Its due we got this

just realised our 4 losses this year were against sides placed 1,4,5 and 6 on the ladder. The crows one was somewhat honourable too. Just trying to make myself feel better :D

We won the contested and uncontested possessions that day I believe. We just kicked at goal like an under 12 side.

EDIT. And had the same amount of scoring shots.

Sorry, I thought this was a thread about the Hawthorn match. Turns out it is one of 78,566 pages devoted to Jack Watts.

Maybe because the other 78,565 Jack Watts threads have been shut down by overzealous mods.

TimD

I do agree that the Watts' discussion has gone too far. You'll note I've only posted 3 or 4 times in this thread and mentioned him once.

The discussion is done and dusted. He is what he is and it won't be changing. I've been consistent in my views for years, but agree that now's the time to leave it alone. Nothing else 'needs' to be said. It's all been said.

Contrary to your views, I get no pleasure from seeing him dropped or ridiculed. I fully understand why some may think I do, but I don't. It really is terribly unfair the scrutiny he cops compared to others.

Sam Day, pick 2, was dropped earlier this year and not a word is said. Gumbleton, pick 2, is out of the game. So are countless others, but all anyone wants to talk about is Watts.

Earlier I went on to News.com.au while checking on my footy tips and low and behold they have a photo of Watts wearing the pink jumper from the breast cancer match. I know it's a recent photo, but I'm convinced there's perverse pleasure in showing him in a Dees jumper that's pink.

So, thanks for the character assassination, but you're wrong. I note that I'm rarely tackled about my views on his footy, more my own personal motivations. But hey, you get applauded (liked) for your comments, so you must be doing something OK.

EDIT: And I've never booed Watts at the football and never will. I won't lie and say I've never bagged him, as I have, but the booing is nonsense.

Agreed.

Back on topic...

Hale often seems to have a day out against us. But he has only had one ok game back in the reserves (took one mark - was contested, one goal) after being out for 3 weeks with an adductor problem that he has apparently been struggling with since Christmas. So that's two underdone talls they have coming in this week to add to Schoenmakers who surely has rock bottom confidence after being pantsed by Cameron last week. Forward pressure will be important.

With Lewis and Hodge out, we need to shut down Mitchell. I think Cross would be perfect it and if he does the job we will go a long way to winning contested ball and clearances. If we can do that I really believe we are not without a sneaky chance. Good start is a must though.

I'd like to see:

Bail to play a full game as defensive forward on Burgoyne (or whoever is providing the most rebound if Burgoyne plays on ball).

Garland to Gunston.

McDonald to Roughead.

Matt Jones running with Smith.

Salem on Rioli.

Grimes to Bruest.

I'd love to see Gawn in this week, either in place of Spencer (who I do not rate) or in addition to him. 6 contested marks for casey (11 in total), 19 touches, 22 hitouts and a goal (on the back of 3 goals the week before - though reviews were not super complementary). Named in the best. We are pretty short for this game and I think he could stretch their defence without Lake.

Whilst my expectations are low, I'm more optimistic than going into the last two weeks.

I was expecting to see the team with Jetta in and hoping Viney might be back to. As soon as I saw the changes with neither of them in and Bail, Matt Jones and to a lesser extent Grimes it sapped by confidence we could give this a shake. We needed Jetta and Vineys attack on the contest and holding up the play to stop Hawthorns ball movement. The speed of the guys coming in may help if we can get our defensive "structures" right but really I'm not very confident. Hawthorn are still a strong inside team even without Hodge and Lewis and have far too much class on the outside for us. They will punish us with our turnovers, in fact I expect it will be a similar game to last week. Hopefully we can kick the last few again to make the scoreboard look respectable but if it goes the other way this will be very ugly, look at a 120-40 scoreline.

I hope I'm wrong.

