Bring-Back-Powell

On the weekend they were saying he'll be touch and go for round 1. Their fill in ruck Meeks looked pretty good.

It doesn't make sense at all. We needed someone to urgently help out in the first 4 games. The T Mac and Jackson combo hasn't inspired as yet.

Ofcourse. So that's 5 very good small forwards that St Kilda have. We have Pickett who kicked about 7 goals last year. And ANB who at least knows where the sticks are. I'm annoyed at our recruiting and list management in regards to our small forwards and small defenders. ( I don't class Fritsch as a small forward as he's about 188cm. I do class him as a good forward though)

Not sure what the point of the report card when he's based the pre season on one game. However I would give our pre season rating a D- on the basis that we couldn't field half a side one week before the season starts.

I'm guessing Petracca had a 70/30 split between mid and forward and had a poor game by his standards. First game he's played as a mid without Oliver and it showed. Also set the tone for a miserable team performance by missing the opening set shot of the day which he should've nailed.

Because we basically have nobody else in the small forward department. Compare with St Kilda who have Lonie, Higgins, Gresham and Billings. All classy goal kickers. Our forward line simply does not stack up with the rest of the comp.

A shame that we didn't have the same opportunity for an all out assault. When you have 8 of your best 22 out for the final practice game and a couple of those scrambling for minutes at Casey, I don't see how this pre season can be labelled anything other than disappointing, and has a whiff of 2019 about it.

Or a Steven Tingay when he was up and going....

They certainly do and I'll be most surprised if they don't beat us twice this year.

Tomlinson to the wing which is why we threw a 4 year contract at him. He played an outstanding prelim final in 2017 on a wing and did have a 34 possession game last year against Hawthorn in the Marsh series. Petty to take Tomlinson's role in defence. Baker to play at Casey. Fritsch to have a tracking device on his ankle that goes off every time he leaves the forward 50 metre ark. He's our only legit forward option in the early rounds and must stay there.

I notice the holding the ball disparity too but the Dogs cracked in way harder than we did yesterday.

It reeks of round 1 2019. Bringing in a bunch of under cooked players that ran out of gas in the third quarter in a game we started as favorites. Not sure what's worse? Rushing back Brayshaw, Melksham, Kozzie and Hibberd who are league standard, or playing a fit and healthy VDB, Jetta, Jordon, Sparrow, Baker, Bedford etc who are not league standard. Chances are we'll have B Brown, Weid, Viney, Melksham and Hibberd all out for round 1 so unfortunately we're going to have our share of plodders in the side.

With regards to defensive pressure, we once again pick and choose which games to bring it. Last week our pressure was excellent against Richmond and we had a real appetite for the contest. Meanwhile yesterday it was deplorable and that 3rd quarter was about as bad a quarter I’ve seen in terms of pressure and basic skill execution. The Dogs won about a dozen holding the ball calls while we were lucky to have won one. I expect this trend to continue and it will cost us a place in the finals. If Goodwin’s instructions were to treat this game as a casual stroll in the park, then he’d be well advised to let the concerned members know.

Yesterday was a blow for our depth. A very disappointing day for the club and these three did nothing to help their cause for a game (albeit one of them has an ACL)

Have to agree. I’m expecting him to kick on in 2021 after some promising signs last year but yesterday he regressed back to 2019.

6 - May 5- ANB 4 - Lever 3 - Fritsch 2- Gawn 1 - Petracca (shouldn’t really get a vote but the majority of the side was a shambles today)

Waste of practice match. Half the side unavailable No endeavour The kids and fringe players showed nothing. Our forward line remains a shambles. Quarter strength midfield against a great midfield. You notice how important Oliver is to our midfield when he’s not out there. Bont reminded Trac that he’s got a bit to go if he wants to be the number 1 player in the league.

Definitely a patented Goodwin quarter when the players and him just sit there and watch the oppo dominate without any resistance.

You’d have to say it’s a pretty poor pre season result when you’re missing 8 of your best 22 in a full dress rehearsal. Meanwhile the other mob are basically full strength and hitting the ground running for round 1. I’m so concerned about our fwd line in the early rounds.

Our forward line is a shambles. T Mac is scary bad these days.

Fyfe played out the game well. He’s not injured and will certainly play round 1.

That’s massive if Walters is out. Has kicked a combined 6 goals the last 2 times we played them and was the key factor in our loss against them in Cairns. I was concerned we don’t have a suitable match up for him.

Are you suggesting he’s been disciplined/suspended by the club? A bit disappointing we can’t see ALL of the “big 3” in action today - Gawn, Trac, Oliver.

TV - Foxtel Streaming - Kayo If you have neither then go to the local pub and watch it.

Oliver, Salem, Brayshaw, Viney, Hibberd, Melksham, B Brown and Weid all out. Meanwhile the Dogs have a near full strength side. Hard to see us winning this one, but hopefully a few lesser lights can step up tomorrow and show that we have good depth.