Roost it far

I can't tell if this is just more made up stuff. I mean the coach is hardly likely to turn around and say "Yeh, he's a spud, he'll get the chop this week"

That’s what Salem is for, here’s hoping we persist and don’t use him to cover Bowey

This space you talk of virtually never happens in the big games. Teams are primed to run back and defend. Even the Pies played like this in the finals. Sure you get some moments but by and large our gameplan is the model. What's not working is our lack of targets and our poor kicking.

This thread isn't for me 😂

120

I tend to agree that he's not the answer but he's young, physical and competitive so he'll be more than useful. He needs a companion in Petty, then with Fritsch, Pickett, Petracca and ANB we have a solid forward half. We just need to get it in a bit quicker. The problem I see is after our best 23 we drop away fast and with no obvious replacements for May and Gawn we are open to problems. Maybe we'll get a good run with injury but with Gus and Smith leaving us 2 down, Melksham 3 down, BBB and TMac 5 down, Schache basically 6 down, you then add McAdam, Petty, Bowey and our list is threadbare. Unless guys like Laurie, Woewodin and Howes step up and the likes of McVee, Sparrow and Rivers keep going well we're in trouble if and when injuries strike. It looks like we've found one in Howes who by my reckoning looks set to build in confidence as the season goes on. Bowey a huge loss if it means Salem comes out of the middle.

I wouldn't be over rucking JVR. It's why we need Fullerton. If he's not up for the contest then he's another wasted selection.

Fairly well known he has issues with his Achilles

Salem stays in the middle, he needs games to find his mojo and we need a new look in there. We can plug the gap for 8 weeks

Achilles is cooked

Has the loading myth been busted or as a club do we keep it on the downlow?

Well that’s good news

How’s Petty looking?

Thanks for the clarification. I’m not against loading in theory or practice. However if we’re loading now I’d be a little shocked.

Yes but you specifically said we’re loading which is different to a hard session after a break?

What would you imagine is the point of this? We played Carlton in 38 degrees, ran out of puff last week and now we’re busting a gut at training. Can you explain the logic behind this?

What do you mean by saying they’re loading?

I ain’t laughing

Personally I’d be stoked at that

Isn’t he the guy to help solve our forward half issues?

My kingdom for Jackson. That’s why Fullerton is so important

Bowey is a huge loss, I think he was primed for a great year. We need a replacement for him. Who is that? I don’t see a natural cover besides Salem. Do we roll the dice and try Laurie or Woewodin there?

I think Collingwood will slide to bottom half of the 8, they’ll get found out

We’ve got some major problems and Bowey’s loss compounds them. 8 weeks means it’s unlikely he’ll find his best till very late in the season.

The AFL have to let clubs who lose a player to concussion pick an extra player and have the players salary off the books. We're going to miss Gus more than we realise.