Maldonboy38

The word is hubris. Total, self-absorbed arrogance to rest so many starting 22 players believing the win was already in the bag. I LOATHE Carlton but glad they won tonight.

I can't believe I am enjoying watching Carlton serve it up to Port. They are doing to Port what we did to the Pies - crowding their wide-playing ball carriers and making them accountable. Pressure really works.

Tomlinson in for Petty. Spargo v Chandler is interesting. Spargo is a lot smarter, and often gets ignored when leading, but his output has been limited, error-riddled and lacks impact. Chandler is a better kick, but he was struggling to get the ball at all when he was dropped. I would give Spargo another week - lots of players are given multiple weeks to find form. Leave BBB and JVR in. They rarely get in each other's way, and keep on presenting. They may not have big numbers, but the other forwards are able to create so much due to their hard work. Smith remains sub. Another thing to consider is Adelaide's strong mid-size and small forwards. Perhaps we need to consider Hibberd in for Woewodin?

My wife had the laptop last night, watching some carp on Netflix, so I finally get a chance this morning to do the important thing - get onto Demonland! There is a part of me that still cannot believe we won that. We are a very mentally tough team. To be totally beaten up for 2 quarters, and looking unlikely to break the game open, only to emerge in the 4th quarter with a fire in the belly. Viney and Rivers were raging bulls in the last quarter and set the tone. Good to see Kozzie much closer to his best. I cannot stress how important he is. Leave Trac playing 60% forward, and leave Brayshaw in the middle. Love this setup. Trace kicking for goal when he is not exhausted from midfield running makes his set shots soooo much better. I was wrong - Melksham and Smith in the same 23 CAN work. Smith was very important in the last quarter and showed a real swing man/utility vibe. Our backline was beaten for much of the night. That doesn't happen often. Lions half back line murdered us, and we had no answer until we began wining the ball and denying them freedom in the last quarter. BBB and JVR - not great games but they presented time and time again and created opportunity after opportunity. Max - wow! Taj - that is an epic first goal. And lastly, our coach, Goody. Well done. Once again at the press conference, he showed his stubborn self belief in his program, his players and his plan. I know many Demonlanders get frustrated with his seeming lack of flexibility but I am not one of them. Our bad patches and losses are NOT about game plan, coaching box lethargy, lack of vision etc...

6. Gawn 5. Viney 4. Petracca 3. Brayshaw 2. Rivers 1. Melksham

Our good looks very good, our bad looks horrible. So many chances with ball in hand, only to kick it to a Lions defender. Great game of footy, but our mistakes could cost us... again. Our poor kicking into F50 has raised its head again We need to cover Coleman more quickly. Viney is a weapon

ANB - you kill me. Melksham not far behind.

The news is sad, but not unexpected. I actually rate Dew highly as a coach, but the pattern of fade outs in the 2nd half of the season had to demand blood at some point. With a lot of younger players 'buying in' recently, I can imagine some of them will be furious, but they also have to take some of the blame.

Leave Trac 50%= game time as a froward. Midfield of Viney, Sparrow and Jordon. I would also run Rivers and Kozzie through there. Perhaps some pressure and time in the guts will give Kozzie back his early season spark. JVR back in. I. too would love to see BBB and JVR alongside each other for a few weeks. I wish Hibbo was available for Cameron. If not, I suppose it has to be Rivers or Bowie??

That's a better win than many Demonlanders are giving it credit for. 4th v 5th, lots of pressure. Not perfect, and not our best, but a good win. F50 play looked as good as it has all year. If BBB wasn't blocked all night it would have looked even better. Fumbling mostly fixed. Horror handballing unfortunately back in a big way. May and our backline are immortals. Not sure why we kicked long to so many forward contests where Kozzie, Spargo and ANB were the targets. Ground ball and spread from contests continues to be a worry. The Saints killed us at these 2 things tonight.

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

A crumbing ground ball win from Woewodin. Keep him in the side!

Can we be first to a groundball please. and if/when we do - fumble.

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.