Mike

Ready for this to all be done. Can't handle the suspense!

Yeah the signs are there for sure, but I guess my point is that it's still touch and go. I'm definitely optimistic but I think we're a bit quick to assume he's part of our next premiership midfield when he's only played a short amount of time there.

I agree. Yes he's looked good in patches, but is he going to be good at enough going head to head against other gun midfield groups? I'll be rapt if he is, but it's still touch and go I think.

I think I'll need a holiday after all this. I'm a nervous wreck. And picking Tauru at 5 might tip me over the edge

Pretty excited for next Wednesday. Had a thought that maybe the club could dress JT up as Santa in the lead up, and we all get sit on his knee and tell him which players we want for Christmas. Then again, I wouldn't want to throw him off. Better to let him work his magic.

Totally agree. I was a bit unsure at first, but to have someone like Jones back in the club to provide some leadership and help with player relationships feels really important. Perhaps to take some of the burden off Max as well, who has commented that he feels worn down by everything that's been going on.

It must be media links. I watched a video on the AFL website the other day where Cal Twomey answered a submitted question about who we might take with 5 and 9, and he was a bit vague with his answer. I think he just listed a bunch of midfielders in that top 5 or 6 group. Cal is someone who tends to have his finger on the pulse, so I'd say it's probably still fairly open.

That's a great shout. Really does have a bit of Mundy about him based on clips I've seen. Not a bad player to be compared to either.

AMA?

Honestly, we are an embarrassment at the moment. Two years in a row we've shopped Clayton around, and now it looks like it's getting shut down again. And so now we're all just meant to pretend like Clayton is a beloved player at the club and that everything is fine. Can't wait to see another hostage interview like they did with Tracc where Clayton explains how he's excited for the season blah blah.

Clarry has got plenty of motivation to get back to his best at this point. If I were him I'd be playing Kane Cornes' greatest worst hits on loop during all my training sessions.

Well there you go. Works out well if that's the case!

I guess I just don't know enough about Dan Houston, because I keep hearing about our first pick being used and I just don't understand it. Would love it if someone on here can sell it to me versus going to the draft.

Feeling devastated by this one. Big fan of Nibbler. Real heart and soul player. Can't help but think we're about due for some good news.

Gees I hope Cal Twomey is off the mark. It'd be utter madness to cough up pick 7 for Houston. I really hope the recruiting team don't mess this up and waste an opportunity to get some young talent in.

I think I'll wait until there are more respected people giving weight to this, as opposed to McClure and Morris. A pair of weasels that love the sound of their own voice and are desperate to feel important, possibly because didn't get enough hugs growing up.

Outclassed is right. Freo played like a premiership contender and we're just a long way off. How on earth did we concede that many goals out the back? Madness.

Must have planted the seed in my mind! Very fitting.

Totally on board with this. The guy is pure silk. Cut from the same shiny cloth as the previous Silk at the Hawks. Agree with poster above's comments as well in regards to comparisons to Pendles. He just finds space and always does something good with the ball. And when he needs to, turns on the speed and glides (dare I say a bit like silk).

Just nice to see us bouncing back a bit in recent times. Really exciting to see some of young kids doing well too. Whatever happens in regards to finals, I hope we can maintain this and give it a crack in the run home. At the very least can be a confidence booster leading into next season.

Frostball! Edge of your seat stuff.

This is what I came on here to say as well. From Nathan Buckley on the couch: “The other element that you really did expect to see is fire and brimstone, eyes rolling, after your opposition.” Instead we had a season low pressure rating of 164. I hate to say it but not that long ago, we would have come and ripped their heads off in response to a bad game like the one against Freo. Even if we lose against the Pies - show some anger and pressure and hunt. That was one of the most depressing and shocking parts about yesterday.

We are a mediocre team at present and getting shown up by a lot of teams. Something has to change because it's not good enough.

Yeah great point. Makes so much of a difference when there's the wise heads there to guide them.

Yeah that's a good point. I suppose it's more of an overall elevation this season. He's always been good but he seems to be more commanding than ever and I wonder if it's something to do with seeing himself taking on the captaincy after Max.