Lil_red_fire_engine

Today had nothing to do with game style it was work ethic. Our current state has nothing to do with drafting under his watch. Again I still don't know if Neeld can coach but Iets have him draft and trade for his needs, train them over preseason for his purposes and then off the back of one granted insipid display sack him and start again.

The issue wasn't game plan it was effort. We did not run offensively or defensively. It would not have mattered what the game plan was as we didn't run. The question is why did they not run? Is that fitness? Mental weakness? Too many underdone, young players? Lack of caring?

I agree that today was insipid, uninspired, dumb, lazy football. I also accept that it is the coaches responsibility to have the team cherry ripe and ready to go. But to think getting rid of a coach one round into the season is courageous is ridiculous. It reeks of a cowardice knee jerk reaction.

I said to my mate there were three guarantees on Demonland post game. A sack Neeld thread, an overturn the board thread and a "we should have taken Wines instead if Toumpas" thread. Thanks for completing the trifecta.

I'm assuming the highlights did not show his numerous long bombs to no one. He was actually good by hand yesterday but poor by foot and still does not work defensively. I don't hate Beamer but I saw nothing yesterday that made me think he will be missed.

Did you watch the game?

Bonkers who would be the best 3 Dee's?

Ignore the stats I have watched the game. Typical game where he wins the ball and kicks to no one.

Agree that we are below them but they're not exactly Collingwood or Hawthorn. There are a lot of ifs and buts with them. Rating Ebert over Jones just proves people over rate them.

Some people seriously over rate other sides. Agree on Boak but Ebert is a good accumulator based on his output last season, Hartlett thus far has been an injury prone inconsistent talent And Cornes is in his twilight. I would put them in the bottom 5 mid fields in the league.

What would you have selected differently for round 1? They have potentially 3 first gamers and 3 players playing their first game for Port. Not much difference to what we are doing. Ignore who was on the park we played them and beat them with Sellar kicking 5 where I believe they had pretty much the same defensive 6 as they will have round 1. Agree they have us in the mids but as I stated if we are close to even we will win and win easy.

Jetta for Nicho is the only change I would have made. We cant go in with 2 rucks so Pederson has to play if you want a 3 tall forward line. Terlich is on the interchange who would you play him ahead of?

Hard to fault much of the selection process which has rewarded good preseasons and has not gone heavy on rushing back players that have not had recent continuity. I expect since M Jones and Pederson were confirmed as debuts and Terlich wasn't that he will be emergency. Based on this I expect the bench to be Blease, Pederson, Jones, with Tappy the likely sub. Clark was a given to play. A half fit Clark in the goal square still needs much attention. Blease also brings qualities we don't have an abundance of and I expect a 2013 Blease lacking match fitness is still fitter than any Blease we saw in 2012. Port's back 6 seriously lack height and experience exemplified by Sellar's 5 in the preseason. I think if we come even close to halving the midfield battle we will win and win easily.

I love how most experts have tipped us to lose but have also said its a massive issue if we dont win. If we're not favourites in their eyes and we dont get up how is that the case.

This report has ben a great accompaniment ti my lunch time rice paper rolls. Informative and entertaining.

Essendon followed by Essendon, closely followed by Essendon. Reasons in no particular order, Sheedy, the most arrogant one eyed turn coat supporters in the league, the way they decided was necessary to play dirty football in 2000 GF when they were a three times better side than us anyway.

So great that 17 other clubs including 2 built from scratch have jumped at the opportunity to pick him up in that time. Too small and too slow. Excellent VFL player though.

FB: Jetta - Frawley - Garland HB: Watts - Gillies - Dunn C: Terlich - N Jones - Grimes HF: Sylvia - Pederson - Howe FF: Clark - Sellar - Byrnes R: Jamar - McKenzie - Viney IC: M Jones - Rodan - Blease Sub: Toumpas Em: Nicholson, Tapscott, Kent If we take more than 2 of Clark, Dawes, TMac, Trengove, Blease into the game we will not win. Clark Even rusty will command the best defender plus have others looking about. Blease can be subbed out if he runs out of puff.

Thanks for the tid bits guys. Great to hear AJ was inducted as Hall of Famer. Aside from Robbie he was my favourite growing up and had the pleasure of getting to know him for work purposes around the time Chris got drafted. A great bloke, excellent player who loves the club. Well deserved.

This sounds very similar to the week before against the Saints. I would play him and Terlich round 1.

I think they are talking about the play and not the video

The issue here is people and expectations. We were rubbish last year. What do people expect this year? Are we miraculously going to hit every target and consistently compete with mature bodies (granted Suns are not). I expect gradual improvement and I expect it when we have close to our best side on the park. How surprising that the Suns tall forward line played well when had no Frawley, TMac and Garland (second half). How surprising that we struggled through the midfield. We will improve this year but it will be inconsistent and frustrating at times. It sounds like most here wont be able to handle that.

The side we had today had 9 players who have not played a senior game for MFC. It was missing 4 of 5 of our spine. Most would argue Blease, Trengove and Viney would be in our best 21. But let's not let logic get in the way. I will wait until season proper to judge and I won't make knee jerk conclusions like some.

Unless you are at the game how do you know we have played with no heart?

Except for our two best backs, two best forwards and then add Blease, Viney and Trengove for good measure.