mo64

The reason why we have to speculate is because their is no credible official word from the club. DB stated on SEN prior to the game that only Bruce and McLean would definitely be missing. I took that to mean that everyone who was fit to play (Carroll excluded) would play. That means that we had 16 unfit players from our list for Saturday's game. I'll continue to speculate because the club has always tried to hide the extent of our player's injuries.

It's makes sense to bet on things that you know about. If I was smart enough to only bet on games involving Melbourne, Manchester City and Melb Victory, I'd be a rich man. As for buying two memberships, the heartache of seeing us lose negates the financial gain. B)

Correct DemonDave. I pointed this out when I saw the selected squads. And because our so side was so unbalanced, the game didn't teach the players or the supporters anything. And I happily took the $1.80 on offer for the Cats to win by more than 15 points. It paid for my membership twice over.

I'm not saying rush their rehab, but the fact that we have so many in rehab is a worry. We're continually told how important it is for a player to have a full pre-season.

Didn't see much of the game, but is Garland a potentially better option than Robertson as the 3rd tall? Can't see us playing a forwardline that includes Neitz, Robertson, Miller/Newton and Garland.

This is just my guesstimates. Bartram is not on the long term injury list, but I can't see any player who hasn't participated in any match simulation after 4 months of pre-season, being fit by round 1-2. And yes I did upgrade Valenti ahead of Aussie, but as Whelan's replacement. And Grazman, I hope I am wrong. But DB did say that he'd only play players in the NAB Cup who were 90-100% fit. If that's the case, we had 16 players underdone (Carroll excluded). That's a concern for mine considering we've been in training since October. Also, my guesstimates assumed that all players would need some sort of gametime at Sandy before playing in the seniors.

What's the point of this? We don't play most clubs for over 2 months. And if we don't go into any game with 22 fully fit players, we're likely to get beaten anyway. We're not talented enough to be able to carry players who are not match fit.

I hope you're right, but I don't see the point of playing "funny buggers" when you've just come off the year we had, are struggling for membership and sponsorship dollars, and are trying to perfect a new game plan. What better way to sell the club than performing well against the reigning premiers who were near enough to full strength. If anyone should have been playing "funny buggers" it was Geelong.

This is solely based on what i've garnered from those who've attended training. Also, when I say round 6, that includes 2-3 playing for Sandy in order to get match fit. Wheatley/C. Johnson - Haven't been involved in any of the physical training, and have been in the rehab group for quite a while. Both players would need to prove their fitness and form before being considered for selection. Dunn - Recently picked up a soft tissue injury (groin?). I'd expect the club to be extra cautious with any player with a soft tissue injury.

I just don't see the point of bringing it up after round 1 of the NAB cup, particularly when it was improbable the we would get both Morton and Henderson. As for TJ, I only watched about 5 minutes of that game, and noticed that some things never change. A miskick by the Bombers landed in his lap in the centre square. Under no pressure, he kicks the ball from a stationary postion, straight back to a Bomber player, and not within 10 metres of a teammate. For someone with supposed elite skills, his disposal is 60/40 at best.

Good question. This is my hobbyhorse. I'll take a stab in the dark based on our track record of smokescreening injured players, and the actual time it takes them to get on the field: Bartram - long term injury list. Upgrade Aussie W. to senior list by round 4. Bruce - Round 3 Carrol – Next week Davey - Round 1 at best Dunn - Round 6 Frawley - Round 1 Grimes - midseason at best. Will be nursed this year. C. Johnson - Round 6 B. McLean - Round 1 at best Miller - Next week Moloney - who knows Morton - Next week Neitz - Round 1 Petterd - Round 3 Rivers - Round 3 Wheatley - Round 6 Whelan - long term injury list. Valenti upgraded to senior list by round 1.

Based on last year, our senior players need all the match practice they can get!

The result of the game was a reflection of the talent gap of the 2 teams on the park yesterday. What I don't understand is why we wouldn't be playing our senior players in a trial game designed to practice our new game plan? Surely that's the point of practice matches. Quite frankly, do we have a full deck to be in a position not to show our cards? So unless we had 17 players who were unfit and unavailable yesterday, based on last year, we are not in a position to be easing in our senior players, and expecting them to fire come round 1. Either way, we are going to be underdone come round 1, and by midseason we'll hear the age old excuse of players having an interupted pre-season. The result of the game doesn't concern me, but the reasons for the result is a concern.

Yeah, after round 1 of the NAB Cup, Cale Morton is a dud and Henderson is a gun. Thank god we got rid of Craig Cameron so we don't make mistakes like that again! B)

You forgot to mention that we were missing 15 of our best 25, plus our 2 first round draft choices. If you thought that we would be competitive with the side we had, you are delusional. And by the way, Harley is not in the Cats best 10, let alone top 4.

I didn't see much of the game, but when you looked at the 2 squads even before Miller, Frawley and Davey pulled out, Geelong were a 10 goal better team, especially at home. On the bright side, I loaded up big time on the $1.80 for Geelong to win by more than 15 1/2 points. Betting certainty of the year!

There's a real incentive for Aussie and Valenti to impress in the pre-season, because if what you're saying is true, Bartram, Whelan and Grimes are all candidates for the long-term injury list.

You're not far off the mark BBP. I'd have Frawley in the back pocket and Warnock on the bench. If you look at the interchange, where's our midfield rotation come from? We are way too top heavy.

I'm scared. I counted 10 players key position players or players who play tall, plus 4 ruckmen. We are seriously light on for quality midfielders.

A stupid and ill-informed comment on so many levels. For starters, the Chinese are huge gamblers, and if we can offer them an inclusive environment at the games, they may attend. And rather than can up with "find imaginative ways to re-sign lost members from previous seasons", why not offer a proposal?

Not sure if we need this type of support. If you were referring to the band The Stranglers, I think they're already aligned with the Hawks through their song Golden Brown. Ok, I'm showing my age.

This is the part that frustrates me Franky. It's not necessarily about winning or losing pre-season games, it's about who's on the park and how we're playing.

True, but then just come out and say that, without misleading the supporters into thinking that we'll have close to a full side. Also, do you expect the likes of Rivers, Whelan, Wheatley, Dunn and Bartram to play in round 1 without playing a preseason game?

RR this is crap, and you obviously don't follow the other sports. I work in the sports betting industry, and understand the importance of players injury status. The AFL IS the only football code that seems to think that there is an advantage in keeping the opposition guessing.

It doesn't happen in any other football code and is a an embarassment to our code. We're 6 weeks away from the season proper, so what's the point? And if coaches don't have contingency plans based on who's in or out of the opposition team, they shouldn't be in the job. My belief is that the club is trying to put a positive spin in order to attract members. DB came out yesterday and said that out of the senior list, only McLean and Bruce would miss the game against the Cats with injury, and that Neitz is 50/50. We'll see if he's true to his word. If the club wants to treat it's supporters likes fools, our membership will drop rather than grow, because I'm sick to death of our club having so many 426's on our list!