Maldonboy38

I did not know he did this. What a brilliant analysis. Best analysis of play-by-play football I have seen anywhere. How come I am only learning of this now? What is the breadth of his analysis? Does he analyze 1 game a week, only Dees games, all games? Can someone clarify?

I've been watching the Dees for almost 6 decades now, and Petracca rates inside the top 10 I have seen. He has a quality that few demonstrate - match winning ability. He can turn his power game on for a quarter, or a half and sometimes an entire game, and totally dominate stoppages and clearances. I think it was in one of the 2021 finals games, or maybe our round 23 win and the Cats, where he said he was proud to help Dees fans find pride and joy in the jumper and colours again. He had me lock, stock and barrel after that. Most importantly, a real good human being. Warm personality, big smile, big heart. It is a pure privilege to welcome him to the MFC 200 games club.

Reflecting upon our last quarter dominance, the role AJ played is interesting. I personally don't think AJ had a good game at all in terms of his impact play-by-play, with only 5 disposals for the game. However, his role helped create two things: His running and physicality made the Lions think twice at stoppages and was a major factor in us keeping he ball inside our F50 for long periods, despite him not winning a lot of the ball. Gawn's last quarter dominance. He was fresh. I haven't seen game time numbers, but AJ taking 2nd ruck duties while also playing a forward role meant Gawn could sit back in a defensive position, read the game and take a breather while we locked it inside F50. I remain unconvinced about AJ's general viability an as AFL footballer, but if he can keep doing this he has to say in.

What a great win. Pressure, intensity, structure and determined concentration across 4 quarters. Seeing Lindsay, Bowey, Sparrow, AJ continuing to press in with only 2 minutes to go - wow. Gawn, Petracca and Oliver (&Viney): who knows how much longer we have these all together? But it is a pure pleasure to see the best Dees midfield play like they did today. Bowey and Melksham were terrific. Looks like Fritsch got the email - he was very different today. Holding his marks, tackling. With Viney and Lever to come back things look promising. AJ's last quarter was strong. His running capacity was a surprise to me. Feeling rather good.

Viney out is a huge loss, so their mids are going to be difficult to stop, or break even. I remain unconvinced about AJ, but I hope he can prove me wrong. And I have my moans, groans, swearing, ranting and head rubbing all prepared for the goal kicking. Unfortunately, we are hosting a baby shower for my daughter and I am on BBQ duties. Having adult daughters can be very very cruel sometimes.

The AFL has had a LOT of strong, "get the job done" kind of leaders, going back into the early 70's. Dillon is not this type, and that's OK, but I regard him as a manager, not a leader. He doesn't inspire, he doesn't encourage you to follow him, doesn't take a project or issue by the horns and fiercely demand excellence. At least that it what it looks like from the outside. I reckon as 2IC or team leader he would excel. But not as a person who has to execute board decisions. Bland, often not articulate when he has to go off message. Laura Kane looks out of her depth. She actually come across as very strong which I like, but her knowledge and decision making look patchy, weak and ill-informed. How they got appointed is beyond me.

Probably 50-60% of our current list are not naturally great kicks, from their U18 years through until now. Lack of concentrated method in goal kicking routine. Have a look a the routine of Jack Reiwoldt or Jack Watts. Simple, repeatable, methodical, technically very very good. Spinning the $%#&ing ball in their hands 2 seconds before starting the approach.

Is it just me, or is Daicos going off because of an "injury" when his tagger is beating him a bit sus.

Billy has become an AFL clown/funny man but he was a wonderful footballer. And if we are talking training for specific players to kick goals from 70, maybe Billy, the two Rocca boys, Fev and Garry Lyon could lead the way.

Last 5 minutes, Freo doing everything possible to lose the game. Some horrific turnovers leading to absolute freebie goals to the Pies.

Within the MH sphere, a golden rule is to not make big decisions when at a low or even weakest point. Regardless of whether journalists are right or wrong, I hope Clarry's MH support network (I am assuming he has one) is advising him along these lines right now. He may have spoken to someone his feelings about needing a fresh start, but being open like this is a long way from making that feeling into a decision. If he does leave, it will be a sad day for me, but if he plays in another jumper I will always hold him in high regard for the footy he played in our jumper, and the part he played in helping us get a premiership.

Petty out, JVR in. We should beat them at the stoppages, and pressure their ball carriers. Cover their half back line who run and carry (so our half forwards must run hard both ways for 4 quarters) . Turner plays on Sicily to keep him accountable.

Reflecting on the drive-by-shooting words from Bailey Smith. He is a terrific footballer in great form, but that was appalling. No reason, no excuse, and when he needed his post-millennial psycho hug, the bulldogs helped him get to the club of his choice. Kudos to the Bulldogs - really poor form from Smith. I loved the response from Bontempelli. And although I despise football thuggery in any form, I hope Libba tears him apart in a legal tackle next week and he gets subbed out. And as he walks off I hope he flips the bird (again) and gets suspended.

Gawn Chandler Turner Petracca Rivers Viney

The game of two distinct halves is an ongoing concern, but part of Goodwin's mantra for his whole time at the Dees is "reset from anywhere". In a moment, a play, a quarter, a game - whatever. And we are doing this really well even if it is against rubbish opposition. Please leave Turner in the forward line. I maintain that he is actually the best mark in our team next to Max and his kicking is a coaching manual. A forward line of JVR, Turner, Fritsch, Spargo, Kolt and Melksham, with Trac and Kozzie rotating through looks balanced and skillful enough to cause problems. I have a soft spot for Jeffo but he will have to earn his place back. Viney as a tagger/defensive mid is a coaching stroke of pure genius. This single change is a bigger part of our winning that we realise. Kolt is frustrating but he is getting to the right spots at the right time, along with real defensive pressure. The list of players we have encouraged to grow while playing AFL is very long (Chandler, ANB, Sparrow, Rivers, JVR etc...) so I reckon the plan is to apply this same rule to Kolt. Langford, Lindsay and Windsor - we will be saying these names for a while. Great recruiting. May looking shaky. I hope it is fitness and injury recovery or we will need to start blooding Adams to give him some AFL game time, so he can develop. Winning is fun.

I thought about this 3-4 weeks ago. He is BOG every week.

And all of a sudden we look cleaner forward of centre. Melksham showing his class, and we are finishing our transition work. Both Melbournes have turned up tonight - first half and second half look like different teams.

I've got family over tonight so watching when I can. My brother-in-law said to me "percentage booster?". I replied, "well, it depends which Melbourne turns up". So far, it is the rounds 1-5 Melbourne who can't hit the side of a barn with a bulldozer. Sub standard tonight.

Fix the brain fades and forwards getting in each others way, we win easily.

Just like I used to bang on about us being a better side structurally when BBB was playing, I have a similar opinion about Spargo. I agree he needs to get more of the ball, but I love the role he plays and he can deliver a ball to our forwards. Unconvinced about Sharp, haven't seen a Casey game this year so know nothing about Culley. As much as I am a Spargo fan, it wouldn't surprise me if someone overtakes him and takes his spot. Chandler is way ahead of him and the Kolt has some skill but neither of them play a role similar to Spargo.

Tomorrow night's game looks rubbish so I thought I would watch tonight's game instead. At the least I thought two evenly matched teams who might have a real crack at each other. Essendon are showing some intensity but North look like us rounds 2-5. Their method and skills coming off half back are simply sub standard. Everything Bummers is to be despised and there is nothing appealing about North's game style. Waste of a Thursday night really.

Actually, in his early career he was a turnover king, and many Dees supporters wanted him dropped, de-listed etc... He was always liked as a person and a good club man, but his skills detracted from all the good stuff he did. It all turned in and after 2018. I thought he was gone in 2022 but he keeps on improving himself and finding a place. He is a marverl and I hope he gets another year with triggers for a 2nd.

Really interesting season. Apart from Pies and Lions, anyone can win or lose on any given day. More than any other season, pressure is playing an even bigger part on scoring. Blues looking very good, which I hate. Their pressure, defence, and 1%ers are top grade against the Cats today.

If North fix up their forward 50 conversion, they could steal the game. Well, if they can get at least one person to help Larkey, that is. Across the field they are playing as well as Port, but are making some horrendous F50 errors (like we were doing rounds 1-5 this year).

Goodwin rarely makes lots of changes after a win, but with about 28 players who could easily get a game, and WCE's tall forwards, some changes will be made this week. Windsor's kicking has been terrible, Kolt not getting too much of the balll, Fritta lacking energy, McVee underdone, May looking sore, slow and proppy (yet playing his role), Sharp unconvincing most of the time. Howes, Adams, Sestan, JVR, have all shown something at times in the VFL Turner and Melksham offer a lot - can we squeeze them in? The forgotten man Jefferson (not sure where his hand injury sits?) 2nd ruck questions around AJ, Campbell and Fullarton (who looks nowhere near it at the moment) For me, our main consideration revolves around 1) our forward setup, and 2) our 2nd ruck. And for the life of me I can't see a viable option: JVR gets cooked playing ruck and loses energy for his forward role, which was poor anyway AJ and Fullarton don't look AFL standard Campbell offers nothing as a forward. In short - I have no idea!