hemingway

Sometimes, in fact more often than not, it would be advisable if clubs and players (perhaps everyone bar the coach) did not speak to the media. Who speaks to the media seems disjointed and random. And rarely does a player say anything of substance. It would be preferable if footy comments came from the coach or general manager (Mahoney). The players should concentrate on their footy and not feel that they have to fly the flag in the media.

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.

Look out Eddie will crack a joke at Freddy's expense. Perhaps not unless he is also a double amputee.

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

Sounds like deckchairs on The Titanic ! Sadly with the exception of our best 6, it is difficult to rank our players on form or their likely exclusion or inclusion.

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.

We have the memory of the excitement of those two finals match and the belief that we were seeing the future. An exciting team with a brave coach going places. We forgot the Perth game, thinking it was an aberration that would be erased. We had a coach that said as much by admitting that they had not talked about THAT game. The warmth of summer and the comfort zone of the track and the reports of good things are now behind us and we entered the Ides of March with the hope that we would see the continuing emergence of our once great footy club as a power in the land. That we had a coach and a bunch of players who would rewrite our history, who could take us on a magical journey to finals and flags. We took pride in reading media reports and walked into the G for the first match with a spring in our step and a wonderful feeling of excitement and anticipation. Unfortunately, we forgot that there were 17 other clubs all with the opportunity, talent and commitment to create their own history. After 2 matches and the vision of many more via TV, we see the talent of other clubs and the competitive nature of their game. Christ almighty, there are at least 10 to 12 clubs that have improved or are still competitive and are capable of beating us. We see midfields as good as ours, defensive and forward zones that are better than ours, outside runners that are quicker than ours, teams that have less injuries and are fitter than ours, teams that are taller than ours, and game plans that seem more effective than ours. Suddenly, the draw and finals footy looks like a mountain. Even playing Essendon with zero wins and media ridicule, we look shaky. Every game looks ominous. We no longer look like we will dominate and all we have seen to-date are two teams that dominated us. We look second rate and at times simply embarrassing. At the start of the season we thought we had a good chance to be 2-0 or at least 1-1. We thought our strength of character and team spirit would be on display at Geelong. Well we did have more inside 50s than the Cats, but we were still beaten by a whopping 80 points. I am sorry but I cannot see any positives from the Geelong match. We roll our eyes with the comments of captain and coach. We have heard the words all before. How can a team that loses by 80 points turn it around in 6 days, with injuries and players underdone. We have the realization that individuals are not the answer. Petracca, May, KK, Preuss etc. Even Maxy for all his super powers can be nullified. The thought of losing to the Bombers is unthinkable but a real prospect. I don't know what the answer is. There is no doubt that our preseason injuries and fitness levels have affected us. Many players are underdone. But the competitive nature of the competition means that we need to rediscover our mojo very quickly. If we go 0-5 down, it will almost be season over. Players confidence will be rock bottom. However, sudden turnarounds are possible. But the players will need to believe in themselves, believe in the team, believe in the coach and believe in the game plan. And believe that we can and will win.

I do love you Uncle in a platonic way of course. I think that lurking behind that coarse exterior and fantasy world of depravity, there is a sensitive, intelligent older man who really does like gardening and fine wine. In my case, I have not accepted the new world of diverse sexuality or LGBTI. I still like to think a man is a man and a woman a woman, and behave accordingly. So I love you as a man loves a man in the old world way. Perhaps its called mateship without the bonding.

Pessimistic tonight. Our top players are underdone compared to the Cats. And, the Holy Trinity along with Hawkins, Taylor and Co will want revenge after the semi. And in front of a baying crowd of fans. A couple of new faces for the Dees also underdone. My optimism is that despite tonight we will get a lot better as the season progresses, we just need to win some games to keep us in touch. Anyone going tonight at that windswept hole of a ground surrounded by one of the worst group of supporters needs a Bravery Award or other compensation.

Sometimes you surprise me Dr Jekyll.

Adam, I usually agree with you. And believe me I want to agree with you on this but it is very difficult. Petracca is a lazy footballer. In the old days, he would have been called a prima donna. I have never watched him on the training track but to be successful you have to have the right attributes on and off the track. He does not work hard enough for longer enough and that's why I regard him as lazy. He has to play forward because unless you can run all day, you can't play in the midfield. He has not the speed or the endurance to play anywhere but on a flank or pocket and even then he does not have the speed or endurance to be a constant threat.

Games like this want to make you cry for what the game has become. As for the umps. They never improve but it has become worse now that they are miked up and they actually think they are important. They are a pitiful breed.

The other difference is that De Goey is a match winner and Petracca is not.

Petracca is looming as the biggest disappointment at the Club over recent years. Like many, when I first saw him in a Melbourne jumper, I was excited and wrapped that we snatched him away from the Saints. For a kid that promised so much, apart from a few cameo moments, his inability to develop into the player he could be is a huge disappointment. Lets face it, at many other clubs he would be strolling around a local ground smelling the grass. Many of us have been hoping each week to see a change, to see a break-out game. However this season he turns up overweight, unfit with little sparkle. I am sure he will pop up for a brief highlight or two, but his lack of development as a top line player now has a permanent look about it. He has the potential to be a match winner but it just has not materialised or even got close. Perhaps his off-season surgery can explain his condition and poor form in the opening match, but unless his form tuns around quickly, Casey beckons. Rather than an excitement machine, he has become a disappointment machine. Once there may have been a favourable comparison with De Goey but not now.

great summary

At times we get seduced by the glamour of AFL footy, but these incidents highlight the ever present risk of season ending injury, and, perhaps in Lyndon's case, career ending injuries. There is always the risk like the devil lurking in the shadows, of fate intervening to take you down a path that no one wants to take. Lyndon's career has been one of persistence and determination. It's good that he finished his playing career (if indeed he has) playing good footy in a good team. His development and growth as a person should hold him in good stead for an opportunity in the non-playing footy world.

Another example of the winning side dominating uncontested possessions.

The wish of the AFL and broadcasters to have Hird involved in the game is obvious to all. Yes, I know forgiveness is an important aspect of our lives and part of the moral underpinning of society, however it's a bit rich when you welcome back someone that has been involved in activity that has deliberately broken the governing rules of sport and its moral code. "Cheating" is as bad as it gets. However, if Wayne Carey can return to the game as a respected commentator after his activities, anything is possible. I suppose, it just highlights that commercial interests are paramount. Sadly, it is also proof that the ethical and moral standards of footy and all sports have declined.

At the same time, BB he remains in our best 22 and will do so for the season. However, the question becomes what about 2020 ?

Agree with your comments Chook. At the same time, we had a whole team of players making mistakes throughout the game. Many players making more mistakes than Jones. The focus on Jones is a bit unfair, but was highlighted as a mistake due to the late stage in the match and the consequences of the turnaround. If Sparrow had kicked the goal then it would have been different. The fact is the team was playing poorly and trying to scrabble its way back into a game that could have been well outside its reach if Port had kicked more accurately. In the second half, Port was the superior side, looked like the likely winner, and the Dees were playing catch up. Jones's decision making and disposal has always been poor, or at best, fair to middling. Never endowed with pace, I think he has got slower and he is being caught more easily. He reminds me a bit of Ablett, however, Ablett's reading of the play and his skills are a cut above those of Nate.

get out of town quickly.