Earl Hood

Couldn’t agree more and it should be no surprise as we saw last week the Essendon ruck Draper totally dominate hit outs and giving their midfield first use. We managed to hang on for a win but it was a glaring weakness. Just how bad was Mitch King or Flipper toward the end of the season? I thought at the time we just need a big body to compete and keep them honest, in King, out Hutchy who has struggled to get a kick for some time.

I have never witnessed such one sided umpiring in my life. It is just extraordinary!

Extraordinary whatever happened to the midfield today. Our strengths this year were contested possession, hit outs to advantages, centre clearances, inside 50’s, scoring more than any other side. Great statistical indicators but everyone of those were smashed today in the first half. Take away our control of the midfield contest and we, similar to most other sides, struggle. But again what the hell happened with our midfield, Max was down but still won the hit outs but the Weagles invariably pounced on the ball and worked it out to their advantage.

Based on today’s game let’s not panic but let’s unload half the list as too old or too slow or lacking poise under pressure. That is assuming we have ready made and improved replacements.

Going tomorrow expecting we will get smashed but hoping for a win.

As long as Lewis is willing to play the role that is best for the club, like Bernie, I say he goes on and if/when his time is up he happily finishes his contract at Casey and hopefully helps the coaches, then lock it in for 2019. No use looking for scapegoats based on today’s debacle. Going by the player ratings TMac had a shocker but that was because our system collapsed and guys like TMac were being thrown around to put out spot fires down back, up forward, on the wing and in the ruck. Similar thinking with Jones. My thinking is Jones has been asked to play a linking role off the wing this year and specifically instructed not to get in the way of Oliver, Viney, Harmes and Brayshaw as they can get ball and handball to a target in traffic better than Jones. In the first half today we didn’t see Jones because we didn’t get a clearance. After half time he started accumulate as we as a team did. Still worth another year.

Any other game the MRP would be looking at that but will turn a blind eye no doubt. In slomo it looked like a closed fist poke/punch to his throat, potentially dangerous.

In a deesaster I thought he kept at it but yes very fumbly in the first half and very stumbly like a lot of others. I blame the bootstudders for this.

Team - seemingly no bootstops!

I have managed to commandeer Thunderbird 2 for the weekend so can take about 50 Dee supporters in the main pod and can drop you all in the middle of Optus Stadium just before kickoff. Hopefully I won’t scorch the turf too much.

Not sure on match ups over the whole game but he did let that ball through his fingers that Gunston ran onto and kicked into the post that would have put the Dawks within 2 goals in the third quarter. One lapse like that can cost you.

Agree but just worry that JSmith has not been part of the last 4 games of high dare I say extreme intensity football in front of large, sometimes hostile, crowds. Fingers crossed he can come in and perform in front of what will be a cauldron of hostility and intensity after a few runs at VFL level. That said I have always liked Smith as a footballer.

Yes I can tell you but I insist we use the Cone of Silence!

Latest number I heard on the news was 3,200 MFC membership tickets sold for the game. I thought the club could have organised two diesel Locomotives and a few hundred carriages from somewhere for a Deetrain direct to Perth with a thousand fanatics on board. Would need at least 4 or 5 restaurant cars to keep the fans lubricated.

They said on SEN that 2,600 club membership tickets had been sold up to this morning.

Che Will be Will be. Que?

1964 I was a six year old in a MFC family but we went skiing up at Perisher Valley! The old man got a bit complacent, thought there would be many more finals to be played. He was born in Cooma and was keen to get back to his early days skiing in the Snowy Mountains pre WWII. We loved it and I can still remember my first run down a slippery slope, so no issue with missing the GF.

Wednesday 0945 hrs.

Exactly where are you Dfrog and are you attending the game?

If I keep the reigning All Australian and the widely acknowledged AFL No 1 small forward goalless in his most important game of the year, should I be pizzed off that I didn’t even make the AA squad.

Re Salem, I watched the replay again and Daisey Pearce pointed out that Salem felt for his hammy or groin when going back for a ball in the third I think but he played out the game. Fingers crossed.

Both Martin and Dangermouse have had good seasons, not great seasons by any measure.

Is that Saty in the background I saw?

It would help if we had a legit ruckman to go with Draper. He is killing us in the ruck contests.

6 Viney 5 Gawn 4 TMac 3 Petracca 2 Oliver 1 Hibberd