Older demon

Hard to believe that in a week where Tex walker is called out for racial abuse and the distress and hurt it causes that some troll would still think it is ok to racially abuse a player.. Absolutely disgusting.

Can I point out that incidents are sent direct to the tribunal when they cannot be categorised under the gradings system.Misconduct has been used to report a variety of incidents. I suggest serious was used here because there is an elbow lying across someones neck. A recent direct to tribunal case got off involving a bump. This incident whilst I don't like it and it doesn't look good wasn't a strike, a trip, a kick or a bump to the head in play and therefore it is left to the tribunal to decide because the match review officer cannot define it.

For those who have read the book "Red Fox" and the chapter on the sacking of Norm Smith, this is history repeating itself. Let me explain! I was so angry reading the story and how Smith was undermined by those around him. In the preceding chapters I discovered MFC were the family club, post training sausage sizzles, players loved the joint and I was trying to work out how this all changed and hawthorn somehow picked up the mantle of the family club. It was this lack of foresight, fall off in recruiting and aftermath of sacking and reinstalling an iconic coach that has left us in the void for the last 57 years. Ironically the club that took on the mantle of family club has just followed the MFC route and sacked their legendary coach. This has Kennet all over it and maybe it is the Hawks who can now lift the Curse of Norm Smith and replace it with the Clarkson Curse. As oft quoted George Santayana is credited with the aphorism, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” while British statesman Winston Churchill wrote, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” I think the curse has officially been handed over. Go Dees

At this stage we fly to the Gold Coast fully packed for a week away as we head post match immediately to Perth for a weeks quarantine. It will be interesting especially as Gus & Gawny briefly mentioned who was the star in the hub last season and who might have struggled. I wonder how many we are allowed to take on the tour?

I thought I read today that Weid was picked for the VFL and Jones would come back via the VFL. Melksham, VanDen Burg and Bowey were in contention. Suggests three changes. Bit of travelling to manage over the next 2 weeks with make quick trip to Qld and then straight to W.A. Rules are teams need to quarantine for the week before the game. Magpies have been in Perth all week as have the umpires. So we may flight out Saturday morning return that night to Melbourne to board a plane for Perth. Shades of a trip to Cairns last season

Don't blame the umpires it starts higher up the food chain than that. We have always thought that they check the stats at half time and make an adjustment in the second half, but these days it is way more high tech. I have a friend who is a well qualified to chat with me about competency and how it is managed and assessed in the AFL umpiring workplace . We all know the umps are micked-up as we see when there is a goal review.With COVID and no crowds the off field game day advisor can watch the game and communicate in real time with all the officials to offer encouragement and point out areas that need to tighten up. What this means that whoever was overseeing Saturday night must have been relatively content with the adjudication as there was no adjustment or evening up of frees. The AFL under Hocking allow throwing of the ball as we know it , incorrect disposal and staging. How else can you explain that the practise continues when there is a system in place to address it in game?

After reading all the ideas here I believe some cha age is needed. Little or no change in structure and style because we have had an unbelievably good run with no injuries. It is obvious from the posts that most suggested ins haven't had much if any time in the seniors so we don't know what they can bring. A sudden spate of injuries will leave us even more vulnerable, time to change it up a bit. Down back we are very stable but Hibberd and Rivers need a chop out and an alternative tried. Maybe Bowey for a back pocket Midfield is heavily reliant on Trac and Oliver for class, Viney is getting there provides grunt but isn't a penetrating kick. Gus, Langers, Brayshaw are ordinary kicks whoever gives them a chop out has to be better at this to warrant change Forward The reason for Spargo, ANB & Picket is to apply pressure and lock the ball in. Worked early on but now not so much. Thus strategy limits our class up forward. Fritta is classy but doesn't chase and tackle or do enough. Jacko isn't contributing up forward and his ground play in the midfield has fallen write off. Melk brings in the polish but not the defence. Don't think we can run with Spargo & ANB. Goody has stated post match he is happy and wont change much. I would rest Hibberd and Jackson and Spargo for Bowey Weid and Melksham or Jones. The latter while past his best brings effort and grunt.

Agree quoting who they have out only proves they have greater depth than us.Could any of those outs played better than their replacements last night. Smith dominated his wing so Treloar not missed. Duryea and Dale on half back flanks could Wood have played better. Maybe Shcache wouldn't have got a game if they were available. Conversly as we have had no injuries and no VFL we are unsure who comes in and if our depth matches theirs. Hawthorn proved last week that without their so called good players as long as the replacement have a dip and play their role you can win I suspect the solution for us is to freshen the team up and rest a few and see who we have to step up if we get some injuries in the finals

I agree with most of what has been written. The free kick difference was inexplicable but I was more annoyed with the ones they didn't pay. Especially the throws . Endeavour and tackling will only get you so far, as Hawthorn showed us up last week. I think the Dogs had a bit more class on the park and around the midfield. Bailey Smith on the wing dominated whoever he was on (Gus or Langers). Dale, Daniel and Duryea all deliver the ball better than we do as Salem and May are our best kicks out of defence. Hunter, Bont, Macrae & Libba bat deeper than our midfield guns in Trac and Oliver. Despite this we had the same scoring shots, identical disposals with even kicks and handballs, more contested football, the same number of tackles, kicked 2 out of bounds on the full and 1 that didn't make the distance. With 9 minutes to go we trailed by 4 points. They took their chances, English kicks a miracle goal from a stoppage that somehow makes it over the line. bailey Smith gets the ball on the flank and kicks one on the run from way out There wasn't much difference between these 2 teams. I think Keath getting injured assisted them as they replaced a tall with a small and gave them better balance. Schache did well at full back when the opportunity arose We aren't that bad! We lack some class in some areas but we are trying to build a team and culture that plays finals and is in the top 4 for the next 5 years.

