Red But Mostly Blue

Well,Petty’s neck DID get on the way of Naughton’s elbow. Petty might even get rubbed out for that. Who knows?

I really do 😔

HOW ON EARTH WAS THAT NOT A FREE PAID TO PETTY?

True x 2 Don't know if I want to get used to players getting injured at training... BUT, what I will say is I can get used to more winning. So let's Get back to that! Go DEES!

Lol, settle down SWYL. I understand this. My point was that our outs (in my mind) are greater than any other team's outs for R1. And I was bummed about that. I think that's fair enough. I get it's a contact sport, but many (MANY) here were complaining last year that our players were banged up at the end of the year. So, my point was, it is surprising to have so many out, when ideally (right?) it would be good to get them all ready for R1, rather than not. That would be the plan, yes? Not to allow the gladiators to fall to unnecessary injuries before the rounds have even started? But as I have mentioned previously in response. I get it. Injuries happen. Just a shame we're missing 4 of our best 10 on the first night of the year. I think that's a fair sentiment? Irrespective of my thoughts on the list, and our depth (which I think we are quite well placed). But it's moot, we'll win anyway.

Thanks for the really thorough reply, mate. Appreciated. Looks as if we're not alone (although, and I might be biased about our own players haha, but I still think we sit near or at the top in terms of our outs for this week relative to the others). But like you said, stuff happens. I have faith, and notwithstanding the outs still believe we are leaps and bounds better than the doggies on Sat. But it will take a team effort, and a little depth standing up (which, to be fair, our depth in Turner (who might not get the nod), Judd etc. is damn good and super promising for the year). So it's not all bad. It gives us a look at alternative structures and game time for juniors earlier in the year, rather than at the end.

True. And I hope so!! In theory that sounds right, but I'd also like to avoid unnecessary and potentially long-term, reoccurring injuries to guys we kind of need later in the year.

100% get that And it's great that we are so intense. Perhaps we could do it with less impact on our elite? lol Anyway. I get it. I just hope we benefit this year from such training, and we don't have last year's ongoing discussion about loading/fitness/banged up players who fizzled out.

Silly? Give me a spell. There aren't many other clubs missing the number and caliber of guys that we are. No? I get injuries during the year. They happen. But given we were so banged up towards the mid/end of last year, it worries me that we ALREADY have injuries to 4 of our top 10 BEFORE the year has even started. Not a couple. Not our depth players. Our elite. I DO LIKE, however, that we are acting conservatively with these guys. Perhaps I can reframe that maybe it is decisions like these that may mean we are not so banged up, again, at the end of the year. At least I hope we won't be facing the same issues post Burgess.

It really sucks that we have 4 outs for Saturday. How can we have 4 outs to such important players when we have had so much time to prepare them? Round 1 is not a surprise event?? Anyway, many of our issues last year (not all) stemmed from the lack of selfless play that brought success in 2021. We have depth, the guys on the ground this week are certainly capable of dismantling the doggies no problems at all. Pound for pound we're still superior. The question is, will the guys play for each other, as a team, or will we have more of the selfish, fancy, silly stuff we saw last year?

Is he better than that, though? Doubtful. Sam is a gronk.

Hope so! He’s such an important piece for us and when he’s on song, we look so much better!!

Also, geez I hope Salem gets his body right really soon, he was so out of sorts last year, I was looking to him starting fresh this year and returning to 2021 form, and he’s starting this year… injured, again??

More outs than I’d like to see in rd1, but we have depth and should still account for the doggies, but it will be a pretty close game. Good to see us bringing in some of our new blood. On this point, how can we have so many injuries before the year has started? It’s not like round 1 is a surprise. We have 6 months to get everyone good to go!?

What a waste of a year. We have the talent but I fear we came into the year with some complacency, and refused to learn anything from our losses. We lost pretty much every single game the same way, and nobody did anything about it. Same kicks to the pocket, long bombs etc. Predictable and boring. No dynasty for this team, that's just talk Maxy. You have got to earn that with grit, every single game. We need some forwards, hunger and try to catch up other teams who will also want to be dynasties. Ugh. Lame way to end the year.

That's holding the ball every day of the week. And that 50 BS

Who'd have thought Petty is alright up forward... I wonder if we could have tried something like this at any other time this year? Although to be fair he's saved our behind out back tonight.

Since the halfway mark of Q1, them 85 to us 42. Smashed, really..

Haha shown up by the Lions on our home deck. I wonder what zen BS Goody will spin after this. It doesn't even matter. We have wasted a good opportunity this year. Refused to learn any lessons. We have lost every single game the same way.

Spargo disgusting tonight CAN WE PLEASE BUY A FORWARD WHO CAN TAKE A MARK IN THE 50???

HOW WAS THAT NOT HOLDING VINEY?

Geez, will that lift the boys? If not, nothing will. That was incredible by Gus.

Make no mistake, a straight sets exit in the semis is a fail. I can live with a prelim loss (which at this stage will be an annihilation) because it's a tight year and we need to sort some things out, but to go out in the semis in straight sets is straight up trash.

Rivers has been putrid. Lucky we're on our home deck, eh?

...BANG? Can we? If we can slot one more it will essentially erode the Lions' good work this quarter. Might dampen their spirit a little.