Rodney (Balls) Grinter

For me, I'd like to see Oscar in for Smith as I think he provides much better structure and predictability within our backline. Weid in for Jackson - Jackson just isn't ready yet. I'd also consider bringing in Lockhardt for Nev. Part of me would also like to bring in Kosi, but I'm honestly torn at who's expense it should be at. Perhaps I need to watch the game again, but I thought that ANB was actually one of our better players.

Interesting that under more limited playing numbers on the field (14 a side or whatever) that two key forwards kick 5 goals each and take a bunch of marks. The combination of unlimited interchange numbers, four on the bench, flooding defensive 50m and zone defenses has absolutely butchered the free flowing, 1 on 1 contested character of our game. Perhaps instead of cutting game time, the AFL need to get more radical and aggressive on limiting rotations and perhaps even dropping back to 16 a side and two on the bench?

Is pleasing to read from the reserves match review that Bradke played almost a full game in the ruck and had a good game. Perhaps it's starting to click for him and his development will accelerate from here. Also pleasing from the perspective that it permitted Weid to play mostly forward and that he too seemed to find some marking form (whatever actually means in a semi scratch match under non typical fielded player numbers). I also take some hart in Oscar reportedly getting back some confidence.

It honesty baffles me that Jackson was selected ahead of Weid against Carlton. To me Jackson's lack of performance in preseason games had shown that he was some way off being ready for AFL footy. It's not that Weid set the world on fire during the preseason, but he looked more competitive from Jackson, particularly considering Weid was being played somewhat out of position as an undersized ruckman. At least Weid has more of a mature body now than Jackson and the Weid has a reasonable track record of what he can do when fit. Would have been a fair slap in the face for Weid to have Jackon selected ahead of him on the weekend. If it was me, I'd be selecting Weid in 22 against Essendon.

Max is pretty good at knowing when he needs to drop back into defense to help plug a hole when we are under pressure, but I'm struggling to think of any other players we have that make these kind of adjustments.

Agree.

I'm not entirely rapped with how yesterday panned out, but not completely shattered either. So many are pointing the finger at Goodwin, but I think that's a bit harsh in some respects. From what I understand, the role of runners is now even more limited than it once was, meaning there isn't that much oppertunity for coaches to swing changes or get messages out to players when the game is in motion. The players need to start recognising what's going on and make some changes themselves. Our on ball brigade aren't fresh rookies these days and need to stand up and take on the responsibility themselves. If there was a quarter that nearly lost us the game more than any other, it was the third quarter. I wasn't unhappy with the second given we had built a good lead in the first and then essentially held that when they threw everything at us. But we should have done more to reset at half time and either broke even again or preferably extended our lead in the third. Once they got within a few goals at 3/4 time, it was always going to come down to the wire as they essentially had nothing to loose and all the pressure was on us. I did think we showed reasonable composure in the last quarter - the Melbourne of old would have thrown that game. Patracca's steadying goal against the run of play was critical and I thought it was a huge credit to him the way he took responsibility for it and composure to nail it.

It's just a pity is was a shortened game, such that the final margin flatters them somewhat.

Seriously, what is the AFL thinking letting the current serving president of one particular club serve on this panel? A bit like Scomo letting an ex-oil and gas executive loose with public policy. Conflict of interest much?

Merge that finacial black hole of GWS with Hawthorn and send them to Tassie. There, that solves it Jeff, now F#%K off.

Are we still going on about how to pronounce Hadley's last name? @Demonland , I think we need to pitch to get Harley on for a podcast interview just so we can set this straight ?. Plus, he hasn't even played a game for us yet and I sense he's already becoming a bit of a fan favorite (watch out Nev).

I probably could have come to respect that somewhat. At least Nic Nat wouldn't have just been leaving because he was a money hungry slimy little turd.

Rivers looks like he has a pretty mature head on him. Kosi looks like he belongs. Harley knows how to play the game and probably is the sort of player who you would rarely play a game in the seconds if you thought he was fit and conditioned. The way I see it Jackson is mainly there to just bring the ball to ground, but then will probably also stretch your average key position back for mobility once it hits the ground. I don't have that many concerns in that regards. Seven changes is a lot to make to a team at once, from the perspective of team cohesion, but I think most teams will be in a similar boat having not played in months, except for the really mature ones like WC, Richmond and perhaps Geelong and Collingwood.

