mo64

Not surprising considering he hasn't played at AFL level. I'm not suggesting replacing O Mac with Keilty, but it is not as absurd as what people are suggesting. Keilty being a rookie is irrelevant, because history has shown how rookies can make an immediate impact at AFL level when given the opportunity. Everyone was surprised when Wagner was selected last year. And almost everyone sh#t canned Mark Stevens for suggesting that Hannan would push for round 1 selection. Some players actually thrive when elevated to the next level. Keilty may be one of them.

Garlett had 4 free kicks against but only 1 recorded clanger, so I don't believe that this is correct.

Got it in one PF. People need to take their red and blue glasses off. If it happened to a Melbourne player, it would be described as a dog act. It was forearm to back of the head, behind play to an unsuspecting opponent. The fact that Membrey stayed down, didn't help Bernie's case. With priors, he deserves what he got.

The same was said about Garland this time last year, after his top 10 finish in the B&F the previous year and appointment into the leadership group. I think it's a legitimate discussion when Goodwin openly said in his presser of the problems when O Mac was isolated, and that other players had to help out.

Clanger stats are a poor measurement of performance. They only relate to disposals that directly end up in the hands of the opposition. Oliver had 5 clangers, which were all probably misdirected handballs under pressure. That happens often with mids. In the case of O Mac, It doesn't include his dropped marks, which were howlers, or missed spoil. Mav Weller's 3 missed set shots for goal were the biggest clangers in the match, yet aren't registered as such.

I think that Hannan is more of a combo forward. He plays as a lead up forward as well as a crumbing forward. He would also be an effective wingman. I actually think that he takes VDB's role. I even think that he could play Watts' role up forward, but can't pinch hit in the ruck.

Not a hope in hell. I applaud Goodwin for picking a team to beat St. Kilda, not a team based on conventional structures. The same should apply to Carlton. Their biggest weakness is their lack of offensive pressure and defensive speed. They don't have any small forwards to worry about aside from Armfield, who killed us last year. Richmond's young small forwards chopped them up, and I'd expect the same from Kent, Garlett and ANB, and for them to do a better job of nullifying Docherty and Simpson. I'd play Watts in the ruck when Kreuzer is off the ground, and I'd play Watts on Kreuzer when he pushes forward. When Watts is resting or manning Kreuzer, Lewis should fill his role down back on a C.Curnow.

Not a huge ANB fan, but his JLT form warranted selection, and his performance on Saturday was his best at the club. No way he gets dropped. Smith is out, and I reckon that Vince will cop a week for stupidity based on his priors. Frost didn't play for Casey, so I doubt that he'd be considered for Smith. Pedo seems to be out of favour. We played our best when players lowered their eyes to hit up short targets, or when we broke St.Kilda's zone by going short then kicking the ball long over the back. I'd play Watts up back for Smith, and bring Kent into the forward line. I'd bring Tyson in for Vince, and Lewis and Jones would cover for Vince down back. In: Kent, Tyson Out: Smith (injured), Vince (suspended)

Based on what Goodwin said, he'd miss 10-12 weeks if it was just a dislocation without ligament damage. Surgery means that there is ligament damage, and it would be season ending for Smith. 8-10 weeks would be the best case scenario.

Because he makes mistakes that you wouldn't want to see in D Grade suburban football. Dropping simple chest marks under no pressure, missing basic spoils that lead to opposition goals, and panicking when he has the ball under pressure. The fact that he's a key position player is irrelevant. Every player makes mistakes, but they make it up for it with quality moments. I've yet to see that from O Mac.

I've never seen seen a team more deserving of a premiership based on finals performance. They beat the top 4 teams, and came from behind in each game. Nothing flukish about it. Bont will be in the top 10, and is every bit a star. Dahlhaus isn't far behind him.

Oh please, here we go again. Neeld probably had the same level of frustration in Watts that Roos and now Goodwin had. The difference being that Neeld didn't have the level of talent available to drop Watts. At the highest level, any sportsman worth a pinch of salt is self motivated. Even if they don't have a great relationship with their coach, they'll play well to spite their coach. The issues that Watts had when he came into the system, are the same issues he has now. Nobody is to blame bar himself.

