Demon17

Not being negative here but if we lose to the Dogs its a good outcome in that it helps the Dogs keep No. 1 spot, and keeps the interstate teams out of top 2. This guarantees all MCG finals for the Dees if we can keep 2 spot. No difference in advantage if both top teams are Melb based. A dogs Prelim would be mandatorily played at the G , and not Marvel. Then for the remainer of the home and away mathces all dees fans should fiercely wish doggies much success to Round 22.

There's a lot of media comment, esp. on Ch 7 commentary on Sunday about how often Melb. started 9 - 0 (allegedly 5 times) and how each year we won the flag. Typically of Seven media not all of its accurate. Confusing winning 9 in a row with sstrating off at 9 in a row. However as a vague pointer to this season, might be the second time we started 9 -0 we went on to get to 13 - 0, in 1956. So far so good. Who was the first team that year to beat the Dees? The Bulldogs. Dees finished 16 -2, eerily with a % of 146% and went on to the flag winning the 2nd semi, and then the GF. Both the Collingwood, the GF in front of 115,000.

And one of the teams best decision makers.

Much better, and I think with Mark Williams we can fix this. I just watch and constantly admire Oliver in particular but gee he could be more damaging. But he does his job in spades and courage and endeavour is first class. Currenttly second in the Age voting.

Fully agree with this. Let's see next week on a dry Adelaide oval, and a fully fit and confident LJ is critical against the doggies TMac and Harry McKay were clunking them.

Not at premium AFL standard. Its the difference in impact of players IMO. Tom McD had this issue and has seemed to fix it and you can see the confdience it gives him and his teammates when he clunks them. As I said I'm happy to see him a few more times in dry weather.

A good summary, with a comment below: Brayshaw/Oliver - if only they could kick. (5 words I know)

I ahven't seen any vision of Weid at Casey but todat looked same as before with pushed out, not 1 grab marks, if any. I just don't see him improving. Another chance on a dry day at the most for me but that's about all. Looking like backup.

Applause from the members when he ran off for spell says it all. Lots of trust and appreciation all round for him

My prediction is chandler will turn it on. Possibly undetestimated by blues. Great selection and opportunity for the uoung lad.

Johnathon Brown said on The Couch that Leigh Mattehws told his Brisbane teams that the one stat that really mattered in winning games was front of goal accuracy which he placed most importance on above others.

You probbaly meant this tongue in cheek, but if not Sam's was 5 minutes into the first 1/4. But either way your'e spot on as it lifted the stadium and set the scene.

Very good point re bont. Interesting libba also only kicks a goal every 3rd game and more handballs than kicks. But clarry is way more handsome.

Bont kicks a goal every game. Clarry kicks a goal every 3rd game. Very differnent players and surrounded by differing midfields anyway. Appreciate them both.

The Swans will take the Blues to the cleaners when they meet. "And Cripps owes us one...?" The Australian Tax Office owes me money but theyr'e never going to pay up.

I agree esp your comments on maturity. I am so over the ' go home' factor after constant Hogan speculation that I no longer care and consider the issue. If they go - then they go. I moved for work reasons, 8 times over 40 years and 15 houses. Its life and/or reality.

Not necessarily. Forward entry and lowering of eyes (maybe that's just better decision-making) is signifcantly different. And the absolute manic forward pressure is huge.

A great piece of thoughtful posting AD. Well done. You remind me of the 1987 team that was the first success I saw, and thinking about the makeup, with Northey as coach, it was full of new and undamaged players. Very few from the early Barassi years. Viney, Lyon, Spalding, Stynes, O'Dwyer, etc. abd interstaters like Johnston, Warren dean, Chopper Lovell (1988). Once they made the charge in 87 the belief was obvious. Very few early 80's player in comparison.

Spot on comment and a great opinion-starter of a thread topic. Why wev'e improved? Selfless team Yze, Williams Maturity Gawn Forward entry Laver/May convergence Hunt re-birth Jason Taylor - by definition Langdon, May, Lever, Pickett , Jackson.......................... Failure is an orphan. Success has many parents. All of the above have a part-claim, but to give Goody credit, he's the guy in the spotlight and it doesn't happen without his leadership. Some will, but not all.

Just because he's short doesn't mean he's tired. I love his quote from his grandfather that he's menitioned: "...Charlie, If you good enough, your'e big enough.." He's big enough in my book.

Good observations G . And I agree with David King. We're in uncharted waters here as a supporter base. usually - in my entire lifetime, its been a case of how many games to make the 8. Now its a paradigm shift for everyone. We need to win only 3 of the next 14, so the 8's a lock. The key issue now is how many do we need to win for Top 4, then how many for Top 2.? As hardwick correctlty says (and the great jack Dyer said it first) Flags are won in September, not April. And that means hitting GF Day at peak . This was also Malcolm Blight's mantra, execpet he used a clock, and likened GF day to 1 minute to Midnight, or peak time. This was demonsrated by the Crows NOT being the best overall team in 97 and 98, but trained to reach peak at GF time. Goodwin emphasisied the holistic team apporach at his presser on Suunday when discussiing Weideman, by reiterating its a team game and a team approach to player selection and management. This comment gave me great confidnece in player management this year, especcially as there is good quualaity depth and options, to ensure late season peaking. I'm sure match cttee are on top of this.

A friend of mine played under Barassi at north in the 70's. He still says now that Barassi would have him wanting to run through a brick wall if necessary for the team success.

This comment probably fits into this selecton thread. I'm worried about the forward structure after last night, and admittedly only 1 game, But it looked very different with Brown in, and may have impacted Fritsch's output. Fritsch has been great all year but last night there seemed to be continual rotations, with Brown off a few times. Obviously not because of fatigue, and I wonder if this selection is a work in progress from the coaches, trying to figure out how the pieces fit. I fear losing Fritsch's aerial strength which is a winner for him. Time will tell next week, on a hopefully dry day. Brown's impact was his usual forte - straight kicking and high pack marks and on last night only prefer to perservere with him than Weid.

35K

We thought this also and said some decison making looked like the bad old days for sure. Sparrow in.