Lil_red_fire_engine

He is running out of places to hide him. The hint for me today was him sitting on a forward flank. He just cant get to or away from the contest anymore.I would expect its highly likely.

Out: Lewis, Melksham, Harmes, Bugg In: Hunt, Tyson, Hannan, Weid

6. O-Mac 5. Jones DAYLIGHT 4. Kent 3. Oliver 2. Hogan 1. Petracca

Things are never as good or as bad as they seem. Today was poor execution and no spread or clean stoppages against a well drilled side. If thats the loss we have to have to drop Lewis, Bugg, Harmes and play another tall forward then so be it. I am disappointed in the game but more interested in the response at both selection and against the best drilled team in the comp on Anzac eve. Has anyone maybe considered they have over rated our list?

Our natural evolution for prolonged success needs to be beating the lower teams without exception and beating those around the middle to 5th on most occasions. Thats what good teams do. Then we can start worrying about seeing how we stack up against the best. How frustrating was it last year seeing us have the Tigers covered until injury took hold and smacking the Crows on their dung heap to then see us lose to the Roos, Freo and half a Collingwood side. Today allows us to get the first part right and next week allows us to start to measure how we stack up.

My brother from another mother. Could not have said it any better. Today we learn how far we have come and by round 4 we should be ready to iron the kinks out of our inconsistencies. On paper we are better but they have high end players who consistently influence games and a well drilled game plan. Our best is better but time to show it for a long period.

I love how they mention they are young with a high proportion of first round picks. They fail to mention that 8 of those first round picks were originally chosen by other clubs and 5 of those were originally overrated by the same bloke that traded for them with GWS.

Who'd have thought a player who just ticked over his 25th game and getting some continuity of footy after a full preseason is finding his feet. Not everyone needs to be or can be a superstar. If anything the great teams all have their role players who no one quite gets how they keep knocking up games but it keeps happening. Usually their best attribute is discipline. They do exactly as asked, get the most out of themselves, have a small variable between their best and worst and sacrifice their individual game for the greater balance of the team. I suspect Wagner is that type of player. He may get overtaken in our back half to change dynamic or if we continue to improve and have low injury rate. I also think there is just as much chance of his ongoing improvement and seeing him there at the end of season is also not unexpected.

When Viney comes back I hope we only play one of Oliver and Trac in there at a time and rotate them through forward. Probably 60:30 Oliver to Trac midfield time with 10 spent off the ground. I would have Jones and Salem as the other main rotation in the middle with others to float through.

2017 Jetta should absolute be in that list. 2018 Jetta appears to have lost his lateral movement and clean hands which is making him look treacle slow. Will be interesting to see who he goes to tomorrow and how he holds up.

Disagree. Hannan's pressure and impact is inconsistent.I would prefer they stick with Fritsch if that was the case. I think if the change occurs it will be to bring in the extra tall. Its nice to have options.

What he has done so far when the ball is in his space has been sublime and probably of similar output across the 3 rounds, My observation is he hasn't got to as many contests and his tackle count has certainly dropped over the first three weeks. This is the basis why I think he may get dropped this round if we choose to bring in Weid. If not for Weid he should continue his development in the seniors as agree his has some serious attributes.

Langford kills us every time. I expect Bray for Tyson the only change and this definitely makes us more dynamic. Possibly Weid for Fritsch if we choose to go taller forward.

Based on Casey yesterday and the weekend's performance I would suggest it will be Melksham for either Weideman/Pedersen (if we need a tall) or Brayshaw (if we go an extra runner). I would love to see us back in Weid and give him a good run at it whilst Hogan plays high and we await the return of T-Mac. If there is two changes I would suggest it will be Fritsch. When he is in the play he is sublime but he drops in and out as expected for a young forward and no tackles on the weekend (after 5 round 1 and 3 round 2) indicates a potential drop in work rate. I suspect one of ANB or Harmes will take Smith on a wing and whilst they are untidy 10 tackles between them last week I cant see them missing out. We really do need another small back with speed against Hawthorn but Hunt not getting in bests makes that unlikely.

Great to see recognition for both Salem and Kent.

1. Salem's early aggression (looking forward to when he can maintain it for 4 quarters). 2. Kents more than productive return. 3. Hogan's insane work rate.

Brayshaw named first in official club bests.....A good sign they are seeing the right actions...hopefully not too far away.

I really want to see Bugg vs Sicily next week. Competition to see who can do the most undisciplined act.

Its amazing how much our expectations can change season to season. I thought we just went yet we broke the hoodoo and strolled away to a 37 point win. Intent at the contest was good and our clearance work thanks to Max sublime. 2 way running mediocre with execution by foot and ball handling poor but use by hand good. We defended well inside the forward 50 and ok in defensive 50 but still too many go for one ball. Of our high quality players Gawn, Hogan, Jones and Trac at expectations while the lesser lights in O-Mac, Wagner, Salem, Bugg and Kent played much better. Now consider we recovered from a poor start against a team that has mentally and strategically had us for a decade and we turned it around to smash them in every facet of the game aside from the scoreboard. Yet even with the scoreboard it was the highest score of the Goodwin era. I left disappointed not in the result but in the fact you can see that we are not far off putting it all together. Next week against the team I believe to be the best drilled side in the comp will be a good assessment. I really do think we need to fast track some speed into the side. I suspect that Kent in was part of that but probably one down back and one through the middle is needed from somewhere. I love him dearly but Jetta looks like he is on his last legs and it will be interesting to see how he goes next week.He is either carrying or has lost his lateral movement over the summer that has previously made up for his lack of speed

We have to cover Poppy, Cyril, Impey and Breust. I am hoping Hunt has a blinder tomorrow and find a way to fit him in.

Who are Hawthorns tall forwards? If Hogan’s going to play so high we need another tall . No one deserves to go out but I suspect changes to combat the team we are playing.

6. Gawn 5. Hogan 4. Wagner 3. Bugg 2. Jones 1. Salem

Frost I suspect will play back and head in as back up ruck whenever Brown relieves. I actually don't mind the mobile forward line Richmond style. It hopefully also improves our defensive pressure chasing out of 50. As long we lower our eyes and don't bomb it in, we wouldn't be that stupid would we??

1. Hogan's chase down on Cox 2. Olivers 20m handball to Trac 3. Garlett's pressure when the heat was on late

I don't think there is anything wrong in the coaches box. As others have mentioned you need consistent application of the game plan from majority of the 22 over 4 quarters. It is clear that when its applied we control the game. The problem is we still get wild variations. To manage the wild variations and sensing the game change in quarter you need smart and strong on field leadership. All we seem to be getting at present is the jitters from Lewis and to a lesser extent Jones when the pressure ups. For those that want a plan B how do we think Collingwood players cope when after training all summer as a back men Darcy Moore is swung forward after 3 quarters in round 1 or Howe goes from their key attacking springboard to a stopping role on Jeremy Cameron in one week. The best teams drill in a belief in plan A that means all play their role without falter.