Pates

I swear I remember hearing an interview with Jeff White saying Kalani couldn’t wait to be given the opportunity to play for the Dees, that’s he’s a massive fan. Wasn’t there a similar conversation being had about Jack Viney as to whether he would nominate for F/S? How’d that turn out.

Every time I see Jamara play I get reminded how screwed over we were by that.

One thing that will always make our crowds look worse than what they actually are is that our fans cluster on the broadcast side of the ground. Like always the MCC area was packed, and the melbourne reserved members next to it was pretty solid. As mentioned the dogs fans don’t turn up to MCG games but we’re in no position to be critical of them, our fans don’t turn up to docklands. I thought 44k was a decent crowd without saying it was a great crowd.

When was the last time both Grand Finalists started 0-2? C’mon Saints next week!

Can I just say to start with, I really enjoyed Sunday arvo 1pm time slot. All those years we wanted to be relevant but being a part of those Thursday night matches that make getting to the game really difficult to get to but Sunday arvo MCG bathed in sunlight, nowhere else I’d rather be! Plenty of positives to take from today, and really looked all over them for most of the game apart from the very beginning. I thought we got back to the basics of who we are and going hard at the contest, while also setting up well for the interceptions. What was really pleasing was to see TMac and BBB play well, I’ll admit I had no idea what to expect from them in terms of output so I set the bar pretty low. I wanted TMac to compete and not get beaten in the air, and I want BBB to lead up and present to demand the number one defender. Both did those things and so much more. I was also really happy that Hore has taken his chance and run with it, very strong game from him. Apart from that I feel like one of the other traits that looked more like “us” was looking to provide opportunities for each other, it felt like players were more interested in doing team first options rather than blazing away. No one epitomised that more than Clarry when he passed off to JVR for his last kick. I think every Dees fan wanted him to take the shot and kick the goal, but he did the right thing by the team and that’s what we need more of. Going to be very interesting to see team selection for next week, do they give Petty another week in the two’s for match practice? Based on that performance you can’t drop BBB, he did everything asked of him.

I did say “the likes of” 😜.

He has literally been forced to retire. This isn’t like a bung knee that you can have 100 surgeries on using different techniques, or a player deciding his body isn’t up to it. He has been medically told he cannot play AFL.

I hope so, I'm hoping that last week blew off some cobwebs while the dogs will still be rusty.

I'd play him as the sub this week for two reasons: Firstly confidence, now we have been hearing for quite some time that internally he's rightly rated. These are the same people that said the likes of Petty, Sparrow, Spargo (I'll admit he has dropped off), and McVee were highly rated while plenty on here wanted to pot them. They see something so I'm willing to back them to a point. Dropping him after a game where there were over a dozen of far more talented and experienced players played like poo makes him the fall guy. I'd rather drop someone like Chandler who for me has started getting comfortable in his selection as a weekly thing or Spargo who is underdone and shouldn't have played last week. Secondly regarding the sub, it takes the pressure off him and if we were to drop him it's a progression. He should have been the sub vs Sydney with Billings starting, give him that role and when he comes on demand an impact.

Fair point, the tribunal is an seperate body. Still reckon the AFL should have appealed it to at the very least make a strong point that they were not happy with their decision.

Probably not, but as a hypothetical if drafting him as rookie and having him on our list meant older bro was unlikely to leave would he be worth just having a crack at?

Did he do a pre-season in the premiership year? Tommo was our second tall that year from the beginning and then did his knee opening the door for Petty, I just can't recall if he was a factor in the pre-season.

I'll leave it at, he's unavailable for the foreseeable future.

This is incredible and I don't know how to feel about it. Part of me says get him in if he gets through the session, another part says hold him back a week to make sure there aren't going to be issues. I just think of last season with Oliver and how he pushed himself just that little bit too hard when he was only a week away and set himself back another month. But as this is the positive thread I'll just say I'm happy to hear he's back on the track!

If Maynard had been suspended I would've definitely said this should be the case. Sadly as the AFL ticked it off as "nothing to see here" they get another pass. Most fans I come across are of the opinion that we shouldn't be forced to pay out his full contract under the cap, with those saying we should pointing to extremely different cases (players with one year to run on their contracts, clear risk in signing them with injury issues). Us not paying it under the cap sets a very dangerous precedent and I would say the PA in particular should be getting involved to encourage it be outside the cap, otherwise it will make clubs far less interested in doing long term contracts. What really gets me annoyed is when people say "oh that's what you get for signing a player with concussion issues", Gus hadn't had concussion issues for a very long time, bearing in mind he was regularly checked by experts.

I'm reserving my judgement until after a couple of rounds but one thing that really did frustrate me was how poorly we transitioned out of defence last week. Now it's very possible the smaller confines of the SCG weren't suited to whatever style we wanted to implement but it's fair to say we simply weren't up to it. Hopefully the return to the MCG will bring better games from Lever and Rivers who definitely were below their best, these two at their best are huge to our transitions.

Of all our pre-season drama, this flew right under the radar. Our forward line output has been garbage for years now but Stafford remains. We don’t have a great forward line but [censored] it’s not awful either, Fritta walks into any team in the comp, JvR is a rising star, Pickett is Pickett, Nibbler works harder than anyone at the club, and Chandler/Spargo have shown they can hit the scoreboard. All the while we also have Trac as a mid/forward who’s one of the best players in the comp. I’m sorry if you can’t make something of that you’re not a good line coach. Petty will make a difference but he’s returning from a serious foot injury, we can’t rely on him being the answer.

The good: Judd McVee is a gun, Windsor showing he’s ready made, Howes solid The bad: way too many passengers to name The ugly: our skills and ball handling was atrocious (I get that it’s “opening round” and it’s dewy but do the basics right) EDIT: forgot to add Howes to my youngster praise

Game over, I’m switching off like the boys have already done.

He had the runner, why he’s taking them all on is beyond me.

Two clear opportunities at centre clearances totally and utterly f###ed by senior players. Why Jack? Why are to trying to take the entire swans team on?!

We’ve been better, getting the goals now but giving up some easy chances as well. Love seeing that goal from Trac.

Two questions regarding rules. They highlighted Grundy taking away Gawn’s space at centre bounces, he goes straight to the man before the ball is up in the air, I’m surprised that’s permitted. Second one is the McDonald has the ball from the mark on the forward 50, May stranded from the stand rule but McDonald is allowed to go straight towards goal ignoring May’s positioning and off the line of the mark, umpire doesn’t call play on. I don’t mind the rule, but that’s insanely unfair on the defensive team.

If (big if) we can start holding marks and taking chances when they’re on I’m confident we can win, but jeez we gotta be better.

I’m glad I’m not the only one, sickeningly BT was the only one that actually said “hold on I’m not seeing a finger move there”. All for the decision changing when it’s blatantly clear, but to me there wasn’t absolute evidence of a touch.