BW511

Wonder if all those asking for Sparrow to go were at the game or watching from home? He did a lot of good work around the contest and was never far away. I think he’s quite similar to Viney, so would only make way as a like for like? Hunt & Jones were ordinary, but I’d rather not bring in Melksham so happy for Jones to stay. Hibbo can come in for Hint if required

I wasn’t there nor do I attend regularly, but think Richmond and Collingwood have 2.5 - 3 times our supporter base so it’s to be expected that they can get a crowd in with limited numbers. If we have 40k members and had 20k turn up, that’s probably about right. I’d also love to see some stats on the age of Melbourne supporters, think there would be a lot in the bracket that are very susceptible to this virus and would be hesitant to attend mass gatherings. Finally, I’d rather watch from home with the ability to do other things than be stuck at the ‘G watching games like that. It was a very ordinary affair

This sounds all too familiar

I certainly did. Both teams were playing the game at a speed we can't sustain, particularly if we intend on hitting targets.

Would be a minor miracle if we got 7 goals from 3 of our forwards. High chance this is a defensive & ugly affair and 10 goals wins it

Anyone who thinks the blues are not on the up is kidding themselves. Even if they fold now, they can see they are capable of matching the best. Still feel we are a bit light on for leg speed watching this one

How many feathers has Chocco ruffled so far? (Tongue in cheek) Given the big song and dance about finals or bust for Goody, will the board be held accountable too?

Reckon we will get more out of Ben Brown in 5 games than T-Mac in 18

I don’t necessarily think we’ll be that bad, just believe we don’t have enough firepower across the ground. I mentioned in the other thread, if we are less than 3-2 after 5, it will get very difficult for Goody

10 or under, sorry

I think we are 9-10

Premier: Brisbane Runner-up: Richmond Wooden spoon: North Moving up: Gold Coast Set to fall: Collingwood Brownlow Medal: Jack Steele Coleman Medal: Tom Hawkins NAB AFL Rising Star: Matt Rowell Best new Demon: Big Benny Brown Demon All Australian: May/Gawn Demon B&F: May Big call: Jack Viney plays under 10 games (again) Ladder prediction: 1. Brisbane 2. Richmond 3. Port Adelaide 4. Western Bulldogs 5. Geelong 6. St Kilda 7. West Coast 8. GWS

Quite a few articles now with a similar theme, if the club are pushing this narrative and this hard, it must be quite serious.

I haven't been around for the whole 56 years, but I think it's ingrained in the fibre of the club that a switch will just magically flick and we start winning.

I'd love to share your optimism, as well as being proven wrong and eating humble pie.

I think the reason we don't get praise for wins is we follow them up with games like the Bulldogs. I find it hard to ever be truly passionate about the Dees, because I can't be guaranteed the club will be passionate/committed enough to consistently win games. If we won or really had a go against the dogs, this place would be buzzing. The only people stopping that happening are the playing group/coaching group.

This is bizarre, no one in their right mind would believe this to eventuate.

I think you are being reasonable @Better days ahead, but also feel like we are always waiting 4-5 games for things to gel/address a weakness/make a change/come into form/get back from injury/find a home base etc etc

I tend to agree that the press doesn't help us at all. We can win contested ball in the middle, but the important first or second disposal is a real weakness. This is compounded in the forward half when we have 80% of our players in there. We don't have the players capable of kicking flukey goals, yet that's how we plan on kicking them

Agree with the fact we got what we wanted, but none of those players were the premier player in their given position. During that period I reckon there has been a better version of every single one of those players move clubs. May could be excused, as he is probably in the conversation now - he wasn't at the time. Edit: @spalding I know the part about the player targeted wasn't what you were specifically questioning.

I don't think Salem is a line-breaker, he's good at opening up the game for others with his quick short kicks. Among a million other things, the club just continually behaves like a small club. As discussed, plenty of other clubs have targeted players and got them. We just don't work hard enough to get the best available in, which is infuriating for supporters who watch Nathan Jones hobble around on a wing

I'll just add, Baker is absolutely useless in the air. What really kills me is the wings have been a weakness of ours for many, many years now. I'd argue that a high quality pair of wingers would do more for us structurally than anyone else we have recruited in the last 5 years, maybe bar May. We are heading into 2021 in a worse position than this time last year, so I'd love to know how anyone expects us to be a Top 8, let alone Top 4 team

After yesterday's showing, we will be going in to Round 1 with a lot of blokes rushed back and short on match practice. Hope that doesn't hurt us further

That side is not filling me with confidence on the cusp of Round 1

The current board might be gone because of this