Roost it far

I think we’d be playing the same 21 with potentially/maybe a couple of difference’s. Once May, Pickett and McVee are back I doubt they’d be any, maybe 1 tops.

I loved Jackson

I don’t know anything of Jamie Graham but it’s a hard no to the rest.

You gotta blame someone!

Maybe regarding Max. Not all teams play with a dominant ruck but clearly North do. GWS had Briggs out and we almost beat them so clearly some clubs are going with a big, strong ruckman. The thing about Sunday was that Max wasn’t just beaten he was flogged, I thought his second efforts were very poor and countless times Xerri got him at these efforts, that’s on Max. Regarding playing beyond Max, clearly that’s a hole we have to fill but I’m a believer in continuing to add mids and recruiting another clubs second or third ruck ala Meek at Hawthorn. I’m confident the club will do that when Max announces his retirement. We’ve got a strong under 24 list demographic. Yes we want to push for success whilst Petracca, Oliver and lever are still playing but those guys have got 3-4 more good years. Let’s keep recruiting how we have been and there’s no reason success won’t follow. For mine you now to stack your list with 12-14 really solid runners/mids/flankers who can kick. We’re on our way here in my opinion. I also believe that had we had Pickett, May and McVee available we may well be 2-0, we certainly wouldn’t be 0-2. It ain’t time to panic but we do need a win this weekend which is going to be tough.

That has got to be the biggest non story of the year thus far. There’s no rush, we have Pert working away at Caulfield and a solid interim CEO. I’d much prefer we take time than rush an appointment to appease these clowns. Wow wee, the football media is a total clown show.

Are you comparing that to our first 2 games? I thought we chipped around more against GWS and were far better at moving the ball. Against North we were stagnant forward of the ball and watched in horror as we did exactly what we were told we wouldn’t be doing which was bombing it down the line. I wake up to Combden marking the ball!!

Petracca if we want him to stay will play to at least 35-36. Personally I’d make him captain at years end IF the players were in. Oliver will likely do the same. Lever’s got good legs in him so I think we’ll be ok for leadership. Players coming in now will have some or all of Petracca, Oliver, Lever, Sparrow, Langdon etc for half their careers and guys like Windsor, Lindsay, Langford have plenty of leadership capacity. We just need to keep getting up the draft board and trade and recruit where possible. Personally I think we’re in a strong position. If the team falls over this year I’d expect Goodwin to leave but if we can win a final or 4 who knows.

Our top 10 young players are miles ahead of the Pies. Savvy recruiting, player trades and pick swaps when Tassie come in will see us stay thereabouts.

Allen, handy but expensive Jamara, handy but elusive I’d be moving earth to get Butters but I’ll bet that he’s Pies bound. I’d also be sounding out Harley Reid, I mean why wouldn’t we?

Agreed but if your list has its best 23 available then the next in line become guys like Sparrow, Howes, Langford, Johnson, Jefferson, McAdam. I doubt Sestan, Verrall are even on our list next year. We’re being forced to dig to deep. The big loss for mine is AMW, he was looking great in the preseason and is exactly the player we need developing. The rest will hopefully be fully fit in the next 1-5 weeks.

I think it’s paramount the leaders are involved. You gotta sell the dream to new recruits.

Whilst I don’t totally disagree it’s part and parcel of the game that the media need access to key personal at clubs. In fact I’d say the bulk of fans demand it. The reason there’s now 3 footy shows on every night is because fans can’t get enough dribble . The club is in no position to not put its people into the media spotlight. Goodwin’s comments regarding Gawn were probably unnecessary but there’s no damage done because of it. The media then wanted more of a story and Gawn gave them a morsel and they were full and onto the next dribble. Welcome to saturation coverage, we’re at peak football on tv right now and they’re all talking the same issues with largely the same points of view.

And AMW looked like he might add to that, May’s our best defender along with Lever and Jefferson, Johnson and McAdam appeared ready to impact at AFL level.

It’s not that we don’t have depth, it’s just that a teams depth is always tested when you can’t select the players of the calibre of May, Pickett, McVee, Windsor, Melksham and now Lever. Throw in AMW who looked a lock for round 1 and guys like Jefferson and McAdam and that’s a lot to cover. That’s potentially 7-8 of the preseason best 23. No team covers that well especially when trying to bed down a new system. We desperately need some continuity.

I’m not sure playing a 33 year old Melksham in the ones so soon after injuries is ideal. The preseason was going so well and then it seemed we started losing talent. McAdam, AMW, Melksham, McVee then Windsor and May and now Jefferson and Lever. 5 weeks ago they all looked like playing in the ones. If anyone doesn’t think injuries are a reason for our form run your eyes over that list. I’d say Jefferson and maybe McAdam are the only 2 who weren’t best 22 5 weeks ago. Please for the love of whatever, no more injuries!

I watched On the Couch and First Crack occasionally but On the Couch is unwatchable this year with Jack Riewoldt and I’m sick of the hyperbole King tries to create on On the Couch. That leaves Demonland. Oh and I like Daniel Hoyne but rarely if ever listen to SEN, I simply can’t tolerate ads, Kornes, Watson, Gaze or Russell and that’s all you hear.

You’re cutting the 4o’clock deadline very fine but I appreciate your reports very much. Interesting that the club is really trying to bring some light hearted play into the players routine. I’ll trust the club that this is all part of the healing process and we’re staying close as a group. For mine I’d love to see football’s being used as it’s a belief of mine that you train the way you play. Im guessing Thursday’s training will be about skills and bedding down our plan. Let’s just chalk up a win this week.

McVee’s hamstring must of been bad if he’s still 2-3 weeks away.

Maybe get this guy to help

That’s the difference between Tom Morris and a journalist

Tom Morris is someone I’d love to see in the street, I’ve got a solid, calm, fact filled rant ready for him

Anyone know why he only played a half, has he been injured?

I can’t make it this week but I’m expecting quite the statement from our leaders. A solid win and we’re away.

Anyone know if Windsor will get up for this weekend?