They said he was in contention for round 1, then we are told minimum 8 weeks? Obviously Mitch Clark is going to miss games that he is indeed physically fit for, and he is genuinely the most important player in the side bar none, and it IS going to cost us wins. To me it is shocking that everyone seems to be so accepting of this.

Why do we need to trumpet whatever it is all over Australia? I think it's easy enough to understand that the bloke is clearly struggling big time and it is in his best interests to take some leave from the club and from the game. Who knows how bad it is and, if it is REALLY bad, it wouldn't help Mitch one bit to tell the entire AFL community about it. I'll back Roos in every day of the week and i would much rather see someone get better and improve their life than put that on hold to play football.

I'd love him out there too but I want to see him get himself healthy and happy before he gets to that point.

Dave Misson has been a disaster for us

Dave Misson has been a disaster for us

I would agree if it wernt like this prior to him coming to the MFC.

I would agree if it wernt like this prior to him coming to the MFC.

I agree, but he came with a huge reputation and hasn't exactly delivered on it. He would have been part of the group that rushed Clark back early in 2013 which obviously did far more harm than good.

I agree, but he came with a huge reputation and hasn't exactly delivered on it. He would have been part of the group that rushed Clark back early in 2013 which obviously did far more harm than good.

I do say it is really rare for players to get back quick and on track to what the injury reports do say so the transparency definitely is not there and I have no idea why. Viney and Jamar were not even listed as having injuries during the pre season.

If AFL had given us a PP we would have had Boyd in our forward line last night.

Apparently we didnt need it though because Port Adelaide turned things around...

GWS now has a number 1 draft tall forward we desperately need playing in the 2nds.

Definitely good for the game having guys like Pederson on the field for AFL games and guys like Boyd sitting on the sidelines

Edited March 23, 201411 yr by olisik

If AFL had given us a PP we would have had Boyd in our forward line last night.

They gave us two first round picks for Tom Scully. We got Hogan with that. The AFL has done enough.

We have 2 first-class tall forwards and a couple of capable backups, it's just bad luck they got injured. If we had the number 1 pick last year and took Boyd the complaints around here would've been insane considering our midfield needs.

Edited March 23, 201411 yr by rhaz

Were probably still 10-12 players away from a really competitive team.

Viney, Garland, Dawes, Hogan plus one or two of Clark, Jamar, Gawn, then later in the year, one of Salem or Hunt.

It's there, but not yet on the field.

Viney, Garland, Dawes, Hogan plus one or two of Clark, Jamar, Gawn, then later in the year, one of Salem or Hunt.

It's there, but not yet on the field.

Thats irrelevant, we hear that every year. The fact is if they come back we will have other injuries to replace them. Every team has injured players, its something we need to deal with and our depth need to stand up.

They said he was in contention for round 1, then we are told minimum 8 weeks? Obviously Mitch Clark is going to miss games that he is indeed physically fit for, and he is genuinely the most important player in the side bar none, and it IS going to cost us wins. To me it is shocking that everyone seems to be so accepting of this.

They said he injured his calf again just before going on leave.

They said he injured his calf again just before going on leave.

He should go AiS with Dawes for another opnion.

Not 7 weeks, not again. Right now he has the opportunity to get these soft tissue injuries at the club and work with elite professionals in the field to work out the problems. Dawes is and has gone to the AIS for more opinions on his calf while Clark has decided to go and take leave from the club after it all.

Clark was last week placed on the long term injury list.

That means an eight week break mininium .

He has now served one week so that makes 7 to go mininium.

If AFL had given us a PP we would have had Boyd in our forward line last night.

Apparently we didnt need it though because Port Adelaide turned things around...

GWS now has a number 1 draft tall forward we desperately need playing in the 2nds.

Definitely good for the game having guys like Pederson on the field for AFL games and guys like Boyd sitting on the sidelines

As if that was ever going to happen.GWS is the AFL's baby and they were never going to disrupt their grab of all things valuable in the draft.

My thoughts:

• That was a very disappointing performance. St Kilda were as bad as GWS last year.
• Our poor goal kicking really cost us.
• It is a disaster to have so much of the salary cap on the sidelines in Round 1, particularly for a bottom club paying only 95%.
• Watts was excellent and will only get better as a mid as he gets fitter and stronger. Roos has done well over the preseason on teaching him to use his speed more effectively and we need to keep feeding him the ball. Next Watts needs to develop his ability to mark at the highest point, rather than being too cute. His tackling will always be a weakness IMO and it still needs to be a focus.
• Whilst picking up a lot of the ball, Tyson was slow and made some bad errors. He is also very one sided for a slow player.
• I thought Michie showed a bit to suggest he could be a good player.
• Toumpas is developing but will never be the star we hoped.
• JKH will need to become much stronger to make it given his lack of pace. As much as it hurts to say, Byrnes is ahead of him at the moment.
• Georgiou looks a good honest footballer and is already in our best 22 IMO. His recruitment and Dunn’s great transformation to become a star will put pressure on T McDonald to remain in our best side when Garland returns.
• Spencer never has been or will be the answer in the ruck.
• I didn’t think Roos had his greatest night in the box. The slow reaction to move McDonald off Riewoldt was very costly, particularly when Frawley was the alternative. Also I thought we were overly defensive in pushing midfield numbers back AND allowing the spare man. This meant we had too many players behind the ball and our forward transition was too slow. The Saints were then able to pick us off on the counter attack enough times to kick a winning score.
• As ordinary as Pederson and Howe were, I thought our forward entries were woeful and it wouldn’t have mattered who was down there. We needed to hit up the short lead more often to draw the defenders out or run the ball to the 50.
• IMO we need to become a bit bolder in our ball movement from the backline at times and use handball as an attacking weapon. We tried this once (which was the correct tactic) but Frawley made an error and they got us on the counter. While our kicking possession game makes sense when the opposition’s defence is well organised, we should look to attack more like Geelong once the ball is turned over and/or when we enter our half of the ground. As much as it would hurt against us, we should play Blease in defence.

