Pates

Max is a great example of someone who stays in almost every game by purely having a high work rate. Even if he’s having an off day from taps (or taps to advantage) he’s still making contests and taking contested marks. His role as the sweeper when May and Lever are covered is absolutely essential to the team. He looks like someone who will play into his mid-30s, even if it’s not as the no 1 ruck. Jackson couldn’t have a better mentor.

He’s only going at half pace, should be getting 50+ per week! ?

Flashed in and out, did some good thing but not involved in the game for large periods. I thought his ruck work is improving though, he wasn’t tapping it down the throat like Max but competed strongly and staying in the contest when the ball dropped. He’s giving Max plenty of important chop outs and rest that make me think it worth persisting, if we drop him who goes into the middle when Max rests? TMac? Tommo? The only thing I’ll say is that if he doesn’t improve by the time Weid is ready and Sam puts in a strong return performance, or Majak starts killing it at Casey, then his place could be in jeopardy. But for now it’s worth putting time into his development.

You clearly went through something personal @Half forward flank and if that last post was indeed your last on the site all the best to you. But the takeaway from Spuds game was multi-layered because the world is ever evolving. I’m not sure how old you are but you strike me as someone from the baby-boomer gen, nothing wrong with that at all but I think that generation and older looks a bit down on guys having feelings. One side of things that Spuds game is meant to achieve is for blokes to feel ok about reaching out to someone who THEY think might be struggling, and you have to be prepared to really listen and take in what’s being said. It sounds like a snowflake thing to say but toxic masculinity is a big issue with guys not being willing to either open up or listen to a mate open up, we tend to side step it by having a laugh or by telling them to harden up. As someone said before, women don’t have as high a rate of suicide because they really talk to each other. The other side like the other point is allowing blokes to feel safe about opening up to issues with each other. Rather than just answering the question of “how ya doing” with “not bad yaself” guys needs to feel ok to say, “you know what mate I’m struggling and I need to talk about it”. What you said is also true, there is only so much friends can take on, and quite often they need to be the middleman to say, “I’m here for you and happy to chat, but I think you should speak to a professional as well”. As well as talking to mates, guys need to let their guard down to theirs wives/GF’s/partners. My fiancée noticed when I’m stressed and I feel lighter when I’m open about it, I really feel for the Frawley family, he seemed like a lovely guy with what very little interaction I had with him.

Just had a drift back I don’t think they’re saying drop him, only that his disposal isn’t good (I’d disagree personally). I thought Rivers was good, not his best but not his worst. It’ll be a struggle to squeeze into the team, it’s the way you want it, players should be challenging their teammates to take their spots. Eg if Weid and Brown were available right now no way do they knock TMac out.

6. Oliver 5. Salem 4. Kozzie 3. Tomlinson 2. Petracca 1. TMac Apologies to Nibbler who just went all night, also Hunt as well who had some very important moments in the backline.

Jeez he looks the goods, I don’t like to go prematurely on calling player but he could well be a star in the making for us. Just needs to have a touch more composure, could’ve (should’ve) had 2 more today.

I keep seeing Langdon’s name pop up, people aren’t seriously putting his name up for the chop are they? Honestly picturing no change, maybe if Hibberd plays a killer game in the VFL give Rivers a run at Casey but I would be saying keep a settled line up.

100% best game for the club today, looked solid as a rock while others dropped some easy marks at times. That back three of talls is looking good right now.

The misses are a bit soul destroying and it think it’s becoming largely a mindset thing because there were chances he had which he either gave off (Rivers) or looked to give and stuffed it. I don’t know if it’s something you can train for, I think he needs mindfulness training or something to get him visualising the goal before it happens. He was alone tonight, Trac had a great game but FMD he butchered some chances as well.

For me the biggest positive is that we were challenged and we changed the game, and got it on our terms. They were all over us through the second quarter but pulled it back to our game and from then on it was almost always on our terms. That shows a lot of maturity and dare I say development from Goodwin. We also let them back in through basic marks dropped that you would expect to take 90% of the time. I take that as a positive as there wasn’t anything wrong with structure and style it was purely down to executing of a skill. I was really happy to see some unsung heroes contribute positively; ANB, Tommo, and Spargo. All had crucial involvements in the game that gave us the win, Tommo in particular I thought was outstanding. I’ve managed to calm myself down from the frustration of missing opportunities, it needs to improve but for now as long as the ledger has us racking up the wins I’m a happy camper.

We obliterated them in every single way except for the score, we flattered them massively with our poor kicking for goal. It will cost us games if it doesn’t get fixed, once against Freo for first game back you can forgive, second time in a row starts to build a pattern.

A lot to like, if we kick just a little bit straight both weeks we could be top of the ladder. 2 wins to start the year, love it!

Lever and May gave up on the contest then.

TMac with two big last quarter goals!

didn’t have possession either

FMD

Should be 50+ up, bloody ridiculous.

Positives so far, apart from 75% of the second quarter we have been so clearly the better team it’s ridiculous. Game should be over, simple as that. We killed them for most of the third quarter and missed some very simple chances. Fritsch finally finding the goals was massive then, he simply had to kick it. Bloody hell it’s tight though, shouldn’t be but it is. Bring it home Dees!!!

**** we needed that.

We needed scoreboard pressure in the first quarter. We take our chances and at worst it’s even money right now, instead they’ve taken their chances and we’re three goals behind.

We’ve fallen asleep.

We do know to win the goal the ball has to go through the two big sticks right?

Danger times.

Well there’s a lot of positives in the way we’re playing, BUT YET AGAIN failing to finish. We should be 15-20 points up right now, but poor kicking for goal and poor decisions at critical moment (plus a dubious at best free to King at the end of the quarter) means we’re basically even. I don’t know what to do about Fritta, he’s getting into so many great positions but FMD he’s a coach killer with his set shots. I remember we dropped Bugg because he didn’t finish any of his shots, I really like Fritsch but he is killing us with basic misses. May had a great game last week but credit to the Saints they’re making sure he can’t get free to mark it. He’s been a little hard done by the umpire at the end but other than that King is all over him. Viney was the star of the quarter, absolutely everywhere. Oliver playing great footy. Petracca kinda going back to old Trac of doing good things but also silly things.