Again, good form undone by the bye. This was a bit like the Collingwood game. We sure did tire but this was due to running around hard where WC players were not or fruitless chasing. The loss of Brayshaw helped undo us early. Our contesting was good despite the appearance there were more WC players at most contests. We gave their midfield a free reign coming from half back during open play. Their players were always proactive and playing in front. Our forwards were too static when the ball came in and also when it went out. Poor delivery again didn't help. Though Hogan played an excellent game, there's something I didn't like. A few of times when he spilled marks he stopped and lost focus, gesticulates with his hands and curse himself rather than put in the second effort on the loose ball. He's got to get that out of his game and he has done it a few times in other games. Touch of Matthew Richardson prima donna stuff.

No matter the respective teams current form, WC always touch us up. Even when they were doing their own version of list management they always penciled us in for a special effort.

They belted us up in the middle and we were chasing them most of the night. Kennedy, Darling and LeCras take so many marks on the lead from the likes of Masten, Shuey and Priddis. It's easy to see what they were doing but impossible to stop.

Bye bye Bail

Bye bye Matt Jones

Fire sale for Jeremy Howe

That is all. The turnovers, dropped marks and simple skill errors cost us dearly and were momentum killers.

Though Hogan played an excellent game, there's something I didn't like. A few of times when he spilled marks he stopped and lost focus, gesticulates with his hands and curse himself rather than put in the second effort on the loose ball. He's got to get that out of his game and he has done it a few times in other games. Touch of Matthew Richardson prima donna stuff.

I agree, worries too much what the umpires are doing aswell.

Just get after it son.

We need to draft a CHF, Dawes is never going to kick a bag to help us win.

Simpson is getting the most out of a bog ordinary group. They're well drilled. And better than us - at the moment.

The competition has never been more even. There's not a lot separating top and bottom and there are very few good teams.

...And Jeremy Howe clean your locker out and [censored].

You mean it wasn't the best 8 possession game you've ever seen ?

They killed us around the ground when it came to leading and presenting hard. Majority of the West Coast players seem to possess a kick that hardly any of our players do in which it's kept low and hard that draws a leading player. I hardly saw this around the ground last night, we just seemed to be kicking to contests and hoping the ball would fall our way.. We will never win a game against a top team this way.

You mean it wasn't the best 8 possession game you've ever seen ?

I was particularly taken by how he falls over after he misses a mark and that chasing is optional

I wouldn't be against ANB and Billy Stretch staying in the side for the rest of the year. They just seem to be improving with each game and i think they will just continue to build confidence and momentum.

They're both best 22 at the moment. As long as 44 and 45 are still in the team, these two are certainties. It might get interesting as Kent, Salem, vandenBerg and JKH start working their way back in, but until then they're safe.

didn't watch the game

but judging by stats, it looks like our backline took a huge thumping

not one defender standing out and their i50 marking and i50 conversion far superior

and i thought our defence was our strongest line!

If last night's game is anything to go by, West Coast's delivery in to the forward line is second to none. Low, fast rockets all the time, impossible to defend I think. If I watched the game as a neutral and not a frustrated MFC supporter I'd have been very impressed.

They're both best 22 at the moment. As long as 44 and 45 are still in the team, these two are certainties. It might get interesting as Kent, Salem, vandenBerg and JKH start working their way back in, but until then they're safe.

That will probably work out well. As the injured players come back ANB and Stretch might need a rest.

If you have no "prior", but merely place the ball on the ground in an attempt to dispose of it you will rightly be pinged.

What annoys me is that some players with no prior opportunity get wrapped up and are unfairly pinged.

Also, at he beginning of the year I loved the new interpretation of holding the ball. The umpire didn't give a player an inordinate amount of time to get rid of it. If he had "prior" and got caught they quickly said holding the ball. That has gone out the window and they're back to the same rubbish they've been doing for years. Players can get caught and take forever to get it out.

How can someone with 85% disposal efficiency "constantly turn the ball over"?

I'm a Toumpas fan and will back him in, but not using the DE stat - meaningless.

Over the last month he has worked on his decision making but it seems last night there were a few blunders. I don't see the benefit in dropping him though, we can't be turfing players who have been on an upward trajectory after one backward step.

They're both best 22 at the moment. As long as 44 and 45 are still in the team, these two are certainties. It might get interesting as Kent, Salem, vandenBerg and JKH start working their way back in, but until then they're safe.

Best 22 on form, but I wonder whether fitness wise they can see the year out (or at least see it out until Salem et al start returning).

If you have no "prior", but merely place the ball on the ground in an attempt to dispose of it you will rightly be pinged.

What annoys me is that some players with no prior opportunity get wrapped up and are unfairly pinged.

Also, at he beginning of the year I loved the new interpretation of holding the ball. The umpire didn't give a player an inordinate amount of time to get rid of it. If he had "prior" and got caught they quickly said holding the ball. That has gone out the window and they're back to the same rubbish they've been doing for years. Players can get caught and take forever to get it out.

