SaberFang

Considering our "development" department over the last 8 years, it's not far off the mark.

Credit to the Tigers, didn't allow Hawthorn to play their game and applied pressure for 120 minutes. Didn't walk out expecting to lose, that's for sure. Also helped having 3 extra players on the ground, which is par the course for Richmond. Clear of the next team for total free kicks in their favour this season by over 70 (North Melbourne, land of the divers, in 2nd).

Geez, Frawley stands out tonight. For all the wrong reasons.

Their defence has been shocking, players not in position and seemingly daydreaming.

Didn't they make 4 changes to last week's team? Wonder if they rushed Frawley back.

Their ridiculous injury list not even mentioned. They are woefully underperforming considering the quality of their list. Beams, Christensen, last year's NAB Rising Star. There's plenty to like about the Lions, maybe Leppa should start looking at his own ability to coach before demanding more handouts. I'm more and more convinced this is simply an attempt to get pick 1 in the draft proper AND secure all their highly rated Academy selections. The new bidding/currency rules for Academy players has put them in a difficult position in this regard

He certainly dominated those kicks at the half-back line against the Saints.

Surely even Roos wouldn't be dumb enough to allow another Oxley situation... right?

The ultimate punch will occur later this year, as the AFL hand Brisbane first and second round priority picks (citing the overall health of the game nationally being crucial to all 18 clubs).

Will be interesting to see how McCartin goes without Roo to take the best defender.

12 degrees and rain on Saturday, so forgive me for criticising going in tall with a wildly out-of-form forward in such conditions. Guess we'll just have to wait and see if your imaginary Collingwood supporter ends up with the egg on his face.

Gary seemed to know more than he was letting on.

Purple on the Footy Show tonight adding fuel to the fire (or, more likely, trying to derail the deal) but essentially saying we're desperately trying for Dion to join us as early as next year, regardless of his contract status. Saints also very keen on him, so he's definitely being chased by Victorian clubs and disenchanted up North. Apparently Gold Coast had a formal meeting with Dion, Rodney, Dion's dad and Dion's manager last week to clarify what was going on. So there's something in the works, but it remains to be seen what eventuates. Straight swap for Howe would suit both parties (well, us ), especially if Dixon leaves.

Some fairly laughable comments from Leppitsch today, essentially saying, "if we win the next 6 matches, we won't get a priority pick, but if we lose the next 6 matches then we probably will." Um, so if they lose the next 6... is that not an admission of guilt to tanking?

Uninspiring stuff. Pies have gone in small so naturally we keep the lumbering Dawes in. Righto.

Clark retired and was never going to be on our list this year. It was Lumumba or nothing. I know what I prefer.

Would be very surprised if every Victorian club isn't going hard at all the Suns guns right now. Target their players while disenchantment reigns supreme at their club. We've put up with the same thing for years; only fair we return the favour.

I'm assuming Weitering and Schache are firming as the likely first two picks. So the only spanner in the works would appear to be whoever out of Brisbane/Gold Coast/Carlton finish third last. Can't see us winning any more games than Essendon for the remainder of this year, based on how they played against Port.

Young leaders should be top of the priority list at this year's draft. Brayshaw shouldn't be shouldered with that challenge alone in the years to come. And let's face it, he oozes leadership more than most of our senior players.

What a surprise Ed chose this match to do it.

What genius negotiated that?! He was depth at the end of last year, can't fathom what they were thinking.

I think he's had enough of the pitiful "senior" performances, hence the decision to play the youth who aren't affected by the past.

I have to say, I didn't like Roos' comment last night. Essentially, it went, "if Adam feels the booing is racism, then it has to be racism." That's a dangerous line of thinking. I agree some of the booing is undoubtedly racism. Some is people simply disliking the guy. Some is people not wanting to see an Indigenous Australian standing up for their rights so vocally. And some is people who simply dislike his cheap acts as a footballer and nothing more. After all, he's a great player and doesn't need to resort to the cheap off-the-ball nonsense. Nonetheless, just throwing a racism blanket over everyone won't fix a complex situation.

I have no doubt Roos is spending more time as a player psychologist than a coach at this club. Never forget how bad the basket case he inherited was. You have to feel for the guy. He would be asking himself the same questions we are. Why aren't the players giving consistent effort? Why do they go into their shells the moment it looks like another loss is on the cards? Why do they expect to lose against the best teams and not bother showing up? Why do they pick and choose what matches they'll show up for? It would be all the more baffling looking at the Saints and Bulldogs, both following up a year of turmoil and darkness with some amazing over-achievement.

So Roos providing a financially struggling club some guaranteed media exposure on the highest profile nightly AFL news show, while simultaneously media managing the poor PR of our club, is somehow a bad thing. Glad we've cleared that up.