deespicable me

Don't give up yet, we can still get there.

I would just like to add my vote of disapproval to the umpiring today. A good game ruined.

Three free kicks to the All-Stars directly in front says it all. If we get some sweet favors in the second half we can still win

I went along today. Lovely day and a good session to see as they were starting a bit of game simulation and there was plenty going on. Just a couple of points to offer from limited viewing. One is that last year I thought we had the list in pretty good shape so I was surprised at how much we cut into the list. I thought we might just do the obligatory 3 or 4 changes but we did a lot more and it shows on the park. The newbies are all small to medium players apart of course from May and Preust and they are as keen as to make an impression. It looks to have regenerated the group a bit and with Oliver, Gus, Viney and Jones on the sidelines there was a freshness that I think is good for us. We looked young and hungry and I'm pretty sure the coaches are creating an atmosphere where positions are up for grabs and anything is possible. So I also saw the contested mark of KK and he also did another nice piece of play at half back from contested to delivery upfield that was impressive. I also saw Nietsche (No. 27 the philosopher) do a couple of nice things. Bedford is busy and was involved a lot as well. The intensity was good and I think the youngsters contributed a lot to that. The second thing I noticed was Vanders. He looked fantastic. He was in rehab with Gus and Stretch and clearly they are close to returning to the main group as they were doing contested stuff one on one and there were no holds barred. All three were going well, Billy is tracking very well but Vanders was excellent. They were one on one just holding and jostling until the attacker made a lead and one of the coaches Rooke kicked to the lead. Vanders marked most everything under good pressure and defensively was strong and aggressive and shut down his opponent. At one stage he spoiled Gus and took him to ground, it was strong play. He is clearly a leader and looks very focused, driven and I'd say as fit as he's ever been. I'm so glad he stayed with us and I reckon he could be a great player for us this year. Just on the rehab group or groups, in making your way back to the main group you work very hard, harder than if you are in the main group itself. So even though most of the players in re-hab could easily join in the pace of the main group it is never gifted and you have to tick every box before they will let you back.Finally one of those guys Jack Viney is looking fantastic as well. He was charging around the boundary and while he would hardly blow out a candle Baker was totally gassed. Jack is another right on track for a massive year.

I liked Burgo a lot even though he was a bit lightweight but that was a pretty good interview

Are the rucks part of the midfield? If they are Richmonds back up ruck is non-existent. With the new rule of the ruckman being able to grab the ball out of the ruck Grigg is not an option anymore. It's quite a rule change. Obviously Martin is class and Cotchin and Prestia very good but their lack of a back-up to the bullocking but limited Nankervis means they can't be ranked ahead of West Coast. A ruckman who takes direct possession of the ball from a bounce, throw-up or boundary throw-in will no longer be regarded as having had prior opportunity. Every time Grigg is in the ruck the opposition will just take possession and hand ball to their midfrield. Maybe Lynch will have to ruck more often. Ha, a multi million dollar back-up ruck.

The "Preuss insurance policy" is a good one to have as I think there are more than one area he can help us get better. The obvious is as a back up to Max and a training partner to help improve Max, but with Hoges going as well there is a lot of pressure on TMac and a still young Weideman to deliver in the forward line. I think playing Preuss as a ruck/forward could help our forward structure a lot. He will make Weideman a better player with his physical presence, we become more flexible and unpredictable with our forward structures and more consistent in the ruck and harder to match up on. Imagine Preuss versus Grigg! I don't think we'll necessarily play three talls in our forward line every week, but there is certainly a lot of sense in recruiting him, and you'd have to think he has been promised games. With the addition of Pruess and May we may be the equal of West Coast who would probably have been considered the best tall team in 2018. Add that to our rising midfield and I can understand our "champion data" rating as a very strong "on paper" team heading into 2019. I hope the plans pay off.

Yeah sure, all this is accepted by most, they see the Hogan out May in scenario loud and clear. What people aren't so sure about is the trading out of a potential champion of the game, a Brereton or a Carey for a bloke who has shown his full potential and sure we can build a defence around him but he won't finish his career as a champ of the game. Also sure you have to give up something significant to get something that you need but look at Richmond getting in Lynch. We give up two first round picks for Lever, I think we just want very fair at worst compensation for Hogan, if not overs. Or don't do the bl@@dy trade!

