well...something needed to be tried...as in a bit left field as nothing from the box had any effect it seems after the half time break

To be fair to the coaches, the effort has to come from the players. The box shouldn't be necessary. Or, to put it another way, for as long as the team has to rely on the coaches' box for instructions (or motivation), we're not going to be a real contender.

To be fair to the coaches, the effort has to come from the players. The box shouldn't be necessary. Or, to put it another way, for as long as the team has to rely on the coaches' box for instructions (or motivation), we're not going to be a real contender.

Read an article somewhere recently re Hawthorn that made the point that the game-day coaches are effectively Hodge and the other senior players. They're the ones who run the show onfield - to the extent that any running is necessary when pretty well everyone knows and understands what needs to be done.

There is, of course, a key role in all this for the coaches, as Roos acknowledged when he talked about "getting the message across", but it's less about match-day. Still much soul-searching to be done it would appear.

Looking forward to this weekend. We can't play that badly two weeks in a row can we?

To be fair to the coaches, the effort has to come from the players. The box shouldn't be necessary. Or, to put it another way, for as long as the team has to rely on the coaches' box for instructions (or motivation), we're not going to be a real contender.

In that I do agree. Not enough of the game has become intuitive to enough of our players. As you suggest...they seem to wait on instructions.Good teams,,,well good players just know when to change their focus and tack according to the ebb and flow of a game.

When this on field nouse seems lacking then its down to the box to orchestrate the change ( i would have thought)

Newton kicks goals - 2 per game is good for a mid, something we desperately need.

The ruck is a major issue with Mumford wearing Jamar down and giving their midfield free reign.

in: JKH and Spencer

out: Frost and Jetta with Lamumba going down back.

You werent so critical of jamar after round 1

My point then and now is he isnt actually that big at 1.98

His one trick non jump is okay but he offers little more

Spencil has at least some more mongrel and he and gawn are the future

You werent so critical of jamar after round 1

My point then and now is he isnt actually that big at 1.98

His one trick non jump is okay but he offers little more

Spencil has at least some more mongrel and he and gawn are the future

the sooner they become it the better perhaps

Is this a hint of likely changes?

Roos nominated a handful of players pushing for a round three call-up.

“The guys that immediately jump into mind are [Jack] Grimes, [Viv] Michie, who has been good for a while, and Matty Jones, who played well [last Saturday for Casey],” he said.

“[Jimmy] Toumpas went back and probably played his best game for the last 12 months, which was really good.

Those guys did well, in a one sided practice match for the VFL...

Excuse me if i don't get excited, just yet.

No changes for me.

Newton kicks goals - 2 per game is good for a mid, something we desperately need.

The ruck is a major issue with Mumford wearing Jamar down and giving their midfield free reign.

in: JKH and Spencer

out: Frost and Jetta with Lamumba going down back.

There mere suggestion of dropping Neville is ludicrous.

Don't mess with Neville again.

I'm only joking ,of course you may propose your ridiculous fantasies like the rest of us....

but please never knock the Nev.

Those guys did well, in a one sided practice match for the VFL...

Excuse me if i don't get excited, just yet.

No changes for me.

It will almost fly in the face of the norm if that occurs - after a win we made 2 changes, after a loss we make none.

For the record I agree with you, and if there is a change I think Grimes will be the one to earn a call up.

Rroooaar, she looks like a lioness

In retrospect, Gold Coast are stocked up with talent in exactly the area of the field where we have least, the midfield, so...

GWS has lacked exactly what Melbourne lacked through 2010-2013: leadership. Griffin and Shaw add a lot but they don't set the world on fire, nor are they stand-out leaders. Somehow GWS suddenly look the goods but Melbourne's excuse was that we threw the young kids to the wolves.

I can't hide the fact that Melbourne has a stigma attached to it. When a young 18-year-old puts on the jumper after going through his adolescence having watched how bad a club Melbourne is, it surely must play on such a young, inexperienced mind.

The club isn't just cursed: it's toxic.

yes they've accrued some experience, but also their running players have now a few years & pre-seasons into their bodies, & getting some size.

You werent so critical of jamar after round 1

My point then and now is he isnt actually that big at 1.98

His one trick non jump is okay but he offers little more

Spencil has at least some more mongrel and he and gawn are the future

I never said he should be dropped - I said he needs support. I still maintain Jamar contributed significantly to our win against the Suns.

Likewise his dismantling by Mumford in the second half against GWS was important in our capitulation.

Frost is not the answer as a support ruckman.

We have ruck issues and those we have can't go solo. I agree Spencer is needed.

In retrospect, Gold Coast are stocked up with talent in exactly the area of the field where we have least, the midfield, so...

GWS has lacked exactly what Melbourne lacked through 2010-2013: leadership. Griffin and Shaw add a lot but they don't set the world on fire, nor are they stand-out leaders. Somehow GWS suddenly look the goods but Melbourne's excuse was that we threw the young kids to the wolves.

I can't hide the fact that Melbourne has a stigma attached to it. When a young 18-year-old puts on the jumper after going through his adolescence having watched how bad a club Melbourne is, it surely must play on such a young, inexperienced mind.

The club isn't just cursed: it's toxic.