There is a VFL game prior to round 1 of the season proper, and I'd imagine that Tyson and Kent would be given a chance to prove their fitness. Over the past month, whenever I've heard an interview with a member of the footy dept. (including Goodwin), they've made a point of saying how close Tyson and Kent are to playing. My take is that both will be selected in the seniors if fit. The same can't be said of Watts and Jetta.

Give the journo a break. It's just alternative facts.

Nah, you've lost me. You keep bringing up players who are nothing like Jack Watts. Try Jim Tilbrook or Andy Moir. And the game has evolved so much, Goodwin probably couldn't give a rats about romanticism.

Are they your words or his? Goodwin isn't old enough to have seen Kekovich or Crosswell play. And I couldn't have picked out 2 players more incomparable to Jack Watts.

That may be the case, but when Goodwin talks about players who were missing, he implied that Jetta was left out, not coming back from injury.

Under Goodwin, I'm not so sure. I'd say that he wants a more attacking backline than Roos, and I think that's the one knock on Jetta. He's doesn't hurt the opposition with run and carry, and whilst his disposal is good, it's not damaging. In the backline, I'd consider the 2 Macs and Hibberd as locks for the talls. Hunt is a lock for half back, and I wouldn't be surprised if Goodwin has Vince, N.Jones and Lewis all rotating through half back. It's also interesting to note that Wagner was selected in the 1st JLT game ahead of Jetta. Goodwin probably realises that the Macs haven't got much attacking prowess, and he needs to maximise it with the selection of the other 4 defenders. Jetta may not be in Goodwin's plans.

Jack Watts not meeting training standards may have nothing to do with skin folds, beep tests or his general level of fitness. It could come down to his attitude on the training track. He might not be switched on 100% at all times. And I was semi serious when I was talking about players chatting to supporters over the fence before, during or after training sessions. It's the players work time, so it should be frowned upon.

The word is Jack Watts has been disciplined for talking with spectators over the fence during work hours, instead of focussing on football. It's all Saty's fault.

If you want to draw a comparison, Hannan's path is very similar to Isaac Smith. Smith was also a 22 yo with fewer than 18 VFL games to his name when he was drafted at pick 19 by the Hawks. Smith started 2010 playing country footy, and ended up playing in a VFL premiership. He showed real x factor during the VFL finals series, but most were shocked that he went with the Hawks 1st pick. I think our list needs more x factor players. I think we've got ample players that can play the same role as those mentioned above, but at a higher level. When I think of x factor players on our list, I think of Petracca, Hunt, Hogan and Garlett. The team can afford a few more in the starting 22.

Being a St. Bernards Old Boy, took special note of Hannan when I watched the Footscray VFL games, and was rapt that we picked him. Unlike some of the players we've picked up from other clubs recently in Bugg, Kennedy, Melksham and McKenna, Hannan has some X Factor. I'd give him more chance of having an impact at AFL level than the players listed, and the likes of ANB and JKH. Our last St. Bernards boy won a B&F in a GF year. Strawbs O'Dwyer.

All hail Pro Dee the oracle? They'd see Hibberd play live at least 10 times a year. I rate their opinion of an Essendon player higher than anyone on Demonland.

I grew up in Essendon and have plenty of Bomber mates. Whilst most would have liked to have kept him, he was the most expendable of the returning drug cheats. Hibberd was ordinary in 2015, and even Tim Watson said that opposition clubs finally worked out that he had no right side. And your argument about the club giving up pick 29 blah,blah,blah suggests that they never get things wrong. Is that the same FD that gave Garland a 3yr extension, and gave away pick 23 for Melksham? Hibberd will be a handy acquisition, but he aint no top shelf defender.

Not sure how Hibberd is considered a top 10 calibre pick when he hasn't played good football for 2 years. And you have to consider that the Bombers weren't prepared to match our contract offer, and basically considered him expendable. I'd rate him in our 10-15 category. Gawn, Jones, Viney, Tyson, Vince, T.Mac, Hogan, Watts, Jetta, and Garlett all have better exposed form than Hibberd, and I'd imagine that young players like Oliver, Petracca, Stretch, Hunt and Brayshaw would be pushing to surpass Hibberd in importance to the team. Hibberd addresses a need in our backline, but let's not kid ourselves about his capabilities or achievements to date. At his best, he was borderline AA, but so was Lyndan Dunn. I'm happy to get him, but see him as a role player rather than someone who'll be the difference between winning or losing games. Lewis is a different kettle of fish.