Wiseblood

Agree with him? Picket is just using the "they allowed him to play well" card to justify his childish views. Tom played a ripper of a game, including some effective marks, spoils and rebounds from half back. Can't ask for much more from a key backman.

I'll clarify - what I meant is that, when I say I can see what Brisbane is trying to do, it's that they know they need to throw serious cash around to get players in to the club. And as you say, they are directing that cash at the wrong players. Jenkins, to me, makes little sense as well, especially at his age. If he was 25 then yes, I could understand it. But not at his age. He may only be good for another year or two, and how does he go when the delivery and gameplan are inferior? They need to keep investing in kids and looking for the right deals. Jenkins isn't one of them.

I can understand what Brisbane is trying to do, although if I were them I'd put that cash elsewhere. Schache and Hipwood have shown enough to suggest they could be very good key position forwards for the next 10-12 years, but they lack some serious class in other areas of the ground, especially down back. I'm surprised they aren't throwing big cash at Tom McDonald who would be a mega upgrade on any player they have in their backline. But to each their own. They'll need to pay top dollar to convince players to jump ship. I mean, why would Jenkins leave a premiership contender to play out his days at a cellar dwellar? The only reason is money. There was a reason Mitch Clark came to us and it wasn't our 'winning ways' that convinced him.

Jon Ralph has brought this up in an article tonight, asking the question of whether Jenkins is worth 800k or is he nothing more than a flat track bully. He commented that he rarely, if ever, leads up to the ball and his first instinct is to hang out the back looking for the easy goal. I don't believe he is worth the 800k at all and it certainly gives more credence to your point Jumbo. I'd link the article but it's behind the paywall.

I think the addition of Grimes would prove that we absolutely should NOT just blood the kids. Listen to Bolton from Carlton - all he is talking about now is getting games into the kids. They won't necessarily have earned those games, but they want to 'fast track' their development. We all know the dangers of doing this. We are now in a position where we don't need to do that. Roos and the FD will make sure they pick the BEST side each week until the season is over. Why change it now? We are building a good culture and there is no need to start blooding kids for the sake of it. They'll get their chance. If, for example, Hulett gets a game at some stage then hopefully it's because he has earned that chance, not because we want to gift him a few to finish off the year. We've done that numerous times before and look where it got us. Plus we are still, although highly unlikely, a chance to play finals. We are playing a good brand of footy and we need to stick to that. So it's time to be bold and STICK to what we are doing. No deviation for any reason.

I can't either, but gee it's good to be part of the discussion at this point of the year. It's a much better talking point than already fussing over what player we want to draft.

The backline, and the gameplan, was always going to be a work in progress this year. Most could see it, while others shook their fists at it and claimed it would never work and forward lines would decimate us. That hasn't been the case. Good sides have still been able to score against us, as Adelaide did last week, but I think we can all see it coming together. The more they play together, the better they'll become. I do agree that we probably need to get in some extra key position depth down back - do we look at a late, Marcus Adams type pick, or do we trade for it? How do we offload one of Dunn or Garland to create that room?

People keep banging on about the bright future for the Blues... but what do they have? Take away Armfield kicking 4, three of which were long bombs from outside 50, and they were only able to kick another 3 goals for the day. It just goes to show how much we've improved - we attacked the Crows all game last week and we were right in the contest. The Blues, on the other hand, were never really in it and seemingly just tried to shut the game down and get numbers behind the ball. They didn't have the ability to do much else.

Middymalt is renowned for making stuff up. I wouldn't put credence in anything he has to say.

The big plus is that he is beginning to be more consistent with his performances. Normally he would have a ripper and then drop off for a week or two, but these days he is seemingly keeping up those efforts on a week to week basis. His game tonight was excellent and he did it when the game was there to be won. As a side note, gee it's nice not having C&B around these days. Not having to read his drivel is a good thing.

You're in la-la land. That's what's too bad.

There once was a fella named Jack Against Freo it was his first game back He was put through the ringer Before flipping supporters the finger By putting in and having a crack! Welcome back, Jack!

Yep, well said. I was typing too quickly and forgot to add him in there.

I'll echo what Nasher said, and add that earlier in this thread there were many who felt we couldn't win this game. We put that to bed early with some excellent footy and, while the second half was tough to watch, it was to be expected. Our backline held up really well today with Tommy Mac playing the game we want from him each week, while the addition of White was great. Grimes also played a great game which was excellent to see. Lots of other winners around the ground - Hunt, Viney, Gawn, Hogan, Watts, Kent etc. So much to like and we won a game we should have won. Yeah, we could have won by more and kicked a few more goals, but I'll take a 32 point win every day of the week. Bring on the Saints and an end to another hoodoo next week!

Yep, both sides are very tired. Not surprising really.

Hogan! Almost took mark of the year there!

Totally lost the plot? It was 4 goals to 2. No one wins every quarter. We're a young side and we did it tough in the third term. That's life. No need to make a song and dance about it.

We needed three quarter time. You lot are never happy though. Every game has twists and turns and we tired a little late and they kicked a few. Big deal. It's pathetic the way you guys react.

Oh no, they kicked two in a row! The world is about to cave in...

That boundary umpire screwing us again, that was clearly off a Freo foot. [censored].

Too good Hoges!

Wasting chances here, although I don't think it's going to hurt us. We could be 12 goals up though.

We needed that. Lovely work from Kent again, he's having a ripper of a night.

The move of Harmes to half back has also been a ripper, as has the addition of White. Both have been excellent.