Redlagged

Oscar Oscar Oscar. Being in and out of the side hasn't helped him. Was among our best in the first game, against West Coast, and then as i remember didn't make the team the next time they played. Can't have been good for the confidence. Did best when he played week-in week out in the latter part of 2018 - including very solid games at full back in the 2 MCG finals we won. Over and above that, the abuse hurled at him - vicariously, form the safety of a keyboard - is distasteful, and gutless. Got nothing to do with 'winning flags'. Its about fair and hopefully constructive comment.

Correct. He was really good week-in week-out. I am a hopeless punter, but backed him at the TAB sometime in late July at 30 to 1 to win. And yes, I have been bragging about it ever since.

Spot on.

Good sense. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/may-your-news-be-good-news-20190507-p51kyg.html

Crap. Who's the player? How was he affected? 'Coincidence but who would know....'? Is that the best you can do? An outbreak of idiocy in response to a parent's social media gripe. Get a grip.

Amateur hour all right. A lot of amateur medicos on this site. Wouldn't know a knee from an elbow. Going off half-cocked. Must be the time of day.

Agree. Matsuo's portentous nonsense is totally tedious. Basho is the author of The Narrow Road to the Deep North. I recommend Matsuo follow the advice of his namesake and take it.

That's more like it. A bit of sensible irony.

he's another small-minded mediocrity, making a name for himself in a tiny, small-minded world.

Absolutely correct waynerussell. What a lot of sanctimonious, hypocritical garbage from the likes of Lyon and JBrown. God the AFL is a small, vicious world, driven by superannuated footballers and third-rate media pundits. (If you are really any good as a journo, you wouldn't be covering football.) Yes, what he did was unwise (should have had a few drinks at home). Did JBrown ever have a beer during one of his injury stints, do you think?

Tyson's a tough player, and good in close...and generally a penetrating kick, as in the decisive kick to the square in the 4th. (Yes, they go awry occasionally). VB's disposal is very ordinary. Hey, I like them both! But the constant whining about Tyson on this site is bloody tedious.

They won't be dropping Spargo.

Petracca's intercept, shimmy and brilliant handball to set up Jones in the 4th - a crucial goal - was the moment of the day for mine. He is doing fine.

Funny how some players get away with shocking errors and not others. If Tyson had made that howler people would be screaming for his blood. (Mind you he made on of his own...but in the forward line)

Best in ground for mine (though he did fluff a couple of kicks early).

Didn't think they'd do it but its the right call. Good too that Weidemann comes in. Watts? I like him. Who doesn't? Really hope we storm into the finals and he plays a part. But he's been dropped a few times now.

Just saw the VFL web site saying Stretch was best for Casey. Good: he's straight in.

Well they obviously have to refresh the team. Desperately need some run - where that's coming from, I don't know. Stretch is doing little with Casey. Brayshaw - good luck to him, but I can't see how he fixes anything. Watts is an obvious out, maybe Weidemann and Hannan in. Lose next week, and the [censored] really hits the fan.

The path to September - well, Simon Goodwin loves to talk about the 'journey' we are all on. I think its a grating metaphor he might think of dropping: it has been a hard road for all of us, and he's been there for 5 minutes.

First kick today was well into the third quarter. Sorry - he should be dropped.

Main problem - we lack class. Have no great players.We have a lot of good ones, some very good, but no A grade talent. (I wait on Pettrarca, with diminishing hope.) Our two genuine competition-class players are defenders: Hibberd and Jetta. So we are doomed to mid-table, at best.

Selection is an issue next week. Weidemann must come in if they really are fair dinkum about form being the criterion. Hannan might entertain a recall too. He does most of what JW does - and some of it better. In any case, next week is IT - we perform, or else....

Main problem is fairly obvious. We lack players of the highest class. Our on-ballers are good, but not really good. Have we a single player in the most talented 30 - or 40 - in the competition? No. I have hopes for Petracca - but he lacks mongrel and isn't fit enough. We need to make some hard decisions about players, and forget the obsession with in-and-under scrubbers. We have too many already.

Pitiful in the first half. He has been terrible lately and one now struggles to see substantive improvement in him. For this team to progress, it needs to make some tough decisions on personnel. As a general comment, our senior players are - frankly - B grade. Watts has 3 weeks.

Yes, I know he's the perennial whipping boy. And I have been a supporter of his for as long as I care to remember. But he has been shocking the last 3 weeks, during a crucial period for the club. It's now 150 games plus. I have no idea of his contract status and situation. He has three more weeks. Either they're very good, or it really is time for him - and the club - to move on.