dazzledavey36

No way Oliver is able to do these straight away after a hamstring tear. A tear has too much discomfort when walking etc. It's either badly tight or at least a low grade hamstring strain which could be 2-3 weeks max.

[censored] it, get him in.

Luke Dunstan?

This isn't in Gawns DNA. He's not a physical ruckman that's out there to hurt other opposition ruckman. He's never been like that and I don't expect him to all of a sudden change that in his game. Just needs to go back to the basics that's made him a champion ruckman. Work rate and contested marking is he's number 1 strength around the ground. Less flopping too please.. He was non existent against Port unfortunately, but backing him in this weekend to have a ripper.

Dangerfield also missed 6 games last year and yet they only lost 4 games for the year. It can still go the opposite way. I still think we can beat Freo and Carlton. Collingwood are just a different beast unfortunately. If we can go into the bye over the next 3 weeks without Oliver at 2-1 then I'll happily take that.

We're top 4 for majority of these stats because we've already played 3 of the worst teams in the comp plus two very average teams in Sydney and Richmond. Anyone can bump their stats up when you're playing Hawthorn, West Coast and North. The pattern of concern is that we simply cannot get the job done against quality top 4 sides. Got completely smashed in clearences against Brisbane and then to see it all unfold again against Port shows that there is still a level of inconsistency and inability to mitigate the damage when teams get a roll on. Beat us in the clearence and you can score quickly against us just like Hawthorn did in the 3rd quarter. If we can rectify this from our game then yes, we too can score quickly as shown in the 3rd quarter against Port.

I was just about to say that with Brayden Maynard. I absolutely cannot stand the bloke, but i always admire him that he's always the first to fly the flag for any teammate that's getting in a scuffle or is in trouble. We have no one of that ilk. Look at the way they went in to bat for Nick Daicos against Sydney. The whole team flew the flag and showed such great team unity.

My frustration with tmac is purely because he has a history of doing this in games. Its simple, he still doesnt know his limitations. On Tmac as a player, I don't dislike the bloke. A part of me wants the Tmac of 2018/2021 form but reality is deep down I know he's cooked and like you, I know he won't add much to the team.

I think what was more damning was our stoppage work and post clearence stuff. Players like Oliver getting sucked into the contest and then having no accountability and respect for their opponents who simply just ran off them. It's no wonder Rozee kicked that last goal in thr end because our mids in general paid no respect whatsoever. All comes down to attitude and mindset.

This thread reminds me exactly of the loading training thread last year lol. We were all told by the experts on here that we'll hit our sweet spot and to back the coaches. This pattern of concern has been ongoing since teams worked us out last year. I've seen nothing this year to suggest we've made any vast improvement at all in this area. You'd thinking bringing in another A grade ruckman would improve us but it hasn't unfortunately.

Are you serious? He literally just had to give the quick option to a running Viney in front of him who was breaking away easily from Bonnar. Jonas came running in from the side and before the tackle came there was probably 2 seconds that McDonald could have just placed it in front of Viney. Then as @Gorgorothsaid, McDonald needs to learn his limitations. He does this every single game. His attempt at side stepping or baulking a big key defender in this instance is pure stupidity by McDonald. It cost us a direct goal in the end. I disagree with you in that he didn't have enough time. It was there to give off with the quick hands. This is a sign of a cooked footballer who thinks he's playing footy at 24 years of age.

I agree with this. He had a player in the inside ready to give off. We're taught from junior footy to always give the first option. Instead of giving that first option, he tries to take on the tackler as he always tries to do and deservedly got pinged. They then go and score a goal. He does this every single [censored] game and its beyond infuriating.

Taj Woewodin a chance to debut?

He's not wrong.

So no different to how our midfield went on the weekend?

They did it perfectly well last year when Dangerfield missed 6 games with an injury.

Brayshaw got exposed big time for his lack of fitness and poor conditioning trying to play as a midfielder on Friday night. Was embarrassing to watch. An absolute plodder in there. Never again.

You think?

No. I'm not accepting the season is over one bit. Dangerfield missed 6 games last year and that did not stop them going on a full blown winning streak without him. Accept it at your own peril, cool. I won't.

I feel for Dunstan big time.

Feel like this will get swept under the rug during the weeks. This smells of when we sent Joel Smith back out with a strained groin in a nab game back in 2019 and ended up missing the year because of further damage.

Well, all this does is create opportunity for someone like Tom Sparrow. I've been hard on him of recent because I haven't felt he has taken the next step as I thought he would. If there was an opportunity and chance to really take the next step and show everyone what he's got then it's now. There's some big midfield minutes there for the taking and it's up to Sparrow to grab it with both hands now.

It sounds like we've already gotten the scans back.