Pederson is an absolute embarrassment at this level. No bloody forward line at all will eventually kill off enthusiasm by our bolstered midfield.

As for Frawley, I want him to grab the game by the throat and show some mongrel. Our team needs superstars who can take the game on….too many fluffy ducks on our list

If AFL had given us a PP we would have had Boyd in our forward line last night.

Apparently we didnt need it though because Port Adelaide turned things around...

GWS now has a number 1 draft tall forward we desperately need playing in the 2nds.

Definitely good for the game having guys like Pederson on the field for AFL games and guys like Boyd sitting on the sidelines

I must admit to thinking aloud last night about how the AFL didn't allow us a PP.

• IMO we need to become a bit bolder in our ball movement from the backline at times and use handball as an attacking weapon. We tried this once (which was the correct tactic) but Frawley made an error and they got us on the counter. While our kicking possession game makes sense when the opposition’s defence is well organised, we should look to attack more like Geelong once the ball is turned over and/or when we enter our half of the ground. As much as it would hurt against us, we should play Blease in defence.

Agree, we were very slow moving forward and needed to take the game on when the ball was turned over.

Dave Misson has been a disaster for us

The physedders are witchdoctors. We would be much better off spending the money on paying the full salary cap.

Just quietly, I reckon Matt Jones was in our best 5.

It's pretty soft to single out Pedersen IMO. We all know he isn't good enough. That isn't his fault, and nor is it his fault that we have literally no over options at the moment. Concentrate on the issues that are actually within the players' control.

It's pretty soft to single out Pedersen IMO. We all know he isn't good enough. That isn't his fault, and nor is it his fault that we have literally no over options at the moment. Concentrate on the issues that are actually within the players' control.

True, although after a loss in Round 1 there will always be a few scapegoats. I've never rated him as a forward though, if he plays at all he is a much better backman.

I do say it is really rare for players to get back quick and on track to what the injury reports do say so the transparency definitely is not there and I have no idea why. Viney and Jamar were not even listed as having injuries during the pre season.

Viney copped a concussion during the pre-season and then another after returning from memory. Not sure about Jamar.

I think we are definitely on the right track, which is a nice change,

Frawley needs to take more ownership in general, he wants to wait for someone else to set the direction of the club, he needs to be proactive, set an example and help set it himself, Tommy Mcdonald can't run, don't wait til Roo has three goals before deciding maybe i should go to him.

Trengove needs to find a way to be dangerous, he is getting enough of the ball, he needs to make something happen when he does have it now

Watts needs to play like that every week, that's the standard now, no backwards steps.

I think the biggest thing the team needs is confidence, there are some seriously talented boys on our list, they need to back that talent, no doubts, i'd rather see them make a bad decision then show indecision.

Could you point to one post that stated we should sack the coach? I don't think anyone would be dumb enough to make that statement (although one made in jest).

You'd have to be blind not to see the implementation of a game plan, in fact if anything we were too rigid with it, and I reckon most would accept that a lack of forward line and then further injuries to big men took their toll. But it cuts deep that we weren't able to get the job done against a very young St Kilda team. Especially since it could be a while before we see a win.

Our lack of forward options is going to be the case for while so we need players to work hard to create space, our forward 50 was too crowded at times with no tall target.

Can you read what I wrote, and what you quoted?

I never said people were contemplating Roos' future, just a third of the players.

I think we are definitely on the right track, which is a nice change,

Frawley needs to take more ownership in general, he wants to wait for someone else to set the direction of the club, he needs to be proactive, set an example and help set it himself, Tommy Mcdonald can't run, don't wait til Roo has three goals before deciding maybe i should go to him.

Trengove needs to find a way to be dangerous, he is getting enough of the ball, he needs to make something happen when he does have it now

Watts needs to play like that every week, that's the standard now, no backwards steps.

I think the biggest thing the team needs is confidence, there are some seriously talented boys on our list, they need to back that talent, no doubts, i'd rather see them make a bad decision then show indecision.

Frawley ain't no leader, never will be. Garland holds that mantle.

Frawley looks disinterested.

Pedo and Howe have been unfairly potted here....they received no support by the crap delivery into the forward line.

Mat Jones was excellent.

Bernie Vince needs to start in the middle EVERY ball up.

Nate Jones is an A+ midfielder.

Roos was out coached, but then again, he didn't have the cattle or rotations available to him.

Please hurry up Chris Dawes.

Frawley ain't no leader, never will be. Garland holds that mantle.

Frawley looks disinterested.

Pedo and Howe have been unfairly potted here....they received no support by the crap delivery into the forward line.

Mat Jones was excellent.

Bernie Vince needs to start in the middle EVERY ball up.

Nate Jones is an A+ midfielder.

Roos was out coached, but then again, he didn't have the cattle or rotations available to him.

Please hurry up Chris Dawes.

I don't know that Roosy was out coached, i think we had plan A and that was good enough to win, we simply didn't execute it well enough, too much indecision not knowing who to kick too,

we need one of Dawes or Hogan for the GWS game.