CHF

thank you.

When is the team announced for the game?

Dreadfully disappointing game on Sunday. I hope that the Selectors sit down with a blank sheet of paper, a list of all the available players and a clear idea of how the Tigers will play and how we want to play and then select a side to play. After Sunday, no one on the team should assume that they will play on Tuesday. A second week of rubbish will really impact the supporters and the club.

The selectors have made the right decisions so far and the contentious decisions have worked out. I will go with what they think we need this week. Personally, I believe we do need another tall forward in the lineup, especially with Hogan roaming a fair bit in to the mid field. Not sure who we would drop for that inclusion.

Aft er the 4 goal start we gave them we out scored them 123 to 62. I love that fact.

Just off to sleep with the alarm set so I can watch it. Dees by 6 goals

Wow. A Friday night game between 16th and 17th with no wins between them and a combined percentage between them when added together relates to the percentage of the third placed team..... Blockbuster defined.

Looking at the team I see understand the ins and outs but I have a woory about our midfield speed and depth as I see Vince, Lewis and Jones all together in t he team. I would prefer to see a maximum of two of them runnig around in the team together. For me the one I would move out is Lewis.

frost and Kent in for Hunt and Pedersen

Watched the game live over a late breakfast on Saturday and have watched it a couple of times since. I am encouraged by the performances to date. we could have won against the [censored], it would have been a steal but I had that game down as a 50/50. The win against the Lions in Brisbane after a 6 day break is a good one, no matter how it is achieved. I thought we had more than a few players down on form but had enough up and running to cover them. Pedersen, to me was an interesting one. he did not have all that many touches but I did like his game. He delivered the ball well to Hogan a couple of times and Hogan found him in broken play as well.... The call Pedersen to Hogan and Hogan to Pedersen could be heard a lot this season before the return of TMac. Hogan was best on ground for me. it was his best game for us to date. His run down tackle of Cox was inspirational. Would like to see more from Bugg (goal kicking and general play) ANB... seems to have lost form since the pre season game and ditto Melksham. I would seriously consider dropping Lewis and telling him to calm down.... he is costing the team more than he should be. At the moment all but 4 of the list are fit to play and that means pressure on the selected team each week, as it should be. Could see a couple of changes this week for match ups and as warning shots to players that they need to keep their form.

I had the game against Geelong marked as a 50/50 game. Looking back at the replay a few times I am disappointed that we did not win it, and not just by Gawn's kick. we had a big majority of the play and could have won it by 3 or 4 goals. Not worried by the loss in the context of the season but still disappointed to lose it. Changes for next week? I think we should bring in Frost to give a little more depth to the larger bodies down there and I would like to see Brayshaw in the team as well. Who to leave out? While I do like to see players given a few games to settle into the game style and pace of the game I just think Maynard needs more development at this stage. I would replace him with Brayshaw. To get Frost into the team I would drop Lewis for his indiscipline in giving away that 50. For him to do that on top of his missing games through suspension last season to my mind is not acceptable. Out: Maynard, Lewis In: Brayshaw, Frost

I am in the camp that says to give him more time to develop before pointing him to the door. I think he has the potential to become a handy player for us. it is great that he has the opportunity to develop at the proper pace rather than be thrown into a 'sink or swim' situation. The context I put his situation into is to look at the development of Gawn. He was drafted 6 years before Wied and is 6 year older. it is not until 2 1/2 years ago in mid season 2015 that it clicked for him that he may have the game to be something above average. I could see the same sort of development profile for someone like Sam Wiedeman. To me he just looks like a person that is going to take longer to mature.

I do not mind the bench selections. I like Maynard in, I think he is going to develop well and it will be interesting to see how he goes after the off season development. Wagner selection is obviously contentious but it may be that the coaching panel have a very clearly defined role for him to play in the game against Geelong. I look forward to seeing how this unfolds on Sunday. Melksham's selection, of course, there is no argument with. With Hannan, I can see a purpose in the selection but would have gone with either Brayshaw (if his teeth allow) or Tyson (if he is fully match fit) in his place as I think it would give a bit more flexibility. Mind you, both of these have been named as emergencies so I would assume they are game ready.

Brayshaw, Tyson and Melksham on the IC for sure for me. the last one of the 5 remaining a toss up depending on conditions. Hannan could be unlucky with Maynard getting in.... Frost, Hannan and Bugg emerencies

There seems to be a few announcements on the AFL site of debuts for some players at the crows and Saints. I know that there were Tuesday/Wednesday announcements by the Dees last season when players were going to debut. Can we infer from this that there will be no debuts for any Dees players in R1?

I sit in on a guitar group that play in the local bar in the village I live in. Have done so for years. After a lot of red wine and talking I got them to do a Spanish guitar version of Grand Old Flag. I get it played when we win, usually very late at night when we have all had enough. Had a few lost Aussies that had wandered into the bar and not believed what they were hearing.

It is strange not to be worried about injuries this season as much as I have worried about them in the past. Last season we had a raft of longer term injuries to critical players and only just missed out on the 8. After a good solid off season we seem to have developed a group of players that are very flexible in the way they can play. there is also as evenness about the group. Viney did not play any JTL but our midfield stood up well without him. TMac did not play JTL2 and we had 13 goal scorers. I think we have the players and game plan to cover a few injured players.

Thought to have a crack a the team now that ins and outs are becoming clearer. B: Jetta O'Mac Hibberd HB: Lewis Lever Hunt C: Brayshaw Oliver Petracca HF: Melksham TMac/Pedo Neil-Bullen F: Garlett Hogan Hannan Fol: Gawn Jones Tyson Int: Stretch, Harmes, Salem, Vince A lot of flexibility in that team with TMac or Pedo, whichever one plays, able to cover resting ruck and, if required slot into the back key positions. Of the 22 named, 15 of them can run through the midfield not counting the likes of Hogan. Fritch, Frost and Bugg as emergencies

I am not fussed about injuries. I, of course. would prefer that we did not have any but it is an unreasonable expectation to go through the season without any. We are going to have injuries right through the year from Round 1 through to Round 23 and beyond. Looking at our, list and the development we have invested in the players and the coaching group I am confident that we will be able to put competitive teams out each and every week. No Viney in the JLT and we have a more than competitive midfield in both games. TMac not there in JLT2 and we have 13 goal kickers in a strong win. We have a good group of players that have the flexibility and desire to cover for one another. Looking forward to this season and do not see R1 as defining the season.

I also agree with that.

I agree with you and that will make for some very interesting selection discussion over the next couple of weeks. Jones had a very ordinary game with few effective touches. I hope that he is improved by the run.

What was the injury to Omac? Have to say that Jones did not look to be into the game at all and looked, to my eyes to be a pace slower than all the rest of the team.

Love the pressure. Love Angus' Tackles. Love the kicking accuracy. Love the run

A little bit different for me. just finished breakfast of granola and yogurt and have a few cups of Rawandian coffee. Will celebrate with an Arran single malt this evening..

I am looking forward to watching this game on Thursday. I will be looking for us to exert pressure on the ball and the ball carrier in all areas of the ground. The defence will rely on the midfield to force turnovers and to retain the ball when it is in our hands. Both our defence and attack will only be as good as the midfield allows them to be. Of the 26 named I can see 17 of them able to run through the midfield, at least for spells. If you drop 4 of them I can still see 14 or so able to run there. I see that as good gameday depth and a reflection of the flexibility that Goodwin and coaching team are working towards. I am expecting a win but will not slit the wrists if we do not get across the line as long as we work hard and play to the plans.