Maldonboy38

Dees to dominate the first quarter to lead by 20 points. Hawks to manage to stay with us, and be only 30 points down mid way through third quarter. Our fitness and late game strength to have us win by 8 - 10 goals. Fritsch, Kozzie and chandler to provide most of our goals. The Hawks will put a lot of energy into JVR to stop his confidence, and to the limit energy the Dees squad will have from him being free to play. Until the last quarter, it might not be a great spectacle with the Hawks doing all they can to play keepings off, make it a scramble, lots of stoppages.

Really disappointed he has been dropped. Spargo is great to have, but with Chandler in such top form there is no way I would have dropped Jordon so Spargo can play.

Tigers being burned by the umpiring. So many pushes in the back, missed throws, and holding the ball decisions earnt but not given.

I reckon there are three contributing factors: We are amazing to watch spreading FORWARD from a stoppage. Trac and Sparrow are naturals and Clarry is often looking for a forward handball. If this doesn't work, we are wide open for the opposition to run forward with all our players caught behind them. Our stoppage handballing this year has been really poor, so we mess up more stoppage forward thrusts than we get correct. Our gameplan sits on a concrete foundation of a very tight half back safety net. It often feels like we surrender the middle ground, with Langdon, Hunter, Brayshaw and Jordon sprinting into defensive position to assist at half back. It feels like we place more emphasis on this than we do stoppages. Oppositions have figured out how Trac, Clarry and Viney work together (which is poetry when it works) and set up to counter it. Only dumb teams (e.g. North last week) allow Trac to sprint through a stoppage to feed off Clarry, Viney and co. As an extra thought, we have been more fumbly this year than I can remember. Our top ball handlers like Trac, Fritsch and Bowey have been unclean at times and we have missed the silk of Salem's composure. This is causing turnovers at a higher rate (this is a random observation and opinion, no stats to back it up).

6. Viney 5. Gawn 4. Oliver 3. Brayshaw 2. Rivers 1. Sparrow

We don't win well, and we don't win easily, but we find a way. Some massive deficiencies to be sorted out in our midfield. Some other deficiencies to be worked out in our F50. In the last 5 minutes Rivers, Viney and Brayshaw were immense.

We are in front. Go Dees.

I want Salem back. Turner is developing nicely at Casey but out of his class here.

I HATE 50m penalties for trifles like that. Ruins the game. But I will take the goal. It's game on boys. Both teams are error riddles but intensity is off the charts.

Getting beaten at stoppages. Fritsch unsighted. GC running players through centre square often outnumbering us meaning easy inside 50 kicks. Defence mindset not strong from our midfield.

Woewodin looking sharp, along with Adams and Howes. Melksham and Spargo busy.

Witts is a class ruckman so will probably come close to evening out the ruck contests with Gawn/Grundy. We have to take full advantage when he is resting on the bench. Their midfield is on a massive learning increase and are no easy beats. Their forward line looks underclass but has multiple paths to goal. It is their defence where we will get them. Fritsch, JVR and Kozzie to go nuts today, and Chandler to continue his good form. Dees by 25.

This sums it up. Their bottom 6 don't run both ways, but I last night the defensive run by the experienced Blues midfield was sub standard. I thought Kennedy showed them up in this regard when he came on. So many times the Lions streamed into their forward 50 with a gathering of Blues players jogging in behind them. The biggest hole for the blues is their defence. Weitering aside (I love watching this bloke play) the other 5 seems to lack presence and impact.

Before round 1, I picked Carlton for 9th. Apart from Weitering, their defence is full of NQR's. If they can't stop Hipwood (who I once rated but now consider him less than average) they won't stop many good scoring teams.

Great game Dunkley. Any chance of one of the two teams trying a switch or changing the angle? Up and down the same line - turnover, rinse and repeat.

Ridiculous opening quarter. Can either of these teams defend? Great spectacle but this kind of gameplay falls apart in finals.

Me too Hardley. They were always on TV, along with Carlton and Richmond, while other clubs playing better were given slow motion replays on World of Sport. They were given their high membership numbers by channel 7 pushing them onto us, which continues to this day. I would love to see us beat them on GF day. But the fact that they swooped on the Olympic pool and running track site, after the MFC passed it up, makes me furious and hate them even more.

For the 2000 GF, I despise him. As a player he was a thug, often a sniping, but he was also a very good footballer. As a coach, I respect him greatly. I have listened to him on a number of occasions as he talks more broadly about playing footy, the broader game, current issues etc..., and he is really good to listen to. He and the Tigers executive planned around this year being 1 last tilt at a flag with their ageing stars (in particular Cotchin, Reiwoldt and Dusty) and it has been a flop, mainly due to injuries. It took him 6-7 years to get the Tigers up from the eternal 9th position but when he did - wow. But no way will he be given 6 years this time, and I don't reckon he would want to. With Tassie coming in, it will be hard to rebuild any faster than 5 years. I see him moving on to another challenge at the end of this year.

Well spoken, Rab D. Both losing is always a wonderful addition to any weekend.

I rate Spargo really high, but none of Chandler, Kozzie or ANB can miss out on present form. Not a huge fan of a forward line with Grundy and JVR as main bigger targets, but while the scoring is high with such a huge spread of individual goal kickers each week, it seems to be working.

The indigenous jumper is a real hit and miss. Rarely, have they been jumpers I have really liked or been tempted to purchase. This year is a hit. Subtle and strong. And remains very much a MFC jumper with a single glance.

19 teams works if the AFL have the courage to set the fixture for every team to ply each other once, followed by an 8-team final series (as is the current situation). This reduces our current setup by 3 games per team per annum, and the AFL simply will not do this. The revenue is too addictive. I am also of the opinion that the national talent pool can cover 20 teams. The amount of players in state leagues, country leagues, and young draft hopefuls who just miss out, are of high enough potential to develop into AFL players. The development of the modern footballer on an AFL list is methodical, science based, and effective. And list managers, scouts and others are seeing more and more mature age draftees or rookies who are close to AFL ready.

And he hasn't enjoyed it one bit.

Era over for Richmond. They need to go to the draft and trade table and begin again. Very successful era, though. I am one of the few people who actually like Gold Coast. I picked them to finish 8th (not looking good at this stage!)Ballard is becoming a player. Maynard is a [censored]. Comes hurtling in to do what? Reminds me of Tommy Bugg - all front no brains. Crows kicking 3-10 is a poor return, and the Pies will not stop coming.

There was a 10 minute patch where the umpiring was killing the Pies v Crows match. But it has turned into a craacker of a game now.