Wiseblood

While I agree with this, and it can get tiresome, so can the constant negativity from some. It works both ways. If only we could all find that happy medium in the middle then all would be right with the world, but it will never happen.

Don't be silly, 'bub. Why would Ox pass on a letter and a cut up membership? What benefit would that be? The bloke in question knew exactly what he was doing.

The Geelong game was a young side at the end of a season with nothing to play for. Our big losses back in 2010 were still happening in the middle of the year with plenty on the line. Totally different. And two of our losses this year were on the back of our ruckman going down before half time. The other 2 we lost by 3 points. We aren't that far away and, again, it's totally different to those years prior.

I also think it's the fact that many supporters are still adjusting to the idea that we are a decent footy side - in the past a loss like Sunday's would have brought praise, but now we are changing our perspective and expectations and we're almost going too far with it. Now that we have some talent we just expect finals to happen, for the wins to roll in and for the success to come quicker than it should. It will happen, but we still need to be patient, even if we don't know how to do that with a young side choc full of talent. And this year is nothing like 2010, either. Nothing at all. No similarities whatsoever. Back then we would still get creamed by sides, come out and win next week, then go out and get creamed again. This time around we are constantly in games and you feel as though we aren't far away from 'clicking'. It's a shame the guy who cut up his membership isn't sane enough to enjoy it.

Don't worry boys, you've blazed a wonderful trail that most of us will be smart enough not to follow. You'll be lauded for centuries.

Thankfully I won't sound like you in 20 years, mate. I'll make sure of it.

Have a listen to all the old blokes waffling on about a soft underbelly and how we have been let down for decades. Clearly you guys have done nothing about it in all that time, so why whine about it now? You old fellas should cut up your membership and write a letter instead of wasting words on here.

Good post titan, and it does highlight a serious problem within our games at the minute. The challenge we face is looking at how rectify it and why it's happening. Is it inexperience? Is it lack of leadership? Is it a little bit of over confidence? You could argue that, in many of those games, we were in control and we allowed the opposition back into the contest. Carlton, Fremantle, Richmond, Geelong... we all had them on toast and, apart from Carlton, we let them back in to the game and it has cost us dearly. It's an easy problem to identify but it may be much harder to fix.

Yes, it does. Reckon we'll give them a real run for their money. Maybe, but many here were calling for a smashing this week and look what happened. We play Adelaide Oval well and I'm certain we'll go close this week.

A little from column A, a little from column B. With our list I always think we're in with a chance of winning. When have we been blown off the park this year? This coming week may be it, but I don't think it will happen.

We will. But you keep fighting the good fight, SWYL. I hope you post about it all week in every thread as per usual as it makes a huge difference to what happens on field. Send them a telegram maybe, or perhaps hop on hotmail and send them a quick email. Maybe Bartlett can call a few press conferences this week as well and lift the curse. Whatever it is, go ahead and do it. I hope it will make you feel better.

When has he been given the cattle to work with where he had the chance to do so? He's regularly knocked on here, but he's done more for this club than anyone has since the turn of the century. Hodge is lauded in this regard, and they are right do so, be he's had an unbelievable team around him to do it with. Jones has played in some horrifically bad sides and, until the last 18 months, has regularly had to play a lone hand. Leadership is still something of an issue, but again, your focus and your comments are misguided. Jones aint the problem, my friend.

I've decided to play the blind faith card this week and I'll be arguing that we can win this game all week. The first way to win will be at the selection table. In: Stretch, Kent, Kennedy Out: JKH, Bugg, Hannan Already have a feeling that Jetta will keep Betts goalless.

You're like a 14 year old girl whose parents have stopped her from going to the Justin Bieber concert. You'll yell anything at them that you think will be cutting, regardless of how silly it sounds. You can add the bolded bit to that list. Calm your farm.

Not at all. I'm hurting like everyone else, I just choose not to make ridiculous calls like you do. Big difference. And yes, I'm sure what North did some 43 years ago will work for us as well.

Righto, SWYL. I'm sure Bartlett coming out and saying something will lift the curse and we'll go on a 20 game win streak that leads to a flag. Again, you are totally clutching at straws. You are the king of total exaggeration after a loss. We go down by 3 points and you talk curses, wanting to hear from the president and that we play VFL level footy. Have a lie down, big fella, it will do you some good.

And what would you have him say, and how would it change anything?

I don't know as I'm not on the board. Send him an email. He has played a huge role in keeping PJ at the club and overseen a resurgence in the club off field. That's good enough for me, he can let the coach and guys like Mahoney and PJ do the talking. I feel like you're clutching at straws for something to complain about.

I'm not sure we can improve on what we have without breaking the bank and then having a potential domino effect on retaining other players. Some might suggest Steven May, but he would come at a huge price and one I'm not so willing to pay. What else is out there that is readily available? Lever? He may come at a cost as well. I know you have to pay to get the quality, but i'm not so sure we need to.

I blame you for the loss, SWYL. Your confidence before the game, which was so out of character, backfired and the players knew it. As for the president, he just needs to do his thing behind the scenes. No need for him to get involved.

I reckon we won't get done by more than 5 goals. Blind faith is my specialty.

No we won't, and you can quote me on that.

True, and that isn't lost on me. Having said that we got no goals from Trac, Hannan or JKH today, and we can't survive on goals from just Garlett alone in the small forward department. If one of those guys bobs up with a couple of opportunistic goals then we win the game. As it stands, both JKH and Hannan missed very gettable shots in the third term. That's a little over the top, but I get the sentiment. Kent, Harmes, Stretch and even Kennedy have been patchy at best for most of the season, and I guess the FD felt that JKH's summer deserve a run in the seniors. It hasn't worked, but the others haven't been banging the door down to take his spot. One of them will get it this week.

I'm in the same boat - my young daughter brings me back to reality pretty quick. Once the game is done I'll give myself a few moments to be angry after a loss, then I have to do whatever it takes to move on. She'll get it one day and I can be annoyed for longer, but not when she is jumping on my back seconds after the final siren. She didn't stuff up so I can't stay angry for long.

Cheers RTG, I appreciate that. Trust me when I say that the Foxtel remote was slammed into the ground when Smith kicked that goal on the run. I'm still dirty on this loss too, but I find it takes my mind off it to talk about other aspects of the game otherwise it would drive me mad!