Demon17

As usual a lovely piece of prose CHF and a classy nod to Alexander Dumas. You missed a commentary on pressure acts although alluded to it in the forward line and after the brilliant analysis on On the Couch last night, (those stats are covered on another post) I like Gerard Healy am convinced the team is now onto something and will just get better . I'd pay to see Fritsch vs Frost clash as a bonus this week.

We have what was called the Robbie Flower wing in the MCC side. Now IMO we have the Ed Langdon wing on the outer. He's permanently placed there, as said previously, because he never comes off so why have him near the bench. And to top off he wears the mighty Stan Alves No. 15.

My teplay highlight came at end of second quarter after trac had goaled on the siren. Kossie moved to join in the dees huddle celebration and Selwood in sniper fashion pushed him in the chest. He was wide open and understanably not expecting contact. Clayton Oliver instantly retaliated doing the same back to selwood. As if to say Don't touch kossie. Well done clarry. Failed tagger O'connor joined in weakly as well. Maybe saw a chance to finally get close to Oliver

I hope your right. But AA defenders don't grow on trees. A team positive about yesterday was the way the defence transitioned withour May, no panicking with Tomlinson straight back to Hawkins and the courageous filling in the hole role Brayshaw played with such maturity. Never mind Lever's superb intercepts and leadership. Another good sign from the coaching team and players to cover the threat.

This is the key for me KM. 4th game in a row where the team has been challenged (often more than once) and responded. Would have been 4 losses in past times. That's not a random outcome, Its now a trend. Esp last 1/4 accelerations

93% game time 23 Possessions- 8 in the last 1/4, 10 contested 6 interceptions, 4 I50's and 4 tackles. 41 hitouts to 10 (direct opponent Stanley - who had 78% game time) 1 goal - when it counted most, on the run and evading a tackler As a PS: Midfield last 1/4 poss (Gawn, Oliver, Petracca) 28 (Honourable mention to Jack Viney who had 4, but was swung onto Selwood to shut him down - he had 3, having had 11 in previos 1/4) IMO he was a towering presence throught the game and that's not meant to be a pun.

Absolutely a brainy player. Sets up opportunities and tackles like a trojan. I expect him to play all year. Beautiful foil for kossie.

4th highest pressure acts though. On what possible formline and fitness level was this decision made.?

I hear you, but the Team of the Year concept is in no way an AA team when 18 of the players are Victorians and are playing in Victoria comp, sprinkled with several interstate recruits like kernahan. By that logic there are no other players in the Wafl Sanfl Tfl etc worthy of a guernsey which would most likely be implausible. So its a VFL Team of the Year. Still a great honour though.

There was no official All Aust. teams in 1989 1nd 1990. Carnival AA teams ended in 1988, and with foundation of the AFL from the VFL and state systems, resumed in 1991.

Max Gawn noted in his after match on ground interview in the 2018 final defeat of the cats that it felt like a MFC home game given the overwhelming support for Melb from the crowd. Fear not - I am expecting the same this Sunday. As Chris Scott siad in an insightful interview on Footy Classifed this week - "...Everyone outside the club hates the Geelong coach..."

Great read CHF and thank you. Your comment on Oliver and my observations gave me great hope for the first time in a long time that Goody and (new) coaching support are capable of dealing strategically mid game with an issue. I havent seen this much before now. But someone recognised Olivers predicament and thoughtfully made a change that, short of straight kicking, could have been a masterstroke. With the remaining midfield standing up. Fills me with confidence, given the Chris Scott is a great match day coach, that we have the brainpower in the box to counter it. Yze - I'm looking at you.

I was slower. Esp live watching the freo game and having to watch gus close up all day battling it out. Can't be for any other reason. Inless he likes being in the sunshine all arvo. Thanks DZ

I didn't see any of the game. Exactly what is up with TMac?

Until he starts hurting teams on the scoreboard Trac will always be top priority to keep.

Totally incorerct assumption here PaulRB. - although undertsandable. The issue this season is that once the Dees beat you, you stay beaten for at least another few weeks. Seriously, the saints would have pencilled in the game last week as a win - Rude shock .

Well Posted there Rollinson 65! I'm with you on the great Swoopwer. My Northey take away is of teams that were never prepared to lie down or be beaten till the end. Last week I saw the team challenged twice and deal with it professioanlly. Small sample size as they say but I felt the saints game would be some sort of marker for this season. I expect the same today at Canberra and be 3 - 0 by 8.30 AEST.

* goals 8 BEHINDS too.

To Eddie's credit at the end of the breathless spiel by Caro, Eddie noted that personal reasons were behind the move and Burgess needs to have some privacy. Of course he was always going to leave, and credit to him he stayed the course for 2012.He didn't have to. But gee his efforts are showing in how the team performs fitness wise

No - Langdon IS funny

The Age this morning used the words"..cleverness and pressure..." to describe Spargo's performance. That sums it up for me. Sure he has downsides, but I never doubt his decsion making ability and courage which is essential in a team.

I'm not a Hunt fan but I suspect his pace off half back complimets the execllent trio of May Lever and Tomlinson . He provides a different option also to Salem. I think he deserves some time given the - so far - overall defence performance.

Conversely thosr teams late in season might be dreading fronting the Dees.

Hunt had 6 tackles and kept the saints Talisman quiet. Butler IMO was always the key danger and Hunt completed his task and compliments the other defenders with his speed. I wasn't a fan but he's winning me over so far this season.

Timely post . A decoy that had 11 marks and 100% TOG.. Was he wearing a saints jumper, or just also a good reader of the play?