I thought I'd kick off Gameday early so we can actually talk about footy instead of the other stuff that's been in the media.

I think it's fair to say there are a lot of pessimists around and probably rightly so after our last half last week and the sombre mood that seems to be pervading the club.

On the other hand, we have 22 blokes out there. What if everyone of them played at his best?

Here are the midfield match ups taken from today's Herald Sun:-

Cox v Jamar

Kerr v Trengove

Shuey v Magner

Priddis v Grimes

Gaff v Watts

Rosa v Jones

Then there's the second ruck of:

Naitanui v Martin

And if you compare attacks v defence, we don't match up too badly.

Yes, we need to be at our best and we don't have the star factor but I'm not buying into a 24 goal defeat either.

I was thinking this the other day, I'd like to see Martin "tag" Naitanui if that is possible with ruckmen.

The forecast is mostly sunny, maximum 30 degrees.

With our luck, someone will get injured in the first ten minutes and we'll be playing one short in the heat.

I was thinking this the other day, I'd like to see Martin "tag" Naitanui if that is possible with ruckmen.

I agree. He has the athleticism to go with NicNat and if he does, we have a tall enough defence to cover the Eagles forwards IMO.

Frawley, Sellar, Garland/Rivers, Martin vs Kennedy, Lynch, Darling, Cox/NicNat

Don't forget we have Matthew 'reinvented himself as a midfielder' Bate - they will have their hands full stopping his certain domination at the stoppages

God help us (actually I am am athiest) but it can't hurt.

I expect a win today, might not get it but i still expect it. Naitanui plays poorly against us for some reason.

Oh and it sure is nice to get to a game day again. at least i hope it turns out nice

I expect a win today, might not get it but i still expect it. Naitanui plays poorly against us for some reason.

What's the definition of insanity again? Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results..

On a serious note, I refuse to believe we are incapable of matching it with teams like West Coast. I am not expecting a win - quite a way from that actually - but I still feel our list has enormous latent potential that just needs to be harnessed.

I expect a win today, might not get it but i still expect it. Naitanui plays poorly against us for some reason.

It's weird I always do as well no matter what reason says.

Run watts with naitanui.

I was thinking this the other day, I'd like to see Martin "tag" Naitanui if that is possible with ruckmen.

I dont know why you would tag Natanui the limited possessions he gets are usually second efforts at the stoppage. The only difference for mine between us and West Coast is how well drilled they are and stopping Priddis and Kerr. Dont give them easy ball through the midfield and we should put up a decent effort.

I'm gonna cancel foxtel today. I don't think I have the mental strength to watch what's gonna happen today.

I agree. He has the athleticism to go with NicNat...

Ahhhh good to see we've still got a sense of humor after the last few weeks we've had...

I expect a win today, might not get it but i still expect it. Naitanui plays poorly against us for some reason.

It's not just against us. I don't understand why everyone rates him so highly. Averages just under 12 disposals a game 1.6 marks and 0.6 goals. The most impressive thing about him is his 3.6 tackles a game. Watts is beating him in everything but tackles and hitouts, yet everyone seems to think he's a dud.

Dees by four goals

I know it's going to be a tough day at the office. I hope can come away with something from this afternoon's match - maybe we can match our contested possessions from last week and finish in the positive against the Eagles, and we also up our workrate off the ball and get a big boost in our uncontested possessions.

We got thrashed from the first minute in the corresponding match at Subiaco last year. Let's see if we can stay in the contest till at least 1/2 time.

Given a choice i would prefer to start a season badly and end well, rather than the reverse. Go dees.

While I would be thrilled to pull off a win, I don't expect one and won't be all that worried if we don't get one. I just hope we show some improvement and some fight. If we give another insipid performance it could very easily be a 100 point margin. That's something nobody wants to see.

Who's everyone's tips for sub today? I know Ricky has been dubbed "supersub" in the past but I'd like to see him play the whole game. Bennell is probably my tip, although if Davey somehow ends up playing I'd love to see him come on as sub once everyone else has slowed down a little, would be great for his confidence if it went well.

Oh and if Sellar does line up at HF I'm actually excited to see how that goes, i like the idea of some stronger bodies around the forward line with Sellar, Clark, and Dunn hopefully working together.

Edited April 7, 201214 yr by stuie

I'm gonna cancel foxtel today. I don't think I have the mental strength to watch what's gonna happen today.

cover your eyes, we'll tell you when the scary bits are over

Who's everyone's tips for sub today? I know Ricky has been dubbed "supersub" in the past but I'd like to see him play the whole game. Bennell is probably my tip, although if Davey somehow ends up playing I'd love to see him come on as sub once everyone else has slowed down a little, would be great for his confidence if it went well.

Oh and if Sellar does line up at HF I'm actually excited to see how that goes, i like the idea of some stronger bodies around the forward line with Sellar, Clark, and Dunn hopefully working together.

Agree with you there. Bennell should be sub. If Davey does somehow end up playing, I won't be watching.

Sub should be announced by about now, any heard? (Yeah just a bit anxious today...)

What's the definition of insanity again? Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results..

On a serious note, I refuse to believe we are incapable of matching it with teams like West Coast. I am not expecting a win - quite a way from that actually - but I still feel our list has enormous latent potential that just needs to be harnessed.

This is such a cliche these days. Everyone uses it and it drives me insane.

Stef out for Tom McDonald. Puts alot of pressure on Jamar. Bate sub again.

Mistake to make Bate the sub. Great to see Tom McDonald. Why is Stef out? Injury? Wasn't he in the rehab group this week?

Stef out for Tom McDonald. Puts alot of pressure on Jamar. Bate sub again.

Bloody hell... Give Bate a go, why can't one of the inclusions be a sub?! Tough gig loosing Stef, gonna be verrrrry interesting having Clark, Sellar, and McDonald in the team... Clar will ruck a bit now I'm guessing while McDonald goes forward and Sellar may even take one of WC's tall forwards.... hmmmmm... intrigue