hemingway

Sadly, I suspect that dropping any of the aforementioned players is not going to benefit anyone. It is what it is or they are what they are. Perhaps KK needs more games under his belt so perhaps he could do that at Casey. Unfortunately we have no one from Casey that is going to set the world on fire, and they are more likely than not to struggle. We have to wait and be patient. For what, for how long, who knows. This is looking like a long-term job just like the shock you get when that little reno on the house turns out to be a major rebuild because you discover the foundations, floors and walls have termites. .

Lyon has zero credibility. He’s trying hard to get it back but he has a long road ahead.

Disagree, there's only one Max against two or more opponents. Don't think there will be only two ruckmen targeting Max. Max's game is based on his reach and his run. He is not a ruckman that plays a tough physical game, one where he uses his body or strength to crash into his opponent. He plays an attacking game not one where he is trying to negate his opponent. He did play against two ruckman last year but he also got very tired during the season. This year the opposition is much more Max focused and intent on giving him a battering. But there you are, we will see what happens tonight. Hopefully he dominates and has the support of his team mates.

The Bombers have made it clear that they intend to tag team against Max. And it is likely that every side will do the same. No Gawn no Melbourne approach. And Max is going to get very tired or injured from the physicality of his opponents. So Preuss's non selection is surprising. Obviously concerned about slowing us down (and Preuss has not shown great form in his few outings) but this lack of leg speed is almost offset by nullifying Max in ruck duels and around the ground marking. As well as having a big bloke who can act as a shock absorber for Max.

Lack of forward and defensive pressure. If any of our current defenders were playing in Norm Smith's days, they would never get another game. You quite rightly say that chaos needs unpredictability. Perhaps the problem is that very unpredictability means that it is also unpredictable to Melbourne. Defenders not knowing where to kick and not kicking to targets and forwards not knowing where to run. Our ability to get the ball moving quickly is also far too slow and easy for the enemy to cover our poor old forwards. Our forwards have the worst job in the world (at the moment).

Well said dworship, but my experience suggests that it is best not to overrate yourself.

i see you take this conversation seriously, and good for you. And your back handed compliments show promise. My comments were not personal and not directed to you, I was using your comment in a vicarious way. I don't intend to pontificate, I have no reason to do so, and only sages can pontificate. For the rest of us, it is merely an opinion based on what we see and perhaps what we read or are told. Nothing else. My view is just that a view, and I hope it is wrong. I see a great talent, but one that is likely to be wasted unless something changes this season. He is not fit, but perhaps that is his best. If it is, he is below the standard that is required to play AFL at the top level. He may well continue to be a valuable player, who does the mercurial from time to time, and plays in bursts. He may be a match winner, but is he playing to his potential and will he ever do so? However, what we are seeing today are footballer robots that can run and run and run. And there are hundreds of players that will commit themselves heart and soul to the contest every time, over 120 minutes. CP is not on his Pat Malone,. He is in the majority camp, that is what is disappointing. Believe it or not, I love what he promises to be and love what he can do. But he does not do it often enough to inspire confidence or the feeling that we are watching a future champion.

Please! I have seen him play in 3 games including Shepparton and I have seen enough. He suffers badly compared to others on the field in regard to bulk and ability to run. Both speed and endurance. Just watch him trying to chase an opponent, a few strides and then his opponent has metres on him and delivering it to a teammate. You have to want it badly and like someone else at another club he does not want it badly. Probably a lovely guy with a great personality but to be successful you need a single minded ambition and an attitude that ensures that nothing will get in your way. He’s not alone, most of us are like Christian. In every field at any age, there are kids, men and women with great potential but few realise that potential. Most often we say “he had great talent” but only occasionally do we say “what a great champion”. Christian is playing AFL so he has immense talent. But I think in watching him play we are seeing the present and the future.

Not fat but just can’t run! Slow, can’t chase, and has no endurance. That’s what matters. Don’t care if he is fat or heavy, the guy’s fitness is not AFL standard.

A half head win for optimism, a close second for pessimism.

So that means you will be going to the game?

Can you tell me what those experiments are ? I would be reassured if I saw some evidence of his experiments but I cannot see them.

When I reread your comments this morning, there is nothing that I disagree with. I thought your tone was a bit over the top but again this morning it seems appropriate.

