SaberFang

In a two win side. Also pushed down all of those lists substantially now that we've finally made some intelligent off season recruiting of genuine A-grade midfielders. I don't doubt the guy has some talent as a footballer, but we've recruited to replace the worst midfield in the AFL with people who know what they're doing. Finishing 4th in the B&F for a two win team is only an indication of how accepting of mediocrity we've been for too long. Even two practice matches in, our recruits are showing up last year's players and making it painfully obvious how badly we've been coached for years.

A mistake is one thing. Didn't he kick it directly to a Geelong player in their 50 not once, but twice? Both times converted to a goal? Correct me if I'm wrong. Every player makes mistakes. Dropped handballs, lousy tackles, undisciplined high contact, etc, fine, it happens even to the best teams in the league. But that sort of nonsense? Completely unacceptable at AFL level and a sad reflection of the mediocrity we've come to defend as supporters.

Not sure I agree with Roos on his insistence on keeping youth out of the side. Sure, ease them into it, but if they're in the best 22 it seems counterproductive to outright exclude them simply based on age. I kept thinking last night how different that match could've been with a fast, small forward opening options to get us the ball inside 50. Something we visibly lacked and JKH would be a key missing ingredient there. The more game experience our young players get, the faster they will develop. Sure, don't throw them to the wolves, but if we have a predominantly experienced squad there to help them out, what's the worst that can happen?

Still no word on how serious his knee/ankle (?) injury is? Has he been added to our injured players list?

I reckon Matt Jones will be given one more chance next week against the Hawks to prove himself (in a game where the outcome is meaningless). If he fails he won't be putting on the red and blue again this year, short of injuries in the midfield (and even then I'd say Kent or Salem are more likely to get a chance). Just too many inexcusable turnovers converted to goals for Geelong. With our midfield problem sorted for now, he's only going to be the broken link in the Roos' gameplan chain; precise, calm kicking to hold possession. He's neither.

Tell me we signed Dom for 4 years minimum. I know Cross is a year to year proposition, and Vince was 3 years with an option for a 4th, but surely Roos knew to lock up Tyson for years to come. He's going to be a star.

Howe is a massively important player. That whole match would've been a blowout if he wasn't there. Runs like hell and always finds himself in the right places at the right time.

Also, the fact that 3 recruits were our 3 highest possession counts, is an indictment on our list management and how accepting of mediocrity we've been for far too long. It also shows that Roos knows exactly what he's doing with our list and knows exactly who to recruit to fix our shortcomings. Don't forget there's still Aiden Riley to come mid-season! So exciting times ahead I reckon. Michie was brilliant tonight too.

I hope with the player rotation Roosy is doing outside the midfield, is basically to start weeding out who the spuds are and who the best players are. See who is adapting to his gameplan and who is giving the ball away. Can't do it in the H&A season so may as well do it now. Very safe to say M Jones is NOT best 22, but I felt Nicholson did okay today. He went hard at the ball and fumbled a bit, but at least nothing he did was costly on the scoreboard. Can't say the same for a few others. Factoring in Jamar, Gawn, Garland, Viney, Kent, Clark, Dawes, Frawley, JKH and a few others weren't even playing tonight, it's not hard to see how Roos will slowly mould our best 22. Evans will probably be in there, maybe Pederson?? Might even find a worthwhile player in Tapscott. Nobody could be worst than BYRNES.

Would've been much happier seeing Strauss out there tonight than some of the duds we played. I hope this kid will work out because he shows a lot of promise, and he's really well liked around the club (and he's a good bloke). All qualities Roos will want to foster.

Matt Jones and Byrnes need to just sit out a season and learn how the hell to handle a football before coming near a playing squad again. These brain dead turnovers are embarrassing and inexcusable. There were free players all over the center of the field and he kicked it backwards directly to Bartel. I mean, [censored]!

Toumpas. That name will haunt me. These turnovers are simply inexcusable. He's gifting Geelong free goals.

FFS Toumpas. FFS!

Geelong playing cricket in the pool pregame. Interesting reflection on their state of mind going into this match.

7:10pm Melb/Syd/Tas time 6:40pm Adelaide time 6:10pm Brisbane/QLD time 4:10pm Perth/WA time

Obvious troll is obvious.

The difference of winning or losing round one could be the positive impact the playing list needs to instill confidence and thus prevent those hundred point floggings. I'll take any win we can get.

Would rather it this way. What's the point of winning against a half-strength powerhouse and gaining false confidence? That we might claim victory, or at least be highly competitive, against a full-strength Geelong would be an even greater confidence boost to our list (especially with a chunk of our best players missing). No one's kidding themselves though. If Geelong are there to win, they won't be rolling over.

Poor kid can't catch a break if true. Definitely not what he needed after his rusty performance last week.He's out of contract this year correct?

Would be pretty devastating for Col if he can't break into their best 22. Imagine if he misses finals.

You can't put it all on the players for not "trying" if they have brain dead coaches teaching them to play a horrible game plan designed to make them lose matches. You can only give so much to the team, but if you're being coached to play wrong, the results can only be bad for everyone involved.

I wondered the same thing. 1 year contract, throw everything at him to get him to stay onboard a bit longer and see the progress we make. Would still have every club knocking on his door in case it doesn't work out for us, just a year later.

You'd be filthy if you were one of the Swans players who resigned on crappy $300k 3-4 year contracts last year, right before the Buddy trade was announced.

You have to be in the top 10 paid players on the senior list to be a restricted free agent. He's an unrestricted free agent, meaning he's outside the top 10 paid. This means we can't match any rival club contract offers and force him into a trade.

But boy will he be edging closer to it by holding off talks. He must be pretty lowly paid if he's an unrestricted free agent. Not good news at all if this does go pear-shaped.