Maldonboy38

I am going to have a very grumpy weekend. Even the goals video will only go for 1 minute. So few highlights.

We are losing 9 out of every 10 contests on the ground, in the air, and our link up handball around stoppages has been like a bottom 4 developing team. Our tall forwards are appalling tonight. Tholstrup nowhere near ready for the AFL. Our other younger players - Windsor, McVee and Woewodin - have all looked lethargic and stunned. Gawn, Sparrow, Chandler, Langdon and sometimes Rivers are having a crack. Have no idea where Oliver, Viney and Trac have been. It is so rare for all 3 to have an off night at the same time. All games have ebbs and flows but we have not shown even a 5 minute sustained period of excellence. Very, very disappointing.

In the last 8 minutes we actually won a lot of ball at half back, only to totally stuff it up with poor disposal and/decision making. JVR, Fritsch, Petty and Brown have been as poor as I have ever seen them. No influence, and losing contest after contest. Not sure what to do here - it feels like we are mentally and physically fatigued.

At least Sparrow is having a crack.

Fumble, trip over, blind kick/blind handball, turnover, rinse and repeat. Can one player stand up and DO something.

We have had three chances of a one-on-one in our F50, and the kick to the contest has favoured the opposition. decent kicking might also make a difference.

They killed us at the stoppages, and we are letting their wide onballers run free. But we are only 14 points down. Need Gawn to stop the big slaps to nowhere, and our mids to get their hands on the ball.

Our tackling is great. Our system is average Our marking is poor. Oliver and Viney strangely fumbly.

There is a part of me that feels a bit guilty about these posts from opposition fan forums, but then I have a reality check, dive right in and enjoy them to the hilt. For too many years we were irrelevant or the butt of jokes. Now, we are respected and feared and oppo fans take pot shots at our players (a very high form of flattery). You never know what game day will bring, but at this ,moment, we could annihilate the Bears. And it is a damn good feeling.

You have to be careful when you get near to 60 yo; so many things from the past look better than they actually were. This even applies to footy, because there are a lot of small things in modern footy that simply give me the jimmy-brits. The clash jumper idea (which has some merit) has gone too far. What the .... are Fremantle wearing? How does purple with a white stripe clash with a navy blue jumper so dark it is almost black? Just wear your jumper, and if there is an obvious clash between you and an opponent, the away team wear your white clash jumper.

Yep, bottom 8 teams, at home at AO. Their big name players go missing too often against quality opponents. Dixon should be clunking marks and kicking 60+ per season and doesn't, while their other two forwards lack impact. They are murdering a very poor Essendon tonight, but this is what they keep teasing everyone with.

Rozee is a great player and looks a very good captain, but he has not played well in finals and can be found wanting when physically hassled. As much as he would be an asset, I want to see him influence a game before putting him in the same category as other gun midfielders. Butters is a good player who has had one great season, but looks like he has come right back to being simply another good footballer, and nothing more. Not really enjoying the game, but it a nice warm feeling to see Essendon 6 goals down. A pleasant start to the weekend.

Port have a strong list and good midfield but boy they play with little physical impact. A lot of outside run and good field kicking but it feels like they are trying to play a less physical game. Their games are fairly boring.

6. Petracca. 5. Gawn 4. McVee 3. May 2. Sparrow 1. Windsor Apologies to Lever and TMac who were also excellent.

Out on our feet. Lots of errors late in this quarter. Incredible effort to win 2 games on the road in Adelaide in 5 days.

Handball straight to opposition. Slip over for no reason under no pressure. No pressure on ball carrier. Come on boys.

Boy when we turn it over unpressured by foot it gets under my skin. We are a class above them and are keeping them in it.

We would be murdering them if we could kick straight. Aaaaaggghhh!

Even though the 5 day break will have a bearing, I back our last quarter fitness from this point.

I know BBB is awkward and clumsy below his knees, but his effort tonight up and down the ground has been impressive. Lots of work on the wing a couple of times there.

Our class coming to the top. Horrendous 50m penalty to Fritsch but I will take it. Followed by some sloppy stuff. Strange night, really.

Wow, what did we drink at half time?

I remained unconvinced of the merits of Billings. For a bloke recruited for his ball delivery ... If we can get clean with the ball, we are so much better than the Crows.

Serious man love for Windsor. Just wow.

Is there a heavy dew or moisture? A lot of fumbling by both teams. Our method looks excellent but our application going into F50 isn't.