Wiseblood

Like how we fought back against Adelaide, or worked our way back into the game a fortnight ago? If anything we prefer the heat being on - when we're favourites we struggle.

We didn't get rid of him, he asked to leave. Not much you can do about that.

Clayton Oliver has had 5 clearances. The rest of the team, combined, has had 6. The kid is a gun, but we can't win games with a stat like that. Mids need to lift in a big way in the second half.

Shuffled back here to say we're still in it. Yeah, we've been poor. No one would argue that. But Goodwin has shown that he can swing the changes and motivate the side to get themselves back in it. This game is far from over... I hope...

I knew this would happen. I don't want to be one of 'those' posters, so I think I'll shuffle off and come back later. Thanks Dees.

Their pressure is immense at the minute, we're not getting any clean disposal. We have to stick with it here.

Hibberd stiff there, he did everything right and it just got away from him. Pies aren't that flash, we just need to keep the scoreboard pressure on and they'll wilt.

We also lost the clearance count 10-2 that term, so it's even more amazing that we are in front. We will level this up going forward as well which should see us score more.

Oscar finished the last term a little better at least. Doesn't excuse his first efforts but it's good to see none the less. We've been the second best side this term IMO, yet we're in front which is a good sign. Nathan Jones was immense and Hibberd has continued his good form. Hunty has been great on his wing with his run as well. Plenty who can still lift for us which holds us in good stead.

Wasn't good, was it? Picked it up, panicked and cost us a goal with a silly kick. You could argue that the players around him could have let him know he had a little more time, but it was still a bad decision.

Yeah, because we're flush with blokes who can take one right now.

I've relented and have the game on. Feel like going the big vom, just desperate to see us wipe the floor with these muppets and get ourselves into the 8!

Ha ha, I know, I know. It won't work. If anything I'll be constantly checking my phone for score updates and giving that up 5 minutes in to watch it.

Someone reassure me that we will win this game, as I'm horribly nervous to the point of potentially not even watching it on TV and doing chores around the house. So much on the line in this game and playing the Filth makes it worse. We SHOULD win, but we have struggled in these positions and it has shown. I've got faith, but I've lost it somewhere over the bye round. If someone can find it and send it back then it would be greatly appreciated. And it's nice to be back on Demonland. The break during the bye has recharged the batteries.... well, a little anyway.

I agree. I think Wagner will be a good depth player for us, but Salem adds more for us at the minute than Wagner does. And the 'dejected' stuff at training is rubbish as well. If, and it's a big if, the 'psychologists' of Demonland could pick up body language as some claim they can, then the kid needs to grow up and understand that this stuff happens. I'd rather a player stick his head down and do everything he can to get back in the side, rather than 'sook' about it.

The Wagner stuff snowballed from him apparently being 'dejected' at training. Some get a hold of it and then the rest run with it. It's silly. The kid will be fine, but Salem is in our best side, while Wagner isn't. Not to mention that they want Salem playing midfield which will free up Jordan Lewis to play the sweeper role more often across half back. I'd rather Lewis there than Wagner at this point in time.

Best of luck to him as he hasn't had a good run at it for the last couple of years. You wonder about the surgery and it's success, as how he pulls up from it could decide if he gets another contract or not. Hopefully all goes well as he is a very good player to have across half forward.

While Spencer doesn't excite me, he can at least give us something in the ruck duels and he straightens us up. Pedersen can play the majority of the game forward, which takes the pressure off Watts, Hannan and Petracca, while T Mac straightens us up down back and takes the pressure off his brother. Because of that I'd bring Spencer in if he's fit.

Is your old man SWYL? Sounds like something he would bang on about non-stop to his kids.

Or watch him get a few early touches so the usual crowd can lament the trade and condemn the FD for ever getting rid of him.

As much as I would like him, I'm always slightly happy to see young players re-sign with their club long term. I know we have loved seeing the commitment from our younger players over the past couple of years, so to see others do it in the face of growing free agency is good to see. Even if it means we potentially miss out on a fantastic player. Our interest in Level may also be the reason why we have shown little interest in May to this point.

Shouldn't the players who have been good be under par, and the ones who haven't played well be below par? Or am I missing something?

How that mark in the last round didn't win mark of the year is beyond me. Okay, Winston Abraham took a ripper, but no chance it was better than Farmer's.

The fifth memory can bugger right off. What a player he was. Loved the Sandy Roberts/Bruce McAvaney commentary of his 8 goals against Norf. He was Cyril Rioli before we knew who Cyril Rioli was.

That's true, DD. I often forget that aspect when it comes to the Hawks and they've kind of shot themselves in the foot a little. If they go full rebuild they are already missing picks, but if they try and top up their list they don't have the means to do it without sacrificing a good player in the process. They have players on the list who would have currency, but they won't want to give them up. If May wants to get there then the Hawks may need to pull off an absolute miracle to get it done, but if anyone can do it then it's the Hawks.