love him.

Reading the Gather Round commentary, it is almost universal praise for MFC, that and they like seeing Adelaide supporters implode. Praise for McVee, Trac, Kossie, Lever, May etc, our recruiting, that we were stiffed on frees And this gem as well “Nobody has mentioned that Melbourne are off a 5 day break in one the most bruising games of the season. The game against Port was next level tough… and close. If this was us the week after we would be about 50 points down by now. They are A+.“ https://discourse.bomberblitz.com/t/gather-round-2024-non-essendon-games/32013/73

Noticed a friendly fist bump between SG and CO with genuine smiles on both faces that was good to see post match.

Across the journey Ross Lyon coached teams are the most inaccurate teams when it comes for kicking for goal. Is a special gift.

Interesting this makes me think @WheeloRatings who else seems to have an outside influence on when they are playing or not playing, in recent history, would do it myself but am clueless.

Actually thought the umpiring was better than our mess. With these umps we would have won by 5 goals.

Dogs aren't mailing this in, having a fair crack

God if JUH could kick straight, they'd be a goal up, barely made the last. He is a million dollar player though.

Dermie is a [censored] stirrer of the 1st order, unlike BT and Brayshaw and a few others who are gooses all the time, he is capable of the occasional astute observation, but then can't help himself and has to be a clown. Could have been one of the best in commentary if he wanted. Tom Morris lecturing about the Sydney Hicks story being tabloid and not worthy of reporting made me throw up in my mouth. Would have been a train crash if Oliver had hit Fogarty, no percentage in it. Smart to pull up is not the same as short steps, same game Oliver marked it above his head knowing his ribs were open and took the contact, that is bravery.

Looking at the lists, God Bless JT, and from fond memories of Football Park, clearly it was a state game ... SA A. versus SA B. Obvious that the locals resented having to support the B team.

Watching the game again and I think Billings was very unlucky not to be in the goals and I really like that he didn't stop trying to score. I hesitate to turn him into a whipping boy just yet. I also noticed we're carrying a few injuries and the bye cannot come soon enough. I think Chandler, Oliver, Trac, Viney, May, Brown and Lever are all carrying niggles in urgent need of a rest. Am not going to drop my bundle if we lose to Brisbane. Obviously hoping for a win. In better news - Tmac has turned the clock back years, even his field kicking and decision making seems sharper. Dylan Thomas comes to mind for our veterans Do not go gentle into that good night. Brown, and Melksham hopefully later look like they are not going to die wondering. And Brown definitely has fire in the belly even if he didn't hit the scoreboard his endeavour is there. However watching Port dismantle Essendon (with a fit JHF and Mitch G) made it clear we really put some blood and sweat into that win. We are not that far ahead, there are a few teams where it will be fine margins. Oliver needs his hand, we want Petty forward, and we cannot lose an ounce of our pressure game. I also am not sure about Salem in the middle, something about his timing seems off, not attitude but I think he's better when the play is coming to him. Most urgent however is JvR getting his hands back, he's lost something with his timing on holding the ball, his attack is great, but either an injury or mental demons have really got a hold of him. Carlton (who I still do not credit as truly good) and GWS have some weapons to trouble us, is going to be a titanic season and have mad respect for the way the team is going about it.

I think Kozzie's direction might save him from 2 weeks, I'd take one on the basic premise of protecting the head. In real time looks innocent and actually much more innocent that the Bailey Smith incident, slow mow looks like he lined him up. But both running in same direction and looks like he was trying to squeeze past Soligo. He also seemed apologetic which is unlike him. Must admit will Kill me being first team to have a suspension from the 'Dog' rule.

6 May - If the Rock met May on the football field he would be a pebble. Inspired, trust the match committee, and we needed him. 5, Trac for giving 100% all night BOG, but for May's bravery. 4 Mcvee. Silk 3 Lever. Inspector Gadget, disguised like a baby giraffe, moves like a leopard 2 Gawn. Captain 1 Sparrow, another solid game. Crows came to play, we did well.

@Rodney (Balls) Grinter yes his goal kicking was running at 81% during 1st third of last season. His sets shots have been a thing of beauty and he’s is very high, if not leading in assists. I was more commenting on everything but the goal kicking which obviously stands out, it is the defensive pressure going up beyond what I saw in ‘23, I would say he tried the same things last year, he seems to make the tackles stick more now in ‘24, and has multiple efforts in each play (Sparrow has improved in this as well btw). My handle is DEEfence not DeeATTACK, sorry, ducks head…

I’m going early with this but have been watching Chandler very closely this year and I see a different player to last year. I think he’s upped his endurance by about 15%. His pressure acts, and tackling have improved, and he remains brave as. I would very much like to see a proper I/V with him to get more of a sense of him, I’d like to believe he is a very decent young man. (Gus and Gawn he was hamming it up) To my point, he is ANB 2.0, lots of hard defensive running, role player, and I think we are quickly starting to rely on his defensive pressure, it is something about his effort that makes me think he has moved past a few on the list. I was genuinely nervous when he’s had some leg knocks as I don’t think he’s obvious replacements match him for defensive efforts. For mine most improved player so far this season. Oh and if he’d kicked that snap that hit the post in the opening qtr last week, I reckon he’d almost be in the votes, was a great bit of work that just missed.

You could almost start a weekly thread - Army tales or the like, I always enjoy your stories of who you met or what you observed from the cheer squad. Anyway I’m going to mention this in the Kade thread, but I really feel he’s becoming a ANB 2.0, does so much defensive stuff, I actually worry when he looks like missing with a knee.