Maldonboy38

Don't like Cody Weightman very much as a player, but that was a bully act from Ceglar. Lucky there was no injury.

I know we no longer play footy as a one-on-one game but surely if you are getting flogged as the Doggies are now, stopping Geelong's free flowing football with multiple free players becomes something of a priority. And from memory, you have to run - lots of Doggies players trotting around with little intensity.

Selwood is a gun, a great footballer, tough and hard as nails, courageous and more skilled by foot than he is given credit for. And he is probably in the top 5 captains of all time. One of the best last quarter players I have seen, and is personally responsible for getting the Cats over the line in many games through leadership and courage. But his ducking, whinging, throwing, and "lip service" to opposition players and umpires marks him way down in terms of the respect he gets - from me and many other non-Geelong football people. My daughter, soon and I went to the Geelong final in 2018 and got seats near the fence at the dug-outs where all the interchanges happen. We could hear and see a lot of what went on. I have never, ever in my life head someone whinge and complain like Selwood. Really surprised me, and really annoyed me. Despite all his greatness I can't stand watching him play now.

Quick, cat like, a great freakish mark, and has become a very reliable kick. Super player, classy, and is so good to watch.

I hadn't thought of this but I reckon it is a very, very good idea. But for the most part, I don't understand all the down talk about Grundy. Yes, his last 1.5 years have been flat and injury riddled but his tap work is better than Jackson's and around the ground he is like an extra very large midfielder. Him and Max would impossible for other teams to match in a similar way it is with Gawn and Jackson. The $ situation is the sticking point. Collingwood are in an atrocious mess re salary cap/player payments and I can't see them wanting to pay much of Grundy's salary at all, if he is traded. And having now signed all our main players for extended years, our own salary cap is going to need some management soon.

This close to finals, as few changes as possible. If BBB is fit, he comes in for Weid. ANB has been on a run of poor footy. But he is the forward line leader so no way is he dropped. Feel sorry for Harmes. Bad time of year to get an injury but can't see who to drop for him.

From memory, the email wasn't after a particular game, more a build up over a series of disaster games. I saw the huge Essendon loss, WCE loss and Hawks loss and every time they were on TV (which was rare) we were embarrassing. My daughter was just getting into footy, and my entire family once caught the Dee-train from the city of Casey to the game to watch a massive loss. I thought, what is the point? To give them credit, I did get a response and it wasn't a generic email but a response to my questions. I did sign on again. couldn't help myself. But it was more about my defiant sense of continual membership than it was about enjoyment.

As much as I am a huge fan of Sparrow, I have been one of his critics this year. A lot of clumsy football and poor disposal. But he was much better last night. He maintained his physical edge but made better decisions once he was in a place to deliver. Kudos to him - onward and upward for him now I hope. Even though I was disappointed when Hunt was dropped, I understood why. But it was great to see him doing his thing last night. In patches I thought he was super. He will always have a few "Frosty" mind fades or mistakes but his line breaking is invaluable. You gotta love Hibbo - he reminds me of a 1980's footballer. Socks down, unkempt, untidy but simply a natural footballer with a great brain and a great kick. I will never forget his run with the Premiership cup in hand. Absolute shockers from Weid, ANB and Jackson (he had a few patches of good footy). I used to quote the phrase "OK boys, spread out" whenever Fritsch was kicking for goal. His reliability was atrocious. Not now. One of the classiest players we have produced in along long time. A very good mark, a wonderful kick, a better tackler than you would think with his slight build, and cat like reflexes at ground level. Nowhere in the same stratosphere, but he is classy in the way Robbie Flower was. I love Demonland after a win!!

6. Viney 5. Brayshaw 4. Fritsch 3. Hibberd 2. Petracca 1. Spargo

Loved watching that. We were much cleaner in disposal and steadier than we have been for most of the year (except for a LOT of slipping over or running over the ball). A few passengers but even they had moments of being effective. Best thing - this was a very Melbourne game. Stifle the opposition and kick classy goals. Viney the beast again, great to see Brayshaw in the middle, Fritsch is a freak, and our backline back to its best.

I remember really clearly that Neeld was gobsmacked at our poor pre season training standards and returning fitness level. So he when complete nuts and made the training standards really strict. He actually did that well. The rest was a total mess. Unhappy players, huge losses, dysfunctional play, really poor skills, captains too young, low membership, a coach who couldn't communicate, etc... I remember emailing the club (1st and only time ever) asking them to give me a reason why I should renew my membership.

Does my memory serve me correctly, that the first line is a quote of Sir Humphrey from "Yes Minister"? If yes, I applaud you sir/madam/insert gender neutral word here. If not I applaud you with a quote from Mr. Edmund Blackadder" "you have my contrafibularities".

All our play between wing and 35m from goal has lacked strength and power in most games. Fritsch and our midfield have covered over a really poor forward transition game. We are desperate for a tall forward with presence who can be a definite target. With no TMac, and kicking into that zone possibly as bad as any team (including North and I am not joking by saying that), BBB, Weid. M Brown haven't been able to physically dominate an area to help our forward effectiveness. Our inability to stop other teams with momentum after half time is also an issue, but nowhere near as dysfunctional as our hlaf forward play.

How could those 2 Essendon players allow Elliot to mark that? Have a look at Heppell - absolutely furious.

If Essendon lose this my loathing of them will reach new depths. This weekend is killing me.

Apart from our default defensive strategy operating at 70% efficiency or less and some players making uncharacteristic howlers, we are in the same position as last year. We lost a close game to the Doggies and had a few of our weaknesses exposed. As frustrating as this is I just don't get the ranting about this player or that. With 4 rounds to go, all finals aspirants should be shuffling and sifting towards their best 25 players to shape their finals campaign. For me we need to begin locking in our starting structural set up: 2 talls as our F50 spine Make the call between Bowey, Rivers or Hunt as our preferred 6th starting defender. Move Brayshaw back to the wing so that our starting midfield is Gawn, Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Langdon and Brayshaw. In almost every game this year, one (or more) of ANB, Spargo or Kozzie have played really badly. IF one of them is to be dropped, Chandler comes in and he stays in like Bowey did last year. So for Dees v Freo OUT: Tomlinson, Rivers IN: Lever, Hunt But apart from the structure and personnel I would like to see the burning angry defensive grunt we saw last year possess every player so no more scores against us over 65 points.

Great game of footy, great finish. But in reality, I feel both teams lost it. It is sad to see modern defensive strategy now totally dominates, while forward play and in particular kicking, is losing its vitality.

Hahaha, my bad! It's so long ago now it's all becoming blended. I remember listening to the footy on those tiny trannies with the single ear piece. Still rather the simplicity of that rather than all the loud music, pop culture waffle and gambling advertising that surrounds the game now.

Wow, where did you pull that from!! Now I can't get Harry Beitzel's unique voice out of my head.

A cracking game of footy being totally ruined by atrocious F50 field kicking and goal kicking.

Richmond fans screaming "ball" and "50" every 2 seconds. Entitled, dumb [censored], microwaving nuff nuffs.

That mark by Fyffe - breath taking. That's why I admire him - a one touch player.

Cracking game of footy. A lot of sprinting inside 50 which neither team will be able to maintain for 4 quarters.

Probably best for us if the Tiges win, but I can't barrack for them. I really like the way Freo play and Fyffe is one of my all time favourite players to watch.

We might not be able to afford much, but I would be going after Bruhn. He gets so little attention and media but is a very good footballer. Taranto and Hopper will ask too many $, and Bobby Hill is too inconsistent.