old55

Absolutely dominated

We'll win.

I agree there are tall forwards and tall backs but CHF and CHB don't exist any more. Riewoldt get up the ground and plays deep and so does Hogan. The problem that Cloke and Dunn have been having is that they think like you.

That's what isn't true. Few of those defences have champs in them. It's the exception. you said that Sydney's 2005 workman defence was the exception, but it's not.

I don't think that's true - take out the recent Hawthorn and Geelong flags and there's not to many "Silvagnis" in there: 2012: Sydney B: 2 Rhyce Shaw 25 Ted Richards 29 Martin Mattner HB: 34 Alex Johnson 39 Heath Grundy 40 Nick Smith 2010: Collingwood B: 5 Nick Maxwell (c) 16 Nathan Brown 34 Alan Toovey HB: 8 Harry O'Brien 20 Ben Reid 39 Heath Shaw 2008: Hawthorn[12] B: 27 Stephen Gilham 24 Trent Croad 18 Brent Guerra HB: 14 Grant Birchall 15 Luke Hodge 4 Rick Ladson 2006: West Coast Backs Beau Waters Darren Glass Daniel Chick Half-backs Adam Selwood Adam Hunter Brett Jones 2005: Sydney B:28 Jared Crouch21 Leo Barry30 Lewis Roberts-Thomson HB:4 Ben Mathews6 Craig Bolton17 Tadhg Kennelly 2004: Port Adelaide B: 21 Michael Wilson 2 Darryl Wakelin 19 Matthew Bishop HB: 11 Damien Hardwick 35 Chad Cornes 3 Brett Montgomery

If, according to the OP, Hogan is "our FF" how come he's taking marks up on the wing? The whole concept of CHF/CHB FF/FB is defunct. There may be 1, 2 or 3 tall marking players in the forward 50 at the centre bounce but the idea that one of then is "CHF" is an outdated concept, they all move around up and down the ground. Hogan takes marks in the defensive 50 on occasion. I agree we need another consistent tall contested marking option to Hogan who at times can play deep to free Hogan up the field, but also at times I love to see Hogan deep.

Tremendous that Jack is getting a game. He's been playing a similar midfield role at Casey to the Bugg role and while Bugg's form was good he was holding Grimes out - that makes perfect sense to me, no conspiracy no injustice. I think we may find that there's only a place for one of Bugg, Trengove and Grimes in the 22 in the future. I wasn't that enthused about Trengove and Bugg both in the team and I think Matt Jones (type) replacement for one of them gives us a more versatile midfield. Now it makes sense with Bugg's form decline, Grimes is replacing him. Personally in the long run I hope Trenners can own this role.

The 18 positions just don't exist anymore. CHF is an extinct dinosaur.

Prestia 9 votes in this week's coaches award.

No-one would dispute that. But if he wants to go home - well that's it. I can see how we can avoid a disaster in that case.

If we could convert Hogan into Hurley and Prestia via Freo's next two 1st rounders and Weidemann and Hulett come on then it's definitely not a disaster. I've seen Weidemann and Hulett live 3 times now and they look very promising. Great in the contest and contested marking, nice kicks, hard-working up and down the ground to present an option and Hulett in particular has some special ground skills. From the VFL reports it sounds like the need to work on their defensive side a bit but that will come - they both appear to be good learners.

Hogan is a tremendous player and I really hope he signs with us, but if he's set on going home to Perth I hope he makes that known this year so we can do a deal while he's in contract and Freo are in the bottom 4. If we got equitable compensation for him, I've seen enough from Weidemann and Hulett, and with Watts improvement this year to feel comfortable that we could still continue our rise to challenge.

With Smith as 1st ruck and Blicavs as an on-baller, Geelong have a logjam of fwd/rucks: Stanley, Clark, Vardy if they are all fit and with Hawkins there it seems that only one can play. So there's likely to be some movement.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-07-05/vfl-player-review-round-13

http://www.topendsports.com/sport/afl/sprint.htm According to this Dangerfield beat Murdoch (2.76s @ 20m) in 2013 and Murdoch beat Hunt into 4th in 2014 so I think Danger has it covered. Hunt is quick enough though, some players can actually use their pace and he's one of them.

Hunt had a good game and is an incredibly exciting talent. But at present he doesn't get it much/enough. We mostly played 6 backs, 5 forwards (sometimes 7 and 4) and with Hunt coming off the side of the square behind the wing at the centre bounces - and there were a lot of them. Hunt had next to zero impact in this role. A lot of the time Gawn hit it to the opposite side of the square that Hunt started on. This is not a criticism of Hunt - it was a mystifying set-up.

He's being instructed to do it and there's known risk. It sets up a lot of positive attacking play when it comes off which is most of the time - Dunn and Garland are not in the team because they can't or won't do it. The problem is his occasional skill execution errors and of course they stand out because of where they happen. I'd love to see them gone but costing 3 or 4 goals a week is exaggeration. If he can perfect his skills in this area he will be one of the greatest defenders we've ever had.

Tom mis-kicks a few times a match and because of where he plays it's looks and is costly. But he sets up a lot of creative play too which gets overlooked by many here. It's not decision making errors it's execution errors which he can continue to work on. He's a terrific player and his intercept marking is great.

Bugg has played some reasonable football this year but is a limited player and wasn't good yesterday. Trengove or Grimes for him.

Astonished that people are unhappy with that.

I think you missed the point.

Get with it, he hasn't been playing in the backline at Casey all year. He's a midfield option for Bugg's role, he hasn't been able to crack it yet but I'm sure he will.

So much sooking! The GC experience shows success is not a given with the assistance provided to these clubs. If GWS is successful it will be because of excellent management. I support expansion and I remember the start of the Bears - ugly! And a final point - we've exploited the opportunities the GWS assistance has provided more that any other club. Hogan for Scully. Salem and Tyson for Kelly. Weidemann for Academy picks. Our list would be poorer without our good trading relationship with them. I prefer GWS to win the flag this year more than anyone else apart from the Dogs and possibly the Crows (who IMO have lost more to expansion than any other team and have also suffered the Walsh tragedy). Hawrthorn, Sydney, Geelong, West Coast, North - yuk!

He's recently turned 25. Has a lot of footy ahead.

Jones. Chronically over rated by some - he wouldn't be in the best 3 players of any of the top midfields. And chronically under rated by some - he would be in all the top midfields.