ArtificialWisdom

Amazingly I feel in 5 games May has already become our most important player. 1 week without him we were immediately exposed. Assuming all are fit In. May, Hore, Melk Out. Omac, JWag, CWag Although to make more of a statement, keep JWag in. Drop Brayshaw and have Hibbard move to the middle to tag Dusty again. One of the few things that's worked ok this year. Just a thought.

Geelong game: Stage 1, its bad now, but it will turn, we're still a good side St Kilda rd5: Stage 2, how can we lose to this [censored] team again?? QB: stage 3: this year is lost but perhaps we can develop in the second half of the year. 5 or 6 wins in the second half I'll be happy, We'll be ok next year. Now: stage 4, Can't win when they play well, can't play well when they should win. What's the point. We're just gonna lose anyway Gradually ticking them off this year. Acceptance can't be far away

There's just no interesting story here, at least from the outside. The injury/interrupted preseason thing got out really early and we were out of finals contention by round 8, and everyone just kinda said injuries were the problem. Everyone knows Goodwin is safe, and rightly or wrongly most will expect us to bounce back in 2020. On top of that there haven't been many recent surprises. Our 5 loses in the last 2 months: Adelaide by a kick, Collingwood (top 4), Brisbane at the Gabba, Dogs at marvel and West Coast (reining premiers). With the possible exception being the Dogs, nobody would have given us a chance in any of them. Wins against Freo and Carlton have kept the sharks at bay, as would a win tomorrow against the saints, lose that and there will be blood in the water.

I'm starting to doubt that we'll trade it. (For the record I think it will more likely be pick 4 or 5 depending on StK/Syd games). I always thought they'd go hard for Hill and maybe trade back 4/5 to 9/10 for him but freo losing so much lowers that value, and it by all reports we don't seem to be going after Hill at all. So outside him I don't know who else they would chase that is going demand more than pick 20.

The club, and in particular Mahoney, has been coping alot of flack in recent times but let's face it over the last 3 to 4 years. Whenever it comes out in the media that the club wants someone they've had a pretty good strike rate at getting deals done

Now I might be completely naive, but if the Victory move on then that just leaves us and the Storm using Goschs and AAMI Park right?. Now maybe this is too ambitious but would it be completely ridiculous for the 2 clubs to pool their resources to join AAMI Park and Goschs into a huge multi-code complex? Upgrade our oval to MCG dimensions, Move the current Rugby pitch around to fit it all together. Build new facilities with space to accommodate both clubs, state of the art facilities, prime location. The Storm is a very well respected organisation, we would do well to associate with them. I understand the appeal of being in our 'own' place, but this would be the next best thing.

If I was to guess, it's likely because of the sudden media interest that's popped up now that there's no more coaches left to get the sack. The pessimist calls that cowardly the optimist calls it protection. It's probably a mix of both. Maybe we're doing that soul-searching thing.

Rolling 4 year period is very ambiguous. At least 1 1st round pick in the previous 4 drafts is a much simpler way to put it.

St Kilda is 14th and is free falling down the ladder almost every week.... They're in the race. Its got nothing to do with who he chooses, I'm asking why our hand isn't up?

Stunning isn't it, not to mention the similar story for Brad Hill who also looks on the move and we're apparently not in that race either.

Anyone who understands anything about footy can see that aside from a 15 minute Eric Hipwood purple patch we have been playing much better, controlled footy since the bye. But that's not translating into scores... or into results. Just ask Brendan Bolton how well honourable losses worked for him. On merit we should be 4-1 after the bye, but instead, without the ability to finish we are 2-3 and at risk of the wheels falling off. We are demonstrating football that could win any of the last 5 (Rich perhaps the exception) but with our poor finishing we could lose all of them. And that leaves Goodwin in a very vulnerable place

Turnovers like this example are all but impossible to defend, shallow F50 entry, turnover at CHF, defender rebounding in space down the corridor. You're at the will of the gods from there. No amount of accountability allows Brayshaw cover 50m or more on 3-5 seconds. Simple fact is if he hits that kick Fritch is having a shot and we are critical of Yeos accountability, butcher the kick and the argument goes the other way.

Not many leap out as required changes. Questions on Smith and on Weids fitness but I don't think Preuss can continue to play. I'm a big fan of Baker so I'd be happy if he played. Lockhart is a challenging one, but he's struggled to have an influence with footy in hand last couple of weeks. Did he have a defencive role again? Jetta (WC) didn't do much so maybe that was lockhart again? But I didn't really see that. Viney, May and Petty injurys also unlikely to be risked, but I expect them all to play But keeping it simple early in the week I'd go: Out: Preuss In: Weid Baker and Smith both sitting ready for any other outs

Bris travels to Tassie this week... Could be yet another loss for 2nd on the cards.

Demonland: What kind of idiot does Taylor have to be to pick such a small player like Spargo in the second round Also Demonland: Hey Taylor we should pick this player even smaller than Spargo in the second round But in all seriousness, looks good, a punt on a kid with pure talent up forward is what we need

I've reached the point where I am forced to ignore almost every comment made on demonland about the Wagners. These boys cop unbelievably harsh reviews week on week, regardless of the way they play.

Lewis as been largely unfairly treated around here in all 3 of his years at the club, but he's been a good servant for us in a time when we've needed leaders. It's going to be a hindsight decision, if we have another injury crisis in 2020 we'll be wishing he is still here. (Vince would have played this year) If not, he is a waste of list space Besides, I think Lewis is ready to retire himself, hopefully he plays out the year in the manner that he has the last 3 weeks and the club shows him the respect he deserves, Last game at the G is a Friday night against Sydney, maybe we can try rally some Hawks fans to get behind him, we know there won't be many dees fans making the effort to get there

The operation was a complete success... but the patient died.

Oh i actually think Preuss is a fantastic get for us. I just think he should be playing at Casey. I can accept we need him playing right now because we have no key forwards, but if Weid is fit next week I'd have him back at Casey continuing to learn to be a ruckman, not a forward.

Dropped doesn't even come close to describing what he did, You would have thought he'd never seen a football before the way he went for that. Half way through the 3rd qtr I noticed Barrass starting to pretend Preuss didn't exist and just left him standing alone

Top of the "away table" clash! According to the (flimsy) rules they've set out in this article a win could have us take the lead as the best traveling team in the league. http://m.afl.com.au/news/2019-07-18/trick-question-are-the-magpies-really-the-leagues-best-travellers

https://m.afl.com.au/news/2019-07-17/what-happens-when-the-onekick-games-are-flipped-blues-in-the-hunt We'd be in the hunt for pick 1 without them

Player is tackled (assume legally) one of 3 things happen: Ball is held in: Ball up Ball spills out: Dropping the ball, free kick Ball is correctly disposed of: Play on Remove the 'he tried' bs that just causes a 30sec scrap, would result in many fewer tackles and fewer throws.

Melksham says he's 2 weeks away from a half at VFL then should do some running and play the following week, similar path to Jettas VFL run. Quite possibly the most informative injury update to come out of the club in the last decade (Inside Melbourne podcast)

I agree that the dogs didn't put any work into him, the first bounce sums this up perfectly. Wood looked straight at Petty then lined up 10m away from him. That said I still think you reward that performance, he was taking contested marks while Pruess was dropping chest marks and neither Hannan or Dunkley could touch the footy. Personally I'd drop Pruess and one of Dunkley or Hannan for both Weid and Smith (if they're fit). Without NicNat and Vardey I'm happy to live with Weid in the ruck as the backup. Hopefully Smith can play the same role on McGovern and that should give one of Petty or Weid Barass and the other a chance against a smaller opponent.