Maldonboy38

Finally get to sit at my computer. Got home at 1.15am thanks to horrendous eternal city roadworks, and a totally dysfunctional VLine that has been a staple diet of Bendigo travellers for a decade now. Impressive win on many fronts, much as been commented on by most. Our ball use at times was brilliant - simply brilliant. Kozzie, Bowey, Laurie, Rivers, Petracca all were very clean by foot at times. Having said that, a fair few of our 45 degree kicks into the middle of the ground got cut off due to poor kicking which got under my skin a bit. I couldn't for the life of me understand why the Dogs allowed BBB to be unmanned so often. My daughter and I looked at each other about 10 times and said "he's on his own again!!". Chandler and Spargo - wow! McVee too. Our defence - right across the ground - was epic. Noticeable and powerful. But our back 6 worked like a machine, showed immense courage and effort, and made the Dogs attack look feeble. But it was attacking flair and risk-taking that was the wow factor. We haven't played like that for a long time. Unfortunately, it has to be said, that as good as we were, the Dogs were appalling. Bontempelli aside who was exceptional for most of the night, their skill level was sub-standard and they gave their 4 talls no chance. And a special mention to Brayshaw. Not our best player, but there was a 5 minute patch where his gut running and hard work saved 5 forward entries. probably sums up our 4 quarter team effort.

6. Gawn 5. Petracca 4. Kozzie 3. lever 2. Brown 1. Tomlinson

I watched a fair bit of Casey last year, and thought that Baker was serviceable, but that his game wouldn't transfer to VFL level. Taking the extra step, kicking into F50 but the forwards having to stop under the ball, little impact around contested ball etc... Having said that, I thought the same about McVee. I am really glad Laurie got a game, even if he hasn't show the goods very often yet. If he can't get past Spargo and Chandler for a spot in the 22, I reckon we lose him at season's end to a team that needs a small forward with his skill set. Too good to flounder in the VFL.

Parkrun. Check Home brewed coffee and fruit sourdough. Check. Mow lawns. Starting soon. Shower and nap. Then into the car for a 3 hour drive to watch the boys tonight, with my Dees-mad daughter. I am not sure what to expect with 4 of our best out with injury/illness, and the surface is a disgrace. But I think our better players are a cut above theirs (Bont aside) so am hoping for a 10 point win. Then the horrible 3 hour drive home. Will be a late one.

As much as Selwood's ducking and looking for free kicks annoyed me, Geelong are showing what his absence means: lack of leadership. He would be doing something right now and not accepting the run of play.

Hawthorn gave up Tom Mitchell for peanuts. Could be one of the most stupid trade moves in history. And well done Pies for swooping.

Chalk and cheese between last night's game and this. Skills, vision, pace and pressure are all top notch. As much as I can't stand the Cats, their ground level ball handling has been outstanding. Their defence on the other hand has been patchy at best.

How could the Carlton defence allow Lynch to run and jump at the ball? What about a bit of body contact?

20 metres out, dead in front, kick around the corner. Mind-numbing stupidity. Then a comedy of errors tying to bring it out of the Blues defence. Tired players, and no game breaker to bring a team home.

He gets it time and time again, and totally butchers it.

Prestia is killing it. Unfortunately he us dishing it off to Taranto who can't kick.

Go back 3 years and Dusty would have torn this game to shreds. He is starting to warm up, but looks 4 or 5 games away from doing what he can do. Both midfields look so pedestrian and workman like, but with no excellence, or burst away player. I am a huge fan of Charlie Curnow, but he is playing a very Sam Weideman ish game - getting to everything but not completing a mark, or a play. Cotchin is shot. Shai Bolton - yes please.

There is a LOT of "kick long and hope" into both forward lines going on. Atrocious forward play. Brainless. And boring.

First 10 minutes of madness followed by really average footy. Lots of pressure, dropped marks. But great to have footy back.

I am unsure how much effort the Tiges are potting up at times, but our system between wing and inside F50 is looking as good as it has ever in Goodwin's time as coach. Nibbler, Sparrow, Harmes and Spargo are all showing serious gut running. Surely the Tiges are not this rubbish? Our backline is epic.

