Pates

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.

Pet hate of mine is umpires calling a free kick when their own team takes a mark, sure there should be an element of “advantage”. Ends up slowing the game down and allows the other team time to set up.

Spargo’s having a mare. Spoiled TMac then.

Jeez that’s a big goal, Hibberd saves a goal at one end then we get it the other end. Huge.

**** sake!!!! Kick straight Dees!

What the hell was Salem going for then?

Big finish from TMac there.

3 things that will win us the game: - tidy up our kicking - up our tackling tempo in the forward 50 - take our chances on goal The old premiership quarter here, let’s get early goals on the board and start to get the game on our terms.

Our forward pressure which has been a trait of ours this year is almost non-existent.

What has happened to Petracca’s kicking? He was sobbing them consistently last year, that was an absolute shank and not for the first time.

Frost being a thug and the umpires letting him do it.