Neil Crompton

With Tassie ticked off, we now have all States represented in our competition. As such, I’d beware of the temptation of locating a 20th team in one of our two Territories, ie Canberra. The reason is that this will only promote the push for a team in the one remaining Territory, namely the NT, and probably rightly so if Canberra gets the nod. However NT would then become the 21st team, which would then lead to calls for a 22nd team to balance out the draw again. Therefore if we must have a 20th team, I believe it should come from one of the existing States (although I’d prefer to see 18 teams only).

Kossie BOG this week.

This man is a jerk, and 40 good posters have fallen into his trap. Why are we giving anything he says oxygen? I’d like to propose that nothing the jerk says should be referenced on DL. If people didn’t react to the [censored] he writes, then maybe he will get back to being a half decent football analyst. Let’s please treat him like HWCBN (if that’s the correct abbreviation), and ignore him. His treatment of Kossie and comments about Jackson were the last straw for me.

I thought it interesting to watch and compare Trac’s ball drops on Saturday. The goal he kicked on the run where he had to kick across his body slightly, he almost placed the ball onto his foot - and it never looked like missing. Yet on his set shots his ball drop was from way up high, and he (and we) was not confident the shots would go through - yet they just managed to. I think the day Trac is able to master the ball drop (for all his kicks) will be the day he starts his Brownlow Medal run.

I think you are correct Sydee that mobility is extremely important in our thinking for the forward line. Which is why the club would be wrapt if a player like Schache was able to produce the goods for us - although possibly a big “if”. My view is that because we don’t yet have a “Cameron” or a “Hawkins”, our game plan centres around mobility and bringing the ball to the ground for our mosquito fleet to do their work. Our scoring this year (and there has been plenty of it) has been predominantly from non key forwards, which demonstrates this perfectly. I also think there is a very good reason why Joel Smith is being trained as a forward this year. I think he is being groomed for one of the key position forward roles as he fits the profile of the type of player required to match our forward set up requirements this year - mobile, can bring the ball to ground, and good forward half defensive skills and pressure. Just my thoughts, but baring injury (fingers crossed), and with good Casey form, I think Joel could well be selected in the next 3-4 weeks as a key forward.

Well WJ, it seems there is no need to start a separate thread for question 2. Question 1 was eloquently answered by the first poster (Bub). Thereafter we took it upon ourselves to attack question 2.

There would appear to be other ways of managing players throughout the year, apart from being rested from a game. From the time on ground stats, it would appear that, on Saturday, we started to rest our key players a bit more during the game, which is pleasing from a management perspective. Trac spent 9% more time on the bench than his yearly average to date ( 75% game time against 84.2% game time); while Oliver spent nearly 7% less game time than his yearly average to date ( 79% against average of 85.7%). This equates to over 2 minutes per quarter of additional rest - which must feel significant for both these warriors.

Gus has been great tonight

I notice DP that there is no bottle on the table - more evidence, as we all suspected, that his red comes from a cask?

Although it’s a tight fit, I’ve found that one of my MFC long sox keep my package snug and warm. Just a thought for you to consider, Uncle.

GWS a shoe-in to beat the Swans now that Toby Bedford is playing. Best wishes for his first game for them.

What a disgraceful comment. As if Luke doesn’t have the weight of WA on his shoulders already - what an absolute jerk.

Well done Sam. Really pleased for you, particularly when it was on such a big occasion, in front of a massive crowd. Hope your progress is all upward from here.

With Goody still not settled on his best forward mix, I'd like to see Schache and JVR take on the key forward roles this week, with Petty heading back to defense. I think Petty is a key defender not a key forward. Since we do have Disco Turner politely knocking on the defense door, I'd actually like to see May take on a key forward role with JVR at some stage, while we are still experimenting. His strength and speed (when fit) and pack busting ability might well bring a "Hawkins" like beast into our forward line - something we just don't have with our other forwards. If the two options above fail, then we can always hope that, despite the visual evidence to the contrary, at least one of BBB and TMac are not over the hill as would first appear, and we play them again. Hopefully one of the first two options work.

All very well having the name and the height, but hopefully he can also play. Are there any reports on his ability?

I simply ask why we need this? Who is this benefitting? Certainly not the public. My preference is that players must see out their contracts; and that clubs must not trade players against their will. Simple.

Haha I didn’t think there was a lot of value in what was presented.

Can still win this despite the very disappointing effort so far.

Dunstan would be a world beater if he could even occasionally hit a target.

TMac and BBB both look like they belong at this VFL level.

Somehow I’ve landed on the shopping channel.

That notice sounds just like you PF. How did your interview go?

Now I know why my application for DA membership was rejected.

Congrats to Angus and Danielle on their engagement.

Agree Smokey. The first half of the season we should be a work in progress. The second half is where we put it all together.