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It's funny Petterd is mentioned when others are discussing injury prone players that should be waived at the end of the year. Petterd, himself, said that the club just couldn't wait any more to get him on the park. Now he is right and he is playing a role down at Punt Rd. You have to make a judgement call on each of these players - you can't make sweeping calls over all the players that have struggled to get on the park - you won't build a decent list that way. Throw out those extra talented, but injured, players and replace them with low-end talent at the end of the draft and you are not helping the situation - you are probably making it worse. Number 2 for Carlton last night was Menzel - his family has a history of knee issues but loads of talent - sometimes that loyalty pays you back.

Byrnes was useful last weekend. I think there are a number who agree with me but don't want to admit it. The dislike is palpable and unfair.

He is one of 6 players that played on Sat night who has played more than 100 games of AFL footy.

No Gawn... Hopefully Fitz and McD are good to go...

Can anyone else see the progress? We are now worried about how in the world we are going to kick a goal. It's a much better place than worrying how in the world we are going to get a kick... We may not win Sunday, but we can certainly continue on what we saw in Rd 1; progress.

If you get Roos up there can he have his body? Because he didn't have his body last time...

Give a Melbourne side 400 touches on the G and let's see what the result is. We have finally the makings of a midfield that can run with most sides, I am keen to see how they go this weekend. You can win without a forward line, you can't compete without a midfield.

It's happening. And there are some aspects that are good for the sport - Free Agency has been a means to even the competition in the NFL and the NBA. It is a far better model than the EPL-like dominance of a few teams that has been seen in the last few years. Please tell me what you don't want to see in the AFL that the Americans do.

Ok, I think it is time to move on from the injury list to the game itself.

Moving the conversation away from our impotent forward line, I was impressed with our ability across the middle - both offensively and defensively. If we can take our time going forward (or move the ball very, very quickly) we can be damaging and actually score goals. Although 21 scoring shots from 47 Inside 50s isn't terrible.

He's not dead or injured. AFL isn't for everybody. Maybe its the best thing that happens to him - maybe playing footy with his mates and doing something else with his life is what will make him happy.

Do you watch the NBA or the NFL? If players want the AFL to become more like the big US sports - they are going to have to suck up some of the negatives that arise. One of them being that they can be traded without their consent.

On what happened last year, in last season - their first season...

I don't know why you are so dismissive. It isn't rubbish - it's giving players specific points to hit a contest (or stay away from it), a specific place to look to give it off so that you are not asked to do things that only very talented players can do. These are structures - around a stoppage they are easy to get your head around - this is where we set up, this is where we look to move the ball, etc. Away from stoppages they are less tangible to supporters but good teams still have them; a point inboard or backwards to look for a short kick rather than kick it long if that is something they cannot do very well, a movement forward will see a player position themselves to create space for more talented players with blocks, leading in and out of space, and, again, when getting the football, looking for players in pre-determined spots on the field that they can easily hit. And, nowhere have I said that we don't lack quality. Only that 'poorly skilled' players are sometimes those that need to learn to play within their ability and make better decisions.

Well, that's the fault of the person/people putting you out there and expecting Jamie Durie...

Off JKH so quickly? And the constant barrage of Pedersen and Byrnes is a muscle memory. I will let Roos decide how they fulfilled their roles. And Bail had 22 touches and worked very hard. For any of them to be thrown out after 1 game - 3 of them for good - isn't reflective of good player management.

That is a part of the gameplan, especially with the forward line being so talentless and small. Roos wants us to maintain possession of the footy and hit targets rather than look for territory and contests. We don't have a good list for any style of football but especially not for this game style - it requires good decision making and excellent skill execution. But it is best that the blokes that will be around for a few years learn how to play this style so we can progress quickly when the talent at the club rises in the coming years.

We have probably had this discussion before stmj but I see it at every level - a lot of 'poorly skilled' players are simply making consistently bad decisions with the footy. If you play within your limitations and make good decisions - you can play a role in well structured team. Roos will give the players roles - it is up to them to fulfil those roles.

When do reasons become excuses? Do you want to involve yourself in analysis or are you only in this thread to point out to people - who think we should have won that game had we kicked straight - that we didn't win the game?

And, unfortunately, for us to recruit (and develop - see: J Toumpas) players who can play in the system. Roos has not given the club a game plan to best utilise the cattle he has - he has given the club a defined structure of what every player recruited should be able to do; win their own footy, play a role, and have decent enough skills to hit consistent targets.

? What is so disproportionate with the below? The only criticism I would have of hartack is engaging with all that nonsense. DoreenDee, on 22 Mar 2014 - 9:58 PM, said:

Good post, but the above is a powerful exception... Give us Riewoldt and we would have won by 6 goals. He was a class above everyone in that game and is the reason we are slitting our wrists right now. Judging how we will go this season on one game is foolhardy, but I have said since Roos came on board that we are still a poor list and that fact is still showing, but the effort and endeavour is up, the game plan is viable and visible, and I now look forward to games than in trepidation.

Really... Our opponents averaged 122 points against us last year so there is your perspective.

Can you read what I wrote, and what you quoted? I never said people were contemplating Roos' future, just a third of the players.

Apology not accepted. Get some perspective.