Wiseblood

Agreed. I know it's a small sample size, but after two rounds we've won 6 of the 8 quarters we have played. That's level with both Port and the Giants, who are unbeaten to start the season. We are also averaging 60 inside 50s a game; again, it's a small sample size but it shows that we having no problems winning the footy and getting it forward. Our efficiency going forward still needs a little work, but that's another thing that can be fixed. Bottom line is that we have a game plan that can win us games. Once we get a few more games under the belt and we start to settle a little, then I think you're right in that these lapses may begin to subside. I'd still like to see a few game plan tweaks as well, but I also think that will come as the games this season progress.

All good, Steve. I know we share some different perspectives on the club, but at the core of it all we just want what is best for our club and to see it succeed.

Classic Saty. Gets stuck into people for having an opinion, and when he's challenged on it he raises his hands in the air and claims it's just 'his opinion.'

Yes, they were poor, but we still had to play well to put the score on the board. If we were playing badly as well then it would have been 2 goals each at half time. We played much better footy in the first half and we got the reward for it.

The Dogs are just foul. We might have our issues, but these guys just stink at the moment.

At the moment they're getting a pass... just. I think the basis of our game plan is very good. When we're on, we're on, and we can match it with any other team in the league. Our contested possession game is great, we get our fair share of inside 50s and when our pressure is up, especially across half forward, our defence works in sync with them and they can repel most forward thrusts. Our problem, as well know, is what happens when things aren't going our way. The momentum shifts but our general game plan stays the same for too long. We need that Plan B and learn to sense danger and enact it before teams kick a heap of goals on the trot. To me, Goodwin hasn't shown that he has the capacity to understand when something isn't working and make the changes. Is it inexperience? Is it stubbornes? Or is it a little bit of both? If they can work out what to do when teams get a run on then we'll be hard to beat. The problem we face is finding out what that Plan B is and implementing it when [censored] hits the fan.

Amen to that. If he kicked more than he handballed then he would be considered one of the Top 10 players in the game already. He stood up for us in the second half when others didn't - he had 23 touches of his own in the third and fourth quarters. He had 35 touches, 22 of them contested to go with 11 clearances and 8 tackles. He does it every week without blinking an eye. Absolute superstar.

Yes, very true. I don't understand why he felt the need to attack me, though. I was just making a simple point and he threw his arms up in the air with his holier than thou attitude and pontificated on something that had nothing to do with my post.

I thought my point was simple - we play better on the road than we have in the past (hell, we even found it difficult during the Daniher years at times), and it's good to see. That's fact. You're right - it has nothing to do with our meltdowns, but my post wasn't in relation to that at all. I've discussed it elsewhere in great length. If you took a moment to stop looking at yourself in the mirror and reminding yourself that you're better than everyone else, you might have realised that. Shuffle along, Steve.

Classic Demonland. If someone isn't dominating inside the first 2 games of arriving at the club then he's no good, we paid overs and our FD are a joke.

I think that's pretty much spot on, Doc. The moment they start winning the clearances is the moment the ball goes flying over those two defenders off the back of the square and it really does put us under the pump. What I'd like to see is some semblance of a Plan B - when the momentum shifted in the third, it should be up to our leaders to notice what is happening and implement the agreed upon changes, whatever they are. I know many of us get annoyed at our 'leaders' when things go wrong, but if the coach wants to stick to the game plan regardless, then there isn't much they can do in terms of changing it on field. The run on of goals is really our only problem at the moment, and one that can be fixed. I think our defenders do a great job and are made to look bad when a team gets a roll on as our pressure drops, we lose important one on one contests and their forwards have so much space to burn.

I've heard otherwise. Good enough?

What a load of crap.

We shouldn't overlook the fact that we've improved immensely when playing on the road. 5 years ago we would be lucky to kick 6 goals when we played interstate. Now, in the last 12 months, we've secured wins in Adelaide, Perth and now Brisbane, three places where we have struggled mightily in the past. It's the sign of an improving side and that we are learning to win anywhere we play.

True, but every team who makes the 8 have some bad games during the season. Hell, Richmond were flogged by the Saints in the middle of the last season. No sides dominate every week. It's what you do in those games that you struggle in that counts. We got the lollies today which is a positive, but as you say, we have some issues that need fixing. Hopefully we sung the song and moved on quickly.

Why would that be funny? I reckon it's bloody brilliant, Skuit. He's kicked off the season with two ripper games.

No idea, Cards. Sorry. Someone else might be able to shed some light on it though.

Why didn't he realise it last week? Or in the numerous games last year where it happened? I'll always be happy with a win, but I have a few doubts about the game plan when the heat is on. When we have the momentum we look a million bucks, but when the momentum changes we look like a deer in headlights.

I love it, Clint. Drop 4 blokes after a win yet you have no idea who to bring in for them. Clearly you've thought it through. I can see possibly Frost getting a run, but the rest are probably okay. Bugg offered more than Hannan, Lewis is no chance at this stage of being dropped and apart from one howler Wagner continues to build his confidence. If anything, Salem and Hunt are on the shakier ground. Hunt had just 6 touches while Salem, apart from a few good kicks forward, had little influence for the second week in a row.

Not bad joeboy, but I disagree on Vince. Zorko may have got off the leash a little in the second half but he completely shut him out of the game in the first half. He generally limited his influence and did a good job.

We've been using this exact game plan since Goodwin took over. 2 off the back of the square, win the contested ball and get it forward. Sometimes we look terrific, other times we're okay and then there are times where teams run all over us and we don't know what to do. My only criticism of Goody at the moment is that he seems a little stubborn and unwilling to implement something else when things aren't going our way. Teams get a sniff and go bang, piling on goal after goal. We need to learn to get better at this and be willing to tweak things more often when we sense the momentum shifting.

The huge positive for me was Hogan's performance. 23 touches, 9 marks, 5 goals and a ripping chase down in the second term. He looks fit, hungry and ready to tear the competition apart. When he plays like this we are such a better side for it. Long may it continue!

After half time it was a horrible performance. There is no disguising that. We let them get a sniff and couldn't do anything about it... until they got level and we woke up. Why it took till then I won't understand but regardless, we won. We'll take it. Hogan was awesome, Garlett returned to form well and Oliver was excellent in the guts. I thought Tyson was handy in his return and, in general, our high half forwards were better than last week. It still begs the question though - where is our Plan B? When the Lions got going we were still doing the 2 players off the back of the square, and instead of sensing the danger and stopping that, we were stubborn and almost paid a high price for it. Why didn't we put a man behind the play early in the last, soaked up some pressure and then went in for the kill? Why didn't we at least go man on man? A few times early in the last we went forward, only to kick it to a 4 on 2 and have it run out there with ease. That's not good enough. But remember this tonight when you're angry: St. Kilda, Carlton and Collingwood all lost winnable games today. The Pies were in a winning position and lost, while the Blues and Saints lost games they shouldnt' have. The Bombers are also in the same position against a mob they should be beating. At the end of the day we still won, even if it was very, very ugly. Now I'm off to bed so I can rise early for an Easter Egg hunt my daughter was excited about before bed. At least I'll be able to smile in the morning while she does it!

Take some advice, Cassie - don't go the man like you have. There's no need, especially in an emotional setting like this. Discuss their posts, and feel free to disagree, but playing the 'I've been through it all' card and getting stuck in to people won't win you any friends. Keep supporting the Dees and keep getting behind them.

[censored] I love Jesse Hogan.