Wiseblood

I'd add Kent to the mix as well, especially over long distances. He isn't the most consistent, I'll admit that, but he can hit targets that are 50-60 metres away.

Slightly off topic, but I wonder if we keep the 2017 first rounder or look to trade it. I know they are saying it's going to be a 'strong draft' but we already have the youngest list in the comp. If we can use it to get in some quality talent in the 23-25 year old range then I'd be happy for us to trade it.

I know some will complain that he won't give much away, but he will once again talk up the club and our prospects and say all the right things. We can't ask much more than that.

That would be in a perfect world, Rod. I'd be all for it, but I doubt it will happen.

From what I've seen, and others can correct me or add more to it, he is a very good running defender who is a beautiful kick of the footy and more than holds his own in a one on one situation. At 27 he is hitting his prime and he will be an excellent addition to our half back line, potentially releasing the likes of Hunt and Salem to play more through the wings and midfield.

Not surprising, really. I think we always had him in the bag, the challenge now is how we get him without Essendrug demanding three first round picks and Max Gawn as part of the trade.

Edit - quoted the wrong person, stuffed up my post. Couldn't save it...

His response to titan calling him out as a hypocrite was hilarious. His attempt to cover his tracks made him look silly.

Ah, fair enough mate, didn't realise we were only just above it.

We've been in every game this year. We have had some poor losses, but we've never been smashed. I see no reason why that can't continue next week.

I did, pages ago. Just as pretty much everyone else did. You seemed to have missed that.

I thought it was just about winning for you... ? I'd love to hear how you think some twist events and outcomes, as I think every poster in here acknowledged that it was a terrible performance today, but as always it's still a relief to take the 4 points. I know you like to think you're some sort of oracle, and that people can't see all parts of the game, but you're quite wrong on this one.

You're following me around like a bad smell. Hogan will be terrific. What a pity you not only can't see it, but seem to enjoy it.

Lynch is almost the best tall forward in the league at the minute, and has many pre-seasons over Hogan. I get that you're not being critical of Hogan at all in this regard, and I agree that his ceiling is higher, but because Jesse has been so good early in his career it means supporters over-react when he has some down weeks, which a kid of his age is bound to have.

I'd be spitting the dummy too if I got the sort of delivery he got today. Works both ways.

Is that the attitude that saw him running up and down the ground to get to position before his injury?

And now we've stooped to potting our leading goal kicker, who is barely 21, and only in his second full season of football. Not to mention that he spent the second half injured. Stay classy, Demonland.

Could be a variety of players up for a rest/dropped. For me, it might be: In: Kennedy, Bugg, Weideman, Oliver Out: Harmes, Garlett, Dawes, Hogan Or something like that anyway. We could use some fresh legs at any rate, and Kennedy, Bugg and Oliver provide us with that. Weideman to come in for Hogan if his knee injury doesn't improve.

Roos in his presser - "wait and see if Weideman plays this year." Possibly a chance next week, especially if Hogan doesn't get up?

The players were happy they won, but they certainly didn't go overboard about it. I think someone mentioned earlier in the thread that they overheard Petracca say "4 points is 4 points, boys", so it's clear they know that they were well below their best.

I think you did, Brendan! Hope the little fella is okay!

Injured.

I get what you're saying, but we have 8 wins now. If we hadn't improved then we wouldn't be at that point. Yes, we were abysmal, but the abysmal Melbourne of years gone by would have been beaten today by 8 goals.

I'll take it. It was the worst game of football that I've seen in a long time, but we won. Did we deserve it? No, but then we deserved to win last week so it works both ways. I'll let the others go with the negatives as there were plenty and I hate typing them out. Positives - Jack Watts stood up for us today which was fantastic. Stretch was good, after a poor first quarter and a half Vanders was a bit of X-Factor up forward, Petracca showed some flashes of brilliance, Brayshaw seems to be getting back to form and I thought our backline stood up well under pressure, especially considering how poorly we turned the ball over through the middle and up forward. If we play like that next week Hawthorn will MURDER us, but consider this: We now have 8 wins, 1 more than last year, and we still have 4 chances to build on it. Let's hope we can.

The worst win I've ever seen. Ever.