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Where were all you Watts critics when Jack ran and ran to make position at the G then ran his heart out to kick that amazing goal under huge pressure to win the QB game for us. Still a spine tingling moment. He was playing injured long before he was ousted by a hamstring injury. Remember the back spasms, remember the ankle injury. He probably is still playing injured. Many of our players are down, particularly forwards: look at Garland, Petracca, Tom Mc since the bye. I'm over the Watts bashing. Go pick on some else!

James brayshaw just hinted his nephew could be playing this weekend.

Of course the first rule of finals ? Make bloody damn sure you're in them before getting too cute !!

Your a glass-half-full kind of guy?

Much rather retain Hogan if the option ended up being either he or Lever. Players of Hogan's ilk are far more difficult to find than good third tall defenders.

If we miss finals this season, it's a failure full-stop. We should've made finals last year, this year we should be a top 6 team.

No Jobe it was actually you that cheated and you were caught

Elimination final 1 of 3 About time this club stood up and took its chances for the first time in god knows how long. Even when we played finals in 2004-2006 we always faded late in the season and threw away golden opportunities. It is an MFC tradition, and it has to stop this week or it never will.

Fark me. If we put Hogan up for trade after the year from Hell he's had I would be absolutely astonished. It would reek of poor behaviour and even poorer ethical standards given the process it took to get his extension signed. Just, I don't know sometimes how the mods even allow this shite to stay on this board.

Why on earth would he have signed on again for three years if he had issues with Goodwin? They would have been working together for the past two years. The journos are making it up - they're good at that, make up about 50 wild rumours, knowing that if one comes true, they're seen as a genius whilst we all conveniently forget the other 49 they got wrong.

I was trying to politely point out how tactless it is to simply waive away those life events (aside from the collar bone) in the critiquing of Hogan's year. He either gets a pass for having a sick father, dealing with his death, and then dealing with cancer - or no-one gets a pass for anything in life.

I have always been suprised that Jab didn't stand up for his players back in 2012 during those first 12-15 weeks of the season. As Captain i am sure he was briefed as to what was happening, people keep saying Jab knew nothing of what was going on...Great Captain. You had Players who were almost twice the size in the legs for half a season and nobody asked questions...

I wonder how the posters who are suggesting Hogan could be trade bait would feel if they were moved on from their workplace if in the same year their father died, they'd had cancer and broken their collarbone. Or if they feel the above would effect their productivity.

So you're mindlessly regurgitating a rumour you don't believe?

Adelaide play Essendon and we want the Crows to win.

I actually think we are loosing our center dominance as a result of having max in the ruck. We have played our best games when we have a clear knowledge of what will happen in the ruck duel. When max was out we knew we would loose the ruck contest, so we planned for that by simply assuming it would be hit straight to one of the opposition players and manning up hard on those players looking to shark it off them. At the moment max is not in his best form, but we are setting up as if we will win the ruck contest, but since that is not happening we are winning little of the center clearance. i say we go back to playing pedo or watts or similar in ruck, assume we will loose the contest, and go back to what was working for us, sharking it off the opposition ruck. Play max forward around 35m out from goal to create a target for the long bomb we so dearly love, and play our crumbing forwards around or behind him for when it hits the deck or for the quit handball over the back.

He was woeful, but I'd guess that he's up for selection because he's kicked 37 goals for the season, which makes him our leading goal kicker and most dangerous forward by a long way.

Maybe so, but for JC to come back in 3 days after his injury report - fair effort

Wow, the drugs must have finally worn off.

I was immediately struck by the hypocrisy reading today that Tim Watson was all over protecting players' health in the debate over concussions: where was he in the debate about players' health throughout the EssenDrug saga?

It would certainly give me a resurrection.

I can assure all posters that there are no "fresh legs" available from the players who played with Casey. We were down from 5 to 2 on the bench for the best part of 3 quarters in a very intense game. JKH, Gus, Billy and BK will all need full recovery time. The only "fresh legs" are Hannan and Wagner.

