45HG

Yes...some of us may be more realistic than others

At least our top 16 finish will be safe. It's certainly a setback, but I don't see it as being season-derailing for the club - hopefully not even for Cale.

Absolutely. Anyone who was there on Saturday would've seen that the lack of a proper forwardline structure cost us dearly. We punished the Bombers through the middle but they were too good for us in their backline.

After watching our midfield in the first two weeks, my belief in Jamar's importance has risen

Watts will be vying for a place in defence?

No need to get defensive jayc, I just read that you claimed 'as the papers said' and took it that you didn't see it. Either way I think two pre season matches is far, far too early to judge if a team has gone backwards - especially one with only one player with over 100 games experience against a pretty much full strength team.

Surely you've noticed that we've had atrocious kicking for the past two seasons. Am I correct in deducing that you didn't go?

Out of interest, what about Saturday's game made you think we have gone backwards?

Your mate shouldn't have told you that Bennel reminded him of a Brownlow medalist, but I think it's a fair comparison. I said the same thing very early last year.

Thanks for the permission.

Sorry, should I change my team? Agreed as in with the team or that it's my top 25?

My first 25 B: Frawley Warnock Bennell HB: MacDonald Garland Bruce C: Morton Moloney Sylvia HF: Bate Watts Green F: Davey Jurrah Petterd Fo: Jamar Grimes Jones Int: Martin Scully Trengove Mcdonald Em: Maric Rivers Jetta

After 6 years of decent, but incosistent, footy I think Davey is now finding a role that can really help the team as we rise up the ladder. His B and F is testament to this.

If we had a half-functioning forwardline there's no way we'd have lost by anything close to 40 points if at all.

Mcdonald has always been a very consistent part of the team and Bruce, for all the times I've been critical of him, always puts in and consistently racks up possession of the footy. That really just leaves Miller and Davey - the former I hold little hope for but I think the latter is starting to find a role in the team that can be meaningful. Of course we'll be smashed throughout 2010 but it'll have as much to do with having only a handful of players on our list that can be considered experienced as how consistent they play.

That's hardly surprising, nor is it unusual for any team in my view. Most teams would need their senior players playing well. 6 of whom you mention, Mcdonald, Bruce, Green, Miller, Davey and Rivers, are the players on our list with the most games played. Sylvia and MacDonald sit 8th and 9th. I'd say most teams would need 8 of their top 9 most experienced players playing consistent footy.

Like the week when Johnson, Johnson, Johnston, Johnston and Johnstone lined up for Sandy.

Not sure what happened with the Morton thread, but thought I'd just say that (whilst I'm certainly no expert) it looked to be a collision injury with him running back with the flight of the ball and coping a knock from a Bombers player coming the other way. I don't think that that would often lead to an ACL injury but more of a corky. But I'm certainly no expert. Ha, just saw your post KS. Ditto

I liked Morton's game, I thought he was very involved and got to a lot of contests. Sometimes his use of the footy is a bit questionable though. Grimes, Sylvia and Jamar our best IMO.

I failed to mention Jamar in my earlier posts, he was very good in the ruck and really helped our midfield in general. I disagree with your call on Bennel BRFE, but each to their own I suppose. I worry that I'll spend much of his career thinking that Martin's pretty good for a basketballer. Macdonald runs in straight lines and attacks the ball hard

Similar story for much of today in my view. We did move the ball much quicker though and took a lot more risks - sometimes we came unstuck but often it looked very attractive.

Jurrah to Maric goal. 27 points down. I reckon we've killed the middle just nothing up forward.

Joel macdonald has attacked it pretty well ireckon. Not sure who he's on though, I'm crap at that. 33 points game over

Miller is out there as are the top two. Bate isn't in. Jurrah off the ball I'm not sure about.

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