IMO this is a part of it, the emotional buy in, but also players have to get professional about their thoughts, to stop those negatives, or they won't make it.

Read an article somewhere recently re Hawthorn that made the point that the game-day coaches are effectively Hodge and the other senior players. They're the ones who run the show onfield - to the extent that any running is necessary when pretty well everyone knows and understands what needs to be done.

There is, of course, a key role in all this for the coaches, as Roos acknowledged when he talked about "getting the message across", but it's less about match-day. Still much soul-searching to be done it would appear.

Looking forward to this weekend. We can't play that badly two weeks in a row can we?

much learning to be done: & much Un-learning to be done before we get anywhere. these types of known unlearn'ts are very slow work indeed.

the feeling of winning, is so far a stranger, yet to be trusted again. how to do it repeatedly is an unknown intuitively, at this point.

Wouldn't mind if Brayshaw is sub again or even at Casey. I want to see him rip the Tigers apart on Friday night!!

Brayshaw has 11 tackles in 4 quarters, which by prorata would have him number 1 in the league, and you "wouldn't mind him as sub again or even at Casey".

It's OK for Heeney to play, but not Brayshaw ?

FFS, Brayshaw is 19 and while he'll take 3 more years to build his body and ultimate fitness, he's more than ready to play footy.

Have the Bulldogs been set back by playing Bontempelli, Macrae, etc.

I just don't understand this overly conservative thinking. I do with Stretch, obviously, but Brayshaw needs to play.

You're too concerned by a birth certificate. Use your eyes.

He's strung a bunch of bad ones together though, that's the problem

Last i checked he's only played 1 game this year for four points!

Also remember Brayshaw is 19 going on 20, he was an older draftee compared to many others,

Yeah you guys are correct. Dawes is the reason we got smashed in the midfield on Saturday. (Sarcasm)

Do we need a scapegoat each week? He wasn't great but only 3 players can really hold their heads up after that loss. Give him the chance that others are getting

The others got a chance on the back of a good win last week. Dawes came in to a winning side and was sloppy, undisciplined and detrimental to our forward line. It's partially a positional thing too. As a team we have to be bigger than playing guys based on past plaudits, look at Grimes now.

Ins:

Outs:

FB: Jetta - Dunn - Garland

HB: Salem - McD - Harry.L

C: Viney - N.Jones - Vince

HF: Watts - Dawes - Kent

FF: Garlett - Hogan - Frost

R: Jamar - Cross - Tyson

I: Howe - Brayshaw - Newton

S: VanderBerg

Match Ups:

Jetta - Betts

Dunn - Walker

McDonald - Jenkins

Garland - Lynch

Viney - Danger

Cross - Sloane

Tyson - Douglas

I actually think our backs match up really well with their forwards. Jetta and Betts will be a cracker, Dunn is the perfect size for Walker and Garland/Lynch will be interesting.

We need a heap from J-man and Frost to stop their mids getting first use.

I think it will be closer than people are saying...

Brayshaw has 11 tackles in 4 quarters, which by prorata would have him number 1 in the league, and you "wouldn't mind him as sub again or even at Casey".

It's OK for Heeney to play, but not Brayshaw ?

FFS, Brayshaw is 19 and while he'll take 3 more years to build his body and ultimate fitness, he's more than ready to play footy.

Have the Bulldogs been set back by playing Bontempelli, Macrae, etc.

I just don't understand this overly conservative thinking. I do with Stretch, obviously, but Brayshaw needs to play.

You're too concerned by a birth certificate. Use your eyes.

Relax. It was a throw away line. My main point is I don't want him getting beat up playing against Adelaide when we've got a huge opportunity the next week in a game that we are every chance in. I don't think Bontempelli or Macrea played close to every game in year 1 and had time as the sub. Heeney is playing half forward in maybe the best team in the comp. I'd have Brayshaw in the team for sure.

Despite his youth and clearly having a lot of work to do on his physique, I've seen no evidence so far of Brayshaw being beaten up. If anything he has punched well above his weight in the physicality stakes. He's best 22 for mine and should play; the whole game ideally if the club thinks he's got the tank for it. That's the only question IMO. He should be good for 70% TOG like Viney saw in his earlier years, I would have thought.

Brayshaw plays, and not as the sub, for me. Not because he is young and we need to get games into him, but because he is in our best 22 and our midfield looks better with him in it. He won't star week in and week out, and might even have the odd stinker, but I still think he is a better player as it stands than many others competing for the same spot.

irrespective of what WE may want the club will temper the temptations to over play the Angus too much too early

Play Gus for 3 qts, then sub him off, simples.

I like the idea of Dawes getting dropped, even tho I called for him to be included in rnd 2 team, and go back to the rnd 1 team. But i suspect the team to go unchanged,

Play Gus for 3 qts, then sub him off, simples.

I like the idea of Dawes getting dropped, even tho I called for him to be included in rnd 2 team, and go back to the rnd 1 team. But i suspect the team to go unchanged,

I agree with the Brayshaw idea. Play him for the first 3 qtrs and then sub him off for someone like JKH or Kent to come on as a last qtr impact player.

I would also like to see Vandenberg run through the guts a bit more, he seems like he could more than hold his own in the middle.

Out: Viney

In: JKH