Their culture has been irrepairably terrible for years. They couldn't have handled all the awful player indiscretions much worse if they tried. And the entire St Kilda schoolgirl incident...

And that ridiculous music video they did last year. Truly bizarre stuff. Not sure what's in the water down bayside way...

What about the bizzare nude photos of each other & who could ever forget lighting dwarfs on fire.

Edited March 2, 201411 yr by Matt Demon

How could I forget!

About M Jones, hasn't he got a new 2 yr contract? Seems the club rates him

Always had a bit of a soft spot for the Aints being a bayside dweller but they are seriously a very odd club.
I said last year I expected them to slide in 14 and see nothing to dispel this thinking. Much pain awaits this lot.Might cause serious harm as well. Don't take much to cause them to implode.

Their trading has been bazaar, dillusional. In a team full of kids and pensioners, they trade away McEvoy - 24 yr old and a dominant big man. Wonder what Savage thinks now - bet he'd rather be a best 25 at Hawks than the basket case he has arrived at.

........................... & who could ever forget lighting dwarfs on fire.

The dwarf thing was a none to subtle put-down of Watters I think. Nice. And Watters was still coach at the time.

Not a happy place.

Expect them to finish last.

Their trading has been bazaar, dillusional. In a team full of kids and pensioners, they trade away McEvoy - 24 yr old and a dominant big man. Wonder what Savage thinks now - bet he'd rather be a best 25 at Hawks than the basket case he has arrived at.

Is that where they got Ahmad Saad?

Is that where they got Ahmad Saad?

Gold.

lets not rag on the saints too much, we are still a basket case ourselves, although that is looking like it is finally starting to change.

so did you watch the game or just make your comment after reviewing the stats

I only saw the second half because I was flying home from Sydney.

Their culture has been irrepairably terrible for years. They couldn't have handled all the awful player indiscretions much worse if they tried. And the entire St Kilda schoolgirl incident...

And that ridiculous music video they did last year. Truly bizarre stuff. Not sure what's in the water down bayside way...

But they won that video comp so it's not a total disaster for them.

Tommy mac can run with reiwoldt again, as long as he stays with him and apples a lot of pressure, should just about get the job done.

then there other target will be maister, which i think will be a piece of cake for chip.

Good opportunity for the boys.

I wouldn't go as far as 8-10 wins for the year, sorta looks like 9 is the best possible outcome if we win all the games against clubs like gws, saints, dogs, we could maybe beat blues at the g, maybe, I'm thinking the suns will be better than last year, so I'm unsure how we might go, i think we could knock off the dons maybe. we can beat brisbane this season.

Realistically, 6-7 wins.

still a lot better than 2 lol

As I said, perhaps I am being tough on Trengove. Higher expectations might have crept in to that analysis.

The point is that whether Matt Jones is 6th or 7th in line right now is irrelevant, he is in the mix for the midfield and if Watts and Toumpas want to be thought of ahead of him - they should string some games together the way Matt Jones did last year.

You're not being tough, just wrong.

I was wrong; I just had a look back at his numbers and while they do not tell the full story by any means I believe that my judgement of Trengove's career so far has been coloured by his struggles in the last two years.

Trengove is so very capable of being a hard running accumulator of possessions in the mould of Lenny Hayes - I hope he gets there.

As for my point about Jones - he is still in the best 21+1 at this stage.

Mids: Jones, Vince, Cross, Tyson, Trengove, and Viney* are a class above. Watts, Michie, McKenzie, Jones, Evans, Bail and Toumpas are fighting for the final 4 spots in the rotation.

Watts and Michie look to be solid chances for numbers 7 and 8.

It is quite something to realise that the 2nd best midfielder in 2013 is approx. the 8th or 9th best mid option coming into Rd 1 2014.

It's taken the recruitment of 2 solid pros, and 2 promising kids from other clubs, the movement of a promising kid to a wing, the return to fitness from a young leader, and the continued progression of a 'brick with eyes.'

*Fitness permitting

I only saw the second half because I was flying home from Sydney.

IMO that wouldn't warrant being able to comment on Trenners 13 disposals being a worry if you missed half a game.

To many Trenners bashers on here, had you watched all 4 quarters and said something about his performance that would have had more weight

IMO that wouldn't warrant being able to comment on Trenners 13 disposals being a worry if you missed half a game.

To many Trenners bashers on here, had you watched all 4 quarters and said something about his performance that would have had more weight

He had 29 touches against the Tigers in 64% game time, and he had 13 touches in 73% game time.

It is not a huge stretch to say he was down on what he can do. I saw him on a fwd flank a great deal so I think he was playing a role up there.

I was wrong; I just had a look back at his numbers and while they do not tell the full story by any means I believe that my judgement of Trengove's career so far has been coloured by his struggles in the last two years.

Trengove is so very capable of being a hard running accumulator of possessions in the mould of Lenny Hayes - I hope he gets there.

As for my point about Jones - he is still in the best 21+1 at this stage.

