Forest Demon

6 - Viney - nice to have you back Raffle the rest

Adelaide in Adelaide next week. Inevitably we will be 3-5 and pushing [censored] up hill to try and gain ground on the 8.

Maybe 2018, who knows.

That is another great example. Bugg wasn't even kicking to anyone, he was just rolling the dice. Surely if you are going to kick blindly, you do so long down the line, not directly across into the corridor 50/60m out from your own goal.

Want an example of dumb football, just watch the last 30 seconds of each quarter. Q1: Hibberd just has to go down the line and kill it, but kicks out on the full, comes straight back in and Hawthorn goal Q2: Again, we just have to kill it down the line, but whoever it was tries some [censored] switch with Cyril in the vicinity, turnover, and very very lucky not to be another goal.

Woeful. The Saints fans were exposed by having very few opposition supporters there. But still, you should be pulling at least 30k.

Too much one on one as others have said, and the players don't get any separation, so you have it just kick to contests all the time.

That's what I was about to say. Coach and his assistants have a plan, and pick players to fit that plan. And I hardly think Goodwin is making team selections on his own. It would be in consultation with other coaches, dare I say it, like some sort of selection panel.

Interesting Juddy has taken an interest. I can't comment on training, but on the field, I think Jonesy has rounded his game out a lot over the years e.g. I think he is a much better kick these days. This means he has been able to slot back in at half back more comfortably, which can only be good for his longevity.

He is a bit of a cult hero, and I'm onboard. His quote before the game was something along the lines of "you never know when your last game will be, and I'm going to give it my all". Shows a certain down to earth attitude, that when coupled with hard work, supporters tend to love. I don't rate Bellchambers at all, and there are bigger tests to come, but it was a good start.

My take is that Kent is still considered best 22, but he is getting a similar wake up call to the one Watts received in preseason.

Also wouldn't be surprised to see Stretch straight back in. Thry seemed to rotate Harmes and Stretch out for fresher bodies, and wouldn't be surprised if they do the same with ANB, JKH or other bottom 5-10 players this week.

Harmes had 22 touches and 11 tackles for Casey. Given the importance seeming to be placed on that, and the fact he was backing up after 4 days of the Richmond game, I would be very surprised if he isn't recalled. I still think he was stiff to be dropped in the first place.

Ordinary game, but we did enough. Take the 4 points and move on. Funnily enough, the short break didn't do Collingwood much harm.

I don't like today's changes. Both Stretch and Harmes deserve their spot imo. But hey, whatvever, I'm happy to go with it. Maybe Goodwin is just rotating some of our 15th to 22nd best players to get some fresh legs off the short break.

Little legend. One of my favourites. His agility is his weapon. Not the fastest, but one of those "couldn't tackle him in a phonebox" type players.

Bellchambers is rubbish and is playing his first game in years, so he at least has a chance.

Not an insult at all. They are resting players after a wet slog and a 5 day turnaround. I was hoping we would do the same, but we obviously don't have that luxury.

Like most, would love some more kicks on the outside, as he is a good kick. The JLT game against West Coast was his most rounded game in that regard. I think he would need to add a goal a game and get his handball to kick ratio closer to 50/50 to be a Brownlow chance. But what a player.

Huge 5 weeks coming up before the bye. All, bar the Adelaide game, we would normally be more than a good chance to win, but without a ruck it is going to be very difficult. If we go into the bye at 5-5, I think we are well placed for finals with Gawn not far off coming back from injury. That would mean winning 3 of Essendon, Hawthorn, North and Gold Coast.

I'm usually a little more pessimistic around Melbourne, but I actually agree. If we fight out a few wins and be 50/50 when we get Gawn back, I could see us going on a bit of a run later in the year. Besides Adelaide and GWS, no other side really worries me, and I'll be surprised if Adelaide will keep playing at their current level.

As for outs, who knows. Lots of injuries and sore bodies, and couple that with a 6 day break after a game in the wet. Bugg, Pedersen and Lewis to start with, possibly another 1 or 2. Huge 5 games before the bye now. Injuries mounting and we need to win at least 3 of them.

Yawn. Did you just go have a search through that draft to find a better player picked after him?

Really? Last year he was clunking absolutely everything, but couldn't hit the side of a barn door. They would have won by 40 points if he had kicked straight.

Great game. And I don't know why I was surprised, but having a left footer off half back was clearly useful. Numerous times a right footer would have struggled to execute. Now stay injury free.