Are you referring to the spot around the 21 min mark where they said a club is shopping their star forward around because of issues with the head coach? No mention was made of names. Was the discussion you allude to about Hogan somewhere else in the recording? If its a rumour it probably started in the DL Jake Lever thread when someone suggested him as a trade. The last thing Jesse needs is to be the talk of the town again! I cannot imagine the club trading Hogan under any circumstances let alone being seen to 'dump' him after his horrendous year. Edit: If the podcast did not mention Jesse, then his name should not be mentioned as it only feeds the 'fake story'. It could be any number of clubs. Bulldogs-Boyd. Pies-Moore. StK-McCartin.

Sounds like he is just laughing off the rumours, not necessarily laughing at the prospect of coming to us. He would probably say the same thing if the rumour was about him meeting with Collingwood or the Dogs. Not surprised that it didn't take place, though. Seems a little unprofessional to me, plus the Crows are flying at the moment and are a big chance of winning it all. You would at least wait until the season is done before really looking at your options.

Mark Neeld is available if they really want to bottom out.

Can't see the crows being that concerned about us that they would drop a game against the bombers just to prevent us, as a misfiring team, from making the eight. Swans, Giants, Dogs, Richmond would be more of a concern at this point of the season.

I believe after what Jesse has been through this year, and the club supporting him with family, time off and medical support, he is pretty much tied to the MFC for his career now. He will want to repay the faith and support the club has given him and it will be a mental thing for him to try and achieve success for the MFC. I doubt he will want to leave a club that has been good to him and his family. Obviously the club will want him to stay too as he is a freakish talent and someone we can build a forward line around. I have no inside knowledge and do not know Jesse, but that's my opinion.

If we can sneak into the 8 and walk away with the Cup from where we're at then I'll consider it a better come back than Jesus Christ.

Show us some paperwork Jab.. as Captain you were in on it all...

As good as he has been in patches this year, there has been zero intensity in the last 2 games of footy and for such an important cog - its not good enough. The jogging, the limp wristed tackles and most importantly the body language. He just looks like its all too much. There is a hell of a lot to play for this Sunday. I just hope we get the Watts that WANTS to play is there.

We have no right to have such thinking we still lose the unloseable game...

I wonder what the mids would say if you told them that Max wont be rucking. The reason we lost to North and Hawthorn earlier in the year was because we didn't have Gawn. Did you see his first half vs Port? He schooled Ryder in the ruck and against GWS was one of only a few players contributing. The team is significantly better with him in the ruck.

hardly adelaide - lever this year (top of the ladder with three rounds to go) richmond - neck tatts this year (top four) gw$ - kelly (top two) footscray - lin jong last year (premiers) collingwood - cloke in 2011 (grand finalist) there's always talk of player moment in every year and if the players, staff or supporters let that effect morale inside or outside the club more fools them

Thats what Watts is capable of and its fantastic. Sadly has probably had 4 standout games in 150 and has had 60 stinkers where he looks like he is not interested in being out there. We all want Watts to be a star on a regular basis. Has the skills in spades. But does he want it? As for Garland. Has had a crap year. Don't think he has had a possession

In my view if Vince and Lewis hadn't got suspended for irresponsible behind the play infringements leading to suspension we'd be sitting on 48 points and comfortably in the 8 with wins over Freo (Lewis) and NM (Vince). That it was from senior players makes it even more galling, that Lewis is touted as an on field leader and coach setting examples for younger players is inexplicable. If we miss the 8 it will sit directly on the head of these two.

It's absolute rubbish. Simply won't happen.

You obviously were not around when R Flower was

To quote jackaub from December last year in the Your Expectations for 2017 thread: "Sports bet have us at $23, tenth place behind Essendon. Go Figure!" From my point of view, I believe that if we had not had the important player outs we have had this year, this thread would not have seen the light of day.

He hates Nick Reiwoldt. Too effen perfect! Using them to prove that the meek should inherit nothing.

Thanks Nut was about to post the same article. Just more climate conclusions from the observed data from 13 different US agencies, no less. But of course they are all part of the conspiracy. Why they would be doing that is a mystery of course to all except the C deniers who can't see why corporations with multi billion dollar vested interests in fossil fuels might be causing confusion and doubt via any number of so called and falsely labelled "Think Tanks". Such as the Heartland Institute funded by the Koch Brothers who shall we say are a menace to modern civilisation, along with Rupert Murdoch. In a rational world they would be dealt with forthwith. If not violently, perhaps we could send Rupert off to Manus Island and the Koch boys to Guantanimo Bay. The world would be a better place for this I assure you.