Looking forward to the game, I think the team will walk taller with Watts not playing.

look at a 120-40 scoreline.

pretty much what I'm thinking

if it wasn't for Tommy Mac it'd be 160-40 cos Roughy would kick about 8

it's so sad these days are still not behind us

pretty much what I'm thinking

if it wasn't for Tommy Mac it'd be 160-40 cos Roughy would kick about 8

it's so sad these days are still not behind us

Well, let's just wait and see first. I think we can keep in under 35 points and if everything goes our way, we can get within a couple of kicks, perhaps even give the game a shake.

So it's the annual make David Hale look like Tony Lockett day tomorrow? Watch the spud kick 5 by half time.

Stop bagging out Watts and stop clouding the issue.

What about you contributing in a more constructive way?

You're off your nut.

You're off your nut.

Of course.

How predictable and soft you are.

Anyway, I'm done.

Bag out all you want.

No poita, the selection panel doesn't watch the team play.

I stopped reading your post as soon as I read that.

Doesn't matter if his frustration boiled over in the first line. The rest of his post is spot on the money.

Our brains trust is steadily losing the plot and is far less coherent in what they are doing than at the start of the year.

just realised our 4 losses this year were against sides placed 1,4,5 and 6 on the ladder. The crows one was somewhat honourable too. Just trying to make myself feel better :D

So how's that working out CB?

I was expecting to see the team with Jetta in and hoping Viney might be back to. As soon as I saw the changes with neither of them in and Bail, Matt Jones and to a lesser extent Grimes it sapped by confidence we could give this a shake. We needed Jetta and Vineys attack on the contest and holding up the play to stop Hawthorns ball movement. The speed of the guys coming in may help if we can get our defensive "structures" right but really I'm not very confident. Hawthorn are still a strong inside team even without Hodge and Lewis and have far too much class on the outside for us. They will punish us with our turnovers, in fact I expect it will be a similar game to last week. Hopefully we can kick the last few again to make the scoreboard look respectable but if it goes the other way this will be very ugly, look at a 120-40 scoreline.

I sure hope not. Not another 1 goal first half!!

Need to come out breathing fire, knock a few sculls together and play like berserk warriors to have any chance of keeping this within 5 goals against this mob. A good old fashioned rev up from Pete & Brian pre match might be handy! ......

If you truly believe that Melbourne supporters want to see Watts fail then you're even more of a headcase than he is.

I prefer to judge people based on how they behave rather than use stereotypes.

And i think that various people on this site want Watts to succeed and enjoy him failing. Who thought that motivations could be so complicated?

You can PM for help any time.

headcase!

funny

TimD

I do agree that the Watts' discussion has gone too far. You'll note I've only posted 3 or 4 times in this thread and mentioned him once.

The discussion is done and dusted. He is what he is and it won't be changing. I've been consistent in my views for years, but agree that now's the time to leave it alone. Nothing else 'needs' to be said. It's all been said.

Contrary to your views, I get no pleasure from seeing him dropped or ridiculed. I fully understand why some may think I do, but I don't. It really is terribly unfair the scrutiny he cops compared to others.

Sam Day, pick 2, was dropped earlier this year and not a word is said. Gumbleton, pick 2, is out of the game. So are countless others, but all anyone wants to talk about is Watts.

Earlier I went on to News.com.au while checking on my footy tips and low and behold they have a photo of Watts wearing the pink jumper from the breast cancer match. I know it's a recent photo, but I'm convinced there's perverse pleasure in showing him in a Dees jumper that's pink.

So, thanks for the character assassination, but you're wrong. I note that I'm rarely tackled about my views on his footy, more my own personal motivations. But hey, you get applauded (liked) for your comments, so you must be doing something OK.

EDIT: And I've never booed Watts at the football and never will. I won't lie and say I've never bagged him, as I have, but the booing is nonsense.

Like I give a stuff about whether anyone agrees. You'd remember the posts I made about Stynes needing to be removed some years ago I think. I was real popular then. Almost no-one would disagree now. I think I was called a headcase then too, from memory. And of suffering from 'cognitive biases'. The gall!

