Maldonboy38

Port to win by 20 points tonight, coming from behind. GWS to beat an injury-hit Swans by 10 points. Bombers to beat the Dogs by 18 points (even though I REALLY don't want them to) Dees by 24 over the Lions.

This bloke is a seriously good footballer, has leadership qualities, and plays well in big moments or big games. We would be mad not to at least talk to him. However, we don't desperately need his type so I wouldn't make his acquisition a high priority. His age is an issue considering the age of some of our current forwards. Lots of speculation about injuries. Is this a Dan Hannebury to the Saints or a Stevie J to GWS? If he is the right player you have to take the risk to find out.

As much as I passionately despise Carlton, this has to go down as the cherry on the cake of a decade-long era of atrocious governance decisions. Take the Blues jumper out of it (because it makes me want to celebrate their suffering) , and remove emotions, I see it like this: One of the reasons for sacking him is unclear gameplan. Could not disagree more. Their game plan looks similar to Essendon's, but their skills and decision making with ball in hand were atrocious. List has some genuine strengths and some genuine holes. Horrendous year for injuries. Most of their forward line was out at one time or another. Player development (like the Dees for many years up until recently) is their biggest issue. Most of their leaders and star recruits seriously under-performing. Cripps, Saad, Williams etc... Not sure about internally, but from outside Cripps looks a fail as skipper. There is no sense that the players are devoted to him, or are actively following him. A large number (8 - 10) of the players spoke to board members not supporting their coach. It looks like Cripps was one of them. . This in particular shows things are not right. I thought Teague was doing a good job, but like Goodwin, Buckley, Hardwick, needs exactly the right people around him to help him turn his coach ideals into wins. Stuff me I hate the Blues.

I was born 6 months AFTER the '64 flag, into a family (on my Mum's side) who had passionately supported the Dees for 3 generations before I came along. I have seen some great things: Gary Hardeman at CHB The late and great Robbie Flower The 2nd coming of Ronald Dale The Ox and the Wizard Jurrah But I have never seen a flag. The waiting continues.

Probably the most accurate 40-player squad in quite a few years, they didn't get too much wrong. I am actually surprised Fritsch made the squad. Only big error is Travis Boak. I maintain that Gawn and Darcy were both better ruckmen over the 23 rounds than NicNat.

I just can't do the NicNat love. Don't get me wrong, he is a freakish talent, and I respect his strengths, but he rarely impacts full games and can't play for longer than 5 mins without exhaustion. Gawn and Sean Darcy from Freo for me.

All commentators can be annoying at times, but Dwayne Russell is the only one I can't listen to. Horrendous Dees-hater, and has strong bias in most games he calls. His comments re Jackson just go to show how stupid some people are. Does everyone remember Tom Hawkins first 3 seasons? And what about James Frawley's first 2 years - he was hopeless.

He really surprised me last night. His marking was a standout feature, while his effort and grunt are already proven. His kicking has penetration but is about 10 degrees off the mark when he kicks long. Him or Jordon - either will work against the Lions.

I actually think Chris Scott is a great coach, and it would be brilliant to play under him. He goes into bat for his players, tries to find ways to speak positively in press conferences, and actually answers questions with an answer related to the question. He is a bit odd, but you have to be a bit mental to be an AFL coach. And I am a bit surprised to see those responses from Cat supporters - they seem to genuinely rate our players. The 2 main things coming from Moorabool St are spot on 1) Their ruck set up is a mess considering how well they are placed in the top 4 for the finals 2) ageing list.

Now that my heart rate is below 160 bpm, have typed effusively into Demonland, have marched around my house with arms in the air as if I kicked the winning goal, and the family have gone to bed - I have 2 confessions to make: 1. At 3/4 time I said to my oldest son (21 yo) that the 2021 Dees can kick 6 goals to 0 in a quarter but I couldn't see it happening. 2. I couldn't watch Max kick for goal. I just couldn't. Sitting here at my laptop right now, I feel really good, and can't wait for the finals to start. P.S. - is it wrong that I would like to see a picture of Selwood's face after Max kicked the goal?

Hibbo or Jordon for Joel Smith

6. Oliver 5. Lever 4. Gawn 3. Viney 2. Picket 1. Langdon

As I said last week: MFC keeping the cardiac ward at the Alfred Hospital well stocked for the last 150 years. Love being Minor Premiers, beating Geelong like that, and Maxy, We are better than most people think, and better even than most of us think. It's a good feeling tonight.

