Red and Blue realist

Any information on this? Nothing on the website yet, or any major papers etc. Sorry just saw the above, hope they got it early and he makes a full recovery, footy should come last.

Hannan didn't get a lot of it, but he chased and harassed brilliantly, in particularly in the second half. If Hogan's fit (or ready) then if be happy to swap, but both Hannan and weid put great pressure on without kicking goals, which I think will be a great step in their team play development

I just think we all expect him to be playing at his peak straight away, whereas he won't get there until his mid to late 20s. I imagine the expectations on here would be vastly different to what the coaches want. Let him get to 50 or 100 games before you give up on him

If we played exactly the same with Hogan instead of weid we still would have won. I think it's more everyone's expectation of the result is changed, or at least significantly lowered, when Hogan is out. I am hopefully that like the Geelong game a few years ago that seemed like the making of Gawn, that weid takes his effort yesterday and keeps going. The goals and marking will come with a bit more size but the competitiveness was great

Lamb, Jakcsh, Sumner, Pickett and Phillips, plus they've got Gorringe, Kerridge and Jones in the team as well. There also missing Palmer and Smedts who aren't in the Carlton team this week. Not to mention 6 from other clubs in the 1sts. (16 total) In comparison from other clubs, we've got Kennedy playing and only Milkshake and McKenna missing. While in the 1st we so have 7, but if you're going to go get players from other clubs you want them playing a role for you. (9 total) Nothing like developing your own.

I think the majority of Gus's issue's have been more bad luck than a technique issue. He copped a wet ball to the back of the head and the latest was behind the play, so not much he could do about them. I'd like him to have a good block, at least 3 or 4 weeks (maybe longer) at Casey, even if he does go back and kill it this weekend, just to make sure when he comes back there's nothing in the back of his mind that might hold him back.

It was said in the media multiple time's that St Kilda could win the same amount or even lose more games this year than last and still improve, and I always thought we could do exactly the same. I've been enjoying us play this year, and being in front (or level) in the last quarter of every game shows we've taken massive strides, in the last few years we would have been blown away by Hawthorn or Freo or the Saints when they went on big run but we've been able to peg them back. We've had major injuries against the Cats and Tigers - I know it's no excuse for not winning but the way we played despite being down on numbers was great. I don't think missing finals is a failure for this year, failure will be going back to old ways and going down by 100 points or getting beaten badly by a team well below us. Have a look at the way our side is balanced from an experience point of view, against the Hawks we had 1860 games of experience, of that nearly 1,000 came from 5 players - Jones, Lewis, Vince, Watts and Garlett. There's a lot of maturing to be done by guys like Hogan, Oliver, Salem, Petracca, Hunt, OMac who've all played less than 50 games.

Undoubtedly if he came to us and said I'm happy to forego an extra $150k - $300k he might be able to get elsewhere and we didn't have to give to much to GWS then he'd be great, but I think he'll cost in excess of $800k a year and the trade would be our first this year plus decent extra's (a first 22 player or next years first etc.). Paying too much will hinder our chances of retaining all of Oliver, Tracc, Hogan, Salem etc. when they come out of contract next, because we have a few on the team that are shaping as deserving the bigger coin. We've seen the Hawks, Dogs and Cats in recent times develop their own and (besides Boyd) not going chasing the big fish, but fitting role players around what they've got. I think we're much better to do that.

Doubt we'd be prepared to pay as much as rumoured North have put out there, or have the currency the saints have. I think we're backing in our talent and will find role players rather than chasing something too expensive

I don't think our biggest issue is our main goal kickers at all, so far Garlett, Watts, Tracc and Hogan have hit the board regularly. The issue we have is the midfield hasn't been getting on the score board, so far Jones has 4, Lewis and Salem 3, Stretch and Viney 2, with Tyson and Vince only 1. Oliver is yet to hit the score board (goals). We need more score board pressure from the mids as well as the main goal kickers, that will also potentially help with the flood some teams have used pretty successfully against us this year as well.

I'd bring in ANB and Stretch for JHK and Bugg. I think both offer more defensive pressure plus also run through the middle. Also I'd like to see Pedersen play as the ruckman, it seemed on the weekend that TMac rucked nearly as much and Watts was still used as well - percentage wise it was probably 40/40/20. This weekend I'd like to see Ped around 60, Watts 20 and TMac 20. We could then use TMac as a swingman in the forward line if needed but it seemed to me that both TMac and Ped struggled with the adjustments to their roles compared to the week before. It will also settle the forward line a little better, we need a second target alongside Hogan plus Adelaide are tall so TMac will be needed down back.

