Lil_red_fire_engine

Exactly what we needed. They pushed us enough to get a good hit out but we looked like we had a couple of gears if we needed them. No injuries and the semblance of a functioning forward line. Clarry’s kicking and Brayshaw’s limited impact the only concerns. Well played number 31, number 5 and number 6 (again).

6. Frittata 5. Trac 4. Gawn 3. Jackson 2. Rivers 1. Petty

What the Pies will accept I suggest will come down to how much more salary cap challenge they have left.

Belief in himself to break in with a solid preseason without injury and continuity of games. A want to play in a team that will play finals and contend for silverware for the next 5 years of his career. Connections with players and staff after spending 6 years at the club. I am sure we want him at the right price and would be keen to see him get a clear preseason and run of continuity and the confidence that comes with it. I suggest its on him as to how he sees his career and his contract expectations.

It says to me our preferred line up is a 3 tall line up with TMac, Brown and LJ our second preferred in a 2 tall line up with a Melksham or an extra runner.

I am not surprised by only the Hunt/Hibberd change. Brown and Jackson played their best games last week and our ground pressure was quality. I dont think you can play Fritsch. Melksham and Weid who pressure is not the highest quality.

Why would anyone think Goody would rotate or rest platters just as we are starting to get synergy and form into our forwards and mids. If someone is a risk dont play them but now is not the time to rest players with a bye in 3 weeks. If Tmac is not right again this week and assuming its not wet I would like them to bring in Weid as we need to know that we have a functioning plan B for our preferred 3 tall forward line. With the role that Melksham played and played well on McGovern I would be keeping him in and setting him for Stewart, Rich and Daniels for finals. We need those three completely negated with someone that can do score damage with a low touch rate.

6. Harmes 5. ANB 4. Jackson 3. Oliver 2. Gawn 1.Brown

One of the least appreciated by supporters. One of the most appreciated by his peers. The ultimate team man. 100% give me the guy that cant hit a kick because he has ran himself ragged over the guy who has beautiful skills but doesn’t chase and gets the easy ball. Its players like Nibs that shift a club culture. Keep doing what you do Nibbler and here’s to a 100 more.

Agreed. It is an appalling intentional dog of an act and there is no place for it in the game. I will be surprised if he gets less than 3 and truthfully it will be deserved.

I know Harmes, Sparrow and Viney all made some errors but Harmes time and time again burnt players in better position to try and solo it. In AVB Out: Harmes.

What did you like today? Always room to get better but what were your three positives?

6. Oliver 5. Petracca 4. Lever 3. ANB 2. LJ 1. Max NB: Great debut by Bowey.

Made the mistake of reading the end of the game day thread to read 11 of the last 12 whinging about inaccuracy, Viney and Harmes. What a sorry bunch a lot of you are. We sat on a plane for 8 hours yesterday and were switched on from the get go. The pressure was back and the structure was back and we started to look dangerous forward of the ball. Good team effort back, mid and forward with room for improvement. Bowey fitted the level like a glove.

I find it interesting how Bakers kicking is a let down yet you saw the opposite of Jones. Jones blazed away at goal and forward to not close to the target so many times I lost count. Baker is not an AFL quality kick. Jones is no longer an AFL quality decision maker.

The only player out there I would have in a senior side would be Declase. Being we took our next best 8-10 away with us that should not be surprising. If you are out of contract and played yesterday unless you are clearly development I suggest you can pack your bags at seasons end.

Love a debut. Go you little red fire engine.

I would be targeting the out of contract Duggan but dont know if we have the pieces to get it done or if we could convince him to come home. Right age profile, Victorian boy and would add kicking class halfback mid or wing.

Last 5 weeks form and last 5 weeks scoring shots. At no point have we kicked more goals than points. Last 5 weeks we have not been beaten for scoring shots. Get better shots and convert better things turn very quickly. Rd 15 23 v 17 Rd 16 20 v 19 Rd 17 26 v 15 Rd 18 24 v 19 Rd 19 20 v 20

I rate him and think he will be better at AFL level and is ready. He wont be a high possession but he creates chances and fits our repeat chaos style. Being named an emergency shows he is not far off.

People saying poor form now is the worst time are wrong. There are 4 rounds to right it with the luxury of knowing we cant miss finals but with the pressure that it could cost top 4. It’s actually a good position to be in if Goody has the courage to tweak the 22 and system over that period and get them back to selfless team footy. Dogs were hot last night and we were ok as shown by being within 4 points with 10 minutes to go. We lack run (1 of top 7 metres gained last night) and polish with ball from half, into 50 and converting. We need to fix our second possession at stoppage and defending their second possession at stoppage. We need to get our aggressive turnover game back in check and some run and bounce off half back that is non existent Hunt aside. Well played number 13, number 29 and number 8.

My opinion would be suggest anyone in the top 10 of 700 odd players league wide is an out and out superstar. Particularly when they are backing up consecutive years of it. No need to denigrate Trac by admitting Bont has had a better season (which I would agree with at this time).

We need to freshen up and may tinker with structure but sudden changes in role of key players wont happen. We lack run (1 of top 7 in metres gained last night) and polish at present. Some of the players the season has got too long for them to impact as they were and we have an imbalance of grunt vs polish. We wont make this many changes even if it is to freshen but I would like to see these considered over the coming weeks. Out: Jackson, Harmes, Jordon, Spargo, Rivers/Hibberd In: Weid, Melksham/Jones, Declase, Bedford, Bowey

6 Oliver 5. Lever 4. Hunt 3. Trac 2. Gawn 1. Viney

As usual dont take our chances. You cant have half efforts from players in these conditions (call out to Salem and Brayshaw). Happy to be second to contest and players generally not clean enough.