Maldonboy38

I loved the amount of times the 2 Daicos boys were surprised by being immediately tackled. They are so used to running around free and unhindered, but the Dees boys gave them little space, and it showed how much they struggle when played close. And I have leapt from my seat about 10 times this year, when Kozzie has got both hands on a speccy, only to spill it. I will go berserk when he finally hols onto one!

Because it is at AO, Port should win. If it was at SS Geelong should win. If it was at the MCG, very hard to make a call. Port in better form but if they hit another top 4 team playing at their peak, not sure they can sustain their momentum

Well done Kade, well done MFC. How the MFC has changed. Players used to 'wait until season's end' blah, blah, blah... but now they are lining up to re-sign. We are recent premiers, a destination club, and a genuine contender for the flag in 2023. Good times. These kind of signings are a great indicator of internal cohesion and confidence. Although we can probably fit only 2 small forwards into our 22, Chandler is most likely sitting in 1st place at the moment, with Spargo and Kozzie in such poor form. I also like the fact he often plays well in the last quarter. After the bye, hopefully his fatigue has levelled out, and he has enough recovery energy to kick the goals he was kicking earlier in the season.

We have to respect strong form. On form, no way should Tomlinson or Smith be dropped. They are playing their role too well. Tomlinson is shorter than Petty, a much better kick, but not as mobile. Petty is a much better mark/spoil. So despite form, perhaps we do need Petty to run around with Cameron. Smith's athleticism and attack on the ball looks like a strong variable that other backlines might struggle to cover. And he can take a contested mark. OUT: Spargo IN: Oliver. Bowey really stiff, but who in the backline comes out for him?

Really interesting post match press conference from Goody. He is usually as interesting as cheese grater, but boy was he confident and buoyant about that performance. Loved how he talked about the Dees crowd enjoying the things the team values - all the hard stuff.

6. Viney 5. Salem 4. Tomlinson 3. Rivers 2. Fritsch 1. McVee Sorry Hunter, Petracca and Brayshaw - far too many errors.

After standing in a train for 2 hours all the way home to Bendigo (thanks VLine for your usual scheduling disaster following footy matches) it is good to sit and read the wonderful gloating here on DL. And yes, we deserve to gloat. Feeling very good after that win. Huge crowd, Freeze MND, a reduction in betting advertising, foul coffee, and spent 3 quarters listening to Pies supporters around me (outnumbered by Dees supporters abou 4:1 in my section) whinging and moaning. Dees by far the better team, beat the Pies all over the ground. And even when they got that fast outnumbered play mobilized down the wing, they hit our backline like a concrete slab. Brilliant coaching by making Moore, and 2 x Daicos accountable. The Pies will NOT win the flag if they don't improve their one-on-one contests. Our backline are football gods. Having Salem back to his peak helps. But they annihilated the Pies forwards. Hunter and Brayshaw were kicking it to Collingwood in the 1st 15 minutes. Horrible. After that, that is the cleanest we have been around the ball this year. Our handball spread from stoppages, and handball chains down the ground work when we hit our targets. And by foot we were as good 2021. Viney (wow, just wow) Trac, Sparrow, Brayshaw were brilliant. A really poor showing from Kozzie & Spargo. Chandler not much better but he had a strong last quarter. I lost my voice after Grundy kicked his goal. A funny Pies supporter behind me yelled out "Traitor - please come back!" Our goal kicking... I don't know what to type. I couldn't watch our shots on goal in the 2nd half. I put my head in my hands and let the crowd response tell me the result. Just woeful. The Joel Smith 'experiment' is a lock for mine. Loved his workrate, his 2nd efforts, and his attack on the ball in the air and on the ground. Not a brilliant individual game, but a strong effective team role. Bowey, Petty and Oliver to come back in. If we are refreshed and fit after the bye, the position squeeze is on. What a great day - Go Dees!

Slept in, cereal with fruit and Keffir, a nice home brewed coffee from local (and outstanding) coffee roaster Custom Coffee, into my Dees gear, about to jump in the car with eldest adult daughter who like me, is a mental Dees fan., and head the 'G. At this point, the Pies have played better football so they have to go in as favourites, but will yell my guts out and hope for a strong win.

I thought the Dees struggle with the default long bomb in hope, but the Blues and Bombers are at another level. They both look bereft of system between wing and half-forward.

I'm with you Rab. I will ease my inner turmoil by not cheering for either, and enjoying the errors and fails of both teams. I think as the game progresses, my deep-psyche loathing of all things Essendon will emerge the stronger.

I lived there for 2 years, and couldn't agree more. One-eyed, ill informed, back country, red necked fools who are loud, dumb and hyper annoying.

