CHF

Just watched 2nd quarter. 4 bad decisions against us. Umps..... I shakes me head

Just watched a replay of the first quarter and there were 5 bad ump decisions that went against us and we still won the quarter by 11 points. I usually do not comment on the umps, but for the first 3 quarters of the game every bad decision they made went against us.

Woke at 6am over here to watch the game without too many hopes of a win. My neighbours are now aware of the great win by the Dees. Still only 9.15am here but I may have to have a drink..

AFL Global pass. I am in Europe and watch all the games live and the replays come up within the hour.

I would have had ANB in over Bugg and M. Jones over Harmes. I like the idea of Pedo covering for Hogan. Looking at the rest of the team, it really does look like a team for the future. Need to find a place for Salem.

Pedo, M. Jones and Garland named as emergencies. If Hogan does not get up it looks as if Pedo will be there to babysit weed.

Prestia to Richmond reeks of a bit of panic down at Tigerland. Their season has been less that stellar and the results over the last couple of weeks have the fans warming the microwaves and getting the chicken poo ready for delivery. They need a bit of distraction for the hoards and will throw the kitchen sink at the likes of Prestia to deflect the scrutiny from the administration and football department.

I have to say that if you look at our midfield I can see why Dunstall and King say it will be 2018 before we play any finals. Besides Jones and Vince who have played 219 and 189 respectively, we do not have any other midfielders that are playing consistent first 22 football with more that 67 games experience. Tyson on 67 and Viney on 66 are well ahead of the rest of the field with no one more that Salem 29 games, and those games have been mainly off the HBF. Petracca (13) and Oliver (10) have the least experience. We need an other couple of seasons or 40 odd games into most of our midfield to ensure they have enough experience and fitness to run out games. Petracca is a case in point. on the weekend he did some very very good things but looked stuffed after each run and needed to gather himself before he went again. After an additional couple of pre-seasons to build the tank a bit I would expect him to be a lot more consistent throughout a game.

Not so tough at the selection table this week after a good team effort in Perth. However I would like to see the selectors start each meeting with a clean sheet from now until the end of the season. I would like us to win as many games as possible and balance this with having a look at what we have in the cupboard. I would look at dropping OMac and maybe giving Hunt a rest. B: Josh Wagner, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Bernie Vince, Cam Pedersen, Matt Jones C: Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver, Dom Tyson HF: Jeff Garlett, Jack Watts, James Harmes F: Chris Dawes, Jesse Hogan, Dean Kent FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Billy Stretch, Sam Frost, Alex Neal-Bullen Out OMac and Hunt In Pedersen and Oliver

I believe that we should drop VdB for Oliver, White for Frost if he is fully recovered and N Jones for ANB. I am sure that the last one will get a few remarks but the Capt has been well below his usual standards for the last few weeks and I would like to see him given a rest for a week or two. Have him travel to Perth and sit him in the coaches box so he can see the game from a different perspective. ANB deserves a run. I cannot see the coaches dropping N. Jones so in that case I would drop Kennedy for ANB. Vdb has been off the pace since his return and his tackling has been a source of frees against him. Always seems to tackle too high. He is not a shade of the player he was when he first come into the team. Oliver needs to get a few games run in the firsts. Frost back for White with Wagner remaining in the team. Brayshaw gets another run to settle into the pace of the game and I have no problem giving Grimes another run, he was played all over the ground last week and should be given a role to play. Definite ins from me: Frost, Oliver & ANB - possible in Stretch after a week off to rest.

I like these selections and think we will go well against the Saints this time around. From the interchange I would expect only one of Wagner and White to play unless OMac does not get up. If Omac makes it through to tomorrow i would expect to see White remain in the side and for Wagner to be named emergency. I think Bugg and M Jones will be on the bench and that would leave one of Brayshaw and Stretch to fill out the bench. I would go White, Bugg, M. Jones and Brayshaw on the bench. Wagner and Kennedy emergencies and Stretch to have a rest. Dees by 5 goals.

