Garbo

If we can’t beat port missing Aliir, Dixon, Gray and Duursma and in poor form without Brown we have bigger issues Just to add Crows kicked nearly a 100 points with there structure and personal we certainly should no excuse

Going over the Port team for tomorrow I’m surprised how inexperienced they are, no wonder they are struggling this year. I know it’s always a danger to take a team lightly but we really should do a number on them tomorrow all things being equal.

Don’t mind seeing Tmac and weid essentially getting 1 more week to figure out who goes out for Brown

Agree many would jump on smith but the fact is we play a zone defence and that only works when everyone is doing there bit, unfortunately with Lever, Salem and Petty out along with Essendon getting some easy entries into there 50 the system breaks down. May plays from behind for that to work someone needs to fill the hole and that is usually Lever. I’d argue whoever is playing that role is more at fault.

Hasn’t been in the best half of the team for 3 weeks now, have to admit I’m getting concerned if he doesn’t lift soon. So far as I can tell he doesn’t appear to be carrying any injuries and had a full pre season.

Thank you for your service Tomlinson and Smith but time time for the a team to come back over the next fortnight

Touch wood but I think we have peaked at the perfect time, I don’t think anyone will match us for the next few years if stay relatively healthy. It’s us then daylight.

A few concerns from the game tonight 1. Trac clearly looked hampered tonight every time he went to shift weight to his left leg (the strapped one) he looked to struggle. Hopefully nothing that will persist. 2.Gawn is really off this year and I don’t know why as he doesn’t seem to be carrying any injuries. 3. Maybe due to the first 2 but we really struggled at the centre bounce at times tonight, Essendon were able to clear the ball without much of a fight on our part this in turn put the backline under immense pressure. We look very one paced when trac isnt in there and firing

I don’t think we have much to worry with those 3 they wont be getting to much interest by any struggling teams with cash to burn as they won’t help that sort of side. Biggest danger are the players who we drafted in 2020 or earlier who haven’t found a spot yet Next would be the types like Sparrow and Jordan if they want more time in the middle and think they can be more than a roll player

Don’t think he has any desire to return to Perth, but in the off chance he did now isn’t a bad time with both at the bottom they have the picks to at least compensate us well. Dees knew he and other young guns would be coming out of contract I’m certain we have allowed enough room to officer him a more than adequate contract, if there is any contract squeeze it will effect players like Brayshaw, Tomlinson and Hunt, or even someone like Sparrow and Rivers.

Won’t happen but M Brown for Tmac would be worth a go. Tmac since the bye last year has been very quite and now we finally have a 2nds game which exposes form of those out to push in. Hopefully Lever and Hibberd are fit to come back but if not we don’t need to rush this week, I prefer Tomlinson to Smith down back as a 3rd tall so smith goes out for Lever and obviously Hunt for Hibberd unless maybe Smith can play that role.

Looks like lever and rivers are the only possible ins if they get up. With Salem already out that would mean one of Smith or Tomlinson needs to go out. Flip of the coin for me but I feel Tomlinson is still a little underdone so I would probably stick with Smith, getting a consistent back 6 is key if we want to stop runs off goals like Wednesday.

Petty and Lever come back for Salem and Tomlinson, suspect Smith will get a run playing Salems role over the next month.

So this is what it feels to be a good team, beat maybe the 2nd best side while playing mediocre

Feel like we should be one goal closer on balance, going to need a repeat of the grand final

If they can just play there roles and don’t try be a star I don’t think we loose much, certainly not with dogs smaller fwd line. The question is can they limit them self to doing that

As good as our mid were at times last year it wasn’t our strength, our defence is where we really have a point of difference to everyone else it gives us the luxury of gambling round the ground safe in the knowledge we can defend if it goes wrong. With 5 of our starting 6 missing it’s clear it all fell apart. Tonight will hopefully be a lesson on how to adjust our game plan in such as scenario

As much as I’d like to beat blues at every chance, might not be the worst thing if we took a loss, just like last year vs dogs. It spurred the boys onto the run of wins we had

Hopefully Salem is ok, other than that it couldn’t have gone better

Good on Gus sounds like he is backing himself in, his current value at dees would have him outside the first dozen players, but his current contract would be well inside that. Unless he wants to take a fair haircut to stay he’s going to need to level up this year.

Don’t recall, but 2016 they only finished 7th in the home and away before going on there run. Feel like we are better placed for repeat success given we were the best team all year and not just for the month of finals.

Is it just me or do they look younger than usual this year

Physical peak 25-26, game knowledge and how to put it together 30+ For most the culmination of the 2 will be around 28-29 but if they can keep there physical condition up it’s almost indefinite these days, just look at messi or ronaldo in soccer or Brady in nfl or djokovic in tennis arguably they got better post 30

Possibly always wondered how he would have gone in a good side

We need to take 3 players so we will get him at some point