Maldonboy38

Swans couldn't hit the side of a barn with their foot skills. Missing so many targets when on transition, and easy set shots as well. It is difficult to believe they are only 25 points behind.

Tex is a gun, and as highly as he is rated, I personally believe he remains undervalued by many. I love watching him play, his kicking is sublime, and he leads inside F50 with power and intention. 

Yes, he is a (insert derisive foul word of choice here) and his abhorrent actions have been rightly called out with relevant punishments applied. His character has some question marks, especially considering he was the captain of the club. But he is not the first great footballer to be a faulty human being without  emotional intelligence  - Leigh Matthews, John Nichols and Wayne Carey spring to mind, but there have been many more.

But no way does he come to the Dees. With BBB, TMac and Fritsch so difficult to match up on, and also Weid and JVR in the wings there is simply no need. He is a Crows man through and through and cannot see him leaving. 

27 minutes ago, Deestroy All said:

Probably doing them a big favour. List management and recruitment has been pure [censored]. 
 

I don't know if Noble is part of the problem or whatever. But I agree that losing 3 of their list mangers/recruiters might be a major positive. Brad Scott left the list and contract situation in a total mess which will take 3-5 years to reverse, so the train wreck might kill off a few more careers yet.

I genuinely feel for hem - I remember the Dees being in the same position and it was absolute agony with no relief in sight. I just hope they can begin a new era of personnel management - both player and coach - and get up and doing again.. 

22 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

These are the gateway to barracking for Essendon. 🤮 

OK, that is a bridge too far! Into the naughty corner with you, and come back when you have had a good long think about what is right and true in this world. 

It is strange times when you watch neutral games and find yourself barracking for the Hawks and the Pies. Am I in a parallel universe? I can't help it, but have the Solvol ready for ritual cleansing and a priest  for absolution.

And an equally soft payback free kick to the Hawks = a goal. Grrrrrrr!

Goal gifted to the Lions from the softest free kick you will ever see. Just horrible. 

So many people saying we would lose to the Lions right now. After watching the first half versus Hawks, I cannot see them getting past us too easily. McCluggage is being tagged in the 2nd quarter and their drive has almost dried up.  

I hate to even think it, but Mitchell has the young Hawks well drilled and full of life. I can't believe I like watching the Hawks play, but their system and dedication to it is clear for all to see. Love that Newcombe in the midfield, and Frost would be very hard to cover in the forward line. His kicking might become an issue though. 

I get as frustrated as anyone over unclean footy, and would love us to monster these struggling teams. But we won! We are the reigning premiers, we are 10-0, and we have a defence and midfield the envy of the competition. I spent too many years moaning through each season - I'm going to enjoy this. 

I understand people thinking that Lions or Freo could be considered better teams at the moment, but the ladder says we are unbeaten and they aren't so I continue to hold the Dees as the best team at the moment

I agree with various comments above re Melksham and Dunstan being required backup, but Dunstan is a momentum killer for mine and I would prefer to see Bedford, Woewodin, Rosman, get a go, especially against lower teams.

Toast and coffee being enjoyed immensely this morning. 

6. Oliver

5. May

4. Spargo

3. TMac

2. Sparrow

1. Lever

Langdon goes out, Dunstan goes out.

Bedford in, Viney in.

I actually rate it as a really good win. North were very, very good - tough at the ball, brutally physical (a bit too much at times) and ripped through us with a short passing game they could not sustain. We stood up, although we were horribly unclean for the first half.

Clarry - superstar

Well done Tmac, Spargo, May, Sparrow in the 2nd half, Lever in patches.

Lots of handball practice this week at training please. 

A clean goal!

Our handball has been atrocious tonight. Sub-par, and often under no pressure. 

One of the best players the Dees have ever produced. But we can't put him into the Dusty category because his goal kicking is 2nd rate. When he kicks them they are usually blinders, but running through 50 shooting at goal he is simply a poor shot at goal, and his set shots are average at best. 

Lots of fumbling, handling errors and dropped marks. Frustrating. TMac, Kozzie and Fritsch looking good.

Some unfortunate casual, carefree stuff from Petracca. Oliver is a star.

We have also got some terrible free kicks given to to us - that 50m is a disgrace to our game. 

Please, please, please do NOT play Dunstan again. I would rather see a young kid have a crack and make mistakes than a mature player show us what poor VFL football looks like.

Goldy and Xerri doing a really good job nullifying Max. 

North having a red hot go and finally showing what system they are trying to play. 

To-do list:

1. Parkrun - check. Got a good time for an older bloke so smugly bragging about it to family
2. Voting - check. Had a good chat to a local independent candidate who has no chance of winning but is giving it a crack which I admire greatly.
3. Minestrone soup - in the slow cooker
4. Clean out the carport gutters, and desludge the bathroom u-bends - TBC after lunch

Then plonk in front of the footy and hopefully:

1. Ben Brown to kick 10, while smiling and enjoying himself.
2. Gawn, Petracca and Oliver to take a back seat while Sparrow and Jackson tear the Roos apart. 
3. Pickett and Spargo to cause havoc.
4. Postgame, get onto Demonland and enjoy gloating about being the best team in the league
5. Watch whatever game is in TV, knowing neither of the teams is as good as us. Yes, more gloating.

1 hour ago, In Harmes Way said:

You’re cutting up your phone?

Gold right there. 

It is clear that the Blues don't play four quarters but neither do we. Each week we play 1 poor quarter at least. The difference is the Blues get out in front with great footy, but then collapse and get overrun. We can give up 8 goals in a row, still find a way to reset, and swamp our opposition late with our fitness and grunt. 

Now I hate the Blues with an incoherent, deep passion so my views on them are always biased, but there is something about them still that makes me hold back from being a believer in their top 4 aspirations, and maybe they will struggle to make 7th or 8th. Their mids are very good but if they lose contested possession count, what is their plan B? Forwards are strong but Dees and Tigers will squeeze so hard defensively that they will look a lot less dangerous. Weitering is a star, love watching him, but he is surrounded by some serious B graders and B- players.  

Sydney should have won that. They needed to convert those chances in the last quarter. Their inability to kick vital goals when they have locked it into their forward half has been an issue for them for 18 months now, and is unresolved. And that Logan McDonald - wow! Scary good.

As bad as the Swans have looked, and Carlton on a roll, it is only 25 points the difference. It doesn't look likely for a Swans win but Longmire is a very good coach.

I simply hate Carlton. Seeing them playing well makes me want to puke. Swans looking mediocre at best.

Not a huge fan of the inclusion of Melksham, but Goodwin has been consistent in trying to get people to important milestones. The difficulty I have with the selection of Melksham is that it is not like for like. Harmes is great old fashioned footballer - a whole lot more skilful than many give him credit for, he runs all day, is a very good mark and kick, runs both ways, and can tag/stop if the team needs it.

Melksham is a creative half forward with a wide awareness and a beautiful kick, but hasn't got the grunt of Harmes. 

He is all elbows, knees, angles and awkwardness. There is little smooth or fluent about him to attract people to notice and admire him. These attributes work in his favour as opposition players have to find a way around his marking the ball at its highest point, and his natural body movement putting people off balance. 

I LOVE his long straight runup, and I am bewildered many other young forwards don't attempt the same. He runs in a straight line towards his target, and kicks it in that line, while being at a slow running pace. 

Having said all that, he makes our forward 50  effectiveness 30% better just by being there. I rate him very highly and still cannot believe the stupidity of North to treat him the way they did, and then let him go the way they did. 

I will never forget the first contest in the 2021 GF -Viney breathing fire absolutely flattens McCrae. I was out of my seat. Brilliant.