watchtheeyes

So much of this feels like coaching. Serious questions need to be asked.

Chaplin needs to be hauled over the coals!! Shocking!!!

I reckon Melksham (or Melsham if you're Bruce) has been one of our best this year. So dangerous whenever he's in the play. Reckon Lewis has to come straight back in, we've so desperately missed his leadership/direction this year. I can't believe he wouldn't be a better option than Josh Wagner at this point (who was fine on Thursday). I'm on the fence with Spargo, I think he's a smart footballer, just not athletic.. Was C Wagner playing forward this week? If so than its a choice between those two for Lockhart, because I've loved what he's done this year. A firing Garlett and Lockhart (based on exposed form) is very appealing. Agree that its about time Petty got given another chance (but my opinion is still tainted by his horrific debut). I think we are getting too many changes at this point in any case given Jetta should come straight back in too. Out: Wagner, Wagner, Stretch, Spargo In: Lewis, Jetta, Lockhart, Garlett Guess Spargo had to go in the end... To think, we've still got May and Lever to come...

I actually reckon we could really use JKH right now.. Had a feeling he was going to have a big year. He was really showing something late last year!

I'd love to see a statistic like: fumbles to an opposition player. Seems like he constantly fails to grasp the ball in contests, and when he does it he inevitably knocks it to an opposing player who bursts away from the stoppage. His absence will do wonders in my view.

I think we're all guilty of marking Petracca harder than just about anyone else on our list because of the alleged talent, but there are plenty of players I would drop before him this week. As the game wore on I definitely found myself disappointed with his output, but there were times throughout where I felt a bit sorry for him. He was playing one out, often against two defenders (because TMac dropped back) on a number of occasions. Plus the ball was just being bombed in to him, in the wet. I also don't think that's his position. He's being compared to De Goey & Martin, and I can see why. But he's not as explosive across the ground as those two. He is however seriously powerful in congestion, and rarely goes to ground these days. He belongs in the guts. He was given the hardest task all day, and it was too much. He was set up to fail. There's no way I drop him. ANB on the other hand... I almost had to buy a new TV because of him. Also thought Fritsch had some very very ordinary moments. Out: ANB, Fritsch, Sparrow, May In: Stretch, Petty, Wagner, (no idea)

Haven't read the first 7 pages so forgive me if repeating.. Did I just read someone call Petracca fat boy? Really? The kid is in unbelievable nick! Does he cover the ground well? No, but fat implies something else entirely which I just don't agree with. We all wish he got the ball more, clearly, but when he was around the ball he was consistently dangerous. Staggered people are calling for him to be dropped. There were a thousand worse players than him... No idea what they see in Hore. ANB is ANB and I struggle with him. Jones was just bloody awful and if keeps that up then his days are numbered. Frost and Omac were very ordinary, can't wait for May and Lever to come in. Viney clearly underdone, shouldn't have been out there. Overall I think it's pretty obvious by the results over the weekend that the shorter pre-season has a real impact, and it is wholly unsurprising we were caught out. Let's not overreact too soon..

An outrageous steal!!! His ankle must be all kinds of buggered, otherwise this is ridiculous!

Would feel better about that.. but would Freo be prepared to pay Brayshaw plus first round? Steep!

Will be absolutely filthy if all we get back for him is Steven May! Don't get me wrong, May is a good player.. but he doesn't hold a candle to Hogan's potential in my view... In addition to the fact May is 3 years older!

Really? Ridiculous.

We thoughts so when we traded for him, and he hasn't had an opportunity to show us since he got here. So I think he at least gets the opportunity to do that. Perfect rookie candidate for me.

Would be very surprised if they only now got McKenna back to fitness and delist him, at worst will be re-rookied I reckon.

If they strapped it on the weekend and put him back on, then there is 0% chance it was a strain. This really only leaves a cork, albeit possibly a bad one. Bad or not, if its a knock/cork then he is zero risk of not playing this weekend. Its really only then about managing discomfort.

