Maldonboy38

Understand making no changes, but would have liked to see Heath. And I do feel disappointed for Laurie, he had a great preseason and I would love to see him get a run of games.

Great footballer, but will command a massive fee which is something that makes it a no from me. I agree about raiding the Gold Coast instead - Humphrey and Walter please.

Achilles injury at his age might mean he never recovers his best. But every team needs mids whose main strength is actually getting the ball. Speed and spread are secondary to them. Jack has qualities of this kind that only he has now that Clarry has left. So he is a definite best 23 - IF - he can get back near his best. I love Sparrow's game but he simply doesn't get enough of the ball, so Viney could easily step into this midfield position.

Max Heath needs to be considered. Jackson's athleticism is outstanding and his endurance is almost as good as Gawn's. Add Darcy to that and we have a midfield first use problem. Between Lever, Petty and co our defenders can match their forwards, but Josh Treacy is a problem. I can't see one of our defender able to match him. For us, I reckon Latrelle and Cully might give Freo problems.

I have to disagree. His game was far from perfect, but I reckon he breaks even. He hit a few targets today, and kicked to the right option most times.

The Saints and Pies must be dumb as tree stumps to offer us Steele and Mihocek for so little. With all our changes, and Viney injured, they were very strong today. And I really want to mention Jiath. I was genuinely concerned about his foot skills during the 2 preseason games, but for the most part he was wonderful today. For a bloke that tall, his first three steps are so quick that it breaks the pattern of play in close. Latrelle has a lot to learn if he wants to be a solid contributor across the H&A season, with his light body and lack of physical impact showing up badly at times. But with ball in hand he is dangerous and mercurial. Love what he brings and as he gets bigger, fitter and stronger he will a human highlight reel.

JVR Gawn Windsor Kozzie Steele Kolt

Loving the win, but not sure I can take a full season of these games. Error-riddled brilliance. The Saints had so much more of the ball, and lots of open flow in transition, but somehow we managed to continue to play our game and got the 4 points. So much to like. Hitting moving targets in F50 was so, so refreshing. Our new boys - Steele, Jiath, Checkers. Sharp 's amazing improvement. Max, Culley, Latrelle. Our defensive effort and structure through the middle of the ground was appalling. The Saints had so much free ball through the middle which they simply wasted. And so many missed opportunities in the last quarter. Fritsch, Sparrow, Howes, Langford had poor games.

Our 1-2m handballs in close have been putrid today. And I am so sick and tired of seeing Saints forward of the ball, unopposed and free. But boy, with ball in hand we are seriously having a crack. Langdon and Sharp will be very important in the last quarter with their fitness and running.

Delight in my heart with a knot in my gut. So much to love, excited by our forwards, enjoying our new style of play. Salem & Petty keeping us from being annihilated down back. Across half back looking lost and disoriented. Loving and hating this.

Howes, Laterelle, Fritsch and Lindsay have looked feeble today. Latrelle gets a pass because of his freak goal. Defensive network through the middle looking poor. Back 6 looking shaky. Transition and forward play looking epic. Roo and Checkers - woo hoo!!

We are messing up easy goals, and then handing them easy ones.

Kolt actually doing well on NWM who is having little impact. And his kick to Latrelle was brilliant. Every time the ball spills to the outside, we are outnumbered. New structure taking time to settle.

Both teams have looked excellent and poor, with little ordinary tight footy in between. The game might settle a bit after half time but I'm unsure who looks better.

He has been pretty good though. Not perfect but I am liking his game so far.

On 3 occasions they have had 2 players unmarked ahead of the ball.

Some defensive pressure from either midfield would be good. Both coaches would be furious with the lack of physicality in close so far.

We need to get our hands at the ball. Our intensity at ground level looks poor, and skills by hand and foot lacking confidence.

Great player, who goes unnoticed and un-proclaimed far too often. I consider him in the same vain as Nathan Jones (although a totally different player). Regardless of team position, team success, matchup, player or coach changes, he delivers his game almost every time he plays. Just so reliable. Smooth, skillful, tough. Surrounded by big names like Max, Trac, Clarry, Kozzie etc... he never seeks the spotlight. And I agree with other posters about MFC's public recognition of his 200th game being really poor form. There has been an excellent upgrade on our media and PR since Guerra and Smith came on board as CEO and President, but this is an awful oversight.

Great to have the footy back, it felt like the longest preseason gap for many years. Excited to see how we will play forward, defense and in transition. A new coach with a very different mindset, as well as bringing in 3 mature players from other systems means it might take some time to all come together. So I am more observant than expecting of great things. But having said that I do feel that our speed and flare might surprise. I don't rate the Saints so think it will be close. I am most interested in our forward play. In the preseason we were much more mobile, with lots more repeat leading, while both Latrelle and Culley add strong variation.

Choke well and truly underway. Their run and carry has disappeared, and the Cats beating them in contested possession.

Each year in February I try to do a predictive ladder. This year it was so hard to actually slot the teams from position 5 to 14. Port, GWS, Dogs and Hawks could do nothing or anything, and I it was really tough to place the Dees. I actually ended up with a Lions v Freo grandfinal but not with any confidence. Freo looking very very good this arvo.

Freo looking quick and skillful. Cats again looking 2nd rate.

Oskar Baker has done a great job persevering in the AFL. His work ethic and goal assists are top rate. I always thought he was sub AFL standard, but I am glad to be wrong, glad for him, and well done Beveridge for coaching him so well..

And this is why I now attend more country football games than the AFL (apart from the horrendous 2 hours via packed VLine to get to the MCG). The AFL appears to believe that the game itself is not entertaining enough, so let's use light, sound, and mind-numbing 'fan engagement' interaction to overwhelm our otherwise disengaged senses. And the gambling advertising!!! To put it simply - I love footy. I love looking across the ground to see who is matching up. I love the sound of game itself (the on field talk, the sound of bodies colliding, the noise of the crowd). I love the high marking, the run-and-carry, the freak goals. And then you chat with the people around you about how good/bad a certain play was. What Port have done with Never Tear Us Apart, and the Lions with Country Road after a Charlie Cameron goal is lame in my opinion, but both have emerged from people, experiences and culture within the club so I understand why their supporter love it. This screams wannabe. Let's artificially create fan and supporter reactions. No. Just shut up and let the game be the focus.