Wiseblood

So what? We have to do everything like Hawthorn and Geelong? Times change and clubs are different in their approach. Just because a club does it one way doesn't mean we need to as well. Nathan Jones is a big boy - he was disappointed at first, but clearly got over it pretty quick. If he can get over a decision that affects him so quickly then we can too. I don't get the worry or problem with this at all.

Interesting that you potted the end result, saying we weren't 'switched on' for the game with so many Melbourne players in the side, yet you freely admit that there was lots of rotation going on in the second paragraph, and you can't even comment on the third quarter at all. How you can be so sure of everything is quite baffling. And of course they would play bruise free footy in a VFL practice game. Why risk the injuries a week out from Round 1? For many it was getting some run in the legs.

Yes they are, and that's what makes Demonland, on the whole, a good place to talk about the club. How you present that perspective is what counts, though. Rangie's came across as spiteful, in particular towards Watts, when it didn't need to be.

Not for me, although the fact he singled out Watts for a whole paragraph and decided to focus on the negatives in a 50 point win speaks volumes. The best reports are the ones that give us both sides of the story, and I thought Drunkn did that well. Rangie, not so much.

Who's the third? Garland and Frost are the two, legit talls who will be missing. Wagner and Hibberd are flankers. I reckon we'll be okay. The Saints are good on the rebound, but I think we can handle them one on one.

Terrible news for Col. He isn't best 22 but he is a more than capable replacement for an injured player. We do have others who can play his role, but I'm not so sure they can play it as well as he could (eg. Keilty and Pedersen). Let's hope the McDonald boys get through the season unscathed.

I don't think so. It's only a practice game so I highly doubt it will be televised. I'm sure there will be some who can make the game and will provide updates throughout the day. That's probably your best bet.

As so many mentioned before, his commitment to training was awful. I still remember Andy Lovell reciting a story once of how Jako would train for a bit, say he needed to head back inside to pee and then not return. It happened quite regularly.

That's correct. He also reached 100 goals in just 21 games, which equalled the record set by John Coleman. What a player he was. He could miss absolute sitters and then dob one from the boundary on his left. He could have had so many more goals too if he kicked straighter. Didn't he kick 4.11 in 1994 against the Hawks at Waverley?

Huge weekend for a host of players as there are still a handful of spots up for grabs. All I want is a weekend of no injuries and some solid performances from guys like Tyson, Watts, Jetta, Kent, Garlett etc so they are right to go for Round 1.

Possibly, but I still don't like it. I can't see Spencer being able to do anything different to what Gawn would be doing, plus I'm not a huge fan of Gawn playing forward unless he has drifted there while in the ruck. Less than a week till we find out how we line up and I'm fascinated to see what Goody goes with.

Totally agree. I see no need at all to tinker with a winning combination, which was Gawn rucking and having a pinch hitter giving him a rest. Why they think sending him forward more often and putting Spencer in there is beyond me. I know some will say that he needs more of a rest, but this isn't the way to do it.

And you look ridiculous when you make silly comments like this. It makes no difference other than $$$$$. It doesn't look bad at all. I have no doubt one will be signed up within the next month. As long as we get full dollars then it matters little.

Works for me. Keep the Grand Final for the afternoon and play the Frand Final after it as the twilight game. Win/Win in my book.

As I said, the bloke can take a mark. No doubt about it, but he does get plenty out the back as well. His contested marking stat doesn't change that fact.

The fact that we're even in the discussion for a Top 8 spot is enough for me at the moment. Can't be too greedy when you consider where we've come from.

That was pretty much my point. He is beatable one on one, but he kicks bags on us as we let him kick easy ones out the back. Stop that, stop Membrey.

Not only that, but Membrey gets can absolute truck load of goals by just hanging out the back. He can take a mark, but when he kicks a bag it's thanks to the pressure up the ground that allows him to get uncontested marks out the back of the zone.

The other info from this is that Frost is a definite out for Round 1 as he'll be playing for Casey that weekend. I'll be interested to see how the back line shapes up - does Jetta play the third tall or does Garland get the call up?

I heard a few players were missing a couple of stops from their football boots. They were duly reprimanded by the leadership group.

Did you read DeeSpencer's report? He said that he got pushed aside in the contest and landed heavily on his shoulder. That can easily happen. For what it's worth, I don't think Watts is injured, but you can easily come off second best in a marking contest by being pushed aside and landing heavily.

Dees by 10 goals. Hogan loves Etihad and he'll kick 12 on Carlisle and Brown. Viney to have 40 touches and slam Mav Weller into the turf once again. The McDonald brothers to have 20 intercept marks and not miss a target. I'm being conservative here, too.

I certainly hope the players don't look at it this way, otherwise we'll never break the hoodoo. Classic MFCSS, though, Ralph. Building yourself up for the loss already to soften the blow. Have some faith, man! No doubt the Saints play it Etihad well and their style of play can cut us apart if we're not on our game, but, I'd like to think we have improved further over the summer and we can bridge that gap better than we have in the past. Our pressure around the ball is terrific and I really do feel as though our midfield, as a whole, is better than theirs. If Maxy can get on top of his Hickey and give us first use then it goes along way to winning the game.

Yeah, look. It's not flash. I thought a few years back the content was pretty decent, but it seems that they've dropped the ball over the past 18 months or so. And it's the little things, too - not updating pictures, late or non-existent reports, no news about injuries etc. I think they do okay on pre and post match interviews and the like, but it's not enough. I actually think they put more effort these days into, for example, their Instagram account. The problem with this is that it's just pictures, and it gives very little information about anything else. I know they're trying to keep up with the times, but they don't need to let the website slip like they have. It's a little unprofessional.

Definitely. There is some serious quality in their midfield. However, if you can stop some of that quality then you'll win the game as their defensive and forward halves of the ground are extremely mediocre. But, as you say, they'll probably trouble a few more sides this year.