Pates

Pop the lid off.....a bottle of beer! But seriously I will also start to believe that might be something this year.

Damn, great quote! I'd be sending that to the banner makers for the week, very fitting.

You are correct: https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-banners-back-after-covid-19-stoppage-c-2614458

We've gifted games in the past to top draft picks base on nothing but how high we took them. Jones may not be earning his spot on form from last week, but he's earned it on the blood, sweat, and tears he's put in for the jumper. I'm backing him in for a good one this week.

100%. The game isn't the same without the banners, I imagine it's COVID security reasons but surely there are ways to get around it!

On another one regarding rules and umpiring, there was a very interesting situation brewing with the goal TMac kicked after the Jackson free kick. The quick nature of it meant that Tom couldn't have been judged to "take the advantage" but because it was ending with a score review that seemed to supersede that adjudication. Now had it been found to have been touched or had the goal umpire called it initially as touched we would have been robbed of a practically certain goal because of this glitch in the rules when it comes to score reviewing. Surely in that instance logic should dictate that in the event of it being found as touched they take it back to Jackson to take his shot on goal. I think that was what TMac was arguing to the umpire, that his grabbing of the ball and kicking the goal was pure instinct and not a decision to take advantage (I think it even happened as the whistle was blown).

Say whatever you like, he's earned this honour. His 299th was extremely poor, but I'm backing him in to produce something worth of his 300th. He's heart and soul, a Demon to the core. If he kicks an early goal the MCG might just fall apart from the sound of Dees fans cheering!

Hate to say it, but no. I don't think I'll ever truly trust them until I see them put in a 4 quarter demolition performance. That said a win against the tigers could well change that.

I love watching Jackson play and develop, and it makes my heart soar hearing that it's down to Gawn on when Jackson goes into that are as I feel that Gawn is not just being a captain, but a mentor/on-field ruck coach. I've got no doubt that Max can read when things are a bit tighter and they need his experience in there, but allowing Jackson to have more ruck time (and there's no doubt he's getting it) is just absolutely brilliant. That all said, Jackson keeps being inches away from the big breakout game. That isn't a shot at his because he's only 19, but it's almost excruciating at seeing the hands have good purchase on the ball but not hold the grab, or his rove his on taps and it doesn't quite get the clean possession. It will happen this year, I would just about take that to the bank. In the meantime I'll enjoy the moments that Max allows him to take more responsibility in the ruck. @Dr.D it's hard to work out whether you're a troll or just dim. His role as a forward on paper is largely structural, have a look at his heatmap. He's being played more as a ruck/wing/onballer, his actual time deep as a forward is relatively minimal. Where he's being named on the teamsheet is largely irrelevant.

I feel I've been as hard on Melksham as any in the past, but he was one that lifted big time in the second half and got back to being that dangerous connector. He kicked 3 goals and he also had 3 tackles which put him in the same level in that department as Viney and Kozzie. I don't see him being dropped, particularly as we know the club (and Goody) rate him highly. The club might choose to take things slower with Fritta as we have options available in the forward line, whereas if May is able to push his claim for selection, they will get him in the play against his GC mate. If May is able to go I see it playing out like this: May for Petty B Brown for M Brown Weid for Jordon Every one of those players would feel unlucky. Petty was poor in the first half but a different player in the second (settled nerves perhaps). Brown didn't do a hell of a lot most of the game but bobbed up at the end to kick important goals, took his chances when they came. Jordon wasn't our worst player but structurally and experience-wise he's the logical option to allow us to get Weid into the team. You can't ignore 7 goals, and getting him in when his confidence up is the right thing to do for a developing forward.

I was just reading The Age match report on it and this little bit caught my eye. "Despite not being the closest umpire to the ball, he paid a free kick for a marking infringement against Hawk Harry Morrison during the second quarter, leading to a gimme goal for Langdon. The Hawthorn home fans weren’t happy with the decision, and neither was the legendary David Parkin, who didn’t mince his words while commentating for the ABC, saying Margetts should be dropped for the decision." It was regarding the umpire paying that free kick for chopping the arms directly in front of goal. The umpires had a pretty poor game with some bizarre decisions on both sides and I'll also say I think we got most of the important 50/50's. But that was definitely not one of them, in no way shape or form did Morrison spoil Langdon legally and if Parkin doesn't know that he shouldn't be commenting full stop. The game and the rules have changed, get with it or retire from commentary. I've also had a bit of further reflection on the game and the thing that keeps popping up is that our first few wins I felt came mostly from even performances across the board and teamwork. The Hawks match I think was mainly down to individual efforts from Gawn, Petracca (who I think still could've been better), Oliver, Langdon, and Lever. I'm not saying everyone else was poor but in other weeks I think our bottom 6 have been still quite decent, I'd say that wasn't the case this time. Jones in particular is lucky that he's on the cusp of 300 and is practically undroppable because of it. It doesn't sound great but it's the truth, had he been on say 297 or passed the 300 he would be first on the block. Ultimately we got the win with only playing good footy for one quarter, it's another tick for the club. Now the real test comes.

Weid in for M Brown B Brown in for Spargo/Jordon Spargo was very poor today but he’s been good most games so I think he catches a break. Not the worst game from Jordon but just trying to work out how everyone fits in! I really doubt that May will be ready to go, seemed pretty banged up on TV. The AFL site has listed Petty as injured in the statistics, is there any truth to that? He had a pretty poor first half but came into the game well in the second half.

Melksham was barely sighted in the first half but he did some very Melksham-of-old things in the second half. Found his feet and if he can start to be that connecting player again he becomes one of our most damaging players.

Top game from TMac, how do we bring Weid and Brown in next week? We need to be mindful not to go too tall, boy we’ve got some forward options!

Well after a scratchy first 3 quarters we’ve put on the after burners for a percentage booster!

Forward pressure, that’s been the difference in the last quarter and a half.

Right now 8min left, keep going Dees!

Cheers Frost! Great finish from Langdon!

Nibbler’s had a quiet game but that was our best forward entry.

Big 5min now, we can put the game to bed or keep them in it. Good mark and goal from Brown.

Big captains goal!

Our misses on goal will cost us a win, could be today.

What was that handball from Oliver?

Our midfield needs to step up in the centre.

His set shot kicking is usually pretty good, that was a soda that should be kicking every time.