Earl Hood

That’s a small sample size I think. We spotted up Pickett twice, thrice this match, prior to that Kossie was turning loose, ground ball entries into gold but that’s him. Why aren’t our key forwards leading, running zig zag patterns, working to spread the defence? I don’t know but I suspect we don’t coach it. And our small forwards are rarely front and centre for the crumb from a contested pack. Why?

My thoughts too. It’s as much about the delivery into I50 and our forward line strategies or lack thereof, as the calibre of our forward cattle! Yes it would be great to have a 200 cm plus, pack crashing, high marking focal point up forward but they are hard to find. Not sure Joe would be the answer but if he was keen well maybe at a reasonable price. I still believe with much better delivery and much better forward craft and teamwork that we could construct a very serviceable forward line from the following - Fritsch, Kossie, Turner, Melksham, Petty, Chandler, Spargo, JVR, Jefferson, Tracc, Langford and I would throw in May as an option to extend his career and Viney as a defensive small forward. And hopefully a full preseason for Kentfield would add to the mix. P.S. If we don’t sharpen up our set shot goal kicking accuracy it’s all a waste of time.

Woewodin seems to have plateaued. What role is he being asked to play in the side?

Yes but it is Darcknee Moore!

The real offence is accidental, high contact, severe impact. If both players were of equal size then it’s about 0.2 of a second difference as to who takes the ball first and takes the big hit. But we all know that if someone has been collected high there must be a guilty perpetrator, but of course only if it involves bumps etc. No issues, no “duty of care” if you take someone out from behind with a flying knee to the spleen or back of the head spoiling or taking a mark.

Any idea what that free was for? I was expecting a free and 50m for the late unnecessary shove into the fence.

I counted 3 throws in that last Collingwood surge toward goal ending with a Darcknee Moore special play to give away 50m. and loose the game.

6 Pickett 5 Gawn 4 Fritsch 3 Bowey 2 Rivers 1 Oliver - because he played his 200th.

The rule is 5 metres, the Demon player was 8 to 10 wide of the zone. And it’s 50m really? Absolute rubbish decision.

Let’s hope so. Arguing that you were aiming for the chest but the relative player positions changed due to Salem and as such you got Sparrow in the head by accident should not carry any weight surely, after the ruling on Kossie last year. The tribunal ruled that Kossie should have foreseen that Moore would/could drop at the knees so his plea of unforeseeable accidental high contact was thrown out. Let’s see what happens, it is the tribunal after all and if Jeff Gleeson is involved anything could happen.

So how did Kossie also get three? Moore’s late second flopping contributed to his high hit and from memory didn’t miss a match? Sparrow went for the ball and got knocked out from a trailing stiff armed coat hanger dished out in heavy traffic! And will miss games but somehow these are equivalent transgressions? Sorry this was a 4 to 6 week brain fade.

6 Melksham 5 Petracca 4 Fritsch 3 Gawn 2 Langford 1 TMac

Yze looked very comfortable as a lead up half forward at this level. Verrall goes well as a mobile ruckman at ground level but doesn’t provide a lot in the air. Billing’s was great but he is not the future. Spargo not ready just yet. Howes is more than ready when called. Adam’s worth a run this season?

[censored] they are the two we hope have something!

Verall looks like he is worth persevering with, especially in that second ruck role, if he can develop some forward craft. Howes stands out. Billing’s has been good but desperately looking for something big from our younger guys, e.g. Kentfield.

That is one of the worst umpiring decisions I have seen but I note both commentators called it as an obvious free kick? I give up. So the defender can’t even go for the ball?

In 2010 I went to have a hit of tennis with my wife at Anglesea tennis club only to find the courts were locked. A car pulled up and out jumped an elderly gentleman who introduced himself in a very strong voice, (not unlike John Clark in a Clark and Dawes segment) as Brian Dixon, Melbourne and did we want have a game? I said the courts were locked but that was no impediment, he went to check and somehow managed to open the lock so the doubles game was on. ( I pointed out I was a long suffering Dee supporter and knew exactly who he was.) Me and my wife in our early 50’s versus Dixon and John Birt of Essendon FC fame both in their mid 70’s! Amazing to think that between us there were 7 VFL premierships on that court at Anglesea that afternoon. Shouldn’t have been a problem working over these geriatrics especially as I was exploiting Johnny Birt’s lack of sideways mobility due to his recent knee replacement, by serving it wide. Hey we were playing for keeps! We took the first set 6-4 only for me to tear my Achilles tendon approaching the net in the first game of the second set! Retired hurt and off to emergency and 3 months in a moon boot while Dicko and John Birt called their wives out of the car to resume the game! RIP Brian Dixon

Petty down back with TMac, throw Turner and May forward for the last few games. Turner actually has some idea how to play as a leading forward and May can play deep, taking the best key defender. That might reduce the pressure on one of the newbies like Jeffo, if we want to persist with him.

I still haven’t seen what his weapons are. Great that he has confidence and aggression but for a medium sized player he doesn’t seem to have leg speed, unique evasion skills or innate goal sense. Why was he so on our radar?

6 Turner 5 Pickett 4 Melksham 3 May 2 Viney 1 Bowey

And Reiwolt commented wondering why were 3 forwards running to the same pocket instead of spreading? Was that kick to the pocket the only option for the ball carrier, hard to tell from the TV?

What was that kick from Langdon out of defence? A high punt to the middle of the ground infested by a murder of Crows! Inevitable goal.

Our once tough as nails much vaunted, veteran midfielders have turned to marshmallows! It’s embarrassing watching the Crows mids just bulldoze straight through them.

The umpires have turned feral!

Extraordinary every time the Pies go forward it’s to Elliot so how does he get separation from one, should be two defenders, time after time? Are there any real shutdown defenders playing AFL footy anymore?