Ollie fan

Is because the MCG no longer checks tickets. It's appalling. I don't know what they can be thinking.

They should but they won't

I think Rivers on Cameron is our best match up - will keep up with him for pace and will force Cameron to think a bit defensively.

Next week will be up to our defenders. I truly hope they do well. I can't stand seeing Geelong up the top....

This is such a good game for us - an opportunity for the coaches to really study the weaknesses in these teams. Geelong clearly have a powerful forward line but their rucks and mids are getting thrashed. We need to exploit that. With Carlton, they are doing a great job of getting good attacking clearances from the middle. We need to make sure we have a defensive sweeper at centre bounces - perhaps they could give that role to Sparrow. But it is all on display for us to learn from.

Apparently the coach and the team laughed at the mistakes at half time. After half time we were much better. Why criticise the coaching technique?

I think it is completely obvious that his confidence is shot. Posters say his attitude is like he wants to be in Adelaide. I disagree completely. I believe if he kicks a couple of goals in a row we will then see a completely different player. The question is: should he go to Casey to get those goals?

Thanks for the hint of them being in YouTube which I didn't know. Things us older supporters love about that era: umpires who don't affect the result. Holding the ball paid whenever it is there which makes players look to get the ball out and keeps the play open (Alastair Clarkson has said that if they paid holding the ball, a lot of the present scrums would go). Umpires who can, and do, bounce the ball all over the ground without fanfare and manage to get the ball to bounce high and straight. And in our team: all of it but with special love to the great Robert Flower, and also to Sean Wight who seems to have invented the spoiler/interceptor role 30 years before Jake Lever reinvented it.

In 1990 We either win, or got thrashed. What I mean is, we were either right on our game or right off it. Because of the draw between Collingwood and West Coast, we had an extra unplanned week off and when we eventually played, you could tell from the warm up that we were off our game - and so it transpired. I thought that year was the one that got away.

Completely agree about Warren Dean - he was great but had a crippling knee problem. I am also a believer that we would have won against Carlton - and certainly would have put up a better showing than Hawthorn. The character of that team was amazing. If these games are available anywhere I too would love to know about it.

100% well said

If Clarry is out, I don't mind. He needs to get his hand right. He is too important for the rest of the season. I'd like to see Petty play a somewhat defensive role on Harris Andrews. Keep him out of it and Brisbane are in real trouble.

I suspect he is much healthier this year - his knee is more under control.

I have a completely different recollection of that game.

As far as I have seen, Turner for TMac is not like-for-like. Turner is a floating interceptor, not someone who could play on eg Harry McKay. And although I always hope for the best, so far he has done nothing in the one or two games he has played to justify pinning our hopes on him.

I'm on the side of resting Clarry -- he is clearly hampered and we need him to be right - so let the hand heal. I know it is not like for like, but perhaps bring Tommo back in as he is pretty versatile. Maybe bring Salo back into the middle - even though I don't think it really suits him and put Tommo in defence. Perhaps Salo could play a run-with role on Neale.

One has to ask: is anyone surprised by this s..t?

Hope you are right. Max is still at 100/1 - same as Grundy which is ridiculous - and I am on him.

8 to 3 frees so dar

I mentioned that incident in another thread. Apparently, Viney was NOT intimidated by a much older, seasoned veteran breaking his jaw - he wanted to go on with it! Too many bandages in the team as they ran out for my liking

The link to the highlights has gone from my thread - could it be put back up? He was amazing. The clash of cultures just didn't work for him.

I would rest him this week if there is any real problem - and it seems that there is. The Adelaide mids are not threatening. He is too valuable to risk.

As he should. It is clearly a deliberate tactic that some teams are adopting : to physically attack him at every chance. It was great to see an umpire actually give him the protection the rules call for.

I see JVR as a CHF rather than FF. If Petty does leave, it is worth noting that Jeffo was marking like a champion ( but not kicking like one) at Casey today.