Wiseblood

Here are the AFLCA votes for Round 1 - no surprise to see Oliver topped the votes. ST KILDA v MELBOURNE 9 Clayton Oliver (Melb)5 Max Gawn (Melb)5 Bernie Vince (Melb)4 Jordan Lewis (Melb)3 Nathan Jones (Melb)2 Jesse Hogan (Melb)2 Nick Riewoldt (StK)

I'll sound like a sook, but I preferred it when they provided highlights of all the goals after a win. First world problems, really, and the goals above are all rippers so I can't really complain.

Hogan was on crutches - purely precautionary, guaranteed to play this week.

Simply won't happen. He had his moments on the weekend, but for a bloke who hasn't played much footy in 18 months he wasn't all that bad. He'll be much better for the run.

Did you mean games, or are you penciling in losses already?

One other thing I noticed about the game yesterday was our willingness to kick on the opposite foot when it was required. I know it was a focus over summer, but it was great to see our players use it so well. Mitch Hannan was a prime example - his kick forward on his non preferred early in the game meant that Garlett had the space to run on and kick the goal, rather than trying to go back on to his left and potentially missing that chance. That was just one example but there were others during the game as well. It just adds an extra element to our game that, already, is paying some dividends.

While we bide our time, we'll let everyone jump on board the drug cheat bandwagon instead and then watch it go down in flames. It's almost as if they're the only team in the competition if you go by the papers today.

Good to see this positivity from you, OD. You must have loved every minute of it yesterday!

Will Ross Lyon see out the year if Freo keep playing like this? They've got Fyfe, a few decent players and the rest are... meh. They could be in for another long season.

They were horrible because we made them look horrible. Don't forget that. It was the same in the first quarter for about 10-15 minutes when their pressure and foot skills made us look 3 steps behind them.

Nothing wrong with being excited after a Round 1 win, though. It's different to being enthusiastic and over the top about our chances this season. I think what others have touched on is correct - yesterday felt different. At no stage, once we got on top, could I see us giving the game away and we were in control for basically three quarters of footy. For the first time in a long time I truly believe that most teams will not look forward to playing us, no matter where it is. As Gorgoroth says, if we're 5-1 after 6 rounds then we can start looking a little further ahead. Until then I'll be happy with the win but temper those expectations until we prove we can do it on a consistent basis. Beating Carlton next week, a type of game we've struggled with recently, will be a good start.

I don't think we've gotten ahead of ourselves at all. We've thoroughly enjoyed the win, but nowhere have I seen supporters banging on about Top 4 or our chances of a flag. We've spent too long down the bottom of the ladder to get ahead ourselves. If anything, it's been pleasing to see most keep the lid on and mention that we need to back it up next week.

I don't like getting stuck into players, but, Oscar does give reason to from time to time. He has some talent and he's still finding his feet so he deserves some time to develop, but at the same time he's fumbly, prone to mistakes and can be easily pushed aside in a marking contest. He does things that make you groan which is never a good thing. I've got plenty of faith that he will improve out of site as he gets older, but we can let bias get in the way - the kid makes mistakes, and as a key backman, they are mistakes that can cost us goals.

I reckon you're right, SJ. As we knew before the game, he is very good above his head, but both of his goals last night were the result of being in the right place at the bottom of a pack. It's another string to his bow that he can use to good effect and he'll be hard to match up on. I suspect he may be rested from time to time as he picks up the overall pace and demands of his first season at AFL level, but guys like Kent won't get getting an easy ride in the side from now on. We've got serious depth now and it can only make us better.

It's certainly another feather in the cap for Jason Taylor, but kudos to everyone else at the club for still having him ready to play, even after he arrived at the club with a shoulder injury. To manage his load and development from there to yesterday is a terrific effort for all involved and we reaped the rewards big time.

Let's hope so. Although the Eagles look destined to be a top 4 side, so you could argue that the loss isn't as bad as it looks. North are headed down the ladder, how far that is will determine his fate.

Storm in a tea cup. Fine, at best.

I'll echo the thoughts of others - Tyson is the logical replacement for Smith IF they deem him fit enough and ready to go. Last year we made the mistake of playing Brayshaw against the Bombers before he was ready and we paid the price, so I doubt we'll make that mistake again. Bugg and Harmes are the other two on the cusp, and they may see Bugg as someone who can play off half back, even if his disposal can be a little suspect.

I'd say so. I don't think there was a whole lot in it to be honest. If he was extremely unlucky then you would think he might miss a week, but nothing more than that.

Agreed, and he's also pretty handy to have around the contests as well. It's working well so there is no need to change it.

No. Gawn once again showed today why he is much better as the sole ruckman with little breaks here and there. Spencer is a decent back up and he'll be ready to go if need be. But today showed that there is not room in the same side for both of them.

I told you that you were wrong, Wiz. It was a ridiculous post at the time and looks even worse now. I hope you were able to find some way to enjoy the win, though.

Neither side are doing much, really. Hawks are certainly not the same side they were, but it was bound to happen. Guys like Gibson and Burgoyne aren't far away from retirement either, so they will certainly slide down the ladder in the coming years.

Goodwin even mentioned himself that the turn around after quarter time was the players getting back to playing 'our' way - there would have been some minor tweaks and a few reminders in there, but as you say, there wasn't anything more than that.

Smith may be the only forced change, and you would think Dom Tyson (if he got through today without any hassles) would be in line to come back in. That may mean Salem is pushed to half back a little to cover Smith and to allow for Tyson to come in. What I'm getting at is that ANB won't be dropped off the back of that performance.