Maldonboy38

Been flat out all day, thought I would unwind with some footy. Switched on try Freo v Suns. O my goodness, it is appalling. Slow, atrocious skills, 2 poor game plans.

Heeney is a gun. I think I typed this last week.

At least we have a watchable game. Both Dixon and Hawkins being blocked and/or held continually. Port are VERY good spreading with ball in hand, but equally as poor when the opposition are spreading forward. Holes everywhere. And they get annihilated one-on-one.

Great footballer but I hated the way he left Brisbane to go to the Pies. Reeked of entitlement. Despised watching him as a player, not because of his play, but the pandering by the Media and Ed's fawning and drooling over him. Loved his media work - he has insights and can articulate them. I simply cannot understand how a bloke who has led a team into a Grand Final, a Prelim and a Semi Final in 3 years, can get the boot so soon after. He can coach, no doubt, but his people management skills are renowned as being direct, confrontational and too-high expectations.

I love the 3 rule changes that have opened the game up. 6-6-6 formation, 15m back from kick ins, and stationary man on the mark. General play is so much better to watch. But some of the basic kicking skills in many games are absolute rubbish. Freo v anyone, Pies v Crows yesterday, Eagles v Blues today. Really bad watching sub standard skills.

Northey is the best Dees coach I have seen. A piece of toast would play well for him - he was a master motivator. 1994 - the best player-by-player talent we have ever had. Still messes with my head that injuries robbed us so badly. This current team has the best defence and midfield, and plays the best team footy that I have witnessed across 5 decades. But someone above mentioned that most players/teams become game-wide greats by winning premierships, which we haven't done in a long time.

Adelaide v Pies is a skill error celebration. Horrendous!

TMac has played great footy before so his improvement is more like returning to his best, rather than discovering his best. Spargo for mine. I have always liked his footy brain, but he just couldn't impact enough. Now he is a serious problem for opposition because of his gut running, in-close skills, precision kicking and off-the-ball defensive stuff. He is everywhere, and continually makes things happen.

This sums up MFC from 2005 - 2014. We recruited some gun young players and ruined most of them; we tried to attract some culture changing guns and leaders from other clubs and they all steered well away; we got an icon of an ex-player to become our president only to tread the path marked "benefits of losing". Can't imagine for a second Johnathan Brown ever considering the Dees. I can't see him tolerating a Schwab or McNamee, nor can I see him training at Junction Oval.

I don't want them to hurt Max, but if they pay him a lot of attention then it could actually be a huge plus for us. In the games where Max has taken a back step from being the go-to man, Jackson has played really well. And the Lions simply do not have a match up for Jackson - his speed, 2nd efforts and natural midfielder attributes. And I am not sure they have a good match up for Fritsch or Kozzie.

Only 1 shut down role - Harmes to Zorko. Allow Brayshaw to play his natural game on McCluggage. Hopefully down back we can see Hibbo on Cameron and Rivers on McCarthy so Salem can play on Ah chee which is a huge win for us.

Swans v Blues is a good contest but no one really taking to the game on to surge forward. Enter Isaac Heeney. Love this bloke as a footballer. Would have him at the Dees in a heartbeat.

I hate Essendon, but I have to admire how Rutten has got them playing.

Pies v Cats: unwatchable. Lions v Giants: training drill Saints v Roos: is this AFL or VFL? Lockdown means time to watch footy and the footy is putrid.

Bringing in Chocco and Yze seems to have made a huge difference to Goodwin. At the very least his manner and expression during press conferences has shifted, but that might be due to the fact we are winning. The biggest difference seems to be game-day coaching. He trusts the players to steady when the opposition are on a run. But if we have a poor quarter (and we usually have 1 bad per game) those problems are resolved in the next game break. I will admit I had him on thin ice, waiting for the first 8 rounds to see how we are playing, but I reckon that is fair enough considering our 2109 and 2020 seasons. But that ice is rock solid now.

I just hope he is ok. One AFL player (I can't remember who) is continuing to have concussion symptoms 6 weeks later. We can't replace him like-for-like. He plays the wing in a way that few others do, more like a wingman from the 70's. No way do we move ANB out of his role. Apart from his pressure and running, he can kick goals. I actually thought Baker was OK during his 1 game, while not being great. But his defensive running was a negative. Are any of Sparrow, Lockhart or Bedford genuine runners? Or anyone else showing wing-like capabilities at Casey? I like the option of Jones, but that would probably mean moving ANB to the wing which is a mistake. So I basically have no idea how to replace Langdon!

Just ben watching some footage and highlights, and want to give a BIG shout out to Petty. Apart from his very capable beating of his opponent each week, that mark he took shows an increase in confidence. He gets to contests, and is steady with ball in hand. I haven't noticed him too much over the past few weeks but I made a point of watching him and I really like what he brings. And although Melksham has been on shaky ground for most of this year, I thought his workrate, effort and footskills were very good. That howler of walking the ball over the boundary line was a brain fade, but he was effective in his role last night.

Absolutely agree. The above 5 + Hunt would get a game in any other team and are rarely beaten. Spargo's ball use is starting to look like Caleb Daniel's: steady under pressure, accurate, line breaking.

No change unless Viney is ok, but I have no idea who to drop to let him in.

6. Oliver 5. Rivers 4. Brayshaw 3. Harmes 2. Petracca 1. Gawn

I've held back. No longer. I believe now.

We controlled the game with no real standout single player. Every player contributed. Our team defence was a thing of beauty. We are the hunted now. Bring it on!

Two free flowing goals to us to take the wind out of their sails would be vey nice.

Reading most of this you'd think we are losing due to mistakes. We're up by 19 points and outplaying them all over the park. We're WINNING - come on, how about some love and admiration for a great first half!

Their only strength remains the freeballing, unpressured kick straight into the forward line, accompanied by semi-hidden throws. We have been stronger all over the ground. They take full advantage of every freed up moment they get. If Jackson or Weid could actually mark the ball, we win by 8 goals.