Maldonboy38

What a pale, lifeless, lethargic game of footy. WCE are trotting around and the Tiges are winning 90% of one-on-one contests without much effort.

Shiel has been average at times, but he is not the reason the Bombers are losing. They only have 2 metre Peter - and he is working hard - but they have a poor half forward line, and look like the Dees circa 2015 kicking inside 50. Their defence is brittle, and the entire squad reacts too slowly on transition. WCE v Tiges tonight might be a better game than many think - they are both struggling so it might at least be a good contest. Nah, can't keep up the facade - tonight will be rubbish but I will watch it because it is Friday night and the only other option is some of my family are watching Magic Mike. Makes WCE v Tiges look very appealing.

Two sides of the coin here. With ball in hand we are smarter, fitter and more experienced to take what time we have to make a decision. We also have some great natural decision makers. However, the amount of times Trac, Clarry, Spargo, TMac, ANB and probably others, try to get around the first tackle, only to get pinged for holding/dropping the ball is really frustrating. We seem to do this for one period in each game and get scored against, usually in the 2nd quarter.

Rivers. He is a super player and has a massive future but he is nowhere near his best, his wonderful kicking is lacking penetration and the run-and-carry is non existent.

He annoys the carp out of me and reminds me of his d**k head father but he is a very good kick for goal.

Gutted for poor Paddy McCartin - he was really showing his ability down back with the Swannies. Game over for his footy career methinks. And this solidifies my view about cameras in the change rooms. We should not have seen that footage between him and his doctor, nor of him leaning against the locker. A bridge too far for mine. That is a very private moment of a human being in despair and is no place for voyeurs. The Pies v Bummers game is interesting. If the Bummers would stop handballling in circles on the wing and set up better across half forward they would be in front. Parish was just getting free ball in the 1st quarter but he was very damaging in the 2nd. And the big buffoon Draper is actually staring to take Grundy apart. No way do the Pies sustain their current manic tempo corridor footy. They will be exhausted by 3rd quarter and unable to run it out. Already some of their younger players look cooked. But Essendon are just as young so I reckon the 4th quarter will be a dour slog. I know Howe left for success at the club he barracked for, but he is no dud. His intercepting is outstanding and he is a very good field kick. I am adding Quaynor to me list of "player I love watching at other clubs". Currently it is Heeney and Tom Green. Quaynor with the ball splits the game apart - brilliant. Wow, that became almost a rant...

6 Oliver 5 May 4 Gawn 3 Brayshaw 2 Petty 1 Hunt Apologies to Langdon who got a lot of the ball but I thought was fairly sloppy. Loved Sparrow's game too, and a number of others played OK.

Sums us up perfectly. Have you been sneaking glimpses of Goodwin's game plan notes? The great thing is we have been playing this game plan for 5+ years, but only in the last 18 months have the players fully committed to the gut running involved, and reached a skill level where we can execute. We almost shot ourselves in the foot last night with atrocious goal kicking but got through with that 6 minutes in the 3rd quarter.

Bedford to Casey. Dunstan to sub. Viney in. Lever in. Smith out. His 85% is actually really good but the other 15% gives me the shivers. The decision making by many of our players was dodgy last night, but Smith leads the pack. Harmes is a watch and see. And Kozzie is simply not getting enough ball. His defensive stuff is brilliant and when he gets the ball, look out. Not sure what to do because he isn't exactly a liability.

Home after 1am after a long, foggy drive home. The ANZAC reflection was poignant and meaningful again, except for 2 Tigers fans who yelled out in the middle of silent periods. Richmond were actually OK around the ball, and many times got it to their half forward line untouched by Dees players, which very few teams have worked out how to do. Cotchin led from the front, Bolton was dangerous most of the night, and their pressure at the contest was first rate. But I thought their forwards rarely looked dangerous, and Lynch had an absolute howler which makes me feel all warm and happy inside. We absolutely slaughtered them in general play, but the goal kicking was inexcusable. Some from ANB, Spargo, Pickett, Sparrow looked mentally weak. Petracca's goal kicking is beginning to really frustrate me. If he is running through 50 kicking for goal he misses, and last night he was actually quite selfish. Oliver, May and Brayshaw were outstanding. Garry Lyon, Trav Johnstone and Jack Watts are the best kicks I have seen at the Dees but Stephen May is quickly joining them. Great to watch. The back 6 only gave up 11 scoring shots, but Lever and Salem are needed quickly. Richmond made our forward 50 entries come in wide, so well done them, but we rarely lowered our eyes. Also, BBB, Fritsch and Weid were often ignored on good leads which totally does my head in. They were seen but ignored! And Clayton Oliver is stepping in on Robbie Flower territory (big claim, I know) - he is simply brilliant. Hitting the ball at speed and setting up the next play.