Frost was brilliant at this, Hunt as usual and Hibberd to a lesser extent, but they were the only ones. Often it seemed a lot of the mids, Jones, Tyson, Viney, Lewis etc would look for a free player (short handball) in the clear rather than take a few quick steps and try and break the game open. This made us slow going forward, which was our biggest issue. These guys weren't turning it over, but sometimes I think it's better to risk the turnover to at least give ourselves the chance to score rather than play it safe but give the opposition the ability to kill our scoring.

There were a few really great passages of play where we managed to handball our way out of trouble in the defensive 50, then a free player finally ran through (Frost was really good at this yesterday) and created some space. The issue's yesterday came, not when the above happened, but when we did this after the next kick or after winning the ball in the middle, which gives the opposition has more time to get back and out man or set up their zone (or defensive structure) so when we kicked into the fwd 50 Hogan and co had no clear space to lead into, so even if they bring the ball to ground the smalls had no space to move. We've got to get the balance right between using it as an offensive weapon to get out of defense and getting the ball as quickly as possible into the forwards to let them go 1 out or to bring the ball down to Garlett.

Way over the top. TMac was best on ground, but his kicking was plain embarrassing, which dragged down his game. Tyson made a coupe of errors but I thought had a good game. I wish he'd clean up his kicks, but he wasn't horrible today

I think Kruz will be offered stupid money to play elsewhere or stay. I doubt we'll be in the mix. On Dusty, while he'd be great i think he'd cost too much overall. I know he's a free agent, but for us to afford him we'd eventually have to loose one or two of the good young players (Oliver, Trac, etc.) and I've heard our main list management strategy at the moment is to get all our young guys signed up and on board longer term together rather than chase a bigger fish.

I think the Duke of Wellington was previously a sponsor, but being from out of Melbourne that wasn't always practical when coming to a game. Very handy that there's one across from my work!

Thanks gramma police

They should only annoy you if it's used as an excuse, which we tried very hard not to do last year. There is some truth to players hitting their peak when around 26 - 30, just because they've managed 5 or more pre-seasons by then and have the miles in the legs to carry them through. You're right about it being about performance but also being able to show development, and that's the main reason I think we've been talked up in the media. Not only are we in a situation where a lot of our guys are performing, but with the development we'll only get better and better. Might just mean there's the odd inconsistent game or patch during a game, and that's where goody has to earn his keep by getting them re-focused and working through that.

Geelong have quiet a tall back-line - from their normal back 6 - Mackie, Longeran, Hendersen, Tuohy, Ruggles and Stewart (and maybe include Taylor because his forward play isn't great) then 5 of the 7 are over 190, and not all that mobile. If we go small, bring in Vince and Kent only, then as long as were prepared to play smart and not bomb the ball, I think that could be effective. Both Watts and Weid are quiet mobile as well, with neither really happy to just sit in the goal square, so robs them of Longeran and Hendersens strengths as backmen.

I think it was also an ownership type decision - the younger guys can't hide behind Jones/Vince/Lewis, they have to be up there and accountable. Vice-captain still meant they'd (the younger guys) still have someone above them rather than alongside them. I know we won't hear if there was any extra discussions had with Lewis or Hogan about their suspensions, but I'd love it if Jones lead the talk to Lewis and Viney to Hogan, even if the rest of the leadership group was involved.

He'd be a great get, but not worth a couple of first rounders ('17 & '18) as some have suggested. I wouldn't be giving up Brayshaw either, I think that could do more damage than expected with his relationship with the other younger guys.

Think this is exactly why they made Viney co-captain. He's in that age bracket, but he expects so much more than someone his age. While Jonesy, Vince and Lewis are great with their experience, there can be a fair difference in attitude and maturity in someone who's 5/6/7 years younger. With Viney relating too and then driving the younger guys, hopefully it'll also lead to more stability with them wanting to play alongside each other for years.

Was funny at the game yesterday with the bells ringing out before the players ran out, then the start of the song leading into a completely contrasting theme song. One seems quiet menacing then you've got the very old school 'grand old flag', they just don't gel. The start sounded something like the Undertaker coming out to a wrestling match.

Think Melksham needs to come out for Vince, not only did he turn it over a number of times (he wasn't on he's own there though) but a couple of times he didn't go hard enough for marks. He didn't shirk the contest, just waited for the ball to come to him rather than going to it, directly cost us a goal in the second

I'd say they'll be using to LTI on Garland for 2 purposes - as DOF mentioned there's no need at the moment because no-one is in line to play but also from memory there is salary cap relief for players on the LTI. So could be a long term list management decision and if T Smith/Keilty/White bang down the door and warrant a spot it's available.