Neil Crompton

Well I’ll believe that when I see us: - not kicking out to the left every single f’ing time - when we have the ball on the defensive wing, not waiting till a giant pack forms in our forward line before we kick directly to that pack - our forwards actually spreading and leading to space, and we actually look for this option. - we have a method of controlling the ball/ game even if we have run out of legs. Until these and possibly other issues are addressed, I believe any other tweaks are simply cosmetic. My original conjecture, that we may be a stagnant clone of ‘21 - instead of trailblazing team in ‘22 - still stands. And I guess this final series will tell.

Could it alternatively be that we are exactly the same side as we were last year, ie same game plan - and that’s the problem. Other sides have learnt and grown from our experience last year, and we simply haven’t, to our detriment. We stand still , we lose. Whether that’s a likely alternative case or not I don’t know, but I feel that a number of posters on here have the attitude, in simple terms, that if we do what we did last year, everything will be alright - ie as soon as loading stops we will be flying. And it’s pretty evident after Friday night that we are not flying. Perhaps we need to have a closer look at our game plan with 2022 eyes and not 2021eyes.

Probably second best on ground today. Strong pack marks, great leading, even a chase down. Good on him. Glad he’s showing some of his old good form. If he wanted to come home - and based on todays efforts - you’d do all you could to get him home.

How about Sam plus a 4th rounder to the Pies for Oliver Henry?

Are you referring to the marriage or the premiership?

Eddie Betts - just when you think you think you couldn’t admire a man any more, he again shows his courage in speaking out about injustices that no one should have to face.

You hypocrite! You and Mike coined that expression in the early ‘60’s. Remember this?: ”hey hey you you get off of my cloud…”

WCW, just saw a post of yours in another thread, and have a question: - do you make minced meat out of them? or - do you make mince meat out of them? Or because they are Pies, who GAF, as long as they are dead meat?

At the moment we have the perfect captain and the perfect vice captain. I see no reason to change that for quite a while yet.

Sing, sang, sung spring sprang sprung bring, brang, brung? why bring, brought?

Just saw this in the Fill the G thread. It’s a new one for me: “I hate being out numbered and out noised at our home games” I’m learning so much on this thread.

Jimmy, I’d much rather believe that loading was the primary cause of our period of pain between rounds 11 and 19 than to believe that our players were not good enough, or too inconsistent, or that they had drunk too much of their bathwater, or whatever other cause you can think off. Believing doesn’t make it fact, but it sure as [censored] means I’ll go into the next 6-8 weeks with more confidence that we will do well. Not believing , based on the last 9 games, means I have NFI which Melbourne side will turn up each week. That’s too stressful for me. Of course if we lose to the pies, I might just become a loading atheist like you.

Wrong thread D. You know where to put this!

Perhaps long flights are a positive rather than a negative(?)

I’d like to see 2 key forwards for Collingwood, and particularly for the finals. So for me it’s BB (if fit) and JVR. I also think Chandler really deserves to be picked, so I’d like him to get a game. Weid out is an easy one. ANB’s offensive game has been shocking for a number of weeks now and probably deserves a stint in the 2’s. Replacing him with Chandler gives us a more skilful offensive player, and really loses little on the defensive side. Who goes out for JVR? That’s a tough call, but I assume it’s either Melksham or, I don’t know. With Gus in the middle, Harmes becomes superfluous to our needs, and would now be competing with Sparrow to get a run. I don’t think that will happen this week. 3 changes to a winning side? Not sure it will happen, but I think it would improve us.

Until last night I had been one of Sam’s very few supporters, valiantly holding onto hope that he at last would bloom into a gun forward. Unfortunately, after last nights performance, it pains me to say that I can longer con myself into believing he deserves a place in our team. Sorry Sam, you’ve lost me.

Congrats @binman, luv your work. (Seems you are not toast after all). Perhaps you could apply for an analysis role on Fox. You’d eat them all. (of course if we lose next week….)

See Gus warming up in the centre square - fingers crossed.

binman, two things: -I’ve never understood the point in getting upset at what outsiders say. Definitely not a lot you can do about it, apart from what you have done - venting with your mates. Hope it has helped. - I actually don’t mind the us and them situation, ‘cause when we prove these jerks wrong, it will be just so satisfying.

I’ll be [censored] if Joel Smith doesn’t play as a forward.

If Jacko did sign on for 2 years, it would at least give us 2 years to find and blood a replacement and it would give Freo 2 years to come up with suitable trades and/or picks.

Also expecting a big statement tonight from the boys - or @binmanis toast!

I luv it when we are made to feel special - there is no one else like us.

Goodwindees, I’m trying to align the above post from you with your earlier post that said “it is all about the $’s for Gus” and that he was not interested in taking unders like other teammates had done - he was all about Gus and not so much the Club. Now you are saying that you are “firmly of the opinion that it was a win/win negotiation”. Forgive me if I am not properly understanding what you have written, but one post very much seems at odds with the second. Could you please explain?

I’d suggest that his 2021 form, partic the finals, showed he was an ideal fit for the wing position. I’d also suggest his 2022 form has shown he is also an ideal fit for our half back role. And, given I think he is a much better player than he was in 2018, I’d also suggest that he would nail a mid position if he was given the opportunity. Not too shabby for a “plugger” I’d say.