I think Jackson, Rivers & Jordan all need a break. Spargo and Hibbo have gone off the boil. We have had no changes due to injury recently which is remarkable but need to get games into the next 6 before the finals. The club cannot afford to have players not match hardened through lack of opportunity in a months time.

6 votes Oliver 5 Gawn 4 Petracca 3 Hunt 2 Viney 1 Lever Special mention the men in yellow who gifted the Bulldogs 25 possessions, a 50 metre penalty,2 downfield frees and had the most influence on the game.

He is copying the tactic of his mentor Clarkson from last week where the Hawks tall forwards troubled our backs in that they negated the intercept marks. I would be surprised if they line up that way.

I noticed this as well George. This was on Monday and 2 things stood out for me. The first was there was less bounce in Kozi's step and trying to get him to run in a straight line. The bouncy run appears to affect his ball drop and Stafford can be seen showing how the ball drop should guide the ball to his foot. It also looked like they are working on a set shot routine, with a set number of steps, more of a run than a bounce and a straight ball drop. Heres hoping it works on the weekend

I think Harmes must return. Vanders replaced him and should make way. Jackson should be rested as he is not productive enough up forward and misses goals. Weid to play as 2nd ruck not as a set forward I would like Melk back in, for whom i don't know but we need some better delivery into the forward like and set shot kicking. Maybe rest Jordan

Cannot kick straight Miss set shots You can insert any number of names in this spot

No changes but if the weather prediction is correct it will be cold and wet. Leave changes for the Darwin excursion the week after.

Correct observation and after listening to a post match Giants interview I find they were more desperate. Just as Collingwood attacked the game against us for Buckley, GWS after 2 ordinary games made this their line in the sand game . In both instances we had a slow start and din't match the intensity and lost. I sincerely hope we are treating P.A as a must win and go hard from the start. We are the hunted now and need to adjust to that if we want long term success

The more I think about how many players were managed at casey last night I wouldn't be surprised to see multiple changes. Viney coming back from foot problems may not be able to play 2 games in 5 days. Picket is out of form. Max is doing less ruck time and I remind everyone in the off season he had knee issues and narrowly avoided surgery. Many ask why he is playing limited ruck time well like most footballers no one is 100% fit and able. Jordan is in his first season, Jackson & Rivers in their second. I sincerely hope that Burgess has this under control because they don't have much notice to prepare Last year against Port we came of the short break didn't rest many players and got smashed. The only upside is the players get a significant break before their next game

Structurally we lack marking power up forward. TMac showed his value today up field gathering kicks and kicking into the 50 metre area. The resting ruckman be it max or Jackson don't take enough marks up forward and are not creative enough as forwards. Another marking option is needed. Fritta should be a marking option but not the tall target or pack mark. We saw it last week and again today. Spargo, Neal-Bullen and Sparrow are all role players not creative goal scorers. Picket has been that livelier dangerous forward but he is having a form slump, it happens. The lesson can be seen with the dogs, cats and lions who all have 2 key marking targets and a classy flanker at ground level who is good over head

With a 5 day turn around may be time to manage some players. A few are carrying niggles (not at liberty to say who) and short turn around and hopefully some rested at casey or play for limited time.

The issues that stood out tonight and left me gobsmacked 1. Set shots! We not only missed but often couldn't make the distance from inside 50. It's not little league for goodness sake. 2. Twice we got warned for not having 6-6-6 with that last one busting the momentum from Sparrow's goal. What on earth was Kossie doing sprinting of for so late. His replacement was never going to be in place in time. That could cost a final. Who made that decision 3. When you take a mark 15 metres out why do you try and dribble kick it through on your wrong foot and stuff it up. Jason Dunstall's head will explode on Bounce tomorrow night when he shows that and goes of his nut. Jackson what were you thinking. 4. Why did Clarrie go back to hand balling so often? Usually to someone in a worse position. 5. If you set up with a small forward line and lower your eyes you have to hit your targets. So many opportunities were created but missed the target by metres, or to nobody.

I couldn't agree more. First we never play well in Sydney and even Sydney this year struggle at the smaller ground. We missed target, kick out of bounds on the full and bombed to the goal square and didn't;'t lower our eyes. Second Sam's best moments this year have been when he has been down back or up around the centre. Athletically he has the tank to run up and down but for some unexplained reason cannot take a mark up forward but clunks them down back. I really would like the coach to swap Sam and Petty in the roles in a match. Last week petty struggled with Mihocheck and Weid was well held by Roughead, who is no slouch at full back. The opportunity was their to change it up and swap them.

Agree with all of the above. WE failed to lock the ball in our forward line which has been our strength. Pies cruised out the backline lowered their eyes and hit forward leading targets. Simple game plan

Maynard ran riot Who opposed Maynard?

Not that I know of.