Maldonboy38

We are butchering the ball, and I think the harder ground is making then ball bounce with higher variation because of it. So many fumbles from both clubs, from players who usually have clean hands. I don't understand the poor kicking though. So many unpressured kicks missing targets by a long way. Our forward pressure is back on which is good, and our forward system is at last showing early signs of organisation, but it would be good to have someone actually taking a contested mark for a shot on goal. Sparrow has such a huge upside, but he is quickly becoming a momentum killer. Some of his decision making is outright poor. I thought Harmes, Trac, Langdon & Kozzie lifted well that quarter.

Wow that lacked intensity and skill. Every time we kick inside 50, we are lucky to have 1 player moving, let alone anyone leading. We have a huge problem if our only leading forward is Gawn. And talk about static. Where has our run gone?

I don't understand this season. The ten top teams have all looked like gods or clowns at various times of the year. Tipping is a nightmare, form is as variable as the stock exchange in a crisis, and to top it all off, the form sides now are the &%$##%@ Cats and Pies. If we get our form together we will route this rabble - but our form is just as unpredictable. I need a nicely laid down Shiraz or a deeply matured Single Malt.

As well as Carlton are playing, Cats 17 scoring shots to Blues 8. Blues half forwards being murdered.

He is playing seriously good football this year. He plays the same role as Spargo, and his delivery inside F50 to a target can be very neat. Ignore him at your peril. Although his kicking action does my head it, he has kept on improving.

Well done North, you beauty.

I cannot believe how many F50 set-play ruck contests go unnoticed by defenders. That was too easy for Goldstein.

B****y Collingwood. As much as I admire Pendlebury I despise the jumper, the club, the club's history built on the back of John Wren's dirty money, and especially Ginnivan. I reckon I will watch the replay of the next game they lose. The fact they are equal with us on points makes me puke.

Yes, Ginnivan fell on the ball, but it immediately went behind him. Horrible free kick. But it is against Ginnivan so I will take it.

Tex could give our forwards a few lessons on how and when to lead. I know he is a bit of a boofhead but I love watching his powerful forward movement. And although I hate to say anything good about the Pies, I consider Pendlebury the best Pies players I have seen. Sublime.

My mum (a mad Demons fan) and dad (a Swans man) were huge fans of this bloke and loved his tough nature. A real man of his time and club legend. Imagine the team with him and Barassi running around - frightening AND inspiring!

I have been a stalwart believer in the Weid for a long time, but I think the ship has sailed and he has been unable to take his chance(s). (very glad to be proven wrong). We chucked in Bowey last year at a similar time - good result. I would be giving JvR a run. I have seen a few Casey games and although he hasn't starred in many games, he is as AFL ready as Weid was for his first game. And keep BBB. But the forwards have to work hard to allow him to lead, rather than be the man under the ball where his limitations are so pronounced.

Beaten at the clearances, badly. Our forward system remains a total enigma. Our forwards rarely lead, lots of kicking to stationary targets, our small and mid forwards nowhere near their best. A lot of our forward play totally staggers me. I know Goody rarely swings the axe but Bedford, Kozzie, Sparrow and ANB must be close to losing their places.

Petty has been really good.

One contested clearance, one clean passage of play = goal.

Very lucky to be this close. Not sure if we are winning any position, any stat, and our run has rarely appeared.

What was that kick from Petracca?

Steven May very fumbly. Lots of players slipping over. Handballing to team mate 1 metre away under pressure. All these making us look 5 goals down. But our main issue is our constant missing a target inside 50 when kicking under little pressure. This has been atrocious. Great game though - two great teams pressuring the carp out of each other.

Ooops, wrong discussion

OUT: M Brown, IN: Gawn. I don't reckon Jackson will get up. Chandler deserves a spot but who do we drop after a 5 goal win with not real horror performances. Regarding BBB, his concrete hands, lack of leading and inaccurate kicking is a real issue. But he gets to so many packs and causes 2 opposition players to fly, much more than any other player on our list. ANB, Spargo, Kozzie, Sparrow, Harmes must love the chaos he creates. For that reason he has to stay until someone on our list can do other or do the same better.

6. Petracca 5. Oliver 4. Viney 3. Langdon 2. Harmes 1. Lever.

Very good win against a Crows side that were switched on, as hard as us at the footy, and killed us in the air. We MUST fix our aerial play inside F50. Until the last 10 minutes the crows backs picked us off, spoiled, blocked and out-marked us too easily. Also, we cannot miss easy shots at goal like Bedford, BBB and Spargo in the 3rd quarter. Great game by our midfield. As tough as the crows were, we outlasted them and took everything they gave to us. Langdon and Brayshaw: we will be talking about this combination for the next 50 years. Outstanding. Hats off to our backmen. Very, very well done. Don't know what to say about the umps. How about the head smack to Oliver?

Great tough game of footy, Crows playing some great footy, so are we. Unfortunately Weid is trying so hard, 2nd efforts etc... but his lacking of marking ability is killing us. Concrete hands in so many marking contests. Actually, we have 1 remaining issue to fix if we want to go all the way this year: contested marking. BBB, Weid, and M Brown are getting to everything but marking nothing. Fritsch is struggling to even get to a marking contest.

I'm a huge fan of Tex, but at his age I would pass on him coming to the Dees. Our development coaching staff are now the best in the business so let's see what JVR and Howes become. If we lose Jackson, Weid has surprised me with how well he has filled the 2nd ruck role so he can stay there.

3.5 minutes to go, Saints are up, ball is in their court. Still unsure who wins. But the joy of watching the Blues choke on the Friday night big stage means my weekend is off to a great start.