I'm excited heading in to round 1 for sure. Half decent coach, new players, and older players have taken very well to Roos (Neeld rarely ever had the players' imo).

But let's not forget the past 2 years for round 1, we thought we should win. Got done both times by big margins. So i will reserve celebrating a win, when the final siren goes. But not before then.

Just 13 disposals was a bit of a worry.

Wasn't debating the merits of Trenners v Matt Jones based on one game. But if I was, the scales would be tipped even further in Jack's direction. Matt was awful last night.

St Kilda are going to be VERY poor this year.

We'll see more double standards by the AFL when they allocate St Kilda priority picks the next 2 years running.

What we seen today wasn't GWS being superior - it was more due to St Kilda being terrible, that is because they are terrible.

Even if we have a mediocre side in round one, we'll still win by 7 goals plus.

Leading up to most of these first round games, our form was [censored].

This has a different feel.

We've actually got some decent players.

R2G, I know the game you're talking about, but I'd managed to suppress it. The loss against the Lions really hurt.

has Georgiou actually been lifted off the rookie list yet ?

If not he obviously wont be fronting the Aints ( more the pity )

We don't need to elevate him until round one, so no, he has not been elevated. His elevation is a foregone conclusion in my mind though - he's comfortably in our best back 6 so long as Garland is out, and none of the other rookies look near it yet.

Edited March 1, 201411 yr by Nasher
edited multiple times for grammar

Bruce - was BOG first 3 weeks and early Brownlow favourite then was driven into the ground by a Guerra tackle in the opening minutes, did his shoulder and never really regained that form for the rest of his career.

the contrast of the 2 of them

one a regular finals player, in a Dual Premiership Team

the contrast of the 2 of them

one a regular finals player, in a Dual Premiership Team

Guerra lifted when he had a merkin fitted.

a chance ? maybe

likelyhood .....hmmmmm

Memories of great expectation are flooding back pip.

Memories of great expectation are flooding back pip.

As long as we don't end up like Miss Havisham….

Guerra lifted when he had a merkin fitted.

LoL....lifted, I'd say he went flying like 'Sister Bertrille', imagine having a merkin fitted to your scalp? you'd fly to.

wonder if the Mohekans ever fitted a freshly scalped merkin to their chief? like a raccoon cap.

Well the bookies have taken note. We are now round 1 favorites.

Just saying he wasn't perfect. No one ever is.

I think his lot in AFL life is going to be playing on guys with 10cm on him. Like Josh Gibson at Hawthorn.

Georgiou isn't going to be picked to play on small forwards and resting mids. You need guys with more ability to find and use the ball for those spots. Against the saints for example at this stage I'd go:

Frawley - Back up ruck (Stanley or Longer)

McDonald - Riewoldt

Georgiou - Tom Lee/Maister

Then Dunn can be used smalls to attack the game more with his skills and hopefully take some intercept marks

You can't fault his ball use, his style yes.

Well the bookies have taken note. We are now round 1 favorites.

Odds? Sportsbet?

I'd put Michie ahead of him too (easily).

And Trengove.

And Watts.

And Toumpas.

None of those has had a season of AFL footy as promising as Jones' 2013.

They may all go past him this year but they have done nothing yet have they?

I am probably being tough on Trengove. But sometimes he finds it hard to find the footy. He played a flank on Friday...

Odds? Sportsbet?

Yeah. Sportsbet:

St Kilda 2.10

Melbourne 1.72

Bet 365:

St Kilda: 2.00

Melbourne: 1.80

Yeah. Sportsbet:

St Kilda 2.10

Melbourne 1.72

Bet 365:

St Kilda: 2.00

Melbourne: 1.80

I'll be looking for even money over the weeks.

Lazy fiddy on it.

Matt Jones was our second best mid last year (3rd on talent to Viney) he is already down to 6th behind Jones, Vince, Cross, Tyson, and Viney without a game played.

But you need to have 10 players to run through the middle at least, Matt Jones will have his chance.

Yes you add Grimes, Bleese, Watts, Trengove, Toumpas, - Matt Jones is a long way back IMO, but no doubt there will be injuries, so he will be experienced back up, nothing more.

Yes you add Grimes, Bleese, Watts, Trengove, Toumpas, - Matt Jones is a long way back IMO, but no doubt there will be injuries, so he will be experienced back up, nothing more.

Take out Viney who hasn't seen play yet. Is Matt Jones still in our top 10 mids. The answer is probably yes just. That puts him right in line for round 1 still.

You can't fault his ball use, his style yes.

Well he uses it well for the situations but even though they might shank a couple more than he does my point remains it makes more sense to go with someone like Terlich, Clisby and Strauss as the rebounding players.

Either way I'm pretty sure Georgiou will be played like a Dale Morris or Josh Gibson. He'll be the second or third tall defender who has to play on guys with 10m on him but if he uses his body and positioning it will take a very good forward to beat him.

How is Georgiou's attacking flare? If he plays on half back I hope he has game to run forward to put pressure on their HFFs to watch him.

Actully I hope yo see any of Grimes, Dunn, Strauss, Clisby or Georgiou to do that and get the odd goal

Even though there is cause for hope for the first time in a long time, I am going into Round 1 with absolutely no expectations.

Id advise everyone else to do the same

Still excited though

Edited March 1, 201411 yr by hogans_heroes

Understandingly there has been a lot of criticism of the Saints after last night but let's not forget that GWS has three-superstar key forwards picked up courtesy of their extraordinary draft concessions. It will be their three key forwards which are going to auger well for them this year and also for us if we can manage to get them on the paddock at the same time! We will beat the Saints!

Edited March 1, 201411 yr by CBDees

the choices they made with their picks were on par with those of Barry Prendergast.

I won't have that.

Does anyone know if the practice game next sat against the hawks is on TV?