Gator

Preliminary.

That's the last thing I'd do. Brayshaw lay 9 tackles in 3 quarters and made us a better team. There's no way I'd drop him. I'm not really into messages, but that would definitely send the wrong one. That one game and experience was worth 5 VFL games.

True, but just like the Dogs and Dons games in the preseason the coaches and players will learn much from this game. They'll learn what worked and they'll isolate where the Suns opened them up. It's the first game afterall. They were never going to dominate every minute.

It was a legitimate question. If you don't get to games you just miss so much. I've got home from games and watched replays over the years and often thought if I wasn't at the game Watts wouldn't have looked nearly as poor.

Nah, he worked so much harder, spread wide, ran smarter, turned his opponent around when doubling back to goal, etc. It was much much better. Were you there or just counting stats from the game ?

Watts finally has a role that perfectly suits him/team and you want to change it ? No thanks.

A bigger Aaron Hamill.

You're sweating the small stuff. Coaches least worry about the odd skill error if effort and decision making is good. Cross brings others into the game, always gives effort and makes good choices. It will be his last year and he won't play every game, but the club will be far better for having had him.

I'd cut him/her some slack. We all make predictions that bite us on the backside. I'm aware you're after a bit of humble pie, which is reasonable, but we all roll differently. They might still be celebrating.

I've doubted his output at the beginning of every year over the last 4 years and haven't been wrong. I have never doubted his talent. Games that some supporters laud I've been less than enthused about. I dare say some of the games that have impressed you have left me cold. That said, I've been quite bullish re 2015. My views would be no different to anyone within the club. It's supporters that set the bar too low with Jack, not his coaches or teammates. And not me.

You've quoted at least 3 of your own posts this morning and accuse me of drinking my own bathwater ? At least you have a sense of humour. Even his barely passable games have been played on his own terms. Picking and choosing when it suits him. Yesterday was a clear breakthrough for him, and, as I said, I've drawn a line under the previous 6 years and look forward to the rest of his career. I hope he can look back and say he got the most out of himself and worked out what it took to maximise his talents at the elite level.

There's no doubt a host of reasons have led to Watts' continual underperformance, however, it's time we cease the excuses. Many have been harsh critics, but let's draw a line under his first 6 years and judge him from 2015 onwards. We all need a fresh start sometimes.

The "doubters" will never be proven wrong. Watts has been an unqualified failure. Let's hope the penny has finally dropped and he continues that type of workrate and improved running patterns. Intensity is key for Watts. You can't not deliver on your undoubted talent for 6 years and then suddenly prove the "doubters" wrong. The doubters have been right. It's up to Watts to deliver for himself, his teammates and long-suffering fans.

That pack he split in the last quarter was probably the highlight of the day for me. To do it in your first game speaks volumes. His presence and confidence will only grow.

Dawes will come in. Dawes will/should make Hogan better. Obviously Toumpas will make way for Vince, but it has to be out of JKH or Kent for me for Dawes. I;d keep Kent. The versatile Frost won't be dropped after one game.

He's deemed not to be in the best back 6. With Jetta, Howe, Salem and relief from Lamumba it makes sense why he's on the periphery. Would you pick him as a bench player ? Ultimately, there's only one person Grimes can blame for being out of the side. I'm guessing you know who that is. He had a good game against the Dogs, but others were littered with his typical errors.

Firstly, I couldn't care if it was written by Mark Twain, as I hate match day articles, and secondly, you shouldn't be invested in my views.

Is it a match day article ? I hate match day articles.

They want to play Brayshaw because they know he's a talent and he's the future. They know Matt Jones and Bail are depth, They're rewarding Brayshaw's last 3 weeks and they also realise he'll gain more by playing in the AFL than VFL. They recognise his talent and want to get AFL games into him. If he wasn't ready he wouldn't be playing, but picking Brayshaw is multifaceted. It's not just based on his output tomorrow. I too can't believe some of the comments on Viney. He's made errors, but he looks set for a great year and will only get better. This from Nathan Jones when asked who he's looking forward to stepping up. "Jack Viney. I think he’s got the real potential to be one of those key drivers in the midfield. He had a terrific pre-season and he’s worked hard on his game and I’m really excited about what he’s got to offer. He’s got some great attributes as well and if he can consistently contribute for us, he’s going to be a great player." Viney was the first player he mentioned.

He'll get a run on the ball, but even if you were right, players likely to be confined to a forward type role are far more likely to be given a final spot on the interchange bench than a player, like Grimes, who is limited to a stopping/defensive role. Grimes is a hopeless midfielder and would be lost in the forward-line.

It's utterly pointless trying to make a comparison between Brayshaw and Grimes, as they were never competing for a position in the 22. Once Howe was selected it stamped Grimes' papers. There are some players who can be named on the bench, such as Viney, JKH, Cross, Newton, Brayshaw, etc. as they form part of a midfield rotation. Grimes isn't one of them. If he's not considered best back 6 he doesn't make the team.

I have zero doubt Howe's going to play. Roos has been stating for weeks that he had the run in his legs and with the right training loads he'd play him. He's a dead set certainty. Tyson is the most important player tomorrow. He's the most talented where games are won. It's his 4th year and he's had his first ever full preseason. He'll take heat off Jones and if he starts getting effective clearances it helps others gain metres on their opposition. Ablett will play reduced minutes in the midfield, O'Meara's not playing and Swallow, Prestia and Bennell are good, but they're a young group and not unbeatable. Can Tyson, Jones, Viney, Cross, Newton and Lamumba grind out some superiority around the congestion ? The speed of JKH, Kent and Garlett will be important and we desperately need quality delivery into the forward 50.

Hogan's biggest problem is that GC have two very good key defenders in May and Thompson. It won't be easy for him, especially without a foil, such as Dawes.

So perhaps it's not 'groupthink' that relegates Grimes, Bail, and Matt Jones to the lower level. If we are to ever raise standards these are the types of players that need to be no more than gap-fillers. Brayshaw is ready, and, more importantly, he'll make us better. Not tomorrow, but by midseason we'll start reaping the benefits of having genuine talent running around. I won't be shocked if we win tomorrow and think it will be a close game. At the 'G' and with the team that's named, I'm expecting a win. Many of the Suns players are underdone and they're without their 2 best key forwards. They're also still coming to grips with a new coach and game-plan. Facts are they're still a young team. They have the second youngest side in the competition behind GWS and the third least experienced. They have only 5 players with over 100 games on the list, although they all play tomorrow. As far as the teams lining up: Melbourne's average age ~ 23.73 and average games played ~ 71.41 (7 x 100+ game players) Gold Coast's average age ~ 23.14 and average games played ~ 69.91 (5 x 100+ game players) The numbers are remarkably similar. Next week with the likely inclusions of Vince and Dawes we'll only see this experience strengthened. Much depends on Ablett. If he wasn't playing I'd be very confident. Unlike Howe, he comes into the game not only without a preseason game behind him, but without collision contact at training. I'll be shocked if he has a blinder. If his influence is quelled I'll be surprised if we don't have a victory. The Suns have a very solid backline, but their forwardline smacks of ordinary.