WERRIDEE

I had to laugh when they mentioned Hawthorn. Don't they have a salary cap? We won't get a gun player, that's a fact we aren't good enough. We might have a chance of getting Selwood if we over pay him enough.

IN : WATTS,VINEY,FITZPATRICK OUT: MCKENZIE, PEDERSEN, HOGAN I can't see Brayshaw getting a game, Stretch would be ahead of him for a start. It will be interesting to see if they persist with Pedersen after his shocker last week. Roos usually doesn't make changes for the sake of making changes especially after a good performance so the handful of maligned players will get another chance to redeem themselves. Hogan will definitely be rested we can't afford to take even the slightest risk with him and then bring him back for the Dons game.

If it was on the Gold Coast yes but it's at our home ground. We only lost to them by 8 points last year although it should have been by about 3 or 4 goals if they kicked straight. Lynch kicked 2 goals 2 and took 6 marks so he caused us problems. The players that they didn't have in that game that will probably play are Bennell, Malceski and Hallahan, while we will have Lumumba, Hogan, Garlett, Newton and Frost. We definitely will be the underdog but it will be a lot closer than people think. Our team should be a lot stronger than the side that ran out against the Saints last year.

Will Fitzy and Watts be available for the dogs game?

I think the second ruck must do something up forward. Gawn has rarely ever done anything up forward and Pedo has done nothing for half a year now. They are very thin in this area I think they have to look outside square for alternatives maybe use Howe in the ruck his leap would make the equivalent height of a ruckman or use Watts, Frost or Dawes. We should be playing our best 22 not bringing in out of form players just because we have no one to help out Jamar in the ruck for 10 to 20 minutes a game.

Knowing our luck it will only be 1 week and he will miss a NAB challenge match come back against us and kick 5 and be the match winner.

Does anybody know what's wrong with Fitzy? I thought he would be there. Good to see Watts there hopefully that means he's available to play in the game against the dogs and Neal-Bullen might be closer to full fitness than I thought he would be at this time.

Surely he will get suspended he hit the bloke in the head. How many weeks will he get? I thought that Gold Coast would be about a 3 goal better team than us but now that Lynch should be out I think it is an even money game. I'm really looking forward to the game.

Does he really? He got dropped for 2 games near the end of the year while Garland and Grimes never got dropped.

I don't think he's a lock he would want to do more than he did against Freo. I think his selection will depend on what Roos values more skill (Salem, Toumpas)or experience (Grimes, Garland). I'm surprised no one has commented on Pedersen who most people have replacing Dawes. 5 disposals 40%DE and dropped a sitter, we have to use someone better than that. I'm also surprised that no one has commented on Michie while he didn't set the world on fire I thought he was pretty good, statistically he was rated our 4th best player. I would have him ahead of the likes of M.Jones, Bail an McKenzie every day of the week.

I know he copped a knock to the head and I already posted why I thought he needed to lift his endurance but as someone already said his poor chase could just be put down due to the heat and he doesn't have a problem.

I think Watts's biggest weakness is his marking, people go on about Dawes but I think he is worse. He will always look laconic and weak that is just his make up. Brad Johnson who watches a fair bit of under 18's football said he used to clunk all his marks at that level. He said he has been working on his marking this pre season, so if he can get back to clunking marks again that should give him enough confidence to kick at least an extra 10 to 15 goals a season which will make him more than a handy player and should keep the doubters off his back. Toumpas just needs a little love as he is a confidence player. He just needs a bit of continuity in his game to turn his fortunes around. Under Bailey or Neeld I would say he was no chance to turn it around but under Roos who is one of the finest and most respected teachers going around (although I seriously doubt that Toumpas will be anywhere near as talented as Macrae, Stringer and Wines)Roos can turn him into a fine player.

Viney, Watts and Salem

Very harsh on Cross, he a very good consistent footballer.

He chased a player pretty poorly which I think resulted in a goal. The commentators commented on it, he looked stuffed.