If North could hit a target inside 50, they would be up with the Cats. Matching the Cats everywhere except across half forward.

We go in favourite, and rightly so, but the Tiges are very well coached and their smaller players are in great form. It is their ageing stars that are letting them down, and I think they might struggle to score. I am hoping to see Langdon, Jordon, Hunt and Brayshaw tear them apart with gut running and relentless transition footy. And like many others, I have been waiting for an extended stint of seeing Weid and BB play together. For me, into the train with 3 family members at 3.30pm and down to the game I go. Could be a late-ish night home - approx 12.30am - but worth it in anticipation of a great win.

I have actually watched a few Casey games live, and reckon he has been ok. He runs both ways, and although he has an awkward kicking action, appears to deliver quite well. Dunstan hasn't really caught my attention in any way.

Absolutely agree. GWS have really good leaders, and have made a GF in recent years, and actually play hard and tight in around stoppages. But their forwards, especially their half-forwards are lazy, lack intent, and don't/won't do the running required.

What a rubbish free kick to Flynn! And the Saints players are not allowed to say anything.

You know how there are certain opposition players you can't help but love watching? Tom Green is great to watch. Pure old school midfielder with vision, grunt and class.

Not a fan of the Dunstan inclusion. I am happy to be proven wrong but he is a poor man's Dan Hanneberry and lacks consistent grunt. I would have rather given Rosman a game on the wing and switch Brayshaw into the middle, or something similar. Happy to see Sparrow starting in the middle, hope he gets a good crack at a full game running through the midfield. Hopefully he can step out of the Petracca, Oliver, and Viney shadow. Good to see Weid keep his spot but really feel for TMac. Out of good form, yes, but not really doing too much wrong. With Covid protocols ruining selection planning, we could see a lot of players getting games at late notice.

Not a fan of Dunstan getting a run. I would rather move Brayshaw into the middle, keep Jordon and Langdon on the wings, and move Bedford onto the bench. It just looks unresloved and messy with that many names on the board.

Hawks hardness opening up the cats defence like a tin of dog food. I don't reckon they can keep it up for 4 quarters, but any team that can will beat the Cats. Ruck going down changes the game - he was doing brilliant ruck work.

Well, I'm not going to put a video package together for you, so feel free to undertake that task if that's the proof you need. Some players irritate me for certain reasons, and they don't you. I'm ok with the difference of opinion.

I live in the country. 2.5 hours to get to the ground: 2 hours + by car, then walk to the MCG. I usually get to 5 games per year, and hopefully will this year. For almost 5 years, the train line between Bendigo and Melbourne has had seasonal patches of having to get into a bus. Extends the train trip by a lot and is totally annoying. I drive to the games now. The new ticketing system is simply put: stupid. Modern technology is supposed to expedite the process, but now extra steps are required and it takes longer once at the ground. And lastly, as much as I love our premiership and being the best, the modern game of 22 players around the ball just isn't as enjoyable to watch. Imagine if we get the ball at half back, transition through the wing, and kick it to a one-on-one between Fritsch and his opponent, with Kozzie and his opponent hovering around for the crumbs. THAT footy was where the skilful thrived, and each kick was a contest. This is why I much prefer going to the local footy and listening to the AFL via my phone.

Don't get me wrong, he is a really really good footballer, but the constant staging for free kicks, throwing his head back, and over celebrating is really grating. I hated this kind of stuff if my own team mates did it when I played local footy, and I still hate it. It is also what put me off Brian Wilson at first, and even Kozzie was doing it in his first season.

Finally able to sit down to watch some footy today. My goodness I despise Essendon. I reckon I barrack harder against them than any other team. I simply hope they fail. And that spud ruckman of theirs; if Cody Weightman is the most punchable head in footy, this bloke is a close second. Whinging moaning, dill.

Last year, Hunt lost his place in the team and couldn't get it back. We have to reward form. As good as BBB is, he has to now wait just like he had to last year. He makes us a better side but our forward line clicked into top gear last night and it looked very, very good. No change. Unless Lever is still limping today.

6. May 5. Gawn 4. Spargo 3. Viney 2. Oliver 1. Petracca