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Given we have more depth in the half-back flank position, definitely think it be worth returning Gus to the wingers club We know Dunstan be a finals replacement for an injury to any of our starting midfield (and I am sure he would do a good job), but think we should use the opportunity next week to see what Laurie can do on a flank.

In: Laurie, JVR, Hunt out: Oliver, Bedford, Bowey Hunt to play more defensive, and free up Salem. Bowey to get his form back in the vfl. Harmes, Sparrow, occasionally Kosi to cover Oliver midfield rotations, with Laurie hff improving our inside 50 entries. (Oliver to not be a hero and rush back. Enjoy a week off, and be ready to explode on return) JVR to assist BB (Bedford unlucky, and structural rather than dropped). JVR taking contested marks in the wet deserves his chance. Was significantly better than Weid in the game I just watched.

I am going to resist the facepalm. But out of curiosity, did you run with this to see how many facepalms you could get?

Not completely false. He met with Carlton

Rope-a-dope :- Hopefully! We definitely held some strategy back in the loss against the dogs same time last year

That’s it. If he isn’t happy with either WCE or Freo, then the “homesick” excuse is not the main factor!

Can’t read much into that stat, given our 2 games without him have been Hawks and crows. Just got over the line against the hawks without him :- Hawks without their usual ruck, and Gawn dominant

If he appreciated what he has received from us, he would stay for 2 more years (despite wanting to go home). If he goes this year, I think it just shows that he thinks he is a superstar and we were lucky to have his services.

Yep, too often they had free mids across half forward who had just run harder to space on a fast play.

Completely agree, the long down the line to Gawn/Brown, would be much more powerful, if we switched out of the backline more often, and forced the opposition to defend more potential scenarios. At least we have learnt some lessons now and not in the finals :- lets just hope our coaching group are not too stubborn/proud to make some fundamental changes to the way we play.

How smug was he. Well deserved though. We were out-played and out-coached. It sounded to me, as if he was proudly showing off how he had cracked the code :- and making sure other coaches/teams would catch on to his views on the key reasons why we were beaten

If teams are going to copy Geel, and not bomb it anywhere near Gawn then he needs to play as a 70-80% permanent forward. I don’t think we would miss much, not having his hit-outs

In favour of this. If it’s too soon, and he struggles, it will be some motivation for him over pre-season to work harder & It would give our list managers a better idea of how urgently we need to add forward line talent for next year.

Assuming you meant to say “you do you Champion”

Above Howe/Frawley level, but just below Scully

Is the only selfish player in our team :- Needs to stop

Agree with this. If he departs end of this year, no invite to the premiership reunion, and will be remembered as having character only marginally above Scully’s Stay 2 more years, then he be free to do what he wants, with everyone’s blessing.

Good on you for making the effort to get there :- as painful as it must have been.

We won the prelim by 83 points. Assuming cats don’t have the flu/gastro tonight, I will say they will show 2-3 goals improvement :- So Dees by 65 points

Brother 1:- “Mum, my brother pushed me” Brother 2:- “No I didn’t, he pushed me” Mum:- “Ok boys, I get you are nervous about tonight’s game. Both go to your rooms and relax for a while” :)

Ross Lyon just tipped against us again. He can’t stand us. I wonder what we have done to upset him. And Lloydy picked against us because of our forward line issues. Too funny.

And not if Bedford proves up our smaller forward line structure against the cats

Agree with what you are saying, but just don’t think it’s a problem. We win games from the manic pressure, and defensive dominance etc up the ground. While it is tough to bring this every week, and may result in 1,2 or even 3 more losses for the remainder of home and away season:- Our strategy is backing in that we will bring this manic pressure, and defensive dominance for every final, and hence why scoring and the forward line won’t be an issue for the games that matter most.

Great post, thanks

Agree with this. I think we learnt Sat arvo, that we don’t need Maxy’s taps in the middle. Get jacko in there, as an extra midfielder, and utilise Gawn’s marking strength fwd line and occasionally back.