Skuit

Half-back line of Hunt, Frost, and Smith is pretty zippy.

A selection of the potato offerings at Fat Monkey.

In Jack Viney's case it's more like 6-to-4.

The cat was away and the mice played.

Abstract, and not so much positional, but Viney and Jones have left a gaping hole in leadership and drive. So . . . Oliver. The only one left capable to drive us to a win from the centre. A bit of an ask from a 28-game second-year mid who is already playing at a level well above expectations, but if he takes the responsibility on himself, as the primary midfield generator, I think he could emerge at another level - from young phenom to a leader and outright elite mid. Will need Vince and Lewis to provide old-stager support around the stoppages, and dare I say it, will need to use his burst strength and look get ball to boot more often. But I hope Macca is in his ear telling Clayton that he's the chosen one. Otherwise, as to the multiple holes, If Joel Smith pushes his way back into the team, I wouldn't be surprised to see him potentially fill a couple of them as another emerging swing-man.

The MFC should employ you to take the players out drinking. Everyone would would make their excuses after the first round and quietly head home.

Just the death throes of the Norm Smith Curse. Don't worry, it means we're getting close.

Like 127 Hours? I suppose if anyone would saw off their own foot to take the field it would be Jack Viney.

Didn't see the match. Haven't read the thread. Expected a loss due to injuries and our fixture. Add Viney after the half and I'm sure it quashed any hope of a comeback. Not concerned as such (for this one). But can someone outline any positives for me? I see we kicked four goals in a handful of minutes. Did we still look threatening at times? Cheers.

Off-site facility gives me the shivers.

Said it last year, and will say it again. Those trying to scrape together a list of our 'minimum three' in turnover as per regulations are ignoring the historical reality. Lowest turnover numbers for the last however many years: 2016: Bulldogs/Richmond/Port - 7 2015: Bulldogs/Saints/Hawthorn - 8 2014: Freo/West Coast - 6 2013: Bulldogs/Gold Coast - 6

I think Sydney will be coming for us. We may have a depleted forward line, but we're still kicking decent scores and it revolves a fair deal on forward-pressure. The Swans will be looking at ways to counter this. Garlett is no. 1 and drives the forward line in this regard - is he replaceable or do we look at a different forward set-up to counter Swan expectations - e.g. go as tall as we can and counter their planning with Weid and maybe Spence in rather than try to cover Garlett with Kent/Kennedy/JHK/Hunt/etc.? Next stop, midfield. Where it will probably be won when all is said and done. And they've got the insides to match. Jack Viney will still be hurting, and he'll be tested by the senior Swans. Expect this to be a focus of theirs, a lot of blocking, the Swans to be planning for Max, as well as our extras of half-back, and maybe conceding some Oliver touch in the middle. This is where I'm actually most concerned for the first time. And defense. I reckon the Swans will try to isolate and get us on rebound the way other teams have kept the scoreboard ticking over in the past. But I have also sensed a subtle change in the past two weeks (didn't see much of the Collingwood match), with us relaxing our high press a bit and tightening down back - while scoring a lot ourselves on rebound and over the top. Will be interesting to see if the Swans have looked at this themselves as well or if they'll rely on the old formula of beating the Demons 2017. All in all; I think this will come down to the coaching, and Goody and co. are at a decent disadvantage.

See the Jack Viney made me cry thread. And maybe the Rolf Harris trial transcripts and the left, right and centrist media.

You forgot the great Alex Georgiou. Not just kept him quite, but let Buddy know about it as well.

Still not entirely certain whether Pedo missed the ball after the Hibberd kick or tried to tap it over his head? Looks like a fumble, but he is partial to the paddle. The other note: if Tmac didn't cop a decent tackle, we had players in the right spots for a dish and goal. Harmes for the first hand-off, then Pedo back in the mix and Hannan free and open. Also - love the still of this you-tube clip - nine Demons occupying the centre of the screen.

This is quite the stretch SWYL. Several players have said that Goody is not the 'motivational speech' type. So it really would have to be some strange collective psych for them all to lightbulb at the same moment. However, if you had cited Daniher's moving address, then maybe there could be something in that. But then, we were seemingly down and out from an external perspective vs. Gold Coast as well. I think it's just steady, growing self-belief and learning how to win.

He must be close to the quickest hand-to-boot footballer in the league. The goal this week, and last, and I think two in his debut, they almost happened quicker than the eye - in that I really had no idea what had happened in that very moment until the ball was on its journey. How is anyone supposed to defend that?

I've always said that I can understand that the footy dept. sees something in the kid that I can't. But, that said, the cynic me also wonders if we're gaming the system a small fraction. A new role in the 2's, in which he can achieve some serious numbers, a contract extension, and then suddenly we have some trade value where before there was none. Or do we genuinely think that JKH can break into the current and near-future Melbourne team as an inside mid?

Is it wrong to 'like' this? Just a little bit? What the heck.

The half-forward line is hilarious. Not so much just for Tmac's inclusion but the profile pics. Greene; cocky aloof. Tmac; football is serious. Billings; clown college.

That it was unnecessary is a reasonable view open to some reasonable counter-arguments. But you're right, he still would have lead from the front on the weekend with or without the label, and others still would have most likely followed. In that, your view kind of works both ways; it may have been unnecessary, but it was much of a muchness. I share that opinion, but think it was inevitable, so why not just do it now and march on ahead?

Apparently Jack Viney just re-signed for 18 more years as well. And ticked the future genetic-engineering-rights waiver-box. ?

Any chance you could change your username for the rest of the week? I keep reading it as Win4theEagles . . .

Apparently Sam Weideman just re-signed as well. ?

The thing that stood out with me for the Crows during their flag era was the attack off half-back and the type of players used in defence (as well as having a blessed injury run and along with positional flexibility). I think the Crows were really the first to make running, rebounding half-backs a focal point. That's what I see Goody bringing from his early days.