I would love it if we could field an unchanged side against the Pies but, if changes are forced on us I would love Nic Cox to get a run: it’s easy to forget what a talented kid he is, after all the setbacks he’s suffered. Anzac day would be the perfect occasion for a “fairytale” return.
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Great pressure and tackling. Bringing ball to ground up forward has been noticeable. No easy escape by opposition out of our forward line. Coast to coast ‘walk in to an open goal’ has dried up significantly. That has to be the standard every week.
A few basic turnovermistakes which has to be worked on. Must just keep trying to take the game on. Kids will be much better for that run.
Have turned the season around since half time of the bulldogs game. And the bulldogs have gone to cwap.
Scott correctly noted in the presser the decimated team that we were last 8 to 10 weeks last year. We’ve improved by over 90 points from just 6 games ago (last round 2025 v suns up there)
He also noted we haven’t had a consistent back 6 for years.
Whipping boys 2MP, Langford, Gresham have all been great.
I think we need one more indicator to cement our progress. 1, 2 or 3 players have to score 3 plus goals every week for us to kick a winning score. We have trouble progressing past 2 goals for any one player.
Also, we are becoming a 2 speed team. Helter skelter kamikaze when needed; calm and slow control at other times. Kicked over 100 points two weeks in a row. When did we last do that???
A few weeks ago Anzac Day looked a potential nightmare. Suddenly, you never know!!!
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Is it so hard for Scott to play Durham on ball. That’s his best position.
McGrath is not a midfielder.
Caddys in the worst form of his career to date.
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If this is true 
He has had so many chances for the fairy tale and in every one of them he’s been the ugly stepsister. He needs to produce stellar efforts and buckets of goals week after week in the VFL before he gets another go. Ditto Perkins.
Confirmed in video a few posts above.
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McGrath is a midfielder when he’s nullifying an opposition star.
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Durham’s a goer, but he’s found out against decent midfields and doesn’t get enough of it when he plays there
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I think the noticeable difference and I mean it’s really noticeable is the attention to detail when kicking the footy. Head right over the footy, hanging onto the ball when ball-dropping a split second longer.
Skills have been really important not to expose us on the turnover.
We’ve been much more competitive in and around clearance.
Work in progress but we have improved when and when not go, players are holding there position and defending their direct opponent instead of swarming the ball carrier or where the ball is.
Ball in hand - We’re happy to be patient with the footy and try multiple switches. Without continuity I don’t think there has been much opportunity to have unique/ set plays based on situation. This will come with time.
Defensively - beyond what I mentioned about when and when not to go we’ve structured up a bit taller behind the ball. I don’t think much plan has changed just some personnel and less clangers.
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Kudos to @Blummers32 stated very early on he thought Day Wicks might be a player.
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Would have got over the line of this was at Marvel with Essendon fans going nuts
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Ready for finals
Did anyone else get weird looks at the pub when Blakiston went in a centre bounce, against Mac Andrew, and you said “C’mon Blaki, use your leap”..?
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that’s what I use the ignore function for!!
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Things can turn quickly. He might have five more years left and if things go we could win a flag in that time. And it would be sweeter than a FIFO flag. But we probably won’t win one in his career.
He’s still got a long way to go.
At some point, as fans, we won’t appreciate what he does and contributes to the team. We’ll prefer someone more flashy or who kicks goals.
That’s not ADW.
He’s the high half forward our previous list manager struggled to get even close to finding. And because of that, we tried a whole heap of other players there. ADW will work up to the contest, is capable of winning the ball inside the contest and get it outside. That was the glimpse I saw last year and in all honesty, if I wanted to find that glimpse in other players, I’d be able to find it. But in a player drafted that low, I wasn’t expecting it.
Where he’s improved is what happens after the contest. He’s capable of working his way forward of the ball and take up a position in the forward press at the next play. What he’s shown this year is the capability to run further up the field (a lot of work has gone into that) and now capable of winning ground balls pretty much anywhere and find time to kick the ball forward himself. If he keeps his opponent honest, it means the opposition needs to find another avenue to set up the loose man. This is a key part of unlocking the options our forward line have.
He’ll need to clean up his disposal. To this point, he’s not afraid to make errors which is great. That won’t last though.
And I’m not worried if he’s pushed up to the wing every here and there. He’s capable of doing it and we desperately need more options through the wings. And not flashy ones that work offensively. Ones that run both ways.
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When I read this, I genuinely sit back and start to wonder if you’ve been trolling us for years.
How can you be pro Brad when the club is at it’s worst and then have venom against the team when they finally start playing well?