Gator

It's obvious he'll be given every chance to succeed at his new club. And one would think that will start in the backline. But it's a fluid process.

A few players butcher the ball by foot but none more-so than Harmes and Matt Jones. Be gone.

That's a bit misleading. One was Schwarz, who has never rated Naitanui and the other was Andy Maher, who has said it a couple of times this year. I don't consider their comments representative of the broader "SEN" community".

He's a very smart footballer who I think can become a successful AFL player. Like others, I reckon he'll benefit from a full preseason.

True, but circumstances change. Ask Jeremy Howe.

What an inane comment. By that logic Flower was a dud and Gold Coast's Tom Lynch wouldn't improve us. Judge a player on their merits. Hibberd is a very good player. Melksham less so.

Agreed. His mistakes are due to being a sub 30 game player and having less time to execute under pressure. Once he's reached 50-60 games he's going to be a sensational young player.

If we were having a beer we'd probably be closer on politics than we are here on the argy bargy of a forum.

Jeez Hogan gets marked hard. After 36 games he'd kicked 83 goals and after 36 games Lynch had kicked 33. Just a lazy 50 difference. Lynch is a gun, but he too took time. Hogan is finding life tougher, but he has a heap of upside.

Geelong should have lost to Essendon earlier in the year. They were pitiful and just got over the line. They'll probably make top 4. There are some games you just move on from. This is one of them.

I'm conflicted. It was horrible. But I suspect just about every successful team has had those types of matches to varying degrees over the journey. It's probably not worth a forensic diagnosis. We found a way to win and anyone who has watched us this year knows that we can and have played a lot better. Oliver, Salem, Weideman, etc will make us better. Bag the points and move on.

It is s risk. It's a pity, because O'Meara is probably the best young midfielder I've ever seen.

Good post and I completely agree. Those defining our season on the value of a single game aren't the most lucid thinkers.

I take zero notice of Casey's listed best. They're utterly irrelevant from the games I've attended.

Grimes isn't good enough, but where has this myth that he "lacks a yard" come from ? His pace is fine.

The MFC brains trust understands the difference between AFL level footy and VFL footy. They'll remember his last AFL game, which exposed his deficiencies. He could have 50 disposals in the VFL and it wouldn't excite me. Grimes is finished at AFL level. Oliver is a different kettle of fish. His attributes are fantastic at any level. Ben Kennedy is an exceptional VFL player and can contribute at AFL level, but I doubt he'll ever be more than a fringe player in a good team.

Happy with the one change. vandenBerg hasn't had a great second year, which has been effected by a preseason ankle injury, but he's a better player than Neal-Bullen, who I don't rate. Neal-Bullen may come on, but he's presently not AFL standard. I understand the philosophy of getting games into players, but right now I'd rather pick our best team.

One of the most extraordinary rulings I've ever heard. Probably the most extraordinary decision. You deliberately bite a finger and get reprimanded ? Incredible.

I was going to post the same before reading your post. Putting is golf's version of goal-kicking and it can be improved. A poor putter will never become the best putter in the world, but through repetition with the right technique it can be improved significantly. And it's improved on putting greens, which is then transferred to the course. Goal-kicking can most definitely be improved through the right training procedures.

Some exceptionally odd rankings. Oliver behind Garland ? Absurd. But, as you say, it's subjective and I've always liked lists.

Gold Coast's Tom Lynch is the best contested mark in the game and he's presently averaging 2.8 per game. He's leading the competition. No way on God's earth did Michie take 10. Even at VFL level. It's a mistake.

I haven't seen enough of Weideman to know if he'll make a quality key forward, or not, but I do know that he needs 8-10 kgs before anyone can accurately predict. As for Prendergast ? Please. An utter disaster. The fact that he got a few selections right means nothing. So could I and many of you. When you're employed full time and travel the country watching kids play year after year after year it's not hard to get a few right. Maybe I should bow down in gratitude that he didn't stuff up every single one.

Anyone who wants Brayshaw out needs their head read. His skills are great, but under pressure in slippery conditions a 26 game player will make mistakes. Like Clint, I don't know who goes out, but I want Oliver in my team (and never again out of it).

Abusive to whom ?