watchtheeyes

Would be interested to find that out because 5 and particularly 8 (!) seem like a lot! 13 free kicks is hugely disruptive to a teams momentum/opportunity to slow down the opposition.

Agree with your sentiments but you've left out Lamumba. Toumpas would be the swap there and I'd move Brayshaw to sub and start Vince.

What's more, Dawes is obviously a big loss. But if Frost and Gawn can simply provide a target and get the ball to ground then any combination of JKH, Garlett, Vanders, Kent will go to work. They can create problems for Gold Coast, so for us to win they need to kick the majority with chip ins from Watts (2 or 3) Hogan (2) and one from Gawn/Frost. Its not out of the realm of possibility.

I think you're right on reflection, missing vanders was an oversight. Vanders in for M Jones. I'd quite like Howe to replace Garland mind you.

Little bit surprised people have Frost at HB, its seems they're pretty keen for him to play up forward. Maybe they were just trialing, I hope so because I rate him down back. For what its worth: FB: Jetta - Dunn - Howe HB: Grimes - McDonald - Salem C: Lamumba - N.Jones - Newton HF: Watts - Hogan - JKH FF: Garlett - Frost - Gawn R: Jamar - Cross - Tyson I: Viney - vandenBerg - Vince S: Brayshaw/Kent Something along those lines is what I expect, not necessarily want. E: Garland - Michie - Pedersen EDIT: Switched M Jones for vandenberg. Keeping Howe, but that could easily be Garland.

Great to hear. Vince adds much needed class to our midfield and I'm really excited about what JKH can bring, reckon he transforms our forward line alongside Garlett. Made a couple of seriously smart plays against the dogs.

When Roos signed up for the gig and announced he would be gone before there was any chance of a flag, many people wondered about his motivation. I always saw it as a legacy thing, and with that in mind, I think both protecting his reputation and enhancing his legacy would be pressure enough for him. He is a competitor after all.

Great stuff, will be listening for sure.

Season preview from Ben Guthrie: http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-03-25/season-preview-melbourne?utm_medium=RSS Reckon his team is just about bang on at this stage. Best 22 B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe HB: Jack Grimes, Lynden Dunn, Christian Salem C: Bernie Vince, Nathan Jones, Heritier Lumumba HF: Jack Watts, Chris Dawes, Jay Kennedy-Harris F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Sam Frost Foll: Mark Jamar, Dom Tyson, Jack Viney I/C: Ben Newton, Daniel Cross, Colin Garland Sub: Dean Kent

You have to ask why I spent so much time reading through that knowing full well where it would end up... its kind of voyeuristic to fair.

Was just saying that if you would like to express your disappointment then just do it. Rather then the email you sent, why not just say: "I have recently been informed that a substantial number of 2014 membership scarves were found in an MCG bin. I wanted to let you know I work at a primary school where those scarves could've been used to attract new young members. A missed opportunity." Anyway, it's neither here nor there. Was just saying.

Respectfully TK I don't think there's any need to be tricky. Just come out and say it.

Delisted for dressing up as Gary Glitter.

Geez I hope Hunt does get right, plenty of potential that bloke!

Just can't agree with that either. I never get these comments (aside for when its applied to Clark, still haven't watched a Cats game, can't bring myself to do it). Frawley is in the Rivers boat to me. The bloke paid his dues, did his best for the club and craved success. So when well within his right to do so, he sought out what he yearned for. Good luck to him.

I can't agree with that at all. Frawley showed himself to be a very poor decision maker last year and from what I've seen over recent times McDonald is capable of providing a lot more run. I agree that McDonald's kicking looks unorthodox, but I haven't seen an enormous amount of clangers over the past 12 months (compared to others). Having said all that, I think Frawleys going to have a good season at Hawthorn.

I have no idea how people are still calling T McDonald not AFL standard.

Speaking of Blease, purely out of curiosity, does anyone have any idea how he's tracking at Geelong? Same problems rearing their head? I found his comments when he left about Roos' game plan not fitting with the way he played footy astounding, so I'm assuming he slotted in to Geelong with the same attitude... or lack thereof.

I love that you're watching each quarter and doing this ralphius, gives a whole new perspective! I'm now remembering he first two q's quite positively too (less those two shocking ump calls which I mentioned in an earlier post, bloody momentum killers!)

Thought Gawn was ok this game really, played the link up man on several occasions. As long as he keeps it simple, I think he deserves a place. But not as the primary ruckman, at least not based on what I've seen. While I don't think McKenzie should be in the side, you can't help but feel sorry for him for last night. When that final siren sounded his footballing mortality would've smacked him in the face.

It's my thought process too vibes, I suppose what worried me most of all was that Roosy looked a little flustered in his presser last night, like he was at a bit of a loss. The true test will be Goldcoast, so I'm going to withhold my despair until that game. If Gaz, Lynch and O'meara all sit out, then I'd like to think we're a shot.

