deespicable me

At the expense of culture, loyalty and a soul. It's not always about throwing things away when they don't quite work, sometimes you have to dig in and make the sum of what you have got work.

When Gawn came back from injury his contested marking appeared way down on early season and more-so last years form. Because of the injury it is hard to assess but maybe teams have worked out how to play him. He has a glaring weakness that he is not quick around the ground. Grundy destroyed him in the last game. I think he finished the season (on available form) as a mid tier (using the tier system) ruck. I'm also open to a trade at top value, but if he stays (and I'm also happy with this outcome) he will need to work extremely hard over summer to improve his aerobic fitness if he is to improve on 2017. Will he? I think so as he seems to understand he is only famous because he is a good footballer, but the high life is certainly a distraction for him as it probably was with Watts last off-season.

That glass is chipped, cracked and leaking.

The penny has finally dropped. I didn't get what you were all going on about. I might have meant Maynard, but I think you already know that. We did have a Magner on our list a few years ago I think, but really thats no excuse. I think I might just wander off into the off-season now.

I thought against Collingwood they killed us at stoppages and contested ball. I agree there is a case to suggest that is all about preparation and mind-set and nothing to do with us missing Viney but I still think we have very limited depth around the ball. Our depth players are Stretch, Kennedy, JKH, Bugg and Magner. That is with players like ANB, Harmes, Vince, Salem, Petracca and Lewis running through there, and most of those players aren't yet that good or are nearly past it. I think the club has got too many half-back flank, almost KPF defenders on the list. Tom McDonald Oscar McDonald Frost, Keilty, Smith and Garland as back up (3rd tall options) Then Hunt, Hibberd , Jetta and Salem as the smalls with Lewis, Vince, Brayshaw as back-up (or out there). I know Lever is good and it would be great to get him on the list but I think our list will be weak in mid to forward areas as a result.

He was our top possession getter in the first qtr and kicked a goal from a stoppage. Went missing with everyone else in the 2nd though. Still learning and will be better after another pre-season, only his second so far.

Watching todays game I was impressed with Stretch's game. He has developed his inside game well over the second half of the year at VFL level. He can still make it. JKH and Spencer were woeful unfortunately. I will be surprised if JKH gets another senior game. Magner has had a good year too and if he keeps developing as he should will get his chance next year. Bugg can still offer something but will probably only ever be about top 26, not top 22. Still you need a top 33 to have genuine depth. I was surprised by Richmonds depth. It's always hard to beat a VFL side that is still alive in the AFL as all the seconds players still hold hope to get a game in the seniors. They had Conca, Lloyd, Griffiths, Miles and a couple of others. That Morris is a dog. His only skill is smashing into blokes trying to injure them. Sheedy would recall him to his Grand Final side just to go head-hunting.

I don't think we're that good. Carrying on about missing out on finals and how we will improve naturally next year is in no way a given. Goodwin said we will be where we deserve to be at the end of round 23. There are 4 teams that finished below us that will expect to finish above us next year, namely Collingwood, Hawthorn, St Kilda and Footscray. Brisbane will look forward to playing us again as will North and even Carlton who either didn't lose by much or beat us. Our contested ball without Viney is poor and if Max doesn't improve or adapt we have a midfield ranked maybe even lower than where we finished this year. When Petracca can play long midfield minutes we will improve and Clarry and Viney have a lot of upside but our mid range players are either hit and miss or getting old. Lewis has been great the last 3 or so weeks, we can't expect that next year. We have a lot of work to do just to maintain the level we achieved this year. I think they went well overall with a dramaticly disappointing final game. I look forward to next year.

I reckon that albino bloke doing all that self-flagellation on the Da Vinci code might go alright off a back flank.

Although they won't admit it, they must have one eye on a finals campaign that may go for more than one week. Consequently they won't be using anyone else apart from the core group that have performed over the year. That means JKH, Trengove and Maynard are probably out of contention. The players that are in contention would obviously be Salem, Frost, Watts and Bugg. For mine I thought Frost was good in the twos, Bugg was industrious but wasteful and Watts was O.k in conditions that didn't suit. I agree that Wagner is making too many mistakes that end up in turn-overs so must be relegated and I also think Stretch is not best 22. Both these players should be kept ticking over and ready for any injuries but there is no point playing them this week. I think Goody saw something in Frosts game against the Swans and GWS that under pressure he can do extraordinary acts of madness and try to take on a bit much. He was good in the twos and I think he needs to come back in if he is going to be a part of the finals as we need to get used to how the 3 talls in the back-line works. I also think Watts needs to come back in if he is to play finals but now we are way tall. Maybe its Pedo and Watts isn't best 22. Crazy to even think that but balance is important and Goody likes a running team. Pedo's work in the last two weeks getting around the ground has been enormous. Reminds me of Brown for Collingwood in the 90 Grand Final. Had a massive bum but got super fit and was a great player for them. It would be a sad state of affairs if Watts missed our final team (if we make it). I think everyone wants him in the team so how it is orchestrated (if at all) will be interesting. Salem is a must and I'd like to see Bugg in but he may be put into the bracket of next cab with Stretch and Wagner. Overall I'd be happy if all of Watts, Frost, Salem and Bugg got a run this week but apart from Stretch and Wagner everyone else has done enough over the last two weeks to hold their spots. Tough week for selection.

