old55

On those dates we'll have Jake back ahead of Max for 2-5 matches depending on the scenarios. That will be good because Jake's injury won't affect his running fitness so he should be ready to go. Maybe Jake back for QBW and then Max back for the big Friday night home game against the Swans.

if Fyfe want to go to St.Kilda as RFA then Freo could let him go and they'll get the pick after their 1st rounder as compensation, Freo are 11th at the moment so that means they'd get pick 9. Alternatively if they match the Saints bid then the Saints would have to trade for him. They hold the Hawks 1st rounder (IMO around pick 6) and their own 1st rounder (IMO around pick 10). They specifically traded for the Hawks 1st rounder - wonder why? If Fyfe leaves Freo for St.Kilda then it will most likely be a trade.

That's the post from AF that I disagreed with and that you are defending. IMO it's wrong and I backed that opinion up with reasons - votes from both coaches and the context of his arduous lead-in. Yeah - it's not fine.

I'm keen but 1st round is a little too high. He will turn 29 at the end of the year and he relies on his pace so he's got a limited lifespan in the game. Our 2nd might be enough nearly be though. Maybe plus ANB - there was some scuttle last year in the Lewis trade that he was in the Hawks sights.

No I don't think our need is there. Weed is developing and will play that role. This year we've been because of circumstance but as Weed and King mature the need evaporates.

leehow's point about injuries is good. Gawn doesn't get injured early in the Geelong game - we win with a forward line of Watts, Smith, Weed. Spencer AND Smith don't get injured early in the Richmond game - we win with a forward line of Hogan, Watts, Smith Only the Freo game is a possible argument for Pedersen over Weed and Weed got injured himself early in that game and missed an easy shot he would kick 10/10 - we win. Pedersen was very good on the weekend in the role he played but that's not the role he would have been selected for earlier.

Watts has played his best footy for the club in 2016-17. That's when he's been playing the forward-ruck role. Watts is better when he's playing this role and he's better at it than Pedersen.

Collingwood's deficiency is his capability. They need a KPF to support the developing Moore.

Look at 4:15 in the video I pasted in for your education.

The video said that they implemented the pressure acts data collecting and analysis at the request of the coaches and FDs,

Watts is better than Pedersen at that role though.

It was quite clearly the wrong call though. He got equal top coaches votes, with votes from both coaches. That was on the back of rucking single-handedly in the wet 5.5 days before and then backing up. He played very well - tremendous under those circumstances. Watts plays in a distinctive way, some people want him to be a different player and that affects their ability to judge his contribution. It's a problem with the critique, not with Watts. It seems you can't critique the critique?

Cyril and Isaac Smith are the only Hawthorn players I'd be interested in.

That's a good article.

Re-signed at Hawks to 2021 in March.

Cheers. That means: Hurley, Watts and Oliver some combination of 2 × 5+1 and 1 x 3+3 TMac and Petracca both 4+0 Tyson and Viney both 2+0

I agree we looked much better with Bernie in the square. That really means Salem has to play back and take the kick-ins and it appears the FD has wanted him in the midfield. They've been trying a different mix n the square Salem, Petracca and ANB in recent weeks which I think is good. It's unlikely that both small pressure forwards ANB and JKH will go out without a replacement but Bernie could play this role and spend some time in the square. If Hogan comes in that would give us a big bodied forward line: Hogan, Watts, Petracca, Hannan, Vince, Garlett - I like that set-up. It means one of ANB and JKH is retained and plays forward when Vince and Petracca go into the square. Kent to try to force his way back in. The other alternative is both ANB and JKH go out, Vince goes forward-mid, Wagner comes in and we play 7 back, 5 forward consistently. I'm not sure Wagner can kick in yet and it seems a waste for Hibberd or Lewis, we need them to take the next kick. I think they must have held Stretch and Weed both out as extra insurance in case we had a small or a tall out late. Stretch isn't competing with JKH and ANB for a role, he's competing with Bugg. I think we're looking like a very strong side.

Agree. Don't mind Hibberd's kicking and Lewis is handy too.

Goodwin specifically mentioned JKH in his press conference.

Agree. It will be very interesting to see the coaches votes. They are what really counts.

I don't agree with that at all, I thought Essendon tried to switch into the corridor from HB a lot and mostly it came off. Goddard particularly did this well. It was their next play that let them down with turnovers. From our point of view, I thought the coaching panel did a great job with the ruck coverage having Pedersen take the majority with only short relief from Watts who played well forward, bringing in Oscar so that TMac could take the back 50 contests was a great plan. Pedersen and our midfield did a great job at the stoppages but this is not the greatest threat not having a ruckman. The kick down the line is the greatest threat and Essendon failed to exploit that - Bellchambers and Daniher towered over us in this area and they couldn't use it. This is where we are vulnerable in future. When we have it in defence we don't have the down the line get out if their ruckman can mark well, so we HAVE to find the spot up or the switch. When they have it they always have the down the line get out if their ruckman is competitive in the air. In future we really need to get TMac up to those contests to at least nullify their ruckman.

Gratuitous sledge. Watts fumbled a couple of times but was generally excellent and led an undersized forward line. He kicked 4.1. He rucked without relief for 3 quarters in the wet just 5.5 days ago. It's some sort of miracle he got up for the game at all.

We play Etihad pretty well these days.

Imagine if South Melbourne didn't go to Sydney!