Along those lines. There were several occasions where there were multiple players under the ball waiting. Someone says "mine", trust him, look for space and move so that as soon as he has the ball he has options. Three people competing for the mark just means there are three fewer teammates providing targets or offering protection. Maybe before you move off have a cheeky word in his ear as well: "yours mate, space 20 meters ahead".

Seems as though we're on a very similar page George. I agree with the very ordinary efforts put in at times, particularly defensively, and this is what I hope comes down to NAB cup syndrome. The other thing I was going to add is that at various times I saw players out of position and I wondered if the coaching staff were tinkering. Could this have resulted in a shift in momentum? If this team has worked really hard on their individual roles within a defined system, and then are asked to change that, then it wouldn't surprise me if it falls apart. Lamumba was terrific.

I havent looked at a single comment on DL before writing this, and will probably be brave enough to venture back shortly to witness the carnage. Instead I thought Id write my own report, call it catharthis. Tonight was clearly disappointing. An underwhelming performance at best, truly dispiriting at worst. I havent yet seen the press conference by Roos, but I have seen fleeting comments through twitter and one in particular stands out, the difference between our best and worst is pretty dramatic. Roosy, youre not wrong. Despite promising signs early, the Dees slumped in to old habits, seemingly brought on by pressure. One gets the feeling that the boys have built their confidence around slick ball movement while unopposed at training, yet forgot that in games there is an opposition thats trying to stop you. Decision making is a serious concern and when that is coupled with at times suspect skills, you have the makings of a train wreck. Unfortunately, tonight, like so many nights before it, thats exactly what happened. Those two factors defined the last 2.5 quarters, while the first 1.5 appeared to be tainted by an inability to put the ball through the sticks when it appeared the easiest option. Thankfully, I think this is rectifiable. Garlett is a god-send, he is so vital to this team now. However we need one other, and that is something we will have. Both Kent and JKH have shown an ability to sniff an opportunity, so come round 1, heres hoping some of those bouncing balls find their home off their feet. Tonight also highlighted something else we all hoped wasnt true, Hogan is young. He is inexperienced and will take time to develop. I dont think anyone doubts his talent, the bloke will be a star. But not yet. Its as if at the back of all our minds we secretly hoped hed kick 6 goals the day he walked in. Our very own Wayne Carey from day dot. Sadly, not. A few other players stood out for different reasons: · Frost is a very handy pick up. Personally, I liked the look of him down back but I understand what theyre trying to do. In the ruck however, he is super raw. He was beaten time and time again and it allowed the opposition to get on top in the clearances. · vandenBerg was a shrewd pick up, and is a lock for Rd 1. · Sadly, I think the man expendable when Vince comes back, is Toumpas. I still hold hope that he can fill a role, but when you look at the team and where Bernie slots in, its on the wing or HHF. Sorry Toump. · Viney is all heart, but he makes bad decisions and his foot skills are dubious. Talk of him as a future star is premature to me. A wonderful clubman he is, but future A grader mmm, I just dont know. · For the second game running, I was pleased with what Grimes put out there. Thought he was one player in our defensive 50 who showed a bit of poise and his disposal was much improved. He had 19 disposals tonight at 100%, bet you never thought youd hear that. · Watts looks ripe for a good season. He has definitely filled out and now looks a man, rather than a lanky boy. He did some really good things tonight, knows how to kick a goal and covered a hell of a lot of ground as well as making lead after lead. There are plenty of others we can speak of, but I fear its been heard. Our tackling was disappointing tonight, this is a little concerning and hopefully doesn't represent a backwards step from last year. its a major factor in a game. Without it, you dont get momentum and it can affect everything. So, Im hoping a lot of what happened tonight can be put down to psyche around it being NAB Cup and not wanting to get injured. Well see. My team for Round 1? FB: Jetta Dunn Garland/Howe (fitness dependent) B: Salem McDonald Grimes C: Vince N Jones Lamumba HF: Watts Frost Garlett FF: Gawn Hogan JKH Foll: Jamar Tyson Cross R: Viney, Kent, M Jones, vandenBerg Sub: Toumpas · Im not comfortable with Frost at CHF, but with Dawes there, what do you do. Im open minded about Pedersen on form. If he comes in I move Frost back to the resting ruckman, but Jamar takes the workload and Cross/Dawes provide the chopout until Frost works out what hes doing. · I persevere with Toumpas as the sub, he has to grow comfortable on this stage. Its like he gets stage fright. · I find Garland underwhelming at the moment. There were a few times tonight where we looked like we had a bit of class, but its baby steps. You look at the team above and its clear were a better side than last year, vastly better? Maybe not, at least not yet. Baby steps.

Can get an AFL live pass and get 7 days free trial.