I can't watch this umpiring. We reckon we were hard done by last week, this is as bad as it gets. The AFL have a real problem. It's unwatchable.

Rubbish. Bugg was made to take responsibility for his actions. He basically king hit a bloke. He has shown remorse, stayed out of the media, kept his head down and trained hard to try to prove that those actions were not representative of how he or the club would like to play the game. He's done his time and I look forward to seeing a BETTER player out there which I think he will be, because he has been handled well. Hung out to dry? I think you're a drama addict.

Oscar

If you asked this question Monday I would have howled you down as a poor excuse for our last two weeks. It's now Wednesday and I'm nearly accepting of where we are and what we still have to achieve. It's hump day.....maybe By Friday I'll be very happy with the team and thinking really if we can beat the Saints,,,,and we can definitely do that..... then we could come roaring into the finals full of confidence and spunk! But at the moment my words still feel hollow .....but maybe by Friday

Yes, I did say pretty much though and all those games they lost were against other contenders. West Coast are probably the most disappointing side in the league for potential versus return. If we lose the next two weeks I think unfortunately any gains will be lost and we will be on a par with West Coast for the team that is showing the most unrealized potential. That puts everyone under pressure and sets us up for a poor off-season. We are not a destination club, supporters start eating their own, the coach starts getting criticized and other teams and their supporters reckon you're a soft touch. We absolutely must win 2 of the next 3. I reckon we might lose all 3. My mate reckons I'm an idiot. I am looking forward to this game against St Kilda. Both teams should be hungry. No excuses. It's our Grand Final.

The thing upsetting me the most is that pretty much every other team in contention is fighting hard and winning games they have to, quite often coming from behind. Two weeks ago against North half way through the 3rd qtr we were still just in front of North who had the wind and we had the last qtr to come home with it. Meanwhile in Perth GWS were 15 points down against Freo. I'm thinking wow next week we may be playing GWS for a top 4 spot. Oh the possibilities! Instead GWS manage to get over the line, we manage to do what we've done for the last ten years and capitulate and then we back it up a week later with a further poor performance just to prove to the football world "No we weren't kidding, we are crap. You want a win, you need a win, come and see us. We'll roll over for you." They've got to be hungrier. The main problem with Jack Watts is I think he becomes pleased with himself too easily just when he should be looking to further improve his game. Good teams improve into the season, they become focussed. Melbourne are scattered to the winds.

and that's just the supporters....

Both Hibberd and Melksham had great games yesterday. Hibberd was sensational. Robbie Grey and Wingard hardly got a possession. He's fast, heavy and he closes space so well, then his tackles stick. Port were badly outcoached letting Hibberd roam free like that. We used him so effectively coming out of defence. I think he'll get tagged more often.

Oh yeah, 3 definite outs.

We've got 2 hours to guess the outs. I'm going out on a limb and suggesting Vince and Kent are definite outs The other two. Smith and Pedo?

What does success look like?................Not last night

Gawn to thump the ball 30 metres every time so no need for a midfield

I beg to differ, I'm pretty sure the sky is falling.

I hope you're right about Watts but in my limited experience watching training it's always good to see them back running after an injury coz it means they aren't far away. After yesterday I think maybe Garlett and Jones are ahead of Watts in their rehab.

I thought Kent looked sharp. I've seen him a couple of trainings and he came back pre-season with a bit of pud, got injured for a while and has taken a while to get in good shape. I was thinking he is pretty close now. Watts not there would make me think he is possibly two weeks away yet and may not get back for the game against Carlton. Garlett and Jones both looked good, both probably step it up next week and both are a chance for the Blues, running at 75%. Viney was interesting, he is still not 100% in the shoulder (in my opinion). They tested him with some bumps but he rolled his shoulder away on impact. I don't know anything about shoulder injuries so I'm not sure what the treatment is for his problem and whether it will be an ongoing problem or is nothing more than sore. Hopefully he doesn't have to carry it for the rest of the season. They may be rolling the dice a bit with him and considering what he is in for against the Swans mids on Friday I will be watching him closely and hoping like hell he can get through unscathed.