Gator

I'm glad a few people have mentioned Garland. He often gets left alone on here and I know he's rated by the club, coaches, etc., but I find him utterly hopeless. He's either giving away frees with contemptibly stupid decisions, or turning it over with skill errors. I shudder whenever he goes near it.

You're placing way too much relevance on one ordinary stat. He's just a player. And one not worth arguing about, so I'll leave you to it.

Well articulated. It's hard to argue with much of that, although I believe we're not as far away as yesterday's efforts and recent results show.

I hardly think 6 goal assists in 9 games with an average of .07 (equal 71st in the league) constitutes a goal assist expert. Viv's OK, but nothing more than that.

8+

I agree. Wouldn't keep.

We constantly hunt the man and not the ball. Vince hunts a player, Viney hunts a player. We seem so reactionary to the opposition, especially around the stoppages. I'd just love to see us go head to head with the bottom of the table team and if we're getting beaten then apply measures to limit their output. FFS, why not start on a level playing field and back ourselves.

I think that's unfair, but I despair that we constantly hunt the man and not the ball. Vince hunts a player, Viney hunts a player. We seem so reactionary to the opposition, especially around the stoppages. I'd just love to see us go head to head with the bottom of the table team and if we're getting beaten then apply measures to limit their output. FFS, why not start on a level playing field and back ourselves. This team is devoid of courage, flair and any ability to move the footy. Two years in and that's your responsibility Paul.

Show me where I say otherwise. But be careful to use "quotes". Truth is, Stu, you're slow on the uptake and always assuming you know what someone is thinking. It doesn't serve you well, but alas, I suspect it's terminal.

It's not meaningless to me, but I accept it's meaningless to some players some of the time. Surely you're not this slow, Stu ?

Who has said it's "meaningless" ?

You wanted me to write "War and Peace" instead of sharing a quick observation ? I'll leave that up to you.

You can care about what you want, Stu. It matters little to me ... and I suspect others. You can also please yourself how you disseminate this information, although, you'll note its veracity as it's shared by the captain of an opposition club.

It wasn't the year before, it was 2010 - 2 years before. I also remember round 2, 2011 when we played an exciting first half against Hawthorn and led by about 3 goals going into the main break. Alas, we were all attack and no defence and couldn't match it in the second half. Bailey coached sides could look like millionaires against rabble or out of form interstate teams, but lacked the defensive element that stands up in finals.

“It’s a disappointing day and I’ve sort of never played in a game like that where it is my first time ever that didn’t sort of mean anything,” Pendlebury told 3AW radio. I wonder how often that attitude has affected the mindset of some of our senior players, either consciously or subliminally.

I like Viv and wanted it to work, but he's clearly got no elite traits at AFL level. He's OK, but we need better than OK. Keep turning the bloody list over and stop hanging on to fringe journeyman like we have for years. If we jettison one too early I can live with that. I'd rather a 'Viv' embarrass us than continually keeping ordinary players.

Lost by 3 points in the preliminary final last year to the same team. Apples and oranges. But it's also not "every" game. Young sides can come out when they're up and have great results in the last few rounds. Conversely, the opposite can occur.

I have a few players I'm looking forward to seeing and Viv doesn't make the top 20.

Collingwood lose by 91 and the Giants lose by 89. It happens to young(ish) teams when there's nothing to play for. I genuinely believe our talent is greater than some believe and I look forward to a 10 (+) win season in 2016.

Where he ranks him tells me more than the words he uses to describe him and he has him outside his top 10.

After his third year it looked like Redden was going to become one of the competition's elite midfielders. He was among exalted company in the top 10 rankings for the year coming in at no. 7 alongside the likes of Ablett, Swan, Pendlebury, Rockliff, Thompson, Mitchell and Selwood. I'm not completely sure what happened, but he's trailed off in most years since, although his 2012 was still good. I wouldn't be averse to having him, as one wouldn't knock back any player that makes us better, however, I don't see him as overly important. I've got a bit of a novel idea, why don't we develop from within ? Notwithstanding his disappointing year I do believe Tyson will become a very good player and along with Viney, vanDemon, Salem, Petracca, Trengove, Brayshaw, Stretch, Kent, Harmes and ANB we have a reasonable squad/rotation to develop. I'd love a ready made gun to join the group, but I'm not sure Redden has the skill set to differentiate from what we've got.

The guy played 150 games for the Dees, often in times of unprecedented turmoil, so I'll give him the respect he deserves.

Perfect.

One of our better draft picks. I'm thankful for small mercies.

I see Matthew Watson has been included in Carlton's squad. If he plays he'll be praying he doesn't line up on Hogan, who towelled him up as an 18 year old playing for Casey on his way to 6 against the Bullants.