Maldonboy38

We can't do a fire sale, but we have a LOT of players out of form, making poor decisions or butchering the ball. Absolutely agree about Brayshaw back on the wing. Perhaps a reset to back 6 of May, Lever, Petty, Salem, Bowey, Rivers. But I am struggling to find like-for-like replacements. OUT: ANB, Sparrow, Kozzie, M Brown, IN: May, Rivers, van Rooyen, Bedford, (but this is replacing forwards with backs).

It took 3hours to get home, and a bit of time to think. Lots to think about. Great game of footy for 3 quarters. We are low on confidence for some reason, our skill level is 2019-ish, and some basics of our game plan are non existent. Kicking inside F50 was as bad as it has ever been. Although BBB kept running under the ball or dropping marks that he got clear 2 hands onto, he had 2-3 players flying against him most of the night. Fritsch was given a footy lesson and our small forwards have been poor most of the year. Delivery by Viney, ANB, Trac & Sparrow is frankly embarrassing. Fortunately Jordon and Brayshaw are their to mop up. I can't remember a single 45 degree kick into the corridor that took a risk. There might have been 1 or 2 but I can't remember them. Salem and Bowey usually star at this but kudos to the Pies who shut that avenue completely. ANB and Sparrow have had enough chances. Currently both are momentum killers and liabilities. Cannot believe their fumbles, lack of awareness and constant turning back into trouble. Kozzie too but probably still adds an element that no-one else can replace. Lever is having a foul year. I don't know what has happened, but his kicking and decision making make Ben Holland look effective. Difficult to watch.

Heading off in about half an hour with my Collingwood supporting brother-in-law to watch the game from high up on the 4th level. Very tempted to bring binoculars, or even "opera glasses" just to pump up the MFC supporter wealthy snob cliche. Feeling good but reckon it will be a close, gut-wrenching game.

Agree that North need a Dees rebuild, similar to Roos arriving in September 2013. Apart from some "non-negotiables" on the training track and a rebuild of personnel and gameplan etc..., we needed a mature respected coach who could take all the commentary and flack that was sure to come while the succession plan coach was chosen and established. Our first decent season was 2018 - 5 years later. I really admire Noble and don't believe he is part of the problem. Unfortunately, he is in the Mark Neeld position and will soon be the necessary sacrifice if the club are fair dinkum about a full reset. I just hope that Clarkson doesn't go to North, I would love him to be Tassie's first coach.

Yeah, Hunt looking very good in appalling conditions.

As hard as Freo are working, Hawthorn would be well in front if they could finish in front of goal.

Interesting reading all the loathing of Essendon: an attitude I endorse fully. Any team that has prolonged success gets labelled as "arrogant, entitled etc.." just because they demonstrate a renewed senses of confidence. Carlton 70's and 80's, Hawks in 3 eras, Geelong, North under Carey, Lions 01-03, Tigers now. To be honest it is a sort of arrogance and entitlement I hope to hold onto over the next 5 years. But The Bombers are different. They won 1 premiership in an era they were supposed to dominate. When they failed in 1999 they refused to sing their own club song until they won in 2000, denying their supporters the joy of being part of the club's success. And since then they have been a self-indulgent, bland, joyless, mediocre bunch of grand standers whose arrogance hit the high point when injecting their players in secrecy. The fact they have not sacked their entire recruiting team shouts "hubris" very loudly to the AFL world. The way the AFL applauded their violent thuggery to win the 2000 GF will keep the Bombers forever despised by me, even if at times there are certain players I like watching. I don't really want them to win wooden spoons - that is too easy. I want them believing in their own delusion and staying at position 10-16 for the next 50 years. Boy, that felt good to type!

Brilliant footballer, and if he ever gets fit or actually gives a @#$%, he could tear things apart.

Essendon are so poor after a turnover. Their defensive spread is slow, lacks intent, and Carlton are running to half forward unimpeded.

Heppell is having an absolute stinker. Responsible for 2 goals and a turnover so far.

2 clear holding-the-man decisions not paid - right in front of the umpire. What is going on?

How do I watch Blues v Bombers without puking? Essendon I loathe with intensity, and Carlton only marginally less. I really like Harrison Jones, so I will cheer him when he is near it, and just generally moan and deride my way through the rest of it.

Charlie Dixon working his backside off, midfield missing him by 5-10, or kicking it Richmond defenders.

Stuff me, Martin is brillliant. I love watching him kick - so strong, steady and accurate. He also knows when to kick hard or to loop it into space. This brilliance is balanced by how much Cotchin gets my teeth grinding.

I've watched a bit of Casey this year, and Rosman looks close to AFL level, although not heaps of the ball in recent weeks. Agree about Moniz-Wakefiled. He looks classy but goes missing for long periods.

Sorry, but it is. Just as holding a jumper when a player has not got the ball is holding the man, holding a jumper of a player with the ball and the player does not dispose of it = holding the ball. Always was, always has been.

Ah, yes it is. If a player has the ball and you hold the jumper, and he does nothing to release it - it is holding the ball.

Great game of footy Freo v lions. A high standard of everything.

This is so true. I was screaming it at the screen for most of the 2nd half. I could not believe the times Harmes gut ran into F50, provided an option by moving about, and was seen but ignored. Everyone else was standing still waiting for the pack to form. This was simply an invitation to the McCartin & McCartin show to show us their best, and Rampe LOVES this scenario. Great coaching by Longmire, and great discipline by the Swans players.

OK, I have an evening, brekkie and lunch behind me during which I was able to reflect and ponder our 12 point loss to the Swans. And now I sit to read the torrent of opinion, hyperbole and ranting otherwise known as the Demonland postgame thread. I think many of us (including myself last night) need to take valium, take rectal valium, medicinal cannabis, non-medicinal cannabis or some such other, and calm the &*$# down. We played poorly and have 3 main areas to fix - 1) decision making with ball in hand 2)basic skills under pressure but most importantly 3) forward 50 cohesion. We are coming towards the bye and it appears we have a few tired, sore players. The sky hasn't fallen. And please, for the love of everything Melbourne supporters consider sacred STOP BLAMING THE UMPIRES!!!! Yes, they make lots of mistakes every week but we rarely lose games because of them. Yes, there were some howlers last night but they are not against us, they didn't plan for the Swans to win, and no we don't always get the wort of it. We lost by playing poorly and the Swans played well.

No. M Brown was next to useless as well. I would be playing van Rooyen and seeing what he can do if TMac is out.

Yes, forgot about him. He was probably equal worst. His turning back into trouble, or handballing to a team mate in a worse position was appalling. Not sure why he has stepped back so far from his effectiveness from last year.

What to do with Lever, Jackson, Sparrow and BBB? Their touch has gone, their confidence has gone, their intensity is totally shot.

Very harsh on Hunt. He kept Papley to no impact, and his one goal was from a free kick that was soft ( but it was a free kick). Both Browns, Sparrow, were the worst of us tonight. Sparrow's decision making was just awful, a standout among a heap of poor decisions. ANB, Jackson, Harmes and Tomlinson were almost as bad.

6. Gawn 5. Brayshaw 4. Viney 3. Jordon 2. Oliver 1. Fritsch