For gods sake..

Surprised on the calls to drop JKH, that was just about the best game I’ve seen him play from memory. Only change (non injury enforced, ie Hoges) would be Smith. Killed us regularly. I wonder if it’s worth it with Hibbo only a few weeks away though given his replacement (Wagner) would only be a temp.

Hibberd ready yet? Big upgrade over Smith!

Bloody hell. This has compelled me to break my own Demonland embargo (brought about by fear of catching a severe case of sky-is-falling-in-itis). Massive loss, but they shouldn't get cute by moving Fritsch or Harmes around. Robbing Peter to pay Paul and all that. Wagner would be the choice for me. Not ideal, but he does have the ability to rebound and you know he will be up for it in the cauldron of Kardinia.

No doubt Petty looked lost lost and overawed, but one of the other glaring problems was that he was outbodied. A flagged weakness from his draft profile was that he wasn't strong in 1:1 contest... and so it was. 'Backing him in' won't change that. Has to go. Frost and Stretch have to be given another shot, but they're running out of chances. Smith tries but is a bit limited at the moment. From my perspective, the ease with which they scored can be heavily attributed to the lack of defensive pressure in our f50 which allowed them to waltz out and hit targets. We were too tall, while we repeatedly missed tackles as well. Hannan was invisible on the weekend, pressure included. I think its time Garlett comes back, and I'd bring Spargo back as well. Out: Petty, Smith, Weideman, Hannan, Tyson In: Frost, Stretch, Spargo, Garlett, Vince FB: Jetta McDonald Hibberd B: Lewis Frost Salem ? Harmes Viney Brayshaw F: Petracca Hogan Fritsch FF: Garlett McDonald Spargo Foll: Gawn, Jones, Oliver Res: Stretch, Melksham, Vince, ANB EDIT: After reading some comments from the Casey thread I'd be open to switching Frost with Keilty... however I've gone a bit gunshy on unknown backmen after Petty.

I was a big Jack Watts fan, and was seriously [censored] when we traded him. So today's performance tempts me to rail against Goodwin for trading him, and a little of that still remains. However my real frustration is reserved for Jack. Why did it take being traded to perform? If you truly loved the club then you would've shown it on the park for the Demons. So if I hear any comment from him this season that 'he always believed he was good, and just needed to be given a chance', then I will lose it. We gave you many chances, and you chose to take it for granted. So the overriding feeling I have now is one of betrayal.

I actually reckon he will play more of a traditional full forward, leading out of the goal square, using his strong marking ability. Hogan to play the Watts role further up the ground. Realistically they could both play each role at various times though, particularly given both have a good tank.

And I'm going to agree with someone who posted here earlier. Hogan is a competitive animal who wants nothing more than to kick a bag on Grand Final day on a winning team. He'll look around him and see Petracca, Brayshaw, Oliver, Weideman, Harmes, Viney, Jones, Kent, Garlett and a whole host of others and see the opportunity. I don't think he'll sign a 10 year deal, but a 4 - 5 year deal where he gives himself the opportunity to go home for the back end of his career is extremely likely. The most likely scenario in my opinion. And for those who say his old man is crook and that trumps all... I've seen no verifiable report of that. I've also heard that his family want him to stay in Melbourne. So, really, people will believe what they want to believe.

Orrr... this week was penciled in at the beginning of the season as an opportunity to send Jessie home as we were playing a Saturday afternoon game and a late Sunday afternoon the following week. Some of the hand wringing on this forum is a site to behold.

" The equation is simple. Take another step forward and Hogan, and others for that matter, want to remain at the club. Regress, and a football club, no matter which, leaves itself vulnerable." Spot on. http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/jesse-hogan-contract-why-young-key-forward-shouldnt-sign-a-new-contract-with-melbourne/news-story/3d98eee926ab09fb2cdca6f337dad062