You've bagged Watts more than most and more intensely than most- just this thread is a 'quiet' one. Remeber the "tiptoeing through the forward line' quip you made last week?

As for the 'character' work, if you are big enough to comment on others, you are big enough to expect a bit back. Assassination? I think not. You'd know if I actually did that.

Go cheer the team. See the kids. We all know that Watts is a great kid; he's just not a footballer.

Another inexplicable selection debacle. Who is on the selection panel? Do they watch the team play? What about the opposition?

1. Just the one ruckman is a mistake. Pedersen gave nothing up forward, but he is capable of playing back and releasing Dunn or Howe forward (which should have happened last week). Dawes is not capable of rucking and Hogan is too big a risk. Never mind the effect on our forward line, particularly with Watts out, of removing one of our few marking targets. We are in a world of trouble if any one of our key defenders or forwards is injured this week, let alone Spencer.

2. Where are the goals coming from? Watts and Newton are 3rd and 4th on our goalkicking list, and JKH is capable as well. Even Gawn would have added something to the mix. Expect to see five goals or less this week.

3. Playing Watts as the sub last week was ridiculous, and I assume his omission this week is an admission of this. Not sure what more he could have done last week, but I would have much preferred to see him playing a full game at Casey and come back, rather than effectively wasting a week.

4. Revolving door selection policies as we have seen with Grimes, Michie and McKenzie in recent weeks are clear signs that the selectors / coaches have no idea what they are doing. Grimes performed as expected against Freo, was dropped for no clear reason, performed as expected in the VFL, and now is back in. What has changed in the past week?

5. The absence of Bail & Matt Jones from our round one team was a sign that we were heading in the right direction. Six weeks later they are back in the side. I can't see that we have improved one iota when these guys, plus McKenzie, are still in the mix.

If Hawthorn are serious this week, we won't get within 90 points.

Let it all out Poita!

Like I give a stuff about whether anyone agrees. You'd remember the posts I made about Stynes needing to be removed some years ago I think. I was real popular then. Almost no-one would disagree now. I think I was called a headcase then too, from memory. And of suffering from 'cognitive biases'. The gall!

You've bagged Watts more than most and more intensely than most- just this thread is a 'quiet' one. Remeber the "tiptoeing through the forward line' quip you made last week?

As for the 'character' work, if you are big enough to comment on others, you are big enough to expect a bit back. Assassination? I think not. You'd know if I actually did that.

Go cheer the team. See the kids. We all know that Watts is a great kid; he's just not a footballer.

I thought Psychology was meant to help?

If anyone thinks Watts' inclusion or exclusion is going to make one iota of difference to the result today, they really have no idea.

I went through the match ups on paper.

I hope the side that takes the ground at the first bounce is a lot different.

Hale is now in replacing McEvoy.

Who do they have minding their Ff line of Hale Roughead and Breust... Salem Dunn Garland

The the HF line Smith Gunston Rioli We have Grimes Mc Donald Howe

I don't see a match up anywhere. Then Dawes thinks they are gettable!

You must be kidding!

You'd remember the posts I made about Stynes needing to be removed some years ago I think. I was real popular then. Almost no-one would disagree now. I think I was called a headcase then too, from memory. And of suffering from 'cognitive biases'. The gall!

No, I don't recall. I move on very quickly.

It seems to be stuck in your craw though. Let it go.

If anyone thinks Watts' inclusion or exclusion is going to make one iota of difference to the result today, they really have no idea.

Youve missed the point WJ, it's not about today's game it's about the long term future of this club.

I won't be commenting anymore on Watts/Grimes until after rd 22 when we're discussing trades. I think everyone is aware of my thoughts on these two.

No, I don't recall. I move on very quickly.

It seems to be stuck in your craw though. Let it go.

I recall you intimating that you were done with Watts years ago and wouldn't bother yourself with him.

And yet, what do you post most frequently on?

No need to answer, it's a rhetorical question.

I hope you see more at the footy now that the blonde kid will not draw your eye...

Enjoy.