Roger Mellie

What bye? Don't we have the same number of days off this week as we do for the bye? I know FAF we have the least number of days off for the bye of all clubs. Apologies for digressing from our magnificent win - carry on!

☹️

Fixed 👌

Yes

I've re-watched the game up to 3/4 time (not that keen to proceed). I haven't seen an issue with McVee's game other than he doesn't get enough of the footy. When he does get it, he usually does something good to great with it. He makes few mistakes, is super clean and hits targets in good positions. He's just a young player trying to play his role. With experience and confidence, he'll take on the game more. I also didn't see a lot wrong with Chandler's game other than low impact. There was no lack of endeavour/pressure and he didn't do a lot wrong when he was involved, but he just wasn't that involved. Whether that was his issue or symptomatic of how the game unfolded is another matter.

Without commenting on our game plan, players out of form and injury issues, I think our problem is our inability to adapt to change in game. We have this unshakeable faith in backing our system, but it's quite easy to dislodge, then our structure falls apart in-game. This can be done by savvy coaches throwing curveballs at our system - eg Brad Scott with their tall timber makeshift forward line - we couldn't adapt. Eg. Hinkley with Port. Dimma did it too but this is the only game where we could overcome the curveball - because Tiges not good enough for long enough. Secondly, the loss of key players throws our system out and we can't adapt. When Gawn went down with the knee injury earlier in the year, we immediately fell apart. The players couldn't adapt to Grundy as the sole ruck in-game (Grundy probably also wasn't match-fit enough to carry the whole can). Clarry, the same! There are also systemic shifts we're still trying to adapt to - two key defenders. It has worked at times but with Petty out and the forward line dysfunctional, it can fall to pieces too. It's all well and good saying we back our system on repeat but it's really quite shakable.

Thanks @kev martin! Was Verrall out there today?

In: Hunter, Brown or Schache, Turner or Tommo Out: Harmes, TMac, plus another TMac in the side has gone on too long. If Brown's not considered mobile enough, bring in the Shack. The two KPD experiment is failing. Bring in Turner (more agile) or Tommo (less) to let Lever go back to his interceptor role. Also happy to bring in Laurie for Chandler but can't entertain J Smith at this point. I feel he'd get in the way. Happy for Rivers to spend more time on ball and hope Gawn exits his shell.

I'd rather stick with Will Verrall. If he can get an injury-free decent run at it, I think he'll be a ripper in a year or so.

There's booing and there's booing. Booing Wacko Jacko is fair game unless it spurs him on, but only for one game. Booing Oskar Baker was embarrassing and pathetic. I certainly won't be booing the Weed but am expecting the filth to boo Grundy on KB

I'd be happy to see a bit more of Rivers in the middle. I agree about Gus. He doesn't look fit enough for an on-ball or wing role

Agree and super surprised JJ didn't get the nod ahead of Harmes. I thought his Casey game was better than Harmes and that he would be a no-brainer to replace Hunter on the wing. JJ is definitely on the outer 😟

Lol that he'll take out Petracca on the back of 8 games

Who's Ras?

A small part of me wants this to be false - such is my dislike for Tom Morris

With Fritsch playing while hampered, I'm sure he's getting regular scans to monitor the injury.

It doesn't appear the umpires are accountable for their performance these days. I totally appreciate how difficult the game is to umpire and that the AFL needed to stamp out umpire abuse at all levels of the game. This is reflected by commentators glossing over or ignoring umpiring mistakes. Having said that, it seems it's gone too far the other way with the same umpires showing up week after week making bad calls, getting sucked in by the theatre of the game to make crowd-pleasing calls and/or failing to learn from or improve on their mistakes. Further, to me anyway, they seem to have at times, increasing influence on the momentum of games. The North v Carlton game, earlier in the year was a classic example of this. Do these guys get dropped like players for poor performances?

I think if Hunter had done anything else (excluding running away from the contest), Rozee might have had a more significant injury. We should challenge the ban. We would be providing a service for all footy fans by exposing Christian as the inept clown he is.

IMO, his limited ability to hit a target is the thing that keeps him out of the AFL side.

+1

Feral:

Not disputing that, but I do in fact, have Bowza the Bull (obviously No. 17), but he's a little tetchy at the moment and not taking photo requests.

Agree. If left unchecked, it wouldn't be long before most bench players started lining up to scream abuse. Admire his passion though.

This is Harmsey and @old55