Agree.

The rule is that if you have had prior, then when you are tackled you have to immediately get rid of it (legally). At the moment players who have prior are being treated a little too similarly to players without prior, in the sense that umpires are giving them chances to get rid of it.

- Horrible at keeping the ball in our forward 50. We were too tall.

- Losing Brayshaw killed our midfield.

- Admirable efforts from the rest of the midfield, under a lot of pressure.

Overall, I'm not disappointed with the effort (if we can cut out the last 15 minutes of junk time goals). Considering they're essentially a benchmark side of the competition at the moment we've come a fair way.

It's hard to get overly emotional about the result after the happenings of this week.

Tyson is right off at the moment. So slow.

Bail is the worst footballer to ever play at te MFC. He is closely followed by Matt Jones.

Howe is a one trick pony.

Hogan ha a stinker and should not be allowed to extend his break again. His head was not in the gane and he looked like a bloke who had missed a month of footy.

Dunn's free/50m at the start of last quarter was the momentum sucker. He constantly does one stupid thing a week that ends up being so costly.

Tom McDonalds form has dropped right off. He was smashed tonight and constantly behind his man

Hogan 1sT year player & played amazing thus far for a young fwd.Tyson 2nd yr player coming of injury... Dunn has been excellent.... Expectations too high .... Played a top 4 team .. The gap is closing

Best 22 on form, but I wonder whether fitness wise they can see the year out (or at least see it out until Salem et al start returning).

Indeed. It's of no consequence anyway, if the year finished tomorrow I'd declare their seasons a success, for a pair of 18 and 19 year old developing players.

Simpson is getting the most out of a bog ordinary group. They're well drilled. And better than us - at the moment.

The competition has never been more even. There's not a lot separating top and bottom and there are very few good teams.

Not quite right but I agree with a lot of what you are saying but Hawthorn, Freo & Sydney are very much the best sides in the competition especially when September comes and then there is daylight

Top 4 and the next group of contenders

Meth Coast, Collingwood or Richmond will take 4th and probably make a Prelim but are certainly beatable. They are the sides likely to become very much flag contenders in the next couple of years as the other 3 sides move into transition periods Of that group I see the Pies currently as the team with the most upside but Port will regroup and be back up there next season

Finals aspirants and the other sides who will be pushing for finals next season and beyond

Those saying we haven't improved need to realise we sit amongst that group of teams who can finish anywhere from 6th to 14th, I know we wont finish that high but when you look back over some of those games we've dropped and others have won I see us being amongst the cluster of sides who are either on the improve or decline and depending upon draw/injuries/luck over the next couple of seasons can make finals or miss out. That group is Port, Crows, North, Cats, Dogs, GWS, Dees and Saints. Of this group I already stated above that I see Port as the most likely to jump up quickly to be contenders again and we all know how good that GWS side is going to be. We will find ourselves very much pushing for finals in the next few years once we keep turing our list over and developing the good young talent we now have at our disposal.

But to become a contender we need to not be happy with just making the 8, because over the next few years Freo, Hawks, Sydney, North and Cats are going to fall away for a couple of seasons and opportunities will arise. I'm not saying all of those sides are going to miss finals but they will go into small rebuild modes before being genuine contenders again

The bottom 4

If you stand still you can very quickly fall away because of the Lions, Suns, Blues and Bombers the Suns are very much capable of putting a good run together with Prestia, Ablett, O'Meara, Martin, Lynch, Thompson, Ritschatelli and May in their group. As we all know make the wrong picks and lose good players and a shocking run with injury can see us moving very quickly from pushing finals to falling back in this bottom 4

Side note: Seeing Watts and Naitanui's hands meet for that mark was a very touching moment

Connected to hip from draft.

A bit of minor symbolism seeing Watts alongside NicNat in the circle. Rivalry within a rivalry put aside.

I'm not sure how the Toump escapes notice. Had a shocker and happy for him to join Bail and Howe out the door this week.

So slow

I am happy if we keep him in because we just dont have that much in reserve and would rather persist with him then gift Bail and Jones games.

I think he may struggle against the more aggressive contested teams (WCE/Geelong) - probably also plays better when we are on top and he can use his tank and spread.

I thought it was a very boring game to watch.

WC are very robotic in there game plan and don't play with much natural flair at all.

But if your winning games then who cares.

A bit of minor symbolism seeing Watts alongside NicNat in the circle. Rivalry within a rivalry put aside.

I really couldn't care less about the whole rivalry and don't know why people continue to bring it up. Decision was made - lets work with what we got.

Watts has really shown something this last month and hopefully he can keep it up. It all comes down to confidence and backing his speed, decision making and kicking (very important for our team).

A bit of minor symbolism seeing Watts alongside NicNat in the circle. Rivalry within a rivalry put aside.

They've never had a rivalry. They've always liked each other. Naitanui was at Watts' family home after the draft in 2008 for a celebratory BBQ.