Maldonboy38

Always great to see a debut. However, I am surprised. I would have thought others from Casey were ahead of him for a debut (AMW for example) but I think it is his two way running, attitude and adaptability that might have given him the nod. His dad was one of my favourite players: dogged and consistent, but also had a great side-step and feint to throw opposition players away from him. It would be great to see this passed down the genetic line.

Dusty is the best match-winner I have seen. Plays big games and big moments far better than any other player I can recall. His physical strength, fend off, running through tackles, and all round physical dominance are all of the highest quality, but it is his kicking that sets him over everyone else. Darren Jarman, Travis Johnstone, Wayne Carey, Mark Browning, Ablett snr - all elite kicks. But Dusty has them all covered. His kicking on the run for goal, or long range field kicking just made me sit back and enjoy the best game in the world. I would be disappointed for him if he plays anywhere else - he is yellow and black to the core.

In that last quarter, North let the Pies free to do their outside run and overlap game. Hoskin-Elliot, Sidebottom, and others constantly free outside or forward of the ball over and over again. The Roos will be gutted by that loss but the defensive mindset was just not there. On top of that, some decision making brain fades when moving forward, and that horrendous last shot on goal that missed everything = not knowing how to win. The Roos are slowly coming emerging, but I see a lot of the Dees 2015/2016 abut them.

That North goal started on line with the point post, and swung in!

Any team on any day can be on or off. Even the Swans got done by the Tigers. Also, a lot of the games have been of poor entertainment quality this year - maybe even around 60% of them - but I am actually enjoying the style of footy being played by Tigers, Hawks, and today the Roos. But to come on this thread to see people's thoughts on non MFC games, only to be flooded with the latest click bait rhetoric of Goodwin is hopeless, we are the worst team in the comp, imagine if they were playing us, our list management is the worst . . . blah, blah, blah is simply nauseating. I am as frustrated as anyone, but maybe we a need a separate thread entitled "my vitriol when everything is not going my way"? And back to the game at hand: how good is it to see the Pies stinking it up, and their horrendous supporter base silenced by pathetic football!! Makes for an enjoyable Sunday arvo. I just hope they can keep it going.

6. TMac 5. Gawn 4. JvR 3. ANB 2. Rivers 1. Salem

Team stats very even. Occasional lack of intensity but so did the Pies. Gameplan looks to be basically OK but no run and carry or angle-kicks to break open lines and angles. Similar shots on goal. Our in close to outside handballing is atrocious. Our kicking skills inside F50 is worse.

Since our last horrendous defeat, I needed a break from footy and Demonland. Watching now, with my guts turning with every forward thrust, our lack of composure and brains forward of centre is doing my head in. Not sure I can watch for too long today. We are having a good crack and in every contest, but if a ball spills it is three to one as the Pies spread. For the Pies to get a goal from that last forward attempt by the Dees is a window into our thinking and confidence. Sad to watch it all so far.

Strange you offer this. I had the same thought earlier today. Whatever he is doing is not transferring into game day. However, beneath any coaching lies the cold hard truth that 90% of our list are average kicks or poor kicks. Bowey, McVee, Fritsch and May would probably be our only above average kicks. I'm not sure a new kicking coach would change this.

Today consolidated 4 themes that have emerged and been growing over the past 2 years, but on full display this year win, lose or draw. Our kicking skills are poor. Really poor. We hand the ball over unpressured time and time again. Today was foul. Our foot skills lack penetration, favour opposition interception, but it is often covered up by Petracca or Bowey getting one right making us froth at the mouth. And we have not recruited good foot skill players in the last 3 years. Our forward line is weak. I have some compassion for Fritsch but even he this year has had moments of disinterest and weak effort. Kozzie is too much flash and not enough result. Petty forward (which I thought was a very good idea) is an epic fail. Singe basic forward error: lack of movement. Stationary targets to create scores from stoppages. And unfortunately I think this part of our game plan. We lack presence. Our midfield is struggling. There is a part of me that cannot believe this to be true, but the results don't lie. We often now get beaten badly at stoppages and centre bounces, and teams annihilate us by handballing forward. Gus was way more important than we thought, with Sparrow, ANB, Rivers, Kozzie and others not being given time to develop in there. Our backline covers over many cracks. I do NOT believe it is time to sack Goodwin, play the kids blah, blah, blah. I have watched a lot of Casey games and apart from Jefferson and Verrall developing nicely, there is no-one forcing the door down for an AFL game. I don't think there is a single answer, but I would love the boys to find a fire in the belly again, which is the main thing lacking. A John Northey rant. The aggro of Shwartz or Grinter or Neitz. No thuggery, but a fierceness, a line in the sand. Jakovich arrogance. Sadly, the 2024 premiership is probably beyond us now.