Mids: Jones, Vince, Cross, Tyson, Trengove, and Viney* are a class above. Watts, Michie, McKenzie, Jones, Evans, Bail and Toumpas are fighting for the final 4 spots in

Watts and Michie look to be solid chances for numbers 7 and 8.

It is quite something to realise that the 2nd best midfielder in 2013 is approx. the 8th or 9th best mid option coming into Rd 1 2014.

It's taken the recruitment of 2 solid pros, and 2 promising kids from other clubs, the movement of a promising kid to a wing, the return to fitness from a young leader, and the continued progression of a 'brick with eyes.'

*Fitness permitting

Id put Watts and Michie before Viney at this stage,as he is still a developing kid with limited preparation,and will be used with stints in the forward line,as Roos has already mentioned,just like Toumpas.

Id put Watts and Michie before Viney at this stage,as he is still a developing kid with limited preparation,and will be used with stints in the forward line,as Roos has already mentioned,just like Toumpas.

He isn't match fit - but he is already an established pure midfielder with instincts for the footy in close - he is ahead of Watts and Michie.

Hes not ahead of Watts and Michie just yet.

Not even a certainty to play round one, where as the other two are a lock in.

Edited March 2, 201411 yr by DeeZee

Vineys explosive speed away from a contest will really add to our improving midfield

Vineys explosive speed away from a contest will really add to our improving midfield

Explosive speed? You and I have been watching the wrong player.

Viney's biggest asset is that he loves the contest....hard nut.

He isn't match fit - but he is already an established pure midfielder with instincts for the footy in close - he is ahead of Watts and Michie.

no he isn't.

I haven't read a single post on here in a month, which was both a blessing and a pain, given we won something resembling a football match for once.

Whilst I usually read literally nothing into pre-season games, I can't help but notice a definite sense of optimism and enthusiasm from the team, and a genuine feeling that we are a proper AFL football club for once. Intangibles like that make me more excited than beating Richmond or seeing St Kilda lose to GWS by 10 goals.

Best 22

Clisby Frawley Garland

Grimes MacDonald Dunn

Watts Jones Cross

Howe Dawes Hogan

Kent Clark Viney

Gawn Tyson Vince

i/c Michie McKenzie Fitzpatrick

sub anyone from Salem or Jay K H,

The following players are just AFL depth at best

Terlich, Trengove, Blease, M Jones, Georgio

We're in real trouble if we are having to select Spencer, Bail, Tapscott, Pederson

Best 22

Clisby Frawley Garland

Grimes MacDonald Dunn

Watts Jones Cross

Howe Dawes Hogan

Kent Clark Viney

Gawn Tyson Vince

i/c Michie McKenzie Fitzpatrick

sub anyone from Salem or Jay K H,

The following players are just AFL depth at best

Terlich, Trengove, Blease, M Jones, Georgio

We're in real trouble if we are having to select Spencer, Bail, Tapscott, Pederson

Mckenzie and clisby ahead of Trengove??

Dreamin.

Deezee, Clisby is our best small defender already. Can't believe some rate Terlich ahead of him.

MacKenzie is our best stopper. Please tell me what Trengove brings to the team besides a lack of pace and a great bloke??

What I think/hope round one will look like

FB: Georgiou-Frawley-Dunn

HB: Grimes-McDonald-Terlich

C: Watts-N.Jones-Michie

HF: Trengove-Dawes-Toumpas

FF: Howe-Hogan-JKH/Kent/Blease

FOL: Spencer/Gawn-Vince-Tyson

INT: Viney-Cross-Fitzpatrick

SUB: Blease

Don't think Roos will play JKH straight away so Blease will probably hold the small forward role IMO

Best 22

Clisby Frawley Garland

Grimes MacDonald Dunn

Watts Jones Cross

Howe Dawes Hogan

Kent Clark Viney

Gawn Tyson Vince

i/c Michie McKenzie Fitzpatrick

sub anyone from Salem or Jay K H,

The following players are just AFL depth at best

Terlich, Trengove, Blease, M Jones, Georgio

We're in real trouble if we are having to select Spencer, Bail, Tapscott, Pederson

Its official you have no idea.

Deezee, Clisby is our best small defender already. Can't believe some rate Terlich ahead of him.

MacKenzie is our best stopper. Please tell me what Trengove brings to the team besides a lack of pace and a great bloke??

Trengove has top line endurance and good game running sense allowing him to get into open space. He's also a good tackler, strong mark, hard at the ball and has reasonably reliable skills. Plenty of deficiencies but a lot to like as well.

Clisby v Terlich is interesting. Clisby has a more fluent kicking action but he's not perfect by foot either. Probably a little closer checking as a defender but Terlich takes good intercept marks (and courageous ones). Terlich is also a better tackler and better at winning the ball in space. A little taller as well. Another 2 players that have some positives and negatives.

Btw your magical best 22 features a number of players who aren't fit for round 1 - Clark and Garland for a start. As this thread is a round 1 thread it makes it even less useful.