I hate to say it, but Mitchell has the young Hawks playing a really good style of footy. Fast, exciting and daring. Having said that, the Lions' weaknesses are on full display - lack of defensive run from the midfield, a defensive network that cannot manage fast ball movement, and little physical presence.

This match reminds me of when I played U12s. 30 players around the play, and a handful at each end who don't want to run but want to kick goals.

So glad the cricket is on, although most of India's bowling after the 1st session yesterday was as poor as the Swans v Saints kicking tonight. Struggling to focus or care about the footy tonight; it seems a skill-less match with a soul-less feel to the crowd. Even the commentators seems bored. At least it means our game v Blues last week is not the worst game of the year.

Seeing the Bummers win, and hearing THAT song, a very disappointing end to a great game of footy. I might have to watch the goals and highlights of the Dees v Blues game to cleanse myself.

North don't remember how to win, but boy, their young talent is impressive. Could be anything in 3 years. They have about 8 young blokes with less than 20 games who look like long term AFL players. And if they can get Thomas, LDU and Aaron Hall on the park together with this young group, things might be better a whole lot sooner than many thought. And just because it means so much to me - I loathe Essendon. Seeing them lose to North would be so satisfying.

Any game where Gary Rohan Plays well, you know the opposition have not defended well.

Interesting goal feast at Marvel stadium. Apart from Tom Stewart down one end and Liam Jones the other, no-one on the ground seems to know how to defend. Hawkins elbows English in the chin, and gets a weak free kick for being held. So sick of that carp. English is now a very good ruckman, playing a great game. Bontempelli is in a league of his own. His ability to kick under pressure is insane.

Casey all over the Sharks. Gotta love Mitch White - so sure & steady. I know BBB has the huge set shot run up but boy we could use his goal kicking accuracy.

Woewodin looking good but the commentator will not shut up about him. Turner looks a cut above; once he is AFL size he is our next tall defender. From previous games, I like young Jefferson but it will be tough for him to show his wares with so many other Dees listed players in the Casey forward line. One to watch. We are getting soundly beaten at stoppage and ground ball.

Tomlinson stays in - our backline structure looks so much more strong and stable with three taller players. May & Lever having such great games v Blues has a lot to do with Tomlinson taking McKay. I want BBB in, but I liked the athletic option of J Smith. He has never had a good run due to injury and would like to see what he can do. I would also have him running with Moore to make him accountable. Smith's speed and athleticism could really trouble Moore, who hates being made accountable. OUT: Bowie, Harmes IN: Hibberd, Oliver. Collingwood are in rare form, being quick AND skilful. But they are not strong one-on-one. Their inside midfielders take a lot of hits so Sidebottom (injured now) 2 x Daicos, McCreary etc.. can play wide and unaccountable. And our half forwards have to play quick and brutal to stop their half back running.

The more I reflect on the game this morning, some more minor victories emerge. Our effective tackling was back (there were still some horrible missed tackles but we were much better), our full ground defence was strong, our 2 way running was evident, and our stupid handballing was limited. Hopefully these things are in place for KB. But even if we get our F50 entries and basic forward play in better shape, the kicking by Brayshaw, Rivers, Langdon, Salem, Viney etc.. is a real concern. Unpressured turnovers equals opposition shots on goal in today's footy and we gave the Blues far too many freebies.

Horrible to watch, and nowhere near top 4 standard but we won. Second half we began to play our game for the first time in weeks, but our backmen need an award and a pay rise. They were brilliant tonight. Tomlinson had some struggles, but wasn't as bad as many seem to think. Some great signs from our young guns - JVR and McVee. Our midfield can't kick. Even Salem's boot was off tonight. Turnover merchants. I wanted to punch something. The total pelican Roaming Brian would be a great option. Spargo, Kozzie and Chandler - a meek game from all three. And what has happened to Fritsch's kicking? Gawn & JVR in the last quarter - wonderful. I would persist with Joel Smith. Didn't do much but worked hard and was much more mobile than BBB or TMac.

6. Petracca 5. May 4. Lever 3. JVR 2. McVee 1. Gawn. Brayshaw, Hunter, Rivers, Salem, Spargo, Chandler, Viney & Langdon - they all got their share of the ball, but their kicking was so poor I refuse to give them votes. Kicking practice urgently required by the lot of them. Langdon in the last quarter was very good , and Bowey was in epic form before the head knock. Apologies to Sparrow, couldn't quite fit him in .

We cannot kick. It is that simple. Atrocious. So b****y frustrating to watch. I have to remind myself that we are winning.