If Hogan doesn't go this year I would think he won't go there (to freo) for quite a while. He has ummed and ahhhhed about moving home and really when you look at it I think he thought he might get on a good contract and be on easy street for the rest of his career. I reckon this is a good thing, He might just dust himself off and having come so close to the crap of off-season moves re-focus and get stuck in. If this deal doesn't go through (and I hope it doesn't) we may see clear air with Jesse, not the "will he won't he" scenario some posters are afraid of. Hold out, hold out.

Long time reader first time poster on this subject and most every twist and opinion has been canvassed. My only point I would like to add to the discussion is we should never lose sight of the fact as to how good Hogan may yet become. I think this trade is short sighted. Looking to build a side to win the flag in 2019. And that is fair enough. But if WC get Kelly from Geelong they will be the team to beat. And if we don't win the 2019 flag we could rue our decision to trade out Hogan. Remember he hasn't yet committed to the whole idea of playing professional football. If he does when he turns 26 he will be a superstar. We are being short-sighted. I really hope he stays.

Pick 1 next year is a great bargaining tool, think Kelly from GWS, so this years pick 5 and next years pick 1 would be a great trade for us if that was the scenario that played out.

Trac is still learning what he is capable of. He is very ambitious but his ability isn't quite matching his ambition. A perfect example was in the 3rd quarter against St Kilda when he got given the ball on the wing after a turn-over and looked up at an open forward line with a player free over the back. Ne was probably 70 metres away and Trac tried to kick it there but couldn't quite execute and it dropped short to the Saints player. He has good vision and wants to do the extraordinary and when he learns to match his ability with his skill level he will be a gun. A matchwinner. He's only young and still developing. Gus is a chance to become elite but he is an accumulator, more blue collar. Like Harvey from the Saints by the time both boys hit 25 they will most likely both be top 50 in the league. Great for us to watch them slowly deliver on our hopes and dreams.

I did. There was a bloke near me who barracked for the Saints and he was in a bit of pain blaming umpires and the players etc. It made me realise we are becoming a good team because I remember carrying on for the last umpteen years getting frustrated and looking to blame anything or anyone. I was very calm today. I enjoyed watching the footy. Gus was great. He has a great winning attitude. I'm very appreciative to go to the footy today and watch a game where my team was clearly superior to the Saints. We had winners all over the ground and the Saints only had one good player in Stephens. Things can change quickly and Gill will try his best to create deals that favor them but they were poor today with very few prospects. Boy I'm glad we finally look like we're out of that awful rut. Touch wood, fingers crossed.

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.

Yeah, I have. He is 22, only played 13 odd games, 7 this year, mainly because of injury and put into the right system and structure I think he would be a good addition. He beat Tommy Mac in many one on ones which was a good effort. Also he will cost half what May would. We need another tall defender. I may be wrong but I think your confidence that he is no good after only 13 games is a bit premature. I also think O'Brien is developing into an O.k player.

I preferred their player Jack Leslie, if he was available, or gettable. Probably on a lot less than May so an offer of around 500 a season would be a good deal for us I reckon.

Not surprised to read the Eagles "dossier" was suppressed by Fitzpatrick. Gee how's the game going to survive without him. What an arrogant c### he was.

I just think Hird has tried every possible angle to be viewed as "the victim" in this whole sad and sorry mess.

Well theres no way any draft picked kids are going to get gifted a game. They know right from the start they are going to have to work their butts off to get a look in. Finally this is how a good side should look and we get a good look at the kids to see if they are any good and if one is it is viewed as a bonus, rather than the spate of "saviors" of the last ten years. All good

They are drug cheats. Fact.

It's a nice idea but I just wonder if the game hasn't got so big that you'd get clubs giving out scholarships to schools in their zones etc. Those three pre-draft choices would be like gold and probably very soon exploited. Which club is in the private school belt and can offer a scholarship to Xavier, Carey etc.

I think he will leave. To me he does seem the type that wants ultimate success over money. The amount of work he's done to make himself one of the best in the comp. I don't think he's "putting it out there" for the money, he's got heaps, he's already set for life. Freo better get their act into gear if they want to keep him but I'd say he's a strong chance to leave.