To me the club is doing what the club should be doing in regards to selection. Maric, Strauss, Nicholson all need games to hopefully improve and give them the experience that will make them better footballers for us in 2012, Dunn and Bate need games to allow our footy department to make a fair assessment on their futures at the club.

On Bartram if we can get Grimes and Strauss playing well and kicking the footy in our back half we can afford to play him as that real defensive back pocket. Bartram is our best defensive small no question but his skills let him down, if we can get other players in our back half that have good reliable foot skills we can afford to play Bartram. Strauss came into our club with the skill set we needed, we have to give him games to see if he can apply those skills.

Same goes with Maric, we have seen is a few games this year that Maric has the potential he just needs to gain the confidence and consistancy, he can't get this being in and out of the team. He was good against Port, like most of his team mates bad against Hawthorn so he gets another chance and for his sake I hope he gets to play out the rest of the season at AFL level.

Hate to say it and swim against the tide of fellow Demonlanders, logic, history, games played, ladder position, selection choices, etc...

But I reckon we are in with a chance this week.

Rollercoaster prediction: At our best 26 point loss. At our worst 96 point loss. If we win, I donate 50 bucks to the Royal Childrens Hospital.

After a night to think it all over, I am still frustrated by the changes. I have been a solid Bailey supporter, but this has put me over the edge. I no longer care if he is here next year.

We have conceded this match before the opening bounce. No real changes for a side that got thoroughly beaten last week to take on an even better side.

If we know we're not going to win it, why aren't we playing some kids? Cook, Blease, McDonald etc.

I'll be there. But I won't be happy about it.

After a night to think it all over, I am still frustrated by the changes. I have been a solid Bailey supporter, but this has put me over the edge. I no longer care if he is here next year.

We have conceded this match before the opening bounce. No real changes for a side that got thoroughly beaten last week to take on an even better side.

If we know we're not going to win it, why aren't we playing some kids? Cook, Blease, McDonald etc.

I'll be there. But I won't be happy about it.

You can wish to have a different coach, but Bailey cannot be accused of holding back youth...

And the bigger bodies he has kept in for this games illustrates his intentions to try and win this game at the expense of games to those kids you mentioned.

I tend to think we might have a good game. My reasons are we tend to play better after a post Hawthorn shaming. Where there is life there is hope and we still have finals incentive. Geelong have been slightly off the boil recently and no doubt would have penciled this game in as a certainty a long time ago. A lazy performance by them is not out of the question.

Of course I'm placing faith that our boys are going to go in a 100%. If we do play at our best, the large ground will suit us unless wet and/or windy. And why not, we have nothing to lose. Plus strange things can happen when there are crazy odds like I'm seeing on places like Betfair. I still think it will be difficult to win but I anticipate a good effort from us. The optimist in me predicts a 17 point win for us. Now you can all laugh.

Edited July 29, 201114 yr by america de cali

In our favour:

An extra week since the Darwin game; what appears in this rollercoaster year to be a positive response to a thrashing the previous week; Geelong looking a little (and only a little) more fragile than a few weeks ago; no J-Pod; team stability at selection.

Not in our favour:

It's not at the MCG; it's not an interstate team; it's against a high quality team; missing Davey, Grimes, Scully, Bail.

Result: It should be a 60+ point loss based on talent available, but because I expect a "response" to last week's game, I'll predict a 45 point loss.

I tend to think we might have a good game. My reasons are we tend to play better after a post Hawthorn shaming. Where there is life there is hope and we still have finals incentive. Geelong have been slightly off the boil recently and no doubt would have penciled this game in as a certainty a long time ago. A lazy performance by them is not out of the question.

Of course I'm placing faith that our boys are going to go in a 100%. If we do play at our best, the large ground will suit us unless wet and/or windy. And why not, we have nothing to lose. Plus strange things can happen when there are crazy odds like I'm seeing on places like Betfair. I still think it will be difficult to win but I anticipate a good effort from us. The optimist in me predicts a 17 point win for us. Now you can all laugh.

You are right it took me 10 minutes to stop.

Sorry mate but you led with your chin!

You will get good odds on that 17 point win.

IMO we will lose badly to the Cats because they are about 2 classes better than the Dees

at the MCG and about 4 at KP.

However I am happy for you to tell me I know nothing tomorrow night!

for me there is but one sobering thought:

"In Steve Johnson Cameron Ling Cameron Mooney Brad Ottens"

beaudy !!!

I wasnt relishing the Hawks game but Im downright fearful of to what degree we're going to get pantsed down at Kittyland .

Geelong are starting their run hom......we're cannon fodder, and thats being kind.

I'll be happy enough if a couple of the lads grow some and make a stand.

If Bailey wusses it and loads up the backline in contrite capitulation from the opening bounce then his papers must be stamped " never to re-sign "

There IS only one way to play Geelong and thats to take them head on. Theres no shame in losing if you have a red hot go...There is absolute shame in much the way weve gone about some games.

Over to you Dean

Edited July 29, 201114 yr by belzebub59

for me there is but one sobering thought:

"In Steve Johnson Cameron Ling Cameron Mooney Brad Ottens"

beaudy !!!

I wasnt relishing the Hawks game but Im downright fearful of to what degree we're going to get pantsed down at Kittyland .

Geelong are starting their run hom......we're cannon fodder, and thats being kind.

I'll be happy enough if a couple of the lads grow some and make a stand.

If Bailey wusses it and loads up the backline in contrite capitulation from the opening bounce then his papers must be stamped " never to re-sign "

There IS only one way to play Geelong and thats to take them head on. Theres no shame in losing if you have a red hot go...There is absolute shame in much the way weve gone about some games.

Over to you Dean

BB I do not think it will matter what we do

IMO the only thing to discuss is the size of the loss.

We are on our knees waiting for the C D G.

The next 3 weeks will probably tell us who gets dropped from our list for next year

and get offered for trade.

"In Steve Johnson, Cameron Ling, Cameron Mooney, Brad Ottens"

On the other hand, four players in, all old and underdone.

Upon this straw I grasp. That McKenzie will own Bartel. That Jamar and Moloney will lead a win in the clearances. That our fluid, mobile forwards will 'find a way through' and make the opportunities count. That Frawley will hand Mooney his arse all day and then run off him right up the corridor. That the midfield will keep the pressure on and that we'll get the full 'Jared Rivers effect'.

I believe. I always believe. :D

Same goes with Maric, we have seen is a few games this year that Maric has the potential he just needs to gain the confidence and consistancy, he can't get this being in and out of the team. He was good against Port, like most of his team mates bad against Hawthorn so he gets another chance and for his sake I hope he gets to play out the rest of the season at AFL level.

Maric hasn't had a good game this year.

He played OK against Port, but that's Port. Nothing special there.

Maric is crap.