If Smith plays on Rohan, I can't see that going well. I simply don't get the Smith love. Rohan is a smart footballer with very very good skills. The only positive is that Rohan often goes missing in big games and finals, so Smith might actually not have much to do.

SPECIFIC PLAYER In the past few years we have targeted specific players for specific needs (Lever, May, Tomlinson, Langdon, Hibberd, Melksham). The Footy dept will probably identify the need for a super-quick outside mid, or another forward option. Not sure we have any other specific needs that trading will help. Outside mid - unsure who could help our current mids when we have so much untapped talent playing at Casey Forward - Mitch Wallis is very attractive if gettable, and if he passes a physical check. He is very difficult to match up on. BIG NAME NEED Players WANT to come to us now, but our salary cap must be bursting at the seams. Unless one of our top 5 players are getting less money in the back end of their contract, I can't see us affording a Tom Green, Tim Taranto etc... WE MIGHT LOSE Weideman - surely North will come screaming for him, cash in hand. I can't see him staying unless TMac doesn't hold up. Possibly one of Harmes or, dare I say it, Viney. For the first time in a long time our development program is really strong so it is possible some of the young boys coming through could replace them before the 2022 year starts (Sparrow, Bedford, Laurie, Rosman etc...)

One more pre-season, he will probably be starting 22. His poor disposal is holding him back. He just has to be careful one of the others doesn't leapfrog him.

I would consider J Smith as the medical sub. He is really quick, can take a mark, although he is a poor decision maker at times. No way do we make Jordon the sub. If Viney plays, he starts in the 22. Sparrow is 1 preseason away from AFL standard, and Vanders is, well, Vanders.

Back on top! Well done boys.

It wasn't auto correct - Front Bum is what I call the show. Remember, Mick Molloy is on it and describes him rather well I think.

I picked Hawthorn today, as much as I loathe them. Clarkson is a coaching genius and his game day coaching a particular strength. Watching it now, it looks like the Dogs will come over the top in the 2nd half but It would be great for the Dees to see the Doggies get rolled.

Connolly is a genuine innovator and free thinker, as well as being a great story teller. Very entertaining on Front Bum. But he was also the "brain" behind the benefits of losing campaign, and for that he will remain one of those I don't take much notice of anymore.

1. Tassie have an outstanding footy heritage, but being the only market the AFL have NOT poured cash into, there is as much groundwork to do there as there was in the Gold Coast. Junior footy there seems a total, weak mess. 2. An existing AFL club is not going to move. The Roos are the closest but they have enough assets, capital and membership willpower that they will never move there permanently. 3. Many people would be surprised at how many Tassie businesses would get involved, and how many start up members they could sign up. 4. North / South divide is a major issue, but only Hobart has the critical mass for a long term initiative. It might take 10 years, but they could bee Geelong-like in their sense of identity and parochialism. I am all for it, would love it. I have lived there twice (many years ago) and have family there. But I reckon it could be 2025 before we see it, with COVID, and no club willing to move.

Others are ahead of both, but of the 2, Jones easily. Vanders lack of footy IQ is consistently alarming.

How we have lamented our drafting, trading and player development program between 2005 and 2015. The amount of players we got wrong, and the high draft picks we burned or stuffed up. Not now. Rivers, Jordon, Kossie, Jackson, Sparrow, and now Bowie. He was super last night. A gut-wrenching brain fade in the last quarter (I reckon his face will be as red as his hair when he reviews that play one-on-one with Chaplin) but so clean, amazingly sharp on his feet, and works hard when he hasn't got the ball. And after years of few players with top-end foot skills, we actually have another good kick!

With 2 rounds to go before a pre-finals bye, then the finals, it will be very interesting to watch the selection ins and outs. I'm not sure if Goodwin is a coach who rests players as a rule; he seems to not like too many changes unless a player has broken a gameplan rule, or not worked hard defensively. Vanders. Simply, please do NOT play him again. He is like a toddler - full-on run and dash without the intelligence to go with it. Viney. Interesting. I love what he can bring when at his best, but I wonder if a) Jordon, Sparrow and Harmes have all gone past him, and b) do we need him now? Melksham. Some of the stuff he does inside 50, no-one else in our team can do. Mercurial at times. But a lot of the stuff he DOESN'T do - like chase, harrass, pressure and the defensive 1%ers - makes me scream at the tv. Jones. I still love the man. His ground level grunt and wonderful kicking could still be useful, but opposition players would run off him too easily. OUT: Hunt (inj) Vanders IN: Hibberd TMac CHANGE: Jordon into the 22, Sparrow to med sub.