Red But Mostly Blue

This thread is madness. Hoges has a great first half of the year, some not so great games (by goal standards) but still great input further up the ground (I think that element of his game has been welcome, and will only be an asset)... and there's a contingent who want to jump at (maybe) 3 UNKNOWNS? And this is the same crowd that wants results NOW? I don't understand this club's fans sometimes. Hoges is brimming with talent, he's struggling a little now (most likely injured), but even if he wasn't, we stick with him and make good! There is going to be a very quiet little group of people when Hoges becomes a core part of this team when it wins premierships! It looks far off now, and I'm still angry about yesterday, but WE WILL GET THERE. And at most certainly will not achieve success by getting rid of superstars who don't perform for a few weeks.

Given the percentage that cost us a spot in the finals, having Jake in the team would have saved some of those precious points scored against us. If we had made the finals, who knows what could have happened. We beat most teams in the top 8. We beat Adelaide, and should have beaten the Tigers (before we choked - in a game where Jake's skills could have stemmed the tide). So players like Jake make a difference, and lift the rest of the team. This trade is costly, but you always get what you pay for. We're paying for 10 years of actual defence, and youngsters to one day learn from Jake and the others who have benefited from his presence. The fact that Jake wants to be here shows we're on the right track. Bring on 2018.