And you did not get a Nobel Prize for grace or courtesy. But you did get one for professional snobbery. I hope you feel better.

Foot injuries can be easily diagnosed but difficult to know how long to rest. The injury can appear healed and then suddenly recur without warning. Those who have had plantar know that you can think your right only to realise that the pain or discomfort can sometimes be only a step away. A little like achilles injuries. Rest and rehab are key components to recovery, but for a professional footballer or any sportsperson, rest is the saviour but also the enemy. The longer the rest the more chance of recovery but try telling that to anyone who has a burning desire to be back on the ground. It would take a brave coach or club doctor to say to a player that they will not be allowed to train or play for 12 months or more. Impossible. For most recreational sportsmen and women, surgery is the last resort whereas for professional footballers it is normal and expected. If you don't do it, Clubs will be criticised. Everyone will ask "why was something not done sooner" when for most of us, it is the last resort. One thing's for sure. You should try and rehab the injury to avoid surgery, because if you embark on surgery, you still need to rehab afterwards. Once you start limping, you know there is a problem that can't be remedied by pain killers.

When the ball was kicked into our forward line or defence we rarely had players in front or behind the pack. Time and again Port swept the ball away when we had our guys flying for the aerial contest but noone at ground level. Very frustrating to see this occur repeatedly.

Its strange, as blind freddy could see that he was limping and not fit. There has always been a footy club culture that allows a player to play injured. However, why risk a player that is so important to the club in the first match of a very long season ? There are 3 possible scenarios: -Viney and/or the coaches are prepared to override medical advice or -The medical advice is equivocal, leaving the player and coach to make the call or -The medical advice is that Viney has a chronic injury that will not repair without long term rest of a year or more a la Clark and Trengove. An even worse scenario is a diagnosis that says that the injury will never fully repair, and that Viney will need to retire, or try and play on for as long as possible with the pain. However, on the evidence of Saturday, it would appear that Viney is going to have an interrupted season of football. And as we also saw on Saturday, he will have limited effectiveness due to lack of game time, poor fitness and inability to compete.

Cowboys inhabited the wild west. What do you think? Or Ethan or McQueen?

Well clearly that's when Jesse's problems all started.

As compared to the distinction that comes with having in one's possession "objects"" marked ""Property of the Manor"

When the term clinical anxiety appeared it reminded me of the overuse of the term clinical depression. The latter term has been thrown around a lot when referring to footballers and other professional sports stars. I suspect the term used without understanding what the term actually means, which is major depression or a major depressive disorder, and, amongst other things, is not related to loss or illness (death of a loved one or cancer etc). There are lots of us with depression, it does not mean it is clinical depression.

Reputations can be accurate but often they are exaggerated, and, sometimes blown out of all proportion, however, in most cases, they represent some level of truth. I suspect this applies in the Watts and Hogan cases.

The annual cavalcade of European 4WD heading up the Hume to Nagambie.. They don't appreciate sharing the road with trucks and tradie vehicles. Rushing up with their picnic hampers to claim their favourite spot on the lake with Charles, Roger, Prude and Jude.making sure they have their umbrellas and macintoshes for the thunderstorm. The chicken or smoked salmon baguettes will go down well, suitably washed down with a bottle of Verve and perhaps a well aged Chateau Neuf de Pape for the boys, with the girls sharing a nice chilled Meursault or even a frisky little riesling from Alsace. Coffee and a touch of brandy to finish, hoping that those nasty scholarship boys from Xavier or Caulfield Grammar don't snatch the cup out of the hands of the rightful owners, Grammar, Scotch or Corio Grammar. Whoever wins, it will be wonderful catching up and networking with other merchant bankers, doctors, legal eagles and other upwardly mobile professionals. And there will be Biffen trying to chat up one of the lonely divorcees looking for her 2nd or 3rd goldmine.

Agreed Lucifer. The environment of Perth may well be a disadvantage for Jesse. We know of Perth's history with troubled footballers. And often people are better off away from their home environment. Staying home or going home is not always the best option. Also Freo doesn't strike me as an ideal home. The Eagles may have been a better fit, but, there again, he may have been better staying at Melbourne away from the pressures of home.

Which ones ?