old55

But I heard over summer here that Ratten is a coaching genius and St.Kilda have zoomed past us with their inspired recruiting, despite the fact that we beat them last year?

Remember the old adage: things are never as good or as bad as they seem ...

I think it probably just gives Robert Harvey a little more runway to get used to the job with the bye next week.

No doubt our cap is tight, that's why TMac and ANB were on the table last year. IMO no-one big comes in without someone big going out ...

Robbo and BT - the apex of AFL commentary ...

Bucks on Robbo: "Can you mute him?"

Bucks on Robbo "Can you mute him?" :)

Great speech and presentation by Buckley - he's good.

yeah bulls1te - but I don't expect or want us to tip our hand ...

You're right, since and including 2001: Ess: 204-6-237 - they are underwater MFC: 172-3-272 - minus 100 wins Cartoon: 156-4-287 - we have a loser!

Essendon are in the running there too.

I really hope Clarkson stays on at Hawthorn - 2 years of suffering is not enough. They haven't fully bottomed out yet and have at least 3 more years in the bottom half and are 5-8 years from contending even if things go right. I want him to be part of the misery.

From the Bushrangers to the top of the AFL table, Flag-favourite Demons - what a day - well done Daniel!

Great research thanks Titan! There's 3 A Grade 2nd bananas in there but that's what we need I agree. Weid needs to improve his output.

A thoughtful post, well researched as usual Titan. But are you comparing apples? Almost all those KPFs with the possible exception of Riewoldt (Lynch?) are the main targets in their teams. Currently that's TMac at MFC and Weid is playing the supporting role. That was the plan going into the season except that it was meant to be B.Brown playing the key role with Weid supporting, and TMac working out his contract at Casey. So the I think the question is whether Weid is adequately performing his complementary role to TMac and whether B.Brown would do this better because neither are unseating TMac any time soon who is absolutely on fire. B.Brown and TMac worked effectively together against the Swans but it seems the FD prefers Weid's attributes to B.Brown's in this role overall, possibly because they value his greater ground ball capability and forward pressure. I completely agree that Weid needs to start sticking his marks - but his attack on the contest is definitely there, and I agree that he definitely needs to kick those goals - but I know he's a great kick. The forward line is functioning very well and we're rating high in forward 50 conversions. I'm patient to see it play out - but I agree Weid needs to be on an improving curve to hold his spot.

Yes, no doubt my personal bias and pain points are on show in this thread in my response to a poster who passionately defends the rights of others to irrationally and prematurely slag off the club, even when we're 9-1, with an inconsistently applied free speech argument.

I think you might take a deep breath and read the thread again from the start and see the context of @rpfc posts.

They're free to post stupid stuff and he's free to call them out on it.

The consequences for those exercising their right to free speech in the Gameday thread was for @Deefiant to highlight their inaccuracy in the aftermath of the match outcome. But you don't like those consequences of free speech.

McCartney used to say to the effect "when you're watching on TV and you see more Demons than on the screen than opposition you know we're going well and are going to win" - I think we've changed tack in the intervening period.

You seem confused kev. You're the champion of free speech except when @Deefiant and @rpfc exercise their rights to it

Is Weideman the right guy?

Last Friday's outcome with Weid was 2 goals kicked directly by players that he handballed to after groundball gets under maximum pressure. That's rare stuff from KPFs 2 goals kicked directly after marking contests that he got first hands to There were also 2 goals he would normally have kicked from marks but his kicking was a bit off - normally he is a beautiful kick and there is not a structural issue with his kicking. He also got his hands to a number of marks that just didn't stick - he did stick his last mark at full stretch but couldn't finish with the kick at goal Two Fwd 50 tackles that resulted in stoppages That's decent output and, if he takes all his chances, it's dominant output.

I don't think the FD rate him whereas they do rate Bowey. Also I think Bowey is more like for like dor Salem with his kicking skills.

I see the core of our 28-29 flag sides: Petty, Rivers, Bowey, Jackson, Oliver, Jordon, Sparrow, Weid, Spargo, Kossie.