Somewhat surprised with the selection of Hunt, but in other ways not. From the vision of practice match I saw of him against North, he didn't exactly set the world on fire offensively, but I thought his pressure acts, chasing and harassing of the opposition were pretty good. On his day he can be pretty damaging as we saw from his ability to provide a target and kick goals for us last year. In summary I don't have any real concerns of him holding his own and with his inclusion in the side, it could give us a good opportunity to at the least match them or more probability stretch them for pace all over the ground and give either him or one of our players a good oppertunity to cut loose.

That wouldn't surprise me. My recollection isn't that great on this matter, but I think Garry and Brett are/were in-laws too, so there may also be a natural affection on that basis too.

I get the distinct impression that we haven't paid overs for Harley though. Not sure there will be any GC or Freo supporters dumping sacks full of 20 cent pieces at HB's feet and not just because there will be no supporters at the game. ...and I also get the impression Harley can still kick well over 35m too!

It always amazes me listing to Sky News commentators endlessly bleating on about the neutrality of the ABC (or lack there of in their eyes), yet Sky News doesn't even pretend to be a fair and neutral presenter of news. Listening to guys like Paul Murray, Andrew Bolt, Mark Latham etc endlessly bleating on about bloody lefties etc. I think it speaks volumes to their lack of intellect. As a paying customer of theirs, I'd really like to remove Sky News from my Foxtel subscription and redirect those funds to a genuine news service like the ABC, perhaps I should write them a letter - would be interesting to see their response.

One of the interesting considerations I think will come into play for backline selections is having players to lockdown both Betts and Jack Martin. No doubt, Nev will get assigned Betts, but that will leave us needing someone to play a role on Martin. I'm tipping that with his reported pace, Smith and/or Lockhardt might be the option for Martin.

Not on this issue perhaps, but I do recall his departure being pretty acrimonious.

If Lockhart is left out, like many are suggesting, he would be extremely stiff. Was one of our best performers over the whole preseason and my recollection is that he did ok in Rd 1 as well. I'm not necessarily saying he won't be left out, because it's a pretty dam good side we have to pick from on paper. Personally I'm betting on Lockhart retaining his spot. I think Rivers inclusion will come at Hibberds expense. The are both around the same height (well Rivers is actually slightly taller), with Hibbo probably being a bit stronger. From what I have read, Rivers is rated as having good footy smarts, similar to Hibbo. From what I have observed though, the area that Rivers really stands out is his penetrating kicking out of defense. Whilst this was something Hibberd was once highly rated for, I think it's actually now somewhat of a weakness, with way too often his kicks going to 50/50 contests or turned straight over. Conversely Rivers kicking out of defense is both penetrating, sublimely accurate and creative. Good forward entries start from the back half and similarly Hibberd's rebounds that themselves get turned over and counter rebounded can really cost us. I'd likewise see the kicking efficiency of O'Mac as one of his assets compared to Smith, but it seems like Smith may have prevailed (perhaps at Oscar's expense) on this occasion.

...for mine so proud of Harley as well to make it back this far and so proud that he will be running out in the mighty red and blue. I would have been so stoked a few years back if we could have nabbed him from GC a few years back when he decided on Freo. Just hoping that this operation has totally fixed his calfs, because it looks like he has his lifestyle issues sorted now. Could turn out to be one of the recruiting coupes of the decade. It was simultaneously heart breaking and inspiring to watch Jack Trengrove fight his way back from his long term injuries, only to never really impact as a footballer in the same way he once had. I get the sense it's going to be different for Harley and he will still be a gun player.

Classy comments from Nic Nat. Like a few others, I rated and still rate Watts, his kicking efficiency and ability to hit-up targets inside 50 is something the side could well do with now. But I also get the impression that Nic Nat is a pretty solid citizen and we would have done well to pick him also.

Probably not permitted due to the contamination risk.

Until this point, the MFC has kept Harley pretty well shielded from the media glare, so his interview earlier today was one of the few times we've actually heard him speak. A few other key things I took away from the interview with Harley: 1. He is clearly someone who loves footy and playing footy; 2. When he spoke of the emotional response of those close to him about the news of his selection, it's pretty clear how much playing again means to Harley and he seemed genuinely greatful to the MFC for the oppertunity to have another go; 3. People often question Goodwins worth. It's well acknowledged that one of Goodwin's strengths is to build strong relationships with his players. To hear Harley speak of Goodwin as being like a father figure to him outside of the game, to me having that kind of respect from your players is exactly one of the qualities which good senior coaches have. I also got the impression that this life mentoring from Goodwin has been one of the keys to Harley getting back to where he is now. Just imagine if he got that sort of guidance and made that kind of connection with Guy MeKenna and others at Gold Coast - his career might have turned out quite differently.

And in Kosi, hopefully we have a fine young padawan to learn under the tutelage of a master.