Macca

High pressure and intense encounter but not the best in terms of showcasing the sport If the game was played under the roof at Docklands we would have seen far better skills and way less fumbling (wet & slippery conditions vs a dry surface) And a lot more supporters from both teams could have attended the game If I wasn't a Demon supporter I'm not sure I would have watched the game. For most of the match it was a messy spectacle The diehards might disagree but TV needs lots of neutral fans

Credit to Geelong ... they've made a noticeable change to their game style which involves a ton of pressure on whoever has the ball on the opposition And we couldn't deal with it tonight. For a good amount of time we couldn't get past the centre area. Also, we played the boundary line way too much If we are going to win away from home we have to take risks and that involves using the corridor But there is always a next time and you'd like to think that we'll be better prepared on our next encounter No excuses either, we just got beaten by a better team. We didn't give up but they were the better side The road to the premiership is a tough one and the other teams have done their homework on us. That's 4 losses out of our last 6 played So we need to learn from this loss and then improve and get better There's no point plucking out names. As a team, we were outplayed. Outcoached as well as tactically, the Cats knew what we were going to do once we had the ball

So much riding on our backline vs their forward line and whether the conditions effect their forward line marking power If their twin towers start to influence we might have to use Max in the backline And if that happens our forward line will be dependant on our 4 smalls having a decent influence (along with Brown & Fritsch contributing) Regardless, we'll need to lower the eyes with our inside 50 entries. Our midfielders hitting the scoreboard would be a big plus Their average score against is 69 points but they've got a couple out with Stewart being a big out

That is not going to happen As previously discussed, there is a bias towards certain clubs and that's not likely to change And the only way we'll get into that category is to become a club like that (which will take a number of years) The fixture is more of an arrangement and has been for at least 2 decades The media aren't going to help out either. They are in tune with the AFL to a nicety We've got the 5th highest attendances this year and we're either 1st or 2nd with regards to percentage increases in crowd numbers since we all got hit with covid (Bulldogs are the other team) But of course myths become folklore in the AFL. Perceptions read as the truth. However, a lot of what we read is total bs Only 500 Demon supporters can attend tomorrow night ... and that is the truth

Reckon we've set ourselves for this game a long way out. The quintessential 8 point game

With memberships at an all time high it seems the AFL are now only concerned at looking after the money coming their way (broadcast rights dollars) Gate receipts would be negligible in many cases (for a lot of the games) so maybe that's why the maximising of crowd numbers isn't high on the agenda

Meanwhile, those looking for sensible debate on important sporting matters (such as the one being debated on this thread) are left out in the cold Again, my main beef is that 10's of 1000's of football members & supporters (from both clubs) can't attend the game (which, by any definition, is a blockbuster fixture) n.b. I'm of the firm belief that our team can win anywhere against any opposition at any time (if we bring our best) I'm not at all concerned about playing Geelong at Geelong in terms of our winning chances

Well as expected, our premier midfielders needed to adapt and rove to the opposition ruckmen (for the whole game) ... this we did very well and we ended up controlling the game after a time But not before the Crows took it up to us ... we were caught playing from behind for a time and they switched the play and used the corridor quite well until we overpowered them with superior skill (after half time) Our team has excelled in 3rd quarters for quite a while now so it was no surprise when we put our foot down A comfortable win in the end but not having Gawn & Jackson or any recognised ruckman meant we had to find another way. We might have been in a bit of trouble if we were up against a good set of opposition midfielders Both Clarrie & Trac were fabulous with Langdon & Gus not far behind But the Steven May led backline again kept the opposition to 65 points which coincidentally, was the average score against us last season (this season the average score against us is 63 points)