Never said he was knocked aside, but I did say that many players were holding back from full physical contact due to preseason. Agree he is finely skilled, likes his evasive movements, and his kicking was great. I stand by my uncertainty about how he would go 1 on 1 against biger bodied forwards and mids.

As bad as the Saints were, and I can't see them doing too much this year, Ross Lyon is too good a coach to tolerate mediocrity. Also, he comes out of the Paul Roos camp, where pre season games are for practicing and trying things, not winning. Unfortunately, I think Spargo and Chandler might be fighting for the same spot. As good as Chandler was, some of Spargo's field kicking and tackling was off-the-charts brilliant. His goal assist work is vital to our attack so would still give him the nod. Sparrow and Harmes look to also be fighting for the same spot. At this stage, Sparrow looks the goods but Harmes can also play the lock down role, and when if he finds his best, his work rate and kicking help us arrest momentum from opposition. He often helps win those 50/50 balls around the ground. I can't wait for JVR to debut, but seeing TMac and BBB fit and firing was great to witness. Put Fritsch in there with all three of them fully fit, our forward line looks strong, multi-faceted and dangerous. I reckon next week against the Tigers will clarify so much more.

Agree with much others have written. McVee looked good, but the Saints were horrible, and it looked like he was playing on skinny kids most of the time. I think he is still a bit light and will be shown up badly by mature players with more size. As good as he played, not sure he is a lock for round 1. More reasons not to read too much generally into result today It was a preseason game It was very, very hot and very, very windy. Lots of balls going inside F50 dropping short, going over heads, and hooking left and right. You could see players from both sides holding back on pressure at times to save from injury Generally speaking we looked strong and able.

A few real howlers in the past 3 mins going into half forward from people like Kozzie, Chandler and others.

Really interesting watching this. Hard to tell how we are doing because the Saints are seriously struggling. Ross Lyon has a huge task ahead. Our general game play, positional strengths and all-ground defence is looking good. Hitting targets across the ground looking good. Our choosing and hitting targets who are 25 - 40 metres out continues to be a work in progress. A bit disappointing. Chandler, Hunter and McVee very, very impressive. Grundy looking rusty. I am really wanting to see JVR, but TMac and Brown doing everything right.

I am not the biggest fan of AFLW as a spectacle, but as I have said previously on Demonland discussions, Daisy is the best thing to happen to the MFC in the last 20 years (alongside Paul Roos). She is football royalty: gun player, inspirational leader, passionate, Dees tragic, articulate, intelligent, considerate. So glad that she is able to go out on such a high. P.S. Seeing her in a Geelong outfit this season is really going to get me riled.

This sums it up for me. Robbie was so different, graceful and skilful in an era when there were very few club high points, and remains my favourite ever Demon. But I have to concede that Clarry is the best Dees player I have seen. My eyes are drawn to him whether live or on TV, while his intensity and determination are a level above every one around him. Gun. Star. Brilliant.

I have always rated Ratten highly as a coach, and remember well his immediate influence on our midfield some years ago. First Carlton shafted him and now the Saints. I love my footy, but stuff me if this doesn't highlight its very very ugly underbelly. Saints board ought to be taken to court over this - it is unjust and disgraceful on some many levels. I thought I would gloat when other clubs became as bad as we were, but it just makes me sad to see North and the Saints like this. However, with regard to the Bombers, I can't help myself. I will continue to gloat because they are the Bombers and they remain fully of hubris, nepotism and irrelevance.

I simply don't get it. He is an accumulator, but I have rarely seen him have a big impact, and I don't rate him much at all. Feels so much like the Dunstan trade of last year. I suppose on the + side, he is a left footer and has experience on the wing. He seems like a small improvement when we have a heap of talent stuck at Casey, who can already provide what he provides (experience aside).

No no no no no. Absolutely no. Chompers is red and blue to his bones and belongs with us. And to %#@*ing Essendon!! No no no no no.