Wiseblood

I know some bemoan the lack of leadership at times, but our midfield deserve some kudos. Even without a proper ruckman, and in the last fortnight they've had to contend with two of the best ruckmen in the competition, they have still been able to win their fair share of clearances and keep us in the contest. I think it's easy to over look how hard they have been working and how they have had to change their focus from roving to Max to roving to the opposition ruckman and being able to counter what they are doing. I went to the game yesterday and said to a mate of mine who is a North supporter that they had Goldstein to fall back on all day. When things got tight, Goldy got them first use and the all important clearance. As our talls tired Goldy didn't get smaller and we just couldn't contend with that. Oliver learned a valuable lesson yesterday as well. He spent too much time trying to square up after the Higgins punch to his jaw, rather than answering them with the ball in his hands. He'll get better from that.

I had Norf supporters around me who were clapping that decision. Ignorant wastes of space. Wood clearly knocked his handpass over the line and they called it deliberate. On a day of shocking decisions, that was the worst. Not only that, the umpire who was there called it out, yet another umpire from 50 meters away over ruled him. Ridiculous.

Yeah, Goodwin has thrown the towel in after 9 games. There you go, drawing that long bow again Robin.

We are a different side this year and we're hamstrung without two of our best 5 players. Midfielders can be easier to cover, talls not so much. I'd like to see how other sides go without these two players (eg. GWS without Cameron and Mumford). They would be in the same boat. If supporters can't see that we've improved then that's totally up to them, but they're wrong.

We're never going to be a consistent side without a ruckman and our best forward. We'll win some, we'll lose some and we'll be wildy inconsistent. We are a totally different side now, though. We are tough around the contest, never out of the game and when we learn how to win the games we should then everything will click nicely. If we had of lost today with a full strength side THEN I'd be far more disappointed. In this case, I'm not.

Totally agree. Gawn in the ruck with Hogan, Watta and Pedo is the way to go forward for the time being. Hopefully we have Gawn and Hogan back in the side after the bye.

Melksham I agree with, but I'm more on the positive side with Lewis. Thought he was better today and kicked a real leader's goal in the last that we didn't capitalize on. But he still needs to get better.

I reckon Melksham will come in to the side, possibly for Wagner, although I'm not confident on that. Do we drop Weideman? No one could argue that he is horribly out of form, but can we actually do it? And if so, who do we bring in? Is Tim Smith ready to come straight back into the side, or do we go with another small? I actually have no idea of the changes this week.

I thought Buggy was alright today as well. He gets himself in good positions, as evidenced by his four shots on goal, and if he's more accurate then it's a great game, not just a good one. His accuracy hurt us, but at least he was giving us something at that end when many others weren't. And I know it's been said many times, but Michael Hibberd has just been super for us since he's come into the side. Exceeding all expectations so far.

Really well said, rjay. Goodwin is doing all he can - he even shifted McDonald into the ruck to start the last term and was happy to swing some changes when he felt it was required. Goodwin, as you said, wasn't outcoached. We were outplayed and there is a big difference.

Weideman is the biggest loser as part of our injury crisis. The kid shouldn't be playing. But with no Gawn, Spencer and Hogan, and with Pedersen doing the majority of the ruck work, they need him in the side. I feel bad for the kid as he clearly isn't ready, but we seemingly have little choice. Hell, even Tim Smith is still injured. We just have to stick with it for the time being.

I don't feel angry about this loss, even though I should. I'm not sure why really. We should have won this game but I still feel as though we had a red hot go and were undone by things outside of control (mostly, anyway). Their height had us covered all day and we could do little about it. Most will smash Oscar for it, but Ben Brown was too tall for him and when he was allowed to get a run at it Oscar had little chance. I'm not sure what else he can do. I still feel as though we need another key backman, though. What I got out of today was that we missed Jesse big time this week. Watts and Weideman didn't trouble the scorers and both Thompson and Tarrant were too strong in the contest for them. With Hogan, he can beat both of those one on one or at worst get the ball to ground. We didn't have that today and it meant our smalls, like Garlett and Kent, were kept out of the game. We kept bombing it in and they kept marking it. Not much our small players can do in this situation. The last thing I got out of the game is that we're now a side who are never out of the contest. Even after a horrid first term I knew we would bounce back... and we did. We might not have won, but that will come. We aren't pushovers anymore and sides can't walk all over us anymore. Once we learn how to win more consistently then we'll be a tough side to play. Finally, kudos to Mitch Hannan who played superbly today. I was really impressed with his efforts.

You're allowed when it's Richmond. You're ALWAYS allowed to gloat when Richmond is involved. They bring it on themselves.

If the Saints really thought that moving him on would be beneficial for both parties, then they should do it at the end of this year while he stock is still high enough to get something good in return. Another year of what he is doing and you would suggest not too many teams would be knocking their door down to get him.

@Nasher has given some good responses as to why it won't happen, so I'll leave it to him to answer this one!

If we get up today then, to me, it will be the season defining win everyone is talking about. If we can finally back up a good game with another good game, then that should set us up for the rest of the season and give the players the confidence that they can do it every week. God I hope we win. Sick of going in to these games feeling extremely nervous.

True, but Jacobs would have been the biggest threat last week and we all know how that worked out. Pedersen just needs to make him earn it and then beat him around the ground. He's more than capable.

Another one behind the paywall, but well worth a read if you can get around it: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/melbourne/christian-petracca-has-lofty-ambitions-and-the-confidence-to-help-him-get-there/news-story/35182e694d13a8a0f4714ae491eaed2b I didn't put the click bait title in the heading as it would make Trac sound arrogant, which is not the nature of the article, but the best part of it was the final few sentences which read: “I want to be that person that can play midfield, but one who can rest forward to go deep if the game is in the balance.” He’ll be doing that in red and blue. Out of contract at the end of next season, he said re-signing was a formality. “I absolutely love it here,” he said. Amen to that, Trac. What a great thing to read on a Sunday morning. You are welcome to sign a long term deal whenever you like my friend!

Yep, but because it's the Pies the media will be all over their 'sensational' and 'inspirational' comeback.

The Lions are going absolutely nowhere. Players can't wait to get out of the joint and no one of any worth wants to head up there. Fagan did alright in the early going but they have a long, long road ahead of them.

Holy hell would I love to see the Giants snatch this one late on. Not sure they can get there, but they're only 7 points down with some time left.

Incredibly risky when you consider that King has shown nothing to suggest he has what it takes to play at AFL level. I'm no Spencer fan, but until there is someone to trade for/draft/develop that is better than him or at least equal to him, then I can't see us trading him. I just don't think it would be a good move.

I think he'll be a good squad player and a best 22 player, but he's out of form at the moment. He isn't damaging enough with his disposals yet and doesn't give us a whole lot without the ball in his hands. I really like Stretch and all you hear about is how hard he works at training to improve himself as a player, and I think he'll get there in time, but right now he isn't in our best side.

Fair point there, VP. We have plenty who can play through there if required, and I feel as though we are releasing Hunt to play more a wing role as the season progresses. I'd still take a look at Zak Jones if he was coming at the right price, both in terms of how we would get him and the contract he would be on.

That's all that matters. They both had huge last quarters, but without them the Cats are distinctly average and they play fair weather footy.