I was pretty blasted for saying last week that Garland wasn't up to it.

Many here argued that players like Ward, Godders, Ferg, Brown and Bizzell had to be delisted. I agreed and still do.

It's a pity those that argued this didn't realise that it meant we effectively delisted our depth and that players who are not ready for AFL footy would play if we had even a few injuries.

Garland may not be up to it YET. I think he will turn into a fine player but I maybe wrong.

It's a big ask for him to be doing his apprenticeship in the seniors in a non competitive team and even worse that supporters don't support.

I agree Fan. I think its far too early to suggest some of these guys are no-hopers. It sgoing to ba an ugly year.Deal with it.

I agrre Fan..YET !! a lot of things arent happenig ...YET !!

Of what?!?!?!?!

How to play football like a small boy who thinks he is shitloads better than he actually is?

How to play a game of football without once engaging your brain?

How to play a run and carry style of game without knowing how to carry?

Or my favourite..... A shining example of what happens when your list doesn't have 22 footballers good enough to play AFL!

in one of paul williams press confrenced, i think after the geelong game, he said they were encouraging buckley to be absolutely ruthless and run as soon as he gets the ball because the forwards would always know what is going to happen when buckley gets the ball...im in a way happy those turnovers happened yesterday because it is all part of a big learning curve for him

Gouga...did yo watch what he did with it after ?? ..thats his let down.. Its the old story its not what you have..but what you do with it !!

A lot of the time when Carroll marks it is deep in the back line and he has to start the 'clear out' from defence. With the current game plan, namely handball and run the ball out of defence, he is very limited in his options. It is a short pass nearly every time. Many players struggle with short kicks and I believe having a player in the side for his marking and spoiling ability responsible for these kicks is a plight on Bailey's thinking more than Carroll himself.

A couple of times when Carroll received that last handball and ran it out of defence he went long and looked very good.

Was Mick Martyn ever asked by Pagan to kick short?

Im simply puting it that for al of his hard work...and I will credit with Chopper as a worker.. that he makes some bad decisions. It cant help when he's not backed up often with players presnting possibly where they ought to be...but that sign of a better player is to think on the spot and possibly creating something out of nothing. I wish I had a dollar for evey time Carroll has sold the next bloke into trouble.. He seems limited to do what he starts, instead of an instant apprasial and change of purpose.

Be curious if Im alone in this thinking

I don't agree. I believe Carroll's instincts are quite good. On occasions last year when we constantly chipped around the back half often Carroll took it open himself to break the line and deliver to a leading player up the ground.

He is not the only player giving the ball to somebody under the pump. That skill has been a feature of the first two games. His thinking and therefore decision making is compromised by Bailey's terrible game plan.

There is no way he should be whering the red and blue yet. He could be a good player in the future but i cant see the point playing youngsters when they are not ready. (this is also directed at garland)

I rememeber at the start of the year Bailey mentioning that he will play the players who have trained the hardest. If a first year player trained hard and were 100% commited, then he would get a game over any proven senior player that wasnt training as hard. Im not saying this is the case, but if this is the case, i dont mind watching these younger players get a guernsey. I agree that skill wise they may not be up to it YET. But if by keeping on playing these younger guys is going to mean that more experienced players are gonna realise they need to work their arses off at training to EARN a game, then im all for it. We have had too many years of players being too comfortable and getting automatic selection on a thursday night just because they are in our "best 22". I want players fighting eachother for their positions in the team, thats how competitive cultures grow in clubs. If it means younger inexperienced players are thrown in deep end and we lose some games for this to be imbedded, Im not too fussed.

Weetra and Garland have done nothing to indicate that they can play at this level. Do we give them more time, yes at Sandy and bring in two new kids, Maric as a small forward and Mcnamara or better still an 80% fit Rivers. We need to play our younger players because our older ones are rubbish and getting worse.

Carroll's decision making particularly under pressure is poor. Yesterday was not a high pressure game and Carroll still cant think through the options. There was one passage where he dished off poorly three times only to receive it back haphazardly twice within one set of play.

If there was a forward line which Carroll could have an impact its a short arsed one from WB. Bigger stronger forwards will find him out.

He a trier and was one of the better in a pathetic team. He is just not smart or cool under pressure and it crucifies his effectiveness.

Isaac Weetra might be the worst player to ever pull on a Demons guernsey.

And you could be the worst supporter of the club

two games and your down on him well one dum blog and you should be band from writing anymore rubbish

And you could be the worst supporter of the club

two games and your down on him well one dum blog and you should be band from writing anymore rubbish

Trying to decipher that second part...

Weetra is into his 2nd season and can't get near it. It's too early to write him off but I can definitely understand why people are thinking about it.

i must say i disagree with those criticizing buckley's run. Sure, it may cause turnovers, but hey, some other hack would probably turn it over up field any way. Why not attempt to play the game the way he should play it, and in the process learn a better way to execute it, rather than go into his shell and lose confidence

Isaac Weetra might be the worst player to ever pull on a Demons guernsey.

geez mate, thats a bit harsh, heaps worse

geez mate, thats a bit harsh, heaps worse

I've been watching Melbourne for over 40 years , and I find it hard to disagree with the last comment about Weetra .

Buckley - a shining example

Hardly. While some find fault with his run, I thought that was when he looked his best. Far worse was the casual running when chasing - too soft defensively, and needs that to be brought to his attention.

It's interesting to see the tide turn on Weetra - I didn't think many were with me last week when I felt he had been pretty average in round one (and also in the two pre-season games I attended)! I'm not writing him off, but can't see how his form has deserved a spot...or the plaudits from some on this board.

Did anyone else notice that after Colin Garland stood flat footed waiting for the ball to be delivered to him only to have it chopped off by a Dogs player TWICE in 30 seconds

Yes, and it was terrible. It reminded me of Grgic, and I almost feel dirty saying that.