leave it to deever

Could've been the old self abuse.

Here's hoping. If Petty plays fwd and struggles, then surely the fwd experience is over for him. I think he will play down back today.

Agreed the cupboard is pretty empty and we aren't overflowing with midfield stocks. I've been pumping up Petty in my own mind and was wrapped to see him play the way he did against the cats. But one good game out of eight with two goals is a bust in anyone's language and it's got the the ackward position of if not returning him to the backline of having to drop him. Perhaps he will take Levers spot but we won't have any other talls up fwd other than Jvr. I would drop Sparrow but there's no Jordan or Harmes to really step in. And why are we coming out so flat at the starts so much these days? We will play finals but I feel like we won't have two chances again. I suppose all good things and that. I did believe this was a more than one flag list and that last year we were very unlucky with a plethora of injuries and the whole Maynard act. But that's the way it goes. Just hope it's not another half a century.😄

Can we trial Tommo fwd? Can't be any worse than Bbb or Petty. I don't mean to be taking shots at them as but something needs to give

The voting was difficult. Given who we played it gives a fair reason for concern. There are a few outs but this is a team that only just lost to the premiers last year in a final we should have won. Sunday's game was a shocker and it's really difficult to work out what's happening.

Good post. But regarding Petty, I really don't know what we are going to do. If he has really only played one good game since returning. If he continues playing like yesterday for a couple more then we will realistically have to drop him. We simply can't be carrying him. Perhaps send him down back and Tmac up fwd again. I'm not sure what we will do about him. He was good in his ruck cameos.

I agree mostly . And despite others, I too thought Salo was good. Especially considering his considerable absence. Anb and Kozzie too although Kozzys disposal at times was substantially errant. But the fact we are mentioning only 3 players is very alarming What has happened to our midfield? Tracca look like he was wearing cement shoes trying to chase Reid. But his midfield companions were all down in form and have been for a while. Viney is a shadow of his yesteryear form. He must be struggling with some sort of injury. And Sparrow never really seems to step up. Plays the odd good game but rarely back to back. And our fwd line is to be quite frank a complete shambles. Despite Fritta and Kozzie who both give at most around a combination of about four goals, we can't kick winning scores. We have kicked 100 points plus once this year. Petty really shouldn't be playing after only giving only one good account But it comes down to a case of the cupboard being empty. I read the Casey reports and we don't really seem to have much depth. Besides the fact that we are already playing a fair amount of young players already. And I'm not just referring to our fwd line depth. We don't seem to be overflowing with mids and wingmen. This is the biggest concern for me. A lack of a bog bodied tall fwd or two like Hogan or Tmac of old who good boot four a game each. And someone to come in when Langers can't or Sparrow gets dropped. There is no real pressure on players in terms of being relegated to the twos like a few years ago. It used to be Sparrow was competing for his spot and players like Milkshake were also competing for a game. All that aside you are correct in this being an incredibly close season. This round was proof of that with all it's upsets. Being slightly off will see top teams defeated by lesser ones. So the top four is still wide open. We have survived without a potent fwd line by having a power house of a backline. But it's just not enough when our midfield falls in a heap. Our slow starts are baffling and the coaches need to do something significant about our game prep. All in all, unless we can fix our fwd line we are going to struggle. I'm sure our midfield will sort itself out soon . But it better hurry. Salo or Rivers in the middle will help. Or perhaps even giving Bowey a few rotations. But I don't know about or scoring problem. Jvr has gone backwards in form to last year. Chandler has disappeared again like last year and should be dropped. But who do we replace him with? So for me I think there are some pretty big issues that will exclude us from the top four despite the very even comp. We are using players like Bbb who is really struggling because there is nobody else. And Bbbs been struggling for two years now. I know someone will say there have been no key forwards to recruit and maybe this is true so I guess it's nobody's fault. As for our midfielders they really need a rocket up them. To see a young Reid show up our touted great guns was embarrassing. We look woefully lacking in confidence and skills. There were too many unforced errors and poor decisions made often. In short some horrible panic footy. As much as I love Fritta it was not a good look to see him laughing at times. It wasn't a good look . The players look like they have lost some passion and if they didn't fight back in the Carlton game I would be extremely worried. But yesterday we got smashed by the third bottom team when a third top spot was on the line. We didn't want it enough. Pure and simple. No excuses. I know we will be playing finals but I'm sure we won't be top four. Yesterday was a must win. And we got thumped. We have done some great recruiting but we have also lost some good players. And we have recruited some bad ones too. Also losing Gus and Smith has been a big blow. I really think the window of flags has started to swing shut now and I can't see how we are going to stop it.

It's got to the point for us to make top four we will have to rely on other teams dropping games they shouldn't too. Outside of the Swans it's a very tight season as this round has proved.

True. In 21 we had another 8 to 10 each week who were unlucky not to play.

Petty. Back to Casey. Tmac. Had a stinker. Kozzie. Tried all night. Anb. Best for Naarm. Tracca so slow. Naarm can't win. Neither can Dees.

I'll get back to you.

We have been exposed as not a real flag chance. A shame. Midfield was flat footed again Who do we have banging down the door? It's a worry I think most of us had an inkling about this and our team this year.

Yep. We are not. Last few games have been putrid. Except for cats who have we beaten. Port? And now this. And who do we have at Casey?

Agreed. Although Tommy has had a very good year down back. It's our fwd line excluding Fritta that just lacks a Darling type player. Add now our mids look suspect. JV must be injured. The premiership window is closing fast if it ain't after tonight. Our fwd lines not going to change. Our mids might

Anyone. If Petty's not in the backline he shouldn't be playing next week. Although he looks like he'll struggle there. He's in a serious slump and I don't think we can continue to ignore it.

There will be some who will pop up with some esoteric stats to prove otherwise.

I don't think your negative. This is a game against third last. We had the chance to be third top. But we didn't want it. I can't see us winning a flag. Not because we lost but how we lost. We have a midfield that hasn't shown up for quite a few now and without Lever apparently no backline and definitely no forwards other than Fritta and Kozzie. It sure as heck isn't Petty, Brown or anyone else. We will be lucky to stay in the eight. I'm sorry but we all know it's true. This team is shadow of 21 and even last year.

How is that not htb against darling. Rolls over on top of the ball. Umps make htb as they go.

Tmac has had an absolute shocker tonight. But he's not alone. We have absolutely no fwd line bar Fritta at all and have only kicked 100 points once. And a sleepy midfield

Goody nerds to take our mids after this game and give them a decent kick in the bum. Oliver16 disposals Tracca 16 disposals. Viney 14 disposals. Sparrow 9 disposals ( very low) Harley Reid a young kid panting them all. This is the third last team. Chandler too has gone into a big slump like he did last year.

Harley Reid reminds me of a young Tracca. Only faster.

Gotta get a goal here.

Sub McAdam off please. He's not right asking for the ball if he can't kick thirty.

I guess that's why.

Why is Fritta laughing. Look at the scoreboard mate.