I have to say that I was happy with the performance, I can't remember the last time we haven't been belted by Freo so that's a positive. THE GOOD TYSON - The only one to have a consistent 4 quarter performance, he made a few mistakes but so did everybody. We finally have a player that will end N.Jones Bluey dominance. N.JONES - Terrific first half then he faded. NEWTON - Great first half until he got subbed out, will need to improve his fitness though. FROST - He gave us great run when he switched to defence. LUMUMBA - He will make Collingwood pay for letting him go. THE BAD PEDERSEN - He had a spot for the taking with Dawes being suspended for RND 1 and he was pathetic, the only thing he did was drop a sitter that cost us a goal. I would be giving Fitzy every chance to replace him. GAWN - I don't think he will ever improve, he can't take a mark and he can't kick, he is no good as a forward so he really can't play second ruck and Jamar is a better ruckman so he is at the crossroads. M.JONES - While his ball use wasn't that bad his tackling was dreadful just as I thought he is nowhere near our best 22. GRIMES - A game he would like to forget, another player at the crossroads. DUNN - Was really quiet I hope he doesn't fall back into old bad habits. Next week's 26 B: JETTA, FROST, DUNN HB: LUMUMBA, T.MCDONALD, SALEM C: CROSS, N.JONES, NEWTON HF: KENT, HOGAN, VANDENBERG F: FITZPATRICK, DAWES, GARLETT FOLL: SPENCER, TYSON, VINEY IC: WATTS, MICHIE, TOUMPAS, BAIL, MCKENZIE, GARLAND SUB: STRETCH, BRAYSHAW RND 1 22 B: JETTA, FROST, DUNN HB: LUMUMBA, T.MCDONALD, SALEM C: CROSS, N.JONES, NEWTON HF: KENT, HOGAN, VANDENBERG F: WATTS, HOWE, GARLETT FOLL: JAMAR, TYSON, VINEY IC: VINCE, TOUMPAS, MICHIE SUB: BAIL

Did you get any insight on who will be the other emergency? I think it will vandenBerg he hasn't had a full pre season like the rest have had. I think McKenzie will play and Spencer will be a sub and replace Jamar near the end of the game. Your thoughts?

I wouldn't write off Cross. If he has another year like last year there is no reason for him not to go on, he's a proven player and should be backed in. The rest have to do something or they will more than likely be out the door. Pedersen, Bail and M.Jones are all out of contract aren't they? They should be playing for their careers every year and if they are spending more time at Casey they could be given the flick\traded. How long can Grimes, Watts and Garland continue to tread water before they are traded? In Garland's case he could just walk out. I think it could be another big clean out at the end of the year.

2 different views on Newton, I don't know which one to believe. I just hope he can step up because I still think our midfield depth is paper thin, Vince having virtually no pre season will hurt us.

How did Newton go?

B: JETTA, FROST, DUNN HB: GRIMES, T.MCDONALD, SALEM C: CROSS, N.JONES, LUMUMBA HF: KENT, DAWES, BAIL F: GAWN, HOGAN, GARLETT FOLL: JAMAR,TYSON, VINEY IC: M.JONES, TOUMPAS, KENNEDY-HARRIS, PEDERSEN, NEWTON, GARLAND SUB: MICHIE, MCKENZIE

I find it ironic that we overlooked a kid because he done an ACL and the player we picked up does his knee a couple of months later. I just hope he can have a good talk to someone like Gray and take in his advice like Hogan did with Hawkins and not take advice from a Melbourne player because they can never get over injuries.

Terrible news for Petracca, the curse continues 1 day after the 50th anniversary from when the curse first began. How is Harmes going? Will Petracca's setback be his opportunity to crack it into the team assuming that vandenBerg takes Trengove's spot? Is it safe to say that Frost won't play against Freo? What is Garland's injury and how long will he be out for? It looks like we may be a bit short down back if Frost and Garland are out will they push Pedersen back or will they give O.Mc a taste?

I think they should pick the first NAB challenge game based on training form so Howe has already been ruled out and I wouldn't play Vince, Watts and Garland who have been in rehab for a while even if they were fit enough in time, I would hold them back for another week. B: JETTA, FROST, DUNN HB: GRIMES, T.MCDONALD, LUMUMBA C: CROSS, N.JONES, NEWTON HF: KENT, DAWES, BAIL F: GAWN, HOGAN, GARLETT FOLL: JAMAR, TYSON, VINEY IC: PEDERSEN, M.JONES, SALEM, TOUMPAS, KENNEDY-HARRIS, MICHIE SUB: BRAYSHAW, PETRACCA

How did JKH and Bail go? I think both will be fighting for the same defensive half forward spot. Did it look that way or will they have different roles? On suspect users of the ball how did Grimes and Lumumba go? Did Toumpas's technique cause turnovers or is it just something he should clean up? Did he spend some time down back or was it just in the midfield again?