Forest Demon

I have never been more uncertain about selection than this week. We are getting to the stage where decent players, who are in ok form, will just have to miss. Obviously it's a good position to be in.

Petracca has been good, but I don't think I've seen a young player threaten to tear a game apart like him without actually doing it. Four games in and you just know some side in the next month is going to absolutely cop it from him.

Watts surprisingly held his own in the ruck. I wouldn't want to be relying on it against the better teams, but he was asked to do a job, and he did it well.

He will have his good weeks, just like he did with us. But his pies career is just a continuation of his frustrating front running and inconsistency with us.

For a so called tough nut, Mathieson certainly plays for his fair share of frees. A bit of a no name, but can confirm Ben Keays is a goose as well.

No doubt we are straddling the line of blooding youngsters and gifting them games. He has been solid at Casey by all reports, so not completely out of the blue. Personally, I would still prefer Dunn.

I am actually surprised by some of the negativity. Just shows some will never be happy. As always, it isn't perfect, but we are controlling the game and look in no danger.

Is Jetta out of contract this year? Another one who would be good to lock down soon.

Personally I prefer Dunn, but reading between the lines of a few comments from Roos and other coaches, I think he is struggling to play the role asked of him. We are implementing a new style of defence and perhaps Dunn isn't learning the new way quick enough.

I don't want to get ahead of myself like we all did in the Essendon game, but they have been one of the worst contested ball teams in comp for the last few years, while it is one of our strengths this season. IF we crack in as normal, we will win comfortably.

I actually think this an important game, a chance to right the wrongs of the essendon game.

Potentially Grimes could be in the same boat as above also. And although he is carving it up in the VFL, if Ben Newton gets a couple of games and doesn't impress, he could be in danger also (I am assuming he is out of contract at year's end, but could be wrong).

Not saying I agree, but I think one of Garland and Dunn will be left out of the team from mid way through the season and won't get a look in for the rest of the year, and then be delisted at year's end. In the same way Jamar was last year. I get the feeling it might be Dunn.

I like to call it the "Who the hell is on Riewoldt"

Spoke about our aggressive "Demon Diamond Defence" where the two half back flankers push right up at centre bounces, run off their opponents and try and get extra numbers to the contest. Effectively giving us 2 extra at the centre clearance, but leaving us 2 short down back. Would explain the apparent ease of some of the goals we concede. They were all very positive about it though.

Love Jetta. And I have said it before, but the mrs picked him as her favourite a few years back just before his improvement, and she definitely backed a winner. His agility is his big asset, he can turn on a sixpence, has clean hands, competes well in the air, has tidy disposal and is a tough little bugger.

Ben Newton!!! 18 tackles to go with his 32 touches. That is 2 massive games in a row from him.

28 games into his career and he is a nice player. He is already worth his spot, but definitely has another level or 2 in him.

And that the answer is Yes. And the next question is "has he agreed to come to Melbourne?". And that answer is also Yes.

I noticed this too. One where it dropped well short and Gawn gave away free trying to make up the ground. As you said, there was one against the Saints where it dropped short, neither ruckman got to it, and Acres (I think) just grabbed it and slotted it through.

Kicking from 40+ was an issue last year as well. He has no fluency to generate any sort of power and runs out on an unnatural arc to try and generate power. A guy his size should be kicking 50m with ease. But as for inside that distance, I get what you are saying. Nothing much seems to have changed. I am by no means an expert, but you would think with such an awkward and complicated run up, it might only take one little thing to go wrong for the whole thing to fall apart, whereas a simple and fluent approach is more likely to produce consistent results. Perhaps there is something minor different about his approach this year, but what that is, I wouldn't know.

Geez we need this one. Add another class outside mid either by trade or draft/development and we have the makings of a side well and truly capable of finals.

Exactly, my opinion. I am entitled to not like the bloke, like lots of footy fans don't like like certain footy personalities. Completely harmless, and I'm sure he isn't going to lose any sleep over some peanut on a fan forum not liking him, like you seem to be. I really don't want to get into an Essendon thing here, but those comments rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, and showed a lack of understanding of the drug code. And from a head coach, I, like others, find that a little bit unnerving.

Haha wtf? As I said, he is clearly a good coach and they obviously love playing for him. BUT, those comments re Essendon were massively concerning coming from a head coach of an AFL club.

Hogan runs a big arc whenever kicking from 40+. Clearly struggles with the distance. Last year he had it under control, but this year his set shots are all over the place in general.