After seeing someone suggesting salem be dropped.. I'm glad no one from inside the club reads this forum.. ??‍♂️

And be unmanned all game and have his best game for the year!

There is no way, no way the club will trade Hogan especially for a backman.

How ridiculous is this season? Here's the rub from my digging around - We would still be a real chance to play finals even if we only won one game from our set of 3 in a row at the MCG to finish the season. Win two games and it is a borderline certainty, even if the loss is to St Kilda, because we would only need one out of Essendon or Footscray to slip up. Win all three and we're still a chance at top 4. HA! But, here's the thing. If you told me 'We will define whether this season is a success or not by whether the club can beat the wooden spoon club as well as either one of the two clubs directly below us on the ladder, with every game played at our home ground", the yeah, I'd take that as a fair measure. If we don't make the finals it will be because we failed when it mattered against inferior opposition.

You blokes make me laugh......3 weeks ago you were all hailing the team as finals bound and how hard it would be to break into the side. Now you blokes want to trade players that are having a drop in form.....Some are calling for the coaches to be replaced...."Oh my god we are doomed" Jack has had a pretty good year IMO Since he has come back from injury, he has struggled to have an influence, but so have other returning from injury. Form is a fickle thing. Last time I looked, we are just percentage out of the eight and 1 game off 5th place with 3 games to go. In a season full of upsets and unpredictability. But sorry for interupting. Carry on the bagging.

I also watch Watts when at the game and disagree. He always runs to a somewhere and usually this is a space where he then has time and most importantly balance to distribute the ball. He often does this at pace and does not avoid a contact if an opponent also gets to that space. He perhaps does not run to contests but rather runs to where the action will be. That he is often ignored by his teammates or that they do not have the skill or often time to deliver it to him is a significant factor in his performance. I don't bElieve he ever plays without intent. But perhaps some with less ability do not know what that intention is or was. I used to see Watts get the ball and instinctively go to give it off but in that time their was never any teammate with the ability to be where he thought they should be. I see that improving and the structures and playing complement has improved. We still have some way to go but there have been matches this year when Watts has been sublime, not due to his efforts but due to those around him using him or the space he created. Watts is often maligned as being non competitive but you do not create as many goals as he does without being at the contest. He cannot be at every contest but the more his teammates put him in the better he and the team go.

IN- Tackling and Repeat efforts, more kicking, Hannan OUT- TURNOVERs, whoever is carrying an injury Changes this week need to be positional and player game style. - Watts plays on Reiwoldt like he is his nappy! On kick outs Watts takes Reiwoldt away from the 1st contest. But runs to create link up if we win the ball. If not stick to Nick. - Hannan and Garlett play deep forward. - Petracca needs to kick more than handball this week. Dusty Martin kicks 70% of all his possessions. Trac needs to model his game on Dusty. I would like to see Trac play out the square like Dusty too. - Hunt plays half back and stays there with his run. - Tmac rotates with Gawn at FF/Ruck. These guys should be capable of kicking 3 goals each. Longer needs to be run ragged. - Seb Ross gets a heavy tag. I suggest Melksham. - I want to see Bernie Vince play in the centre square. He is the only one with brains who wants to kick the ball. Got a goal or two in him this week. - Lewis plays midfield. - Jack Billings gets close attention. SALEM! - ACRES is another one other than Reiwoldt who rips us up aswell. Need to respect him off the bench.

Three rounds left, fighting for finals. I agree he has looked tired the last 2 weeks but we are fighting to make finals and he is our weapon so theres likely zero chance he gets rested. We have an eight day break so that will help any sore bodies.

If we win all 3 games we will likely finish 7th. If we win 2 we will likely finish 9th due to percentage. Every game from here onwards is now an elimination final. Do the players have the mental toughness to stand up and at least make finals? Or is this another year of failure? To go from top 4 striking distance (sitting outside on percentage) to missing finals altogether would be disaster. Anything less than finals in 2017 is a failure for the club.

That he's played 8 games is imo testament to his character. Suspension, father's death, cancer. That trifecta may have knocked anyone else out for the season. He is a great kid with a great head on his shoulders. He'll bounce back.