Earl Hood

If we had managed to get Meek into the deal that would have solved our ruck problems.

Their recruiting of cheap, “not really wanted” players from other clubs has been amazing. Ginnivin, Choll, D’Ambrosio, Meek, Amon. And they have got most of their early draft picks right and still have some veterans, Bruest,Gunston playing their roles perfectly and importantly coaching the young brigade. MFC has mostly struck out on the cheap, recycled recruiting in the last 3 years. As a cohort they have added little in terms of improving our list, playing a role or providing on field leadership.

And what is scary is that if the Hawks get into the 8 they can go a long way. This is the greatest “gap year” we have seen for years. There is hardly a team in the 8 this year that is in form and deserving of a premiership. They all have significant weaknesses. I thought Sydney were the real deal but they’ve dropped away, Carlton, Geelong, Port, Freo aren’t great sides. Maybe the Dogs have finally clicked and with Brisbane are genuine, inform contenders.

I was there too, in the MFC reserved area on my lonesome. The regulars have really dropped off.

I am not a great rap for our coaching staff and our game plan but I think tonight in a tight game our on field leadership just isn’t there when we need it. Some terrible decision making by young and old players, especially when kicking into our forward 50 but then what else is new?

Thanks umpires we get a free that penalises US! You maggots.

Geez I am sitting on my own here. Big drop off. Go Dees!

I am here, not sure why.

Magpies first goal in the 4th from a free. Swans guy, no prior, gets stripped of the ball just as he receives it, no tackle just a hand on the ball and it’s a shot on goal.

That sucks. I see Darcknee Moore managed to get a knee into a Carlton bloke’s ribs there in the last minutes. Can someone line him up in our last game please.

There goes the Rising Star trophy.

If they sneak into 7th or 8th on this form, this year, look out, could be 2016 all over again. They are playing like the Pies last year. Full of confidence and running hard. They have a number of goal scoring midfielders and add the goal scoring small to medium forwards, all in form. With the Swans seemingly dropping away, this really is a gap year, with no genuine standout sides for the flag. The team coming into the finals, in form has a real chance.

I was at the game and caught up in the moment so I need to review the replay tomorrow when I clear my head. But I was screaming in the last few last quarter centre bounces. We had no one goal side for the bounce. So Max is running toward our goals and Briggs as usual coming from the side early to take up space, and twice the hit by Max goes towards our goal and straight to a Giant on his own, who then gets a clear kick forward. WTF is going on?

TMac is still in tracksuit top talking to staff on the sidelines during the warmup?

And Hipwood just after McKay and Curnow!

YEP!

Would love that “bit player” to come back. His exit completely destabilised our list management.

I don’t follow these things that closely so I am welcome to be corrected but are we doing to Sparrow what we did to Jordan? To me he has a lot of AFL level attributes. However he doesn’t have a set role, rather he is on the wing, down back, in the centre bounces, tagging mids or small forwards, blah, blah. Have I got that wrong? I think Jordan had no specific, permanent role with us and went off to the Swans to get a specific role and blossom from there.

This is reminding me of when I played U17’s and the top side would show up with a dozen players over 190 cm and most with beards and sideburns! We amazingly seem to be undersized all over the ground but somehow they also have midfield players everywhere, running riot!

You would think We would man up at the stoppages!

Where is that guy Shultz?

Oh yes it’s Friday Night “not 15 play on” footy again!

Undermanned in the ruck, Petty being towelled up apparently but guess what we are winning the clearances just. Got to wonder about dominant rucks. Their real value is marking, spoiling around the ground, forcing teams to go wide, rather than the number of hit outs. Which is code for me saying we should have kept Grundy 😀!

FCS what were you expecting? He has put his hand up.

Thanks Umpires. No prior opportunity but a free paid.