It was a lot different when we weren't very good ... we were in that lower bracket of Melbourne teams shunted around everywhere. Like it or not we had to cop it until we came good But we're coming off a flag and despite what the naysayers would have you believe, our crowd numbers have been more than acceptable this season We are pushing 65,000 members yet only 500 Demon supporters can attend the game played on a wintry Thursday night. Terrible scheduling I'm all for more prime-time FTA games But they need to get the right match-ups in the right city's on the right days Demons at Cats on a wintry Thursday night doesn't come into 2 of those categories It wasn't so long ago that maximising crowd numbers was no.1 on the agenda So we get to watch a game at home or at the pub when the venue is 1 hour away Play the game at Docklands under the roof and compensate the Cats home ground loss with a higher dividend when they hand out the cash at year's end Mind you, anywhere, anytime, anyway still applies with regards to the winning of the game. But that's not my point It's the people's game so allow the supporters to attend a blockbuster fixture Rant Over!!!

Not much of a defence My biased view is a lot stronger ... it's as if the AFL couldn't care less about supporters attending the matches

Even with a totally unbiased view, this game should not be played in front of 21,000 people Because it's on a Thursday night, the game is by default, classed as a blockbuster event plus ... it's 1 vs 2 If they are going to schedule a game in Melbourne's winter on a Thursday night, at least play the game under the roof at Docklands where 50,000 can get to see the game live

Coverage of the Tour de France starts tonight at midnight with the time-trial in Copenhagen! Overall winner of the tour should come from Pogacar, Roglic or Vingegaard (or perhaps Thomas, Vlasov or Martinez)

Factoring in time lost, the first test against Sri Lanka has lasted 6 sessions Travis Head with 4-10 ... who would have thought!

Yeah ... he wasn't outstanding but looked a lot better as he was in the play by default (2nd ruck) And he'll get another game next week if Gawn is held back (as seems likely) As a key forward, Sam hasn't nailed down a spot but elsewhere he looks more at home (without being a standout) I see him as a depth player being of more value than Mitch Brown, Melksham or Majak

He's better suited up into the play in my view but when Gawn comes back there may not be a spot for Weideman As a key forward he falls short and Fritsch is our 3rd forward so that spot is filled as well Someone here suggested running 3 in the ruck on rotation but I reckon we'll be using LJ more in the ruck after his game against the Lions. So Gawn in turn, would have more time forward And Bedford will stay in you'd imagine. We need his finishing skills in the forward line But by the looks of it, Gawn may not be available next Saturday so Sam will get another go at it. Good luck to him I say ... play well and make it difficult for the selectors

We had a form lull and we are/were increasing our training loads (as we did last season when our form dropped away a bit, mid season) However, there were aspects to how we played (in those 3 games) which can't be attributed to the loading. We went away from our strong disciplines for a time. Not only did we look slow & listless, but our skills and kicking to position dropped away as well Losing May for those 3 games was a big factor of course. Our most valuable player? Bombing it forward, playing from behind, not using the corridor and a lack of real teamwork were issues that are hopefully, behind us But nearly every dominant team has a lull at some stage of the season. Or just the odd bad day. In over 120 years of footy we've never seen a team of invincibles I'm still a bit concerned with our forward line DJ but if our defence reigns supreme as it did against the Lions, we'll get plenty of opportunities to score In my view, the defence is the key and we need a fit & firing Steven May as the general back there

There's no real comparison ... May went down against Freo which threw our whole defence out. And we dominated Freo for at least a quarter and a half up until then Steven May is probably our most valuable player in the sense that he can't be replaced. Oddly enough I asked my circle of friends that question a couple of weeks before May was concussed and they all answered with May (ahead of Gawn, Oliver & Petracca) He's the general of the backline apart from his obvious football skills Brisbane didn't really look like it after breaking even in the first quarter ... we shut them down and then demolished them. It was compareable to the PF & GF

Spot on, DeeZone Best win by any team this season ... factoring in that it was 1 vs 2 on the ladder, prime-time FTA and how well we played To win by over 60 points sends a message about how good our best is. No other team has done that the same way this season And all that with the best ruckman in the game being unavailable Got 2 minutes of airtime on the Sunday footy show. They could have gone to a little bit more trouble especially as to how we dismantled the Lions And Bedford for Mitch Brown worked ... the added small seemed to spark up all our smalls. Competition within the ranks? Does that work in the future? Looking ahead, Gawn will come back in but for who? In September we might need another tall in the forward line but not if they can't take a grab

