Maldonboy38

Our pressure game is on.

We are 13 points up = total positive. We have more players playing well than playing poorly, but the poor ones like Kozzie and Gus looking a mile off. Love seeing BBB back. Good to see our F50 entries looking cleaner, and our general forward play looking organised. After a good start, Woewodin looking off the pace. We need Trac and Viney to stand up big time in the 2nd half.

We need Trac and Kozzie to rise, or at least get the ball. I feel like we are being beaten at ground level (again) Our kicking and disposal efficiency is looking a lot better. Our F50 entries and general play look good. Steven May is brilliant.

The importance of BBB is on full show tonight. If can continue to lead and present (as distinct from standing still and having it kicked on his head) he makes us better.

We look on tonight, but boy we make some simple turnover errors.

Apart from one too many handballs in our B50, we look good tonight.

Loving the work of Sparrow, Bowey and McVee. And Woewodin looking AFL ready.

Great first kick Taj!

Come on boys, wake up and get to the ball first.

Just turned the TV on - I hate all the bull dust "pregame" fluff, guesswork and noise. It could be a dour affair with 2 coaches heavily focused on full ground defence, but I reckon the Dees should be too good across the ground.

How great is to be able to say this name again in a Dees jumper!! And Taj has earned it with some great footy at Casey. The Saints can really lock a game down but I hope he gets a chance to show his link up play.

Melksham and Smith are both naturals for the horrible sub position because they are both fit and can kick straight. Smith is also athletic. I have liked most of what Smith has added, but I don't believe they should both be in the 23. I am one of the few James Jordon fans, and hope he holds his place. I would have him in ANB's place because he can do all the things ANB is loved for (gut running, tackling, defensive pressure) but he can actually kick and doesn't fumble as much. No JVR looks to be a selection howler. Unsure what to make of it. Spargo very lucky, and would prefer only 2 small forwards. Stoked to see another Woewodin at the Dees. I have watched about half the Casey games and he looks more than ready. His link up play could be a real point of difference, as long as he can kick straight.

Bennett was wonderful, so were Jakovich, Shwartz, Green, and Jurrah. Neitz and Robbo were not bad either. But I will place 1) Garry Lyon 2)Bayley Fritsch and 3) Jack Watts over most when it comes to kicking. Watts was a beautiful kick for goal.

So, apart from our forward play (which I ma exhausted by, and need to focus elsewhere for my own sanity), there were 2 late cases in point that suggest our woes have to do with intelligence and confidence. Gawn (our skipper) is unsure, waits too long, handballs off to someone who has to immediately handball back. Outcome - hurried, long, high kick to F50 which is a defence's delight. Less than 1 minute to go - Hunter gets the ball at half back and kicks sideways.

6. Viney 5. May 4. Petracca 3. Brayshaw 2. Bowey 1. Sparrow

I am so tired of watching the same error-riddled forward play.

So much of what we do is so good. Really good. And then we kick forward and lose all vision, all strategy, and basic skills. Our game plan, rotations, Gawn and Grundy, attack on the ball, tackling etc... all seem to work well, and our back half defence really is a wonderful thing to behold. So I just don't get our dreadful forward skills.

Aaaaaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhh! We can't even get a goal from the goal square. B****y furious watching this.

BBB, Melksham and Bowey showing how to kick. How was BBB's field kick? A thing of beauty!

Our sloggers having a good day - Harmes, Sparrow, ANB, Hunter. We hit 9/10 targets between full back and wing, and hit 1/10 targets when going inside 50. It is a mental thing on full display today. Hunter and Petracca - wow, just so bad by foot. This game will be won or lost on our F50 entries. Everywhere else we look strong.

Some game from Jordon.

If Jefferson's work off the ball was honoured by kicking to him when he is on his own, he would have 8 goals. JVR 2nd efforts and attack on the ground ball - very nice. Some are asking who else could do ANB's role? Jordon's gut running has been immense today. And he is a better kick, and fumbles less.

Casey players dominating, so a good opportunity to see the strengths of the Dees listed players. A lot to like from many. Steele (not Dees listed) is showing he has some ability to read the play, and be a link player. Jefferson does not get the ball enough, but boy I like what he shows. Very promising forward. I remain a big fan of Verrall. Turner and Howes are like May & Lever version 2.0. AMW, Jordon, Woewodin looking strong.

Starting to have a rethink about the state of things this season. It is a very tight season, Port look good but I reckon they will struggle on the MCG during pressure games. We showed the competition how to beat the Pies, and they now look a long way off the premium team in the comp. Basically, every game is up for grabs - apart from WCE games. All very close, very tight, very unpredictable. I reckon the Dees have sharpened up on some of the mid-year yips (handballing, intensity, defensive mistakes) but have yet to fix our kicking inside F50, and all-ground crumbing. Although I love Spargo when he is up and at it, we can only hold 2 active small forwards and Chandler and Kozzie do the defence and pressure stuff better than Spargo. I love the inclusion of Smith. He and Fritsch will cause major headaches if Smith can stay fit. I disagree with the club on both Tomlinson and Jordon. Bot that I can do anything about it, and the club probably (definitely) knows better than me. I maintain that we are a better team with BBB in it, but 2023 is his last. ANB is killing me this year.

Totally agree, Clint. 2 big, 2 athletic, 2 small is a great mix and great balance. It would be really menacing if our current small forwards could kick and crumb.