WA Demon Boy

Bombers have bough in some leg speed too in McKenna + Fantazia Hope it's wet (praying that it is) otherwise on paper we don't look too promising. Not sure where Jackson fits this week and will be interesting to see if he does play. Won't be the first or last time anyone will be baffled by selections so hopefully we just come switched on for the entire game.

Did anyone hear Jennings on SEN today about Goodwins strategy in how the premiership quarters are now played in the first quarter now rather than the third? Was super interesting stuff and made me think that maybe Goodwin knows how to win but the 2nd and 3rd quarter we just stunk. Clean that up and if we continue to start well out of the blocks we should be ok. Still a lot of work to do but it was interesting to hear Jennings talk on how he thought Goodwin coached well

Not sure about that - Mitchell was an elite kick on both sides (later the developed his left) and had extreme footy smarts. Oliver I see more as a better version of Daniel Cross (both good tacklers, would prefer to handball than kick, inside mids and don't hit the scoreboard). I'd like to see Oliver become that Jobe Watson type player (could see backlash for that comment) but Jobe in his prime was super impactful once he hit that next level. In saying all of this he's 22 - which is pretty crazy for how good he is. In 3-4 years he'll be in his peak and he could rise to being a totally different player.

I don't get why Gawn doesn't smash it forward once a game, has a great touch no doubt but adding in a set "controlled chaos" type play for us alas Tigers could be hugely beneficial.

I hope Trac takes Oliver under his wing (I know they're good mates) this year or next and shows him how to train more intensely (over the summer break) and drift forward to kick a goal or two. I get that he and Trac are totally different players but Oliver could become fitter/be a goal kicker too. He's still super young and whenever I see him in a club video he's always joking around or taking the pi**. All well and good of course, but this year or next would love to see him take the next step. From memory I though it had happened against GC in 2018 when he kicked 2 or 3? Just needs to hit the scoreboard more because Viney rarely does. So even 1 between them a game would be nice

excellent!

I almost want to see Omac back in purely because he wouldn't fly if Lever and May both do (I can see this happening again in the year time and time again). Omac cops a lot of heat (yes I lash him too) but sometimes you just need those players who have 1 job and 1 job only and rarely is he totally destroyed and had bags kicked on him (additionally this year there isn't going to be crazy high scoring) + May and Lever come over and help to spoil/if he does have 2 kicked on him early we can make the change to May. Another thing is now that have May, Lever, Salem, Rivers, Harmes all down there - Omac doesn't need to kicking out of 50 (although his kick has improved) he just needs to have 1 job and that is wear the fwd like a glove, body them and compete. Ball hits the deck and it's almost a win. Smith is a see ball, fly, leap, do anything he can to have a crack at it at any cost. You can't play this way down back. Happy to play him off the bench and then up forward, but I can't see him playing every game down back nor do I want him too. Would love to know if he enjoys playing down there too. Everyone can see athleticism it's just totally wasted right now down back. It will be mind blowing if he plays down there even this week.

Harley in the wet? He's super silky and moved well last week, but this could be a totally different game altogether. Have to look at each game tactically rather than just play whoever. Essendon mids are pretty thin too - so if it is wet and very contested we should easily have them for physicality

I agree with this too - particularly if it's going to be super wet and contested. Would bring in AVB for him. We could easily get on top of them in the contested area.

Jacko also has to go (even playing him round 1 was a huge surprise) for Weed

Gus is such a tough one, because when we're on top he does some decent things and can at time drift forward and kick a few. But he doesn't have any X factor or anything that screams that we hold onto him long-term. He's not quick, isn't a penetrating kick, doesn't win enough of the ball, or great overhead. So really it comes down to: - Where is the best spot to play him? (off the bench I guess?) - Do we trade him for someone younger? Like I said before the game, I'll be keeping a close eye on him. His first quarter was decent then he faded (like the rest of the team) but again he doesn't have any X factor or anything that stands out. He's a mystery right now, but I would be looking at a trade with either WCE or Freo end of year if he doesn't show enough. Everyone is harping on about his 2018, the game has changed since then and each year it's getting quicker and Gus isn't getting any younger.

It just sounds super messy right now, reading through all of this I have no clue what our forward line is going to look like. I would just say bring in Kozzi and Weed for Jackson and Jones. it hurts to say Jones because we all love him but Nathan Jones was really ineffective against the Blues and Essendon are a lot quicker than the Blues. I just have no clue where to play Jones anymore. I'd say perhaps a HFF but there are a few more ahead of him now. I also can't see how Jones is going to fair against Saints, Rich, GWS, Bris and Geel who are all super quick users of the ball. I don't mean to out him singularly but we're already slow in Clarry, Gus, Harmes, Tomlinson, Salem and adding another slower, older player is just going to hurt us. I wouldn't want to be Goody right now because this team is a total enigma.

I agree here, but I would push Tmac up the ground, his endurance is his asset and even though he is looking like he can't turn I would rather him up the ground clunking it and hitting up targets, then deep in our fwd line when the ball hits the deck and he can't provide any pressure i50. I think Hibb comes back in, yes his ball use is pretty average but he is a defender and a pretty good one at that. Message to him should always be lower the eyes and hopefully some of the way that Rivers plays rubs off on him. Salem is great coming out of d50 don't get me wrong, but it's time to test him out forward of centre or more up the ground hitting players on the chest. He doesn't have much zip and if he can set up play going inside 50 then that's a win. Milkman is dropped for me, hasn't shown anything and tends to be a touch lazy when it goes the other way. Jones on thin ice but holds his spot

All of this and more I cannot believe our attitude - 40 odd up and just stopped? We should have lost this. Cripps, Walsh all made errors and that's that.

This club is so weak. Goodwin is on such a warning

Smith can't play backline - he has zero clue

T-mac can't even make a contest?

we're down 13 i50. unbelievable

T-Mac and Milkman have been really average. Need at least 1 from each of them.

Milkman has been nowhere

Our skills are just killing us, as is our attitude

Bradshaw had to go elsewhere...

Come on Jacko!

We're being let off the hook - need a spark now

Disposals been so sloppy