Skuit

At times last year Salem looked a little lost in his positioning at half-back, and was either standing back from the scrum as an outlet or was too slow to effect body-contact in a feigned spoil when an opposition forward worked our zone to create a gap. I suspect this has created an illusion of softness for the poster. That, or his face.

I thought I read somewhere that AVB copped something slight as well?

I feel that you may be misapprehending the fundamental rationale of the sponsorer/sponseree relationship.

They just wanted to keep Jackie-boy fresh for the family day. Gotta look his best for the fan-selfies. Selling memberships at this time of year is paramount.

I referred to your comment regarding the 'constant criticism' of Brayshaw and asked if it was 'on here?' You replied, 'Clint and from memory you', before editing your post to say it was a general pattern. Don't be disingenuous in defending your wispy straw-man. Basically, no one is criticising Angus, and no one is highlighting 'a fumble'.

The new third-man-up prohibitions coupled with Roughead going down have to put a serious dent in the Bulldogs' aspirations of a repeat flag. Considering they only finished in seventh ahead of North in the home-and-away, there may even be a question of whether they make the eight.

Me? Constant criticism? I suggested that Brayshaw's fumbles weren't uncustomary at this time of year. I also think he's one of the best prospects in the league - once he settles into the pace and finds that extra quarter-second for decision-making and execution. That's hardly some contribution to a chorus of constant criticism.

On here? A quick scan of the post-match thread and this as the best I could find.

The editor in me is crying.

Otherwise known as a critical observation. It's okay Saty, it's allowed. And it doesn't mean a single thing more than you think Hunt overdid it on occasion.

Unless Jack Viney beats him to it.

Although he will likely improve, I don't feel that these fumbles were uncustomary. Was evident at the start of last year also.

DC. Saty's criticism of Hunt was a profound moment for Demonland. Please don't call him out on it.

I imagine some the North fans would have been shocked by this decision. A Barry Prend-aghast even.

Had no idea that was even a thing.

Some random thoughts (unadjusted for confirmation bias); Spencer is no chump and would develop well with a decent run at it. Which he shouldn’t get, because there’s no room in our structure and having a second ruck lessens rather than enhances Max’s influence. That Geelong game was one game, along time ago, before Max had properly come on, and Spencer’s contribution to the win is wildly overstated nonetheless. Vince shouldn’t be playing half-back. Garlett is not not a lock for round 1 and his spot is not under threat from JKH. Was in the right positions to kick a couple of extra goals as well if teammates weren’t a step in front. JKH can look busy. But I don’t see a great deal of difference to Kennedy and I remain unsure of where he ultimately plays. The mechanics of Lewis’s kicking are sublime. Like he has Justin Langer’s cricket-bat for a leg. And it stands out so much more now that the likes of TMac are involved in his kicking chains. Hogan still has the posture of a teenager with acute lethargy of the limbs but now boasts the chest of an adult. Oh, and he’ll kick a lot of goals in 2017 – with a wobbly run-up or not. Petracca and Oliver will be stars in the freakish category. vandenBurg and Harmes: it was just a practice game.

Christian 'Slalem' doing well. I like it. Dodging and weaving around the static opposition.

Gee. This wouldn't be far from the likely predictions for a 'best team by the end of the year' sort of thing. Plus Watts and Tyson. Kent and Jetta absent but there are many questioning their future inclusion already. Pretty exciting to see Salem, Petracca, Oliver, Brayshaw, Hunt, Stretch and Weid all in the same team.

I think you're getting confused with Lipovich, our rst pick in last year's Rookie Draft.

Wait. Isn't this the exact opposite of our Diamond Defence philosophy?

Only if you tell us in riddle-form.

In which sense? A) it's silly to waste your bottled Viney when you have all that perfectly good Jones around you? B) a splash of fresh Viney with do little to change the salty Jones reality? C) water-polo is stupid. Much like predicting the world will collapse with Viney co-captaining the MFC?

Yes, seriously.

The last time JKH was playing at the AFL level - over a year ago - he managed 2 goals in 9 games. I didn't see him against GWS in the final round but he looked like an absolute rabbit-in-the-headlights in that farcical win over Brisbane. I think he even managed negative stats. Essentially, he's unproven as a goal-kicker, and will need to be able to run through the middle regardless. I'm not writing him off, and by the sounds of it he's well respected at the club and is having a cracker of a pre-season, but I'm not so sure that Kent's absence will be JKH's opportunity. We have potentially fringe players - Harmes, Bugg, Kennedy - who can slot in at HFF and have more recent exposure at the top level.

Bugg is bugging me. I'm pretty certain he'll be there but I'm not sure who gives way? * F: Garlett Pedersen Petracca HF: Watts Hogan vandenBerg RR: Lewis Gawn Jones C: Tyson Viney Vince HB: Hunt Omac Melksham B: Jetta Tmac Frost I/C: Stretch Brayshaw Oliver Salem/Harmes *Assuming Kent and Hibberd will be underdone.