Pre Game was very moving. Dim the lights, watch the flame and respect the fallen. The NZ National Anthem was incredible. The pre game under lights is so much better than at 3 pm during the day. Glad we have the Anzac Eve for sure.
I think that the 4 day turn around hurt this game, and if Gil and his muppets want this to be a spectacle for TV etc etc, it needs to be at least a 5 day turnaround. The standard, along with the rule changes made it a horrible game to watch.
Being at the game, the first 3 quarters was more a case of tolerating the Demon's defensive gameplan. If Demetriou wants to whinge about how boring Sydney played, Gil will want to watch the tape of this mess. These new rules are really working well with high scoring and free flowing football. The game looks so much worse than last year. Thankfully, after being dragged down to the Demon's level for 3 quarters, it was only a matter of time before they broke. Last quarter was great - moving into 3rd gear after losing Jack and Astbury on one leg. One part of the game that we can improve on is set shots. We were a 10-15 goal better team with those inside 50's.
One battle I watched with interest was the Gawn VS Nank. Not every ball in, but most, Gawn likes to push into his opponent from behind in a forwards movement, and as the ball is at it's peak, he holds out his arms so his opponent cannot back into him. To the rules of the game, that's a push in the back in a marking contest, so why is he allowed to get away with it during a ball in ?
Our Fab 5 continue to improve - Baker, Ross, Balta, Stack and Higgins. Stack and Ross won their positions and both play like 100 games players. Stack's last quarter, especially a passage in the back pocket - reading the play, leaving his man, and working through traffic by hands with the vision of the great Maurice Rioli was sublime. The Mark, the bump and the torp were great. But that passage was just superb.
Whipping boys including Ellis, Macintosh and Castagna were again, excellent role players. Those asking for Castagna to be dropped. I'll repeat - it will never happen. His forward pressure and tackling are elite. Kicking goals is the cream for George. Rioli looks like he is playing sore.
So Jack will be out again with a "PCL Type" injury. Just more bad luck, but as we have seen this year, injuries create opportunities. Bolton, Moore or Townsend are waiting in the wings. Lynch needs more time to settle. Leading appeared to be mistimed, and it didn't help when he was not paid 3 marks that were definitely marks for any other tall in any other team (Cox would have had 50M paid as well as the mark).. Houli, Edwards, Grimes and Vlas are superstars. Dusty is almost always quiet against the Demons. Lambert and Prestia stepped up on the inside and I though we broke even with their "star studded inside mids". Oliver will have a stellar career with the Glodetrotters post AFL.
I'm happy we gritted this game until the end. Four day break was not ideal, so hopefully they can have a rest and assess the injuries.
Out - Jack (injured)
In - Bolton/Moore/Townsend/Graham