Maldonboy38

My brother-in-law is a mad Tiges supporter, and I have been telling him all year the Tiges will rise quickly. Yze's game plan is quick, and within that game plan the players' pressure is strong and some of their young talent is top notch. They won't win too many this year because their young players will get physically monstered and will also struggle to run out 4 quarters. Bu they are good to watch for the most part.

If you want a reason why LJ is such a highly rate player, watch his game today vs Gold Coast. In the air, on the ground, 2nd efforts, effective ruck work, aerobic capacity. Epic game.

Freo's defence and 2nd efforts in the wet have been really good. They are getting an extra player to most contests.

Very difficult to watch Pies v Hawks when both are so unlikeable. Both play a game style that is good to watch but they both have so many players who just give me the "jimmy brits".

As much as I hate to say it, this is impressive from the Bummers. Half their 22 have less than 20 games or are VFL players at best, but their pressure is challenging the Hollywood Bears. And all the Bears front runners - Lohman, Rayner, etc... - are being shown up.

Looking very likely 5 minutes in.

I genuinely feel sorry for Laura Kane. The old saying 'leaders rise to the level of their incompetence' is again proving itself true. She was good in her last role, so they sling her into a position with more demands and greater responsibilities to find she is out of her depth. She should not have been put in this position by people above her who know her skill set, but maybe they had an inflated idea of her ability? Sport at an elite level has a spiritual quality about it. Supporters like us engage at more levels than mere support. We are invested. Part of our identity is attached to club history and colours. We gloat when we win, get grumpy and fatalist when we lose. The AFL board and their appointed chief executive Dillon have little understanding of, and less interest in, the soul of our game and will continue to make decisions based on numbers - revenue and supporter numbers.

Farmer well out in front of this list. But Kozzie is rapidly catching him. I'm glad Whelan and Jetta get the love they deserve. Being defenders their skill and talent often gets rated lower for some reason. Sean Charles could have been anything. He had patches of games where he looked disinterested and detached, but when he came to play it was breathtaking. Steven May is the best fullback I have seen at the Dees and deserves his high position on this list.

Viney in for Spargo, although it is not like-for-like so unsure what it does to rotations etc... If Lever does not recover, TMac straight back in. AJ remains a question mark for me but he continues to create havoc, impose himself physically, and have direct goal assists. His physicality in particular is glorious to watch, even if it is totally reckless and dangerous. He has to stay in.

Kozzie Oliver Gawn Salem Langdon Petracca

Just so pleasing to see 23 players all contributing to dominate for 4 quarters. Apart from the atrocious goal kicking (especially set shots), that was powerful, methodical, skillful footy. Gawn, Oliver and Petracca playing at that level at the same time means we can challenge anyone. Petty was 'beaten' by McCartin, but totally dampened any other impact McCartin would normally have, and the same for Melksham on the Lizard. Great coaching. Lever and May back together means so many other things can operate according to plan. And the work rate of Salem. Landgon, Langford, Rivers, Lindsay, Bowey, Chandler. Sharp was brilliant as a the sub.

Great to see how well we are playing across the ground. Lindsay, Oliver and Bowey in full flight. Max giving Grundy a lesson. Chandler and Kozzie running riot . But I am way past anger at our goal kicking. And for Melksham to choose to go around his body on his left foot, 35m out on a slight angle is unforgiveable.

I hope the Front Bar bring back point of the year, we will have 320 candidates.

We are killing them, and are looking so strong cross the ground. One thing is standing out and I don't think it has been mentioned here on DL before: our set shot goal kicking.

Logan Morris - wow. A very complete player.

My red wine and biscuits can sit comfortably in my stomach as I sit back content with another Blues loss.

Mild sunny afternoon in country Victoria, a wonderful event with my family this morning, woodfire on as the chill begins to settle, a glass of red only 5 steps away... and Carlton losing. I will open the Savoury Shapes in a minute and my afternoon will be close to perfect. (unless the Blues rally and win which will make me vomit up red wine and biscuits)

Jordan Lewis absolutely hammering the Blues midfield for lack of defensive spread. And you can see it live right in front of you. If GWS continue to press their advantage in this regard they will win easily.

The AFL is $-centric, and assuming the huge amount they have already committed to this project, there is now way this is not going ahead now. I reckon they care little about what Tassie people think and have enough clout to bend political will their way. As for their draft concessions etc... the reality is we are headed for another fully compromised period for drafting young talent. I can't tell you how much I hate this, but I suppose it is essential in some form to get Tassie off the ground. List managers are going to have to be fully prepared for anything and to think creatively to ensure good young talent gets to their club. I just hope the father-son system is protected and uncompromised.

Not sure if it was sarcasm or genuine, but on one of the social media platforms, someone stated that TMac did a hand injury at home and is therefore not playing. If it is not this or something like it, it is a strange decision considering May's form. TMac has been playing his role really well and the team is weaker with him out. As for handing it over to the next generation of KPDs, only Turner is standing out. Adams looks likely but Howes struggles at AFL level.

Tigers half back line to Bummers half back line playing kick to kick. Some serious poor work through half forward from both teams. I think my Kindle is calling me.

The Dogs are playing high quality, effective, quick footy and will trouble the Cats tonight, but taxpayer park is a tough place to win. Bailey Smith is two things: a gun and a w-anchor. However the Dogs decide to handle him tonight, I hope it messes with his ugly ubiquitous head and he has a shocker. Dogs by 16 points.

I did not know he did this. What a brilliant analysis. Best analysis of play-by-play football I have seen anywhere. How come I am only learning of this now? What is the breadth of his analysis? Does he analyze 1 game a week, only Dees games, all games? Can someone clarify?

I've been watching the Dees for almost 6 decades now, and Petracca rates inside the top 10 I have seen. He has a quality that few demonstrate - match winning ability. He can turn his power game on for a quarter, or a half and sometimes an entire game, and totally dominate stoppages and clearances. I think it was in one of the 2021 finals games, or maybe our round 23 win and the Cats, where he said he was proud to help Dees fans find pride and joy in the jumper and colours again. He had me lock, stock and barrel after that. Most importantly, a real good human being. Warm personality, big smile, big heart. It is a pure privilege to welcome him to the MFC 200 games club.

Reflecting upon our last quarter dominance, the role AJ played is interesting. I personally don't think AJ had a good game at all in terms of his impact play-by-play, with only 5 disposals for the game. However, his role helped create two things: His running and physicality made the Lions think twice at stoppages and was a major factor in us keeping he ball inside our F50 for long periods, despite him not winning a lot of the ball. Gawn's last quarter dominance. He was fresh. I haven't seen game time numbers, but AJ taking 2nd ruck duties while also playing a forward role meant Gawn could sit back in a defensive position, read the game and take a breather while we locked it inside F50. I remain unconvinced about AJ's general viability an as AFL footballer, but if he can keep doing this he has to say in.