A lot to like tonight The lowering of the eyes kicking into the forward line was very pleasing. I hope Goodwin highlights that aspect when we review the match with the players. Make it a priority Our pressure and relentless tackling all over the ground was immense 2nd & 3rd efforts all over the ground. After a scratchy first quarter we then turned on the afterburners Small forwards contributing 6 goals as well as exerting immense forward line pressure Our backline was supreme. May makes such a difference to his fellow defenders. Lever in particular was back to his best and Salem was improved as well LJ looks like he relishes the no.1 role ... he played so well that we didn't really miss Max that much. Who would have thought? Viney played like a man possessed ... beast-mode with extras Overall the connection between all our players and the various lines from the last line of defence forward was most pleasing We made the Lions look 2nd rate yet going into tonight's game they were on top of the ladder ... in the end they were just kicking the ball anywhere without any purpose Easily our best performance for the season

That Viney corkie will be sore in a couple of days time! Got 9 days until we play again so he'll be right Tough as nails!!

And we've seen a big glimpse on how good LJ could be ... relishes the no.1 role by the looks of it

We've lowered our eyes well tonight And we've pressured the other mob into kicking the ball without purpose or direction More of that please!

Intelligent punch forward by Oliver ... and then Fritsch nails it! Excellent footy Playing like winners

And there is no denying that a number of our better players have missed games because of injury/illness or are just out of form (or below their best) So if we judged each and every player on their best footy/output, many of our players would fall short this season Without using non availability as a reason, only Oliver, Gawn, Brayshaw & maybe Viney have been at their best in a consistent manner Others go close such as Petracca & May but many are falling short And last year's premiership is the benchmark. You need a lot of things to go right to win big From that premiership we are missing Gawn, T-Mac & Rivers ... replaced by Jordon, Weideman & Bedford So on paper, we are weakened with the loss of Gawn and to a lesser extent, T-Mac but 19 of the 22 who played in that flag winning team remain Against all that we did win our first 10 games this season and we may well be involved in a loading phase (which is a legitimate practice) Tonight could tell us a fair bit but if we lose a close one we may still be left in a quandary! (as supporters)

We are built from the backline but we've had all sorts of woes back there Backline players not being available is the big issue but that effects the other biggie ... stability & cohesion in the backline and our ability to transition out of the backline in a cohesive way. It's often been slap-dash out of the backline this season and especially in the last 3 matches In turn, that puts pressure on all the links through to the forward line (and our forward line isn't star-studded so it needs dominance elsewhere to function well in my view) Our all over the ground pressure and defensive aspects has dropped away though ... this may have a fair bit to do with loading (hoping) but it's fair to say our standards in that area have dropped away too much Rivers is out of form and therefore out of favour but if he was up and running we'd then be able to slot Brayshaw back onto a wing A back 7 of May, Petty, Salem, Lever, Bowey, Rivers and Hunt/Hibberd all playing well and working well together is the key ... once that breaks down our weakest link (the forward line) suffers the most Delivery from the midfield to the forward line would improve immeasurably if those midfielders weren't under so much pressure with their disposals So our midfield to forward line connection woes is the clear visible issue but if our backline was reigning supreme, that connection issue to the forward line would not be anywhere near as pronounced But we can't let the forwards off the hook either ... their movement is too slow and we play from behind way too much up forward. And our crumbers aren't coming to the rescue either One year on our crumbers haven't advanced with regards to hitting the scoreboard. That's an issue as defensive pressure by our smalls up forward is not enough And we need our bigs (and mediums like Fritsch) up forward working a lot harder to create space & separation If that happens we'll then need our midfielders to lower their eyes and hit some targets But it all starts from the backline ... that's our real strength when we are up and running