napster

At a bar the other night and they played Tom Petty’s Freefallin’, Very apt for the year we’ve had. Maybe could play that song as Melbourne run onto the ground. Was a good club, back in the heyday Loved winning, and the cups with it too Then Barassi, took off to the Bluebags A curse set in, and then we were screwed And it’s a long day, sittin at the footy There’s a freeway, runnin’ through the backs And I’m a sad boy, for ever believin’ Those bad boys, keep breakin’ our hearts And we’re free, free fallin’ Yeah we’re free, free fallin’

Only watched the second half, thanks to Dee Zephyr’s son, but Spargo was really poor. Hard to believe he’s regressed so far from the positive signs of last year. At best it’s second year blues but it seems to be worse than that. If we still had a Development League, that’s where he’d be heading. It looks like he’ll get another year to prove himself regardless of his form this year. I thought the standard contract for a new draftee was 2 years, but according to Footywire he’s not out of contract until 2020. Was his contract extended by a year? Is it another case of premature extension?

Yet another blunder from the selection committee, it’s just about a weekly event. How does JKH not get a gig after his game last weekend? Did anyone outside of the selection committee see a particular reason amongst his 23 disposals and three goals that would be the justification for denying him promotion? Whatever that reason is, it seems the Casey coach didn’t pick up on it. “Kennedy Harris was just so clean in difficult conditions… so clean with the ball, and his finishing was outstanding.” Yeah no, can’t have someone like that in the seniors. Jeez, he might show some of them up.

A number of consolations for the Pie supporters, not that I should trying to comfort them, but… 1) Round 16 2017, Richmond totally embarrassed by the Saints, kicked up the backside all the way to a flag. 2) Despite losing nearly every other stat against the Roos last night, they win the free kick count 27 to 11! The umps have made it clear how much they love Collingwood this year, and no matter what happens, the Pies can always count on them. The umps took the Bulldogs to a flag in 2016, they’ll do the same for the Pies this year. (And if it wasn’t for that disgraceful display by the BHF and his mates in the Thursday night game, GWS would now be second, Collingwood third).

I think JKH is a much better option than Hannan, ANB, Garlett and Spargo. Those players get numerous chances to play rubbish games for consecutive weeks before the penny finally drops with our selectors and they drop them. JKH can have a run of games where he contributes and then has one game where he’s quiet, next week he’s dropped. He’s got good evasive skills in close, good speed, finds space, and generally has good disposal. Given a fair go to build his confidence, I think he’d add an important element to what we miss so badly, providing outside options and speed, whilst at the same time able to do well on the inside. Being able to handle wet conditions is a good indicator as well. If the club let him go I think he’ll establish himself somewhere else.

The BHF was in full flight

Agree with most of dazzledavey36 player summary. I think Jordon showed a bit. Didn’t do a lot but what he did was good, good kick, some important touches and a really gutsy going back with the flight into oncoming traffic. Petty had a horror second quarter. Started when his team mate tried to kick it clear and the ball slammed into his face for that clanger-falcon turnover goal. I know he had very little time to react but there didn’t seem to be any reflex reaction or awareness of the situation. Then I suspect the impact might have concussed or disoriented him to some degree, because it went rapidly downhill from there. A smothered kick in the goal square which almost led to another goal. Then badly misjudged flight of the ball in the air to give opponent an easy mark. A couple of mis-kicks. And he looked slow. If not a mild concussion, I just hope it was ‘one of those days’, given the positive reports on his previous performances. Hore only brought on in second quarter so maybe could be playing Thursday but I hope not, loose too many times, fumbles, too many long bombs to no one. As an indication of how much we have deteriorated, Mitch White looked like he should be comfortably back on our list. Whilst watching it occurred that the Box Hill coach would be a good addition to the MFC coaching staff, because he obviously knows and implements Clarko’s style. Looked it up - Chris Newman - VFL premiership in 2018 and formerly served as an assistant coach at Hawthorn. He has a classic pedigree for a successful coach - the medium sized defender who made the most of his talents.

Hard to believe that just two weeks ago I woke with some hope in my heart. Although I did have some trepidation. That pre-season talk of how finishing fourth wouldn’t be good enough this year was rather unsettling, whiffs of the classic MFC trait of getting ahead of themselves. Maybe what they were meaning to say was that finishing fourth wasn’t good enough this year when it comes to the end of season draft, bottom four would far better. If that was what they meant, so far every post has been a ‘winner’.

Salem - lone class act Weeds - not a ruckman Spargo- not forward target Viney - why selected? Preuss - why not selected? ANB - blew up early Hibberd- shanky left foot Hore - better second half Frost - frequent cognitive dysfunction Petracca -slow muscle man. Jones - retirement looming MFC - recruit outside run