Our starts have been so poor, but we rarely get blown away. If we are even-ish at the end of the first quarter, I reckon we win. Fritsch, Kozzie and ANB to do the goal kicking damage. Dees by 16.

Just before my time. My parents loved him and talked endlessly of his leadership and nouse. 5 premierships!! Well played, John, RIP.

I like the Crows list, their best players are very good, and I keep on expecting them to "emerge". Enough is enough. I am not a fan of coach sacking but Nicks has had 5 seasons, and they simply cannot play 4 quarters of decent footy, and too often play slack, boring, risk-free footy. The young Hawks are the opposite. I love the way they are playing. Their young, no-name players are playing with hunger and aggression.

Jefferson, great work, poor finish. Howes, great work, poor finish. Very frustrating.

Much better intensity from Casey. Jefferson and Kolstrup working hard and in everything up forward. Again, finishing and composure still a concern.

How many times can there be 2-3 Coburg players running forward of the ball versus 1 Casey player? Our midfield and half forwards are not playing a team game and moving defensively to help out. Really annoying.

Getting annihilated at ground level and Coburg's forward spread at pace is showing our lack of speed. Fullarton's ruck work is not great but I like his work around the ground. I don't quite understand all the negative comments regarding him. Difficult for the forwards to show their wares - it is rarely going in there. As a positive though, we get a shot on goal on many of our forward thrusts.

Great tackle and effort from Jefferson. He really is developing well. Kicks a behind unfortunately.

The commentator just said "he brang it"!! I haven't heard anyone speak like that since a mate of mine in the 1980's who was from Broadmeadows. Casey finding it hard to get their hands on the ball at the moment.

Casey looking a class above all over the ground, but boy, their forward entries and ball sharing has been sloppy. Laurie, Kolstrup and Jefferson looking good. And I have to wonder about Mitch White. Is he one of those poor sods who is brilliant at VFL level but wasn't able to transfer it to AFL? Because he looks like one of those players who should have made it. Great reader of the play and hits targets off half back.

Due to my personal calendar and the footy fixture, I have watched a number of Bulldogs games this year. Over the past 4 weeks I have been impressed with their both method and form. And some of their young players are emerging quickly. They still have some defensive issues and the forward set up is messy at times, but they are going to cause some issues for those trying to get top eight positions 6,7, and 8. I love the look of Sanders, O'Donnell and Darcy.

The best are the best for a reason. Bontempelli - take a bow, that goal was a thing of beauty.

I loathe the Blues, but I have to give them credit on this last quarter. Away from home, hostile crowd, and they come out dominating.

Two good teams chucking everything at each other, but a LOT of unsuccessful forward thrusts, meaning most of the energy and effort being used up between the arcs. Port missing Rozee's class and speed.

I suppose defining "greatest" means some strange interplay between skill, influence, fan favourite, and club devotion. I'm going to use my Dees-mad mother (dec.)as an additional reference point to my own experiences and observations. To save myself all the angst of rating them in order, I will put my top 5 in chronological order: 1. Norm Smith 2. Ron Barassi 3. Robbie Flower 4. Max Gawn 5. Clayton Oliver Shwartz almost makes it. Would have been anything without injury. Stynes was a freak and changed the ruck role into being midfielders as well. Petracca is by far the best match winner, big moments player I have seen at the Dees. Stuey Spencer - Mum reckoned he could play in any era and excel. And just for the hell of it - MFC Freaks of nature: Farmer, Jakovich, Stynes & Jurrah. And last - Lyon and Brian Wilson are much better footballers than people give them credit for.