Deemania since 56

Agree with these thoughts, Febes. The dropped games earlier in the season make us work far harder when the sticky end of the season arrives. We were always going to make the finals, this year, and 2 games from 3 in the finals is a highly credible achievement.

Yep, soft and exposed across several games this season. It is a combination of player availability, as well, and overwork/ expectation for/to some of our finest such as Gawn, TMac, Nev, Lever, Hibberd, Jones, Hogan, for example. It is also related to injuries and similar strength substitution of players at critical matches.

There is talent within not yet ready to come up the the firsts team. We can only recruit out of this devastation for an immediate fix of less than two years ... so it is a backman giant killer we need to support Lever, Frosty, Hibberd, Nev, JSmith, and perhaps, OMac if kept. Suggest May be the prey for the Dees. We need a ruckman who does the fwd line things of note, as well. Strongly suggest Preuss from the Kangas. We need two bloody quick ball handlers outside mids. Departures: Tyson, Lewis, Bernie, Jones, all very sad. Couple of others superfluous to our needs - unless improvements are totally evident. FD has its work cut out for 2019 and some realism factored into the mix. Lightweights abound, grunt needed. Sad realisations but we are too soft, still.

A total capitulation by the Dees, not ready for the game.

What is wrong with our footy boot studs? Fallover freakout.

Yes, and it is time for these two to be replaced within a winning team.

Just wondered where he was all day. MIA and behind most plays. Long-bombed his kicks on a hope and a prayer. At least our fellas got a broad taste of finals footy.

How droll. Move on...

Clarrie is a man who retains his words; he does not mouth off - a keen observer happy out of the immediacy of the verbal limelight, most of the time. He knows something and keeps it to himself. His words come out as actions of the field, and in communications with his teammates onfield, between bursts. If Clarrie says: '...we got this...', we had better believe it. Random thought, from a mate: 'OMac has been practising goal kicking at some depth and has done very well at it. Possibly, TMac to CHB, OMac to FFwd. Whadya reckon?'

So, if that is the case, there is a job for Hibberd, Nev and Frosty: wipe out his other leg! Bring him down to size and I'd reckon, not too many pack marks or leads off the knees?

These comments and stats and multiple analyses indicate very strongly how well-favoured and 'cared for' the Eagles have been all season against any travelling opponent to their home territory. It is an obvious, underlying theme of protective crowd appeasement, and assumption. This game is another turning point for this repetitive, underpinning and disturbing AFL trend. The change will again be left to the Dees to enact and do so they will. Dees by 40pts, at least. Too slick involving every red 'n blue player.

Encouraging few weeks, maturing at Casey is just great. Hope he gives the Eagles a few headaches and stone walls.

No you're talking ... big one from Spargo near goals/feeding; Smith the added height and mobility to the backline in tandem with other fine backs; Fritsch should be on the wing roaming to half-fwd; Tyson out as a liability at this stage.

Smith is going to have to come in hard, fast and dangerously to disrupt the Weagles tall forwards - and this is something that Fritta cannot do with his body weight. The alternative was the rest Tyson, keeping Fritta on a wing rather than as a backman; however, Tyson is a possession winner with far more experience and a few more tricks than Fritta at the moment; a risk with such an arm injury but really, he needed to be kept 'handy' for a ball-winning and pass-off role. He can play quickly off the bench and by heavens, he will need to do just that - no warming up in onfield time this week. I feel for Fritta - heaps - but what a great first year with the Dees.

My second 'out' choice that will never happen : OMac

Then it all makes sense, to me. Fritsch needs a wing and 2-way running to the HFF area; lock in Vince as stated on Shuey, Hannan in deeper fwd role to meet up with Fritsch a little, Smith the Son of a Gun into a clearing defensive flank and assist chop at CHB - maybe even playmaker at spoils on incoming Eagle scheet, Spargo open season all over the fwd half.

Good reasoning, regarding the containment of Shuey but can Vince do that for a full game?

Smith as that lock-down, CB?

That is the eternal secret with Gunstone .... footsteps! Viney knew it and Gunstone was just lucky to put the ball on his foot.

We have to also remember that Joel Smith will have another season behind him and he has gained considerably from somewhat limited experience. At his current age, he is expected to only get better and better, and plays backline well as a rather mobile tall with marking skills. Pump some iron, Joel; get your fitness levels up and over the top; train harder than ever; do the ball and team skills routines until these are automated both in the head and in play. Next year may well be yours...

There is no reason for him to give a toss. Came out of virtually nowhere, best midfielder in the whole League, and basically only his second year. According to his mum, everyone said he was not up to AFL football standard. Got the mind on his performances, responsibilities and execution - what could be better than that? No need to absorb the comments or disdain of others, at all.

Crap.

What a great idea! Free snacks for all Freo supporters at the Optus Oval in Perth if they wear Red'nBlue on the day.

Moved just a little off Gaff for the Dees, as well. Our internal FD development may better provide a younger, injury-free bullet for the outside, with a revved up Hunt held currently in a developmental abeyance requiring absolute attention and encouragement - perhaps a role for the professor - Jordan Lewis - over the summer break/pre-season 2019. What tingles in the mind is our chances of securing May and Preuss - both would have multiple roles and impact on our team, to say the least, thinking backline and ruck-forward respectively.

Another pre-season, a bit of re-shaping, some required skills development focussed on a new role and contribution, some earnest MFC FD and supporter patience, their 'one-to-one' determination and continued encouragement, and Hunt might well be the outside runner we need with almost the best pace - and a development of two-sided disposal to complete the picture. I'd honestly reckon that this is all possible having watched him closely for several years now. For me, 2019 is his big, break-out year now that he already knows the game style, the brand (whatever that actually might be) and the need for his revitalising skills in quality delivery the football to his mates. 'Carna Dees!