Here is the team that ran out for us in Round 17 three years ago. B: Dunn Garland TerlichHB: McDonald Frawley ClisbyCentres: Toumpas Trengove Grimes HF: Sylvia Watts Byrnes F: Davey Dawes Howe FOLL: Gawn Viney N JonesI\C: M Jones Kent Blease FitzpatrickEMG: McKenzie Pedersen Spencer Of that team I would suggest that only 6 of the 22 are certain starters for the weekend. My point is that we have turned over a huge proportion of our list in the last three years and it has been greatly enhanced because of that. While we will continue to improve our list through drafting and trading, I believe that a greater improvement will come through internally generated development of players. Round 17 2019 will see a far greater percentage of players in that team that will play on the weekend than the 27% from three years ago.

There have been a couple of times this season when we have made mistakes at selection and they have come and bitten us come game time. I have to say that last weeks' selections were spot on and I am encouraged by talk of a 'plan' in place for the three week block of games starting with last game. I just hope they stick to it. I would expect to see some rotations through the midfield this week with at least 2 changes being made. Vince rested and Kennedy dropped maybe? Oliver in and possibly ANB or Brayshaw. There are a lot of possible scenarios.

When you owe the bank $30,000 it is your problem. When you owe the bank $300,000,000 it is the banks' problem.

I look at our list, and, as with every other teams' lists, I see room for improvement. However, over the next couple of years I see a huge upside with the young players we have on the present list. In the defence I think it is essential that we retain TMac as a leader there and feed off his play reading abilities. I think there is upside to him with improvement coming from his disposal. Frost and OMac have come on in leaps and bounds since the beginning of this season and I can see only improvement. We may need an experienced cover for them in the next couple of seasons and that is an area I would look at before next season. Dunn and Garland look to be on the outer and will be battling to get a game in the later stages of this season. I would expect them to look around for a spot on another team unless they can accept the evolving role within the list. Jetta a fixture back there but I would be looking to groom a replacement/backup in the next couple of seasons. Half backs we are well stocked with and most of them also run into the middle and through there at stages in the game. defence needs a bit of work but I would see an improvement next season with the development of the "Diamond DEEfence" Key Forwards are looking good. with Hogan and Watts working well together. 3rd tall this season has been either Pedersen or Dawes mainly and each have their pros and cons. I can imagine that this situation will continue for another season until Hulett or the Weed can step up into the role. I would expect one or both of these two to get a run in the firsts before the season end. We may look at trading out one of Pedo or Dawes if the right offer came along. Small forwards we seem to have an abundance of. Garlett, Kent and Kennedy all have been effective in matches this season and there have been a bunch of others from the Mids who have popped up to score a couple. a bit of work and development to go into the forwards, but my view is that as long as we can retain Hogan we will have a first class unit at the spearhead for a few years to come. The midfield is an exciting place to be for a Melbourne player at the moment. There are a couple of older heads in Capt. Jones and Bernie Vince to guide the younger brigade and a plethora of younger boys with excellent qualities coming through. It will take a couple of seasons to get the experience into them and the necessary development but with players like Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw, Stretch, ANB and Harmes all developing well this season I think we have the makings of a good cohesive group in the middle. Players like Grimes and Trengove I have not given up on but they will need to play at their very best to command a place. Rucks: Gawn.... daylight......Spencer.... more daylight the two Kings. Needs work. No real surprises in my strategy for this off season. This trading season I would look at getting an experienced key back man that could be around for at least 4 years. Hibberd or Hurley? Possibly, but I feel we are looking a bit further afield. With the midfield I am sure we will look at what is available and look to improve the quality overall. There is a gap between the senior players and the younger group that we need to bridge. someone around the 24/25yo age that has 100 games under his belt. Players on the list that I see as 'at risk' are the following; One of Pedersen/Dawes - whoever we can get a deal for might be the unlucky one. I think Pedersen signed on for a further 1 year extension to his contract, so it might be Dawes. One of Garland/Dunