Roost it far

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?

At the end of the day football is a pretty simple game. Our team needs to keep its one wood as contest and defence. It then needs to create some run from the back half and then find space for the forwards to lead into, all the while being ready to defend turnover. It appears we’re leaving 2 talls deep and getting the rest to move up the ground, well that’s what I saw against GWS. Against North our ball movement was sloppy and there appeared to be excessive congestion across our HF line. I guessed this was North mids flooding back to intercept our movement but we broke down there time and time again. Another problem I saw with the game was Xerri wasn’t just beating Max at the bounce he was destroying him in second efforts and was helping the North mids to first use time and time again. That was a massive advantage to them especially in the last. I’m not sure how you counter that other than reminding Max to go again after the bounce is lost or won. The other thing that stood out to me was our lack of line breaking run from continually playing on. Time and again we stopped and propped and then kicked down the line, the very thing we’re apparently trying not to do, it was incredibly frustrating to watch. Surely this is part and parcel of a successful transition game. You either get very good at hitting a target further down the field or you play on and at worst kick to your teammates advantage in a 50-50 contest. At some point this year we’re going to have to take the shackles off and get some run back in our game. A setttled 23 will help with that but that feels at least a month away even with no more injuries.

We did but to bash the club with it is offensive in the extreme.

So Turner and Petty are backs who shouldn’t play forward but May, who is far and away our best and most accomplished back, is a back who should play forward…..right got it!

This is a completely concocted story. The coach gave a tiny fraction of something away and now it’s being used to bash the club. Tom Morris is a scum bag.

I don’t think Goodwin and co are trying to completely change our style. It’s natural to evolve it just takes more than a preseason to bed down. The comp is also incredibly even so if you don’t bring your A game prepare to lose.

If any of you are the supporter who hung over the players race on Sunday and bagged the players out you’re a clown. I’d suggest you go follow Carlton. I hope someone who hangs over the race on match days gives you some sound and firm advice.

No I’m supplying reasons why we’re not contending in finals whilst you’re supplying the kind of hyperbole that is easy to fall into when you watch us put on a shocker like yesterday. I’d agree that Goodwin had a bad game but so did the players. It’s not all on Goodwin. My point is without our best 26 fit and playing we’re susceptible. One of the difficulties with our team is we have serious top end talent in Gawn, Petracca, Oliver, May who are getting paid a lot of money. That means there’s less for the rest. We’ve got a good list but it’s not super deep. We have carried too many injuries, that’s a fact.

Injuries are the number 1 reason clubs don’t reach or play at their potential. Nothing in the current landscape affects performance like injuries. They aren’t an excuse they are the reason and I don’t require your respect.

You’re not accounting for injuries as a reason. We can sit back and pick apart Goodwin but in 23 we lost Petty, a seriously in form Melksham and Gus in the last weeks and still only just lost. Add those 3 and I reckon we’re Premiers. You take DeGoey, Mihochek and Sidebottom out of Collingwood and they don’t win the flag. Last year we had 50% Oliver, Petracca gone in July, May hobbling and several others injured, including Max. We missed finals by a couple of close losses to PA, GWS and one other I can’t recall. Yesterday was horrible but our formline isn’t the train wreck many here believe it to be. We’ve so far lost 2 matches and were without May, Pickett, McVee, Melksham and Tholstrup. We lost both Jefferson and Lever in game and Max was given a complete dusting. Add all those players back in the side and I’ll bet my last dollar were a much improved side.

Ins: Langford, Johnson Outs: Woewodin, Jefferson I’d be doing the least amount of changes possible. The week after we’re likely to get May, Windsor and Pickett back and the week after that McVee and Melksham. If Lever doesn’t get up I’d give Adam’s a run.

One thing I did notice on the weekend is that we seemed very congested across the HF line and particularly at CHF. I’ve no idea why but that made the bomb it long appear even more necessary

maybe but I’m not sacking Goodwin

We often appear flat footed and I reckon that’s largely because the new gameplan is not embedded yet so there’s some second guessing going on. This gets worse when a team brings the heat. I’m hoping as we get the remaining best 22 players back and the game plan starts sinking in we’ll start improving. We do need to snatch a win this weekend to keep the confidence up. Lose 5 or 6 on the trot and cracks will appear.