Engorged Onion

That just described my season also... mind you, i am always optimistic!

Oh, the early call... I remember Richmond and Tambling...

I am frothing for VDB to come back - however the question where does he fit and who does he replace in the current side? Anythoughts anyone?

I was a little tounge in cheek - and also it was irrespective of contract situations... mostly little bro's follow the big dog in the house :)... or go the complete opposite way of course and yer bang on @Ethan Tremblay..whatever sells the papers.

just the alternate view, but why wouldn't his brothers want to come back and play with him???

I always wondered whether mav was a relative of paul...

and at the risk of derailing...did you notice Jordan Lewis going to ground right at the end though... writing was on the wall back then ?

tasty tasty pole(c)

where's the one handed pick up against the hawkers in the highlights package ☹️

I see it that he was trusting trac to be clean and to give back once both players had committed towards trac.

if it was 7.6 at this stage - Freo would have folded and it would be a waltz with yer grandma... instead....

remember 5 weeks ago, when we bitched about high scoring games on friday nights... *cough*

Hogan... [censored] me - Hogan is Gen Z and some... wants to be all things. Mate, lead up from the square... you;ll be fine... Its [censored] like when Reiwoldt (for Saints) would jag 7 marks on the wing... yer ineffectual up there fundamentally pal..

Means players will be trying to run it in to 30m or 5m... and not even add to the score....

i(g)nite?

Ben?

never felt more comfortable about a result... though after the last 3 rounds its probably just apathy...

I think your anxiety around missing finals and your love of the red and blue and how much it means for you for the red and blue to be in finals to validate your existence - is clouding your judgements towards some assortment of dudes who happen to be drafted into some red and blue colours and are also striving for the same success... Good grief - no respect for supporters? don't care about finals? 4 losses in a row is an exemplar of that? Really? The players don't play for me - they've never met me - nor do they fist pump pre match and go - let's do it for the supporters... that'd be media speak. You can't tell me or anyone on the forum straight faced that the effort hasnt been there - perhaps our own expectations are misguided of where the group is really at right now - perhaps THAT's what needs to change.

sigh...like any of this conjecture matters... the team will perform poorly - some will be ok with it, in the context of growth, some will be upset and see it as the old demons... some will continue to support, some will disengage...but THEN jump on the bandwagon when the going gets good again... and all previous crimes of all parties involved will be absolved.

I take your point @Skuit -measured as always. My take is that the coaching staff (of all clubs) when they are implementing a new style/or a game plan, understand that it is a long game - over the course of many many seasons (exceptions would be the Bulldogs, but that was because they were able to throw the ball a lot...). I am sure maturity and cohesion is a consideration based on new personnel coming in - but the realty is (and is most definately being sacrificed)- you can only put on the park the people who you think will fit into your game plan...long term, not just for a few games in 2018 to scrape through to finals...Eg: I would presume rightly or wrongly Frost's papers are marked and that Goodwin does not see him either able to execute the plan down the line, hence blooding Smith and Petty... The staff are playing a long game - Supporters want the gratification now in 2018 understandably - but the FD's selections due to Levers abscence sets us up for personnel who can execute game plans in the early to mid 20's onwards for sustained success... Personally, I am accepting that we will have to cop some hits along the way when integrating new personnel into the system at AFL level/speed - with the assumption (and it's only that) that the Gameplan is workable in the cauldron of finals...but it takes exposure and time together to get that cohesion... I get that others may not, and that a loss or numerous losses irrespective of context, means that they are anxious that its the same old Dee's...

Coaches operate on a spectrum in what they convey. Neeld - throw players under the bus publicly--------------------- vs Roos /Goodwin - support players publicly, do the work behind closed doors. Do you really honestly believe Goodwin is lacks passion? Did you think Neeld had it bang on, when he slaughtered players in the media...and thought, that's what they need..that'll toughen em up? Humans don't want to work for people who don't treat them with respect and dignity...it just doesn't work long term...never has, never will... @Sir Why You Little, What other club would accept those first 3 Quarters last week???...ps what does this statement even mean? How has it been accepted, or not? What do we need to see to know whether it has or has not been accepted?

to make 'us' the supporters who are oldskool feel as though somethings gunna change? the world has evolved from pre 2000's - get em angry, that'll sort em mentality. heavens... I grinned from ear to ear, when Goodwin spoke of 'love' between the players and care... that is what builds cohesion for teams...not tearing paint strips... I don't think I've ever heard a coach publicly talk in that manner...twas temendous... anger may seem to look like passion, but it doesnt help clarity to make infomered decisions. Being measured in responses is not mutually exclusive to being passionate about your players, your team, your football club , and your own profession as a coach. personally, I'd be careful not confuse what is presented to the media and the public in these sorts of times, as duplicate of what happens within the club...

As reference to a smart ball user on the wing who has pace (and some) I reckon J.Thurlow would be a cracker, hasn't delivered as cruelled by injury a few years back and too good for VFL...

? very good. poor sod, gifted athlete but not the nous. Mind, his goal coming off the bench v. Collingwood was a beauty...

I'm even more optimistic - Geelong at KP as a win and dependent on the Eagles 2 forwards - another one there - So I'm banking another 6 win in a row run, a loss to the Swans and another 2 wins in brutal hard fashion. 16/6 for mine... unless the wheels fall off.