Maldonboy38

I turned off the Pies v Bombers game before 1/4 time, and watched a B grade movie on Netflix instead. At least watching Gal Gadot strut across the screen was pleasing to the eye, as opposed to that basket case of a football match. I have to admit though, that the game standard and result gave me delight in 2 ways: The Bombers look pathetic and miss finals again Pies supporters think their game plan will stack up in finals

How good is to be such a stable, successful club!! It is great news and done with little fanfare, but with determination and a mutual regard and respect. Love it. I am not a fan of Goodwin's media conference dead bat style, because we fans don't get much to chew on from them. Apart from this I love his style. Matter-of-fact, the players and staff love him, and he is unrelenting in his determination that defence and contested ball win premierships. I fully understand why this re-signing was done now. With Adelaide missing finals again, the spotlight will be on Nicks whether it is deserved or not. The Crows would have begun a full-on pestering of Goodwin's manager offering everything and more. That risk has been erased.

I couldn't stand his thuggery and pretend tough man c**p when he played, and I didn't like his demeanour as a coach at the Tigers either. And all his jokes about "Mrs Hardwick" only for... you know what lowered him even further. Like many coaches in the past, his dodgy character does not carry over into his football. He is an outstanding coach. When he finally had the list he wanted, he shifted the attitude, and formed a game plan around their strengths. He left on good terms with nothing more to give the Tiges. He is a great fit for the Suns. It might not click in 2024, but look out 2025. They have a great list.

I did a bit later. But at the time I was happy to go with a gut feel.

Exchange TMac for Schache and leave him as the sub. He can play both ends of the ground so can do whatever role is required. I prefer to leave Fritsch out of a dead rubber, but if they want some match time in his legs, exchange for Laurie. I usually like the disposal efficiency and angle changing kicks that Bowey brings, but he has been down on form for a few weeks and is making errors that lead to opposition goals. Exchange him for Hibberd.

I only got to see the last half due to other commitments, but the game went fairly much to script I would have thought. The Hawks are no easy beats, and they took it right up to us. Our stoppage and clearnace work looked a but shaky (this is an opinion, I haven't looked at the stats) Lever, Melksham, Rivers and Viney looked like standouts. I think all but one of Bowey's disposals were turnovers or goals - he is a bit of a worry. Our ability to defend from anywhere on the ground is a thing of beauty. Brayshaw, Hunter, ANB getting back to help out time and time again keeps us in every game we play. JVR - chills. Top 4, and looking as strong or better than the other 3.

Mitchell is showing all the signs of being a very astute coach, and this will not be an easy game. But I see a very tight first half, Dees slip ahead in the 3rd quarter, then continue the increase in the 4th quarter to win by 25 - 30 points. Our full ground defensive set up will thwart their running midfield, and our mid sized and small forwards will be too much for their defence. And we MUST NOT let Sicily play his won game. Smith to play on him, make him accountable in the air and on the ground.

For his own sake, Grundy needs to look elsewhere, and the Dees cannot afford to pay a salary of that size for a VFL player. I feel genuinely sad for the bloke and wish it could have worked out better. From what I have seen of him at Casey, Will Verrall shows some real potential. Aggressive, and follows up at ground level. Doesn't get a lot of it, but a genuine work in progress.

I slept in, had 4 hours in the garden, followed by 4 hours to myself to do nothing but flick between Demonland and the live footy, fish 'n chips for dinner, and now a nice Heathcote region shiraz. Feeling good. And I got to watch some Bomber v Giants and see the final score. The English language in all its beauty does not hold enough words to describe the jubilation of seeing the Bombers annihilated. I hate them more than Greta Thunberg hates petrol cars, plastic bags and rational thinking. Long may they suffer and rot. And now I am feeling very, very good.

I usually like analysing the game, looking for what is causing teams to rise and/or fall. But I am going for a 'big call'. The Dees would be nearly unstoppable if we had Jesse Hogan still with us. I still love watching him. His work rate and forward craft today v the Bombers has been a tutorial in forward play.

Gold Coast onballers and half backs going hard at it, tackling pressure etc... only for absolute stupidity from Chol, Casboult, Ellis and Lukosius with dud skills and decision making. To balance things out, the Blues mids and half backs also doing all the hard work, but their forwards have been taking goal kicking tips from Star Wars storm troopers.

In season 2023, the reality is that the real contenders make it a top 5, not top 4. And this throws all kinds of spanners into finals calculations. The 5th team - Carlton - are playing finals-type footy, are winning close games, are confident and their power forwards can dominate. Those in positions 6 - 8 are fairly irrelevant in terms of the GF. Any of this top 5 can beat each other, and with the exception of Carlton in recent weeks, the other 4 teams have shown enough weaknesses to demonstrate they are beatable. The Blues are the big variable because they can still make top 4. It comes down to belief and application moment by moment on game day. The Dees and Pies have 1 thing in common above the others, and that is they believe they can win from anywhere, regardless of being behind or momentum being with the other team they play.

Dusty was able to focus on footy and play so well because of Cotchin and the broader Tigers culture. If he goes to the Gold Coast, he won't last a season before going way, way astray. One of the best players I have seen - genuine match winner and the best field kick bar none. But his time has come. Our needs are for a power forward and some speed. Riccardi would be nice, not sure where we get speed from.

With one more pre-season, I can see him starting 22, or at least in our best 25. Great signing - well done Taj, and well done Dees.

Really poor defensive game. Both teams running freely between the two 50 metre lines. It looks even, but at least one of them need to tighten the crews a bit. Not finals standard footy at all.

Huge relief that Tomlinson is in, probably means Smith forward. I know Tomlinson has a big turning circle but he does his job and is a really good kick. Smith is a natural forward and his athleticism can worry defences. Very surprised about Laurie, not sure what he adds. I would have given Taj another go. I feel very, very sad for Grundy but it is the right selection.

Some are dead easy locks - Hardeman, May, Wight, Cordner. Beckwith and McMahen are in the team of the century. Loved Matty Whelan. Bowey in there has to be taking the mickey. No Brett Lovett is an absolute disgrace. I'm not sure who has set it up but it looks amateur-ish, and last minute.

In my mind he is an absolute unicorn, and difficult to place in the rank of club greats. Best ruckman for tap work - yes (just beats Peter Moore) Best ruckman for mobility - no (Stynes was a freak) Best defensive mark - yes Kicking/handballing/ ground ball - no Biggest heart - yes, equal with Stynes, Flower, T Viney and Jones. I don't remember Barrassi at the Dees. But for me it is the influence of his CHARACTER. Everyone loves him ,the players play with him and for him, he is not a d**khead in any way, he speaks with a disarming honesty to the media, and he accepts the quirks of his own story and personality. All these traits combine is some strange spiritual form of leadership that is magnetic and powerful. He is a rare gift in footy. Cotchin changed captaincy and his impact at the Tigers is greater than that of Hardwick. I feel Gawn has had a similar impact at the Dees. Well done big Max - here's to 200 games, and hopefully another Cup or 2!

I didn't rate him as highly as many in the media or past players, but his very best was brilliant, exciting, and sometimes helped win matches. But he only ever played 5 brilliant games per season, and was often overweight and unfit. Great person though - everyone who knew him loved and liked him.

Wet underfoot, high pressure, two teams playing great finals-style footy. A lot of the errors and misses can be understood thinking through all these things. But the Blues outnumbered us around the ball and spread forward with ease far too often. Fair enough, they played better and were much cleaner with ball in hand. But our forward construct = mediocre and problematic. In theory, I am a fan of the Gawn/Grundy du but tonight it showed we simply cannot proceed with it.

6. Brayshaw 5. Viney 4. Langdon 3. Rivers 2. Hunter 1. Petracca and -476 for Salem for his ridiculous dinky kicks, but especially for missing an absolute sitter - not making the distance from 42 metres out.

I have major issues with Salem running into an open goal, unpressured, and not making the distance from about 42 metres. I just don't get it. Furious with that. Great game of footy, but we were beaten at our own game and looked slow around the contest, especially at stoppages.

Bowey and Salem doing little dinky kicks, making the receiving player have to stand under the ball.

We are very unclean tonight. By hand, and especially at ground level.

Tight, hard, contested, brutal. Great contest without being much of a spectacle. We aren't taking our moments well, and I reckon the winner will be the team who makes the most of the limited opportunities given by opposition. We need Fritsch back. After the Matildas game, I'm not sure my heart can take much more.