DiscoStu17

I think he might surprise us. The VFL team is a dog’s breakfast. Everyone is playing their own game with little sharing. That has come from players being dropped without actually playing. On the weekend he was able to hit Sestan in space over the shoulder under pressure. Last week it was from the bottom of the pack to Fullarton for a shot on goal. He is making good decisions and may offer more than first thought.

This has not been the case recently. Fullarton has been starting in ruck for 20+ minutes then Verrall gets 5min at the end of the quarter. They’re obviously trying to see if Fullarton can do the role with more exposure, but all it’s doing is stuffing up Verrall’s development and the clearances.

I’ve said it before, but Bryan won almost all of these hitouts against Fullarton and Brown. Verrall won 8/13 against him in the first half. He is ok, but not better than we already have.

I don’t think his fitness is a problem anymore. He seems to be moving much better this year and the injury issues are largely behind him. He dominated the SA u18 comp as a 15-16 year old but then had 2 1/2 years of osteitis and back issues. I think he also won the highest jump at the combine (with Weddle). But just leaping in the ruck doesn’t work when they can just push you away - it’s all about strength at the moment. Until they change the rules again.

Bryan’s going so well they brought in Goldstein instead. He won a lot of hitouts against Casey last week, however 99% were against Fullarton. Bryan had 13 contests with Verrall in the first half - Verrall won 8 of them. I’m sure they’re giving Fullarton every opportunity as he is more experienced but he cannot control the centre square. As no1 ruck this week Verrall had 45 hitouts, 7 clearances and 20 possessions. I don’t think he’s quite ready for a regular role yet but he’s damn near the same as Bryan, and as good or better than several who are masquerading in AFL at the moment.

They seem less likely to use Lingers in a major attacking role since the hawks tagged him to great effect 2 years ago. Most of the time he is used negatively or as the +1 at the contest, so doubtful if he gets much statistical recognition. From the half I saw, it looks like we were mauled in post clearance possession as we were always 2nd to the party. Freo could make up any zone on the fly and run receivers through it, or run out to space. Can’t midfielders tell where the ball is going from the hand/arm of the ruck anymore? You don’t need to stand next to someone else and be reactive to them - you can stand 10m away, even on the opposite side of the contest. As long as you can read the tap and reach the contest zone at speed.

To some extent, our midfield has been spoilt by having Max, who will not always deliver it on a platter, but just does not ever get beaten. Not sure if they have a Plan B for when the opposition gets the tap?

This sums me up, Man is sometimes extraordinarily, passionately, in love with suffering. Nothing in this world is harder than speaking the truth, nothing easier than flattery. Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid. Right or wrong, it's very pleasant to break things from time to time.

It’s difficult to rank players or believe their outside ratings when they don’t know or understand the roles the players have been given. It looks to me like these roles allow other players to play other parts - dropping off, intercepting, rolling through half forward etc. Having said that, quite a few of those roles were null and void because freo were allowed to run unchecked through the midfield. I don’t think Fullarton would have made a difference, but I think Verrall might have negated some of their many hits to advantage. It was just putting our defence on the back foot immediately following stoppage. No defence can withstand that onslaught.

Probably lucky. I saw the first half, but then spent the next half being violently ill. But, after hearing that it (the game) only got worse, I feel lucky I wasn’t subjected to it. I can look back and remember them as they were. [cue Barbra Streisand…]

So, if it wasn’t for those meddling kids, we would be comfortably 2nd on 48 points and 116%. Darn flagmantle! Actually, it shows you just how [censored] everybody else is going as well.

Jesus. If you’re thinking about packaging your plums in your socks you’ve got bigger problems than the weather.

Just a blatant lack of understanding of the situation. Bump, yes, but not when you should be contesting the ball. Should be the same as contesting a ground ball - a duty of care for the player in a vulnerable position. Could also apply to Gulden’s tunnel on Berry, but at least he pretended to go for the ball.

I’m sure Goody’s implementation will be better than Mao, with less starvation of the forwards.

Their gameplan would be more suited to Subiaco. And the surface of the new oval sucks. It’s worse than docklands and would be the worst in the league if not for Geelong.

With all the new faces and restructuring I’m hoping for a Great Leap Forward.

Another thought. Perhaps it would be better for his development if Adams was put on a half back flank, or wing? He almost won the grand final sprint last year, so he’s obviously pretty quick. And he has a decent boot. I just think that competing with Tomlinson, Turner, Hore, Howes and Schache, probably isn’t that great for his development.

A little bit harsh, maybe? I thought he was one of the only defenders that tried to defend a player. The rest were basically accumulating intercept marks. Consequently, a lot of dolphin goals were over the back. He did run through one of their guys in the middle of the ground early in the third quarter. You don’t usually hear the sound of a hit that loud. Might have copped an injury then. Saw something different with Kentfield yesterday. One of their enforcers tried to rough him up after he fairly tackled a player. Not sure exactly (because of the rain) but I thought I saw him flip the guy over and connect with a few left and right crosses. All of a sudden the tough guy was trying to make peace. But, as I say, I couldn’t really be sure. Overall, I thought they played a good, tough brand of wet weather footy. Could’ve been a lot smarter with it though.

Looked pretty miserable early, but then in the third quarter, it really got nasty. Had trouble seeing the players and the rain was coming in sideways. They turned on the lights, but it didn’t make a lot of difference. I remember a game in the 80s when we had to run undercover from the golf ball size hail and lightning. Both teams and umps did it simultaneously. Self-preservation.

Yeah. Don’t need to worry about the drainage or over use. Just look at the stands. Aren’t they pretty? If the crows or weagles admin have any balls, they should demand the surface be improved or they can host the match. Geelong are relying on it being their right to host games but they can get stuffed or forfeit.

Absolutely. But I like him more than last year. There’s always room for an annoying little [censored] that gets under the skin of the opposition. I don’t think we have one at present or they haven’t quite learned to channel their inner bastard.

English? Can definitely play forward.

Oh no. ‘Mara’s gonna have a “please explain” “Running out on a paddock” “Yeah, it was pretty dangerous out there”

Nope. Cats gotta lose. Every game at that hole.

Cumming could be a possibility - even better with Callaghan or Ash. Huston has been found wanting for pace - better to go for Bergman. Hobbs and Parish should be gettable. Maybe even Judith Durham? Nobody wants to stay around the stench coming from that place. WA players returning could be prioritised - they should know by now that the shocking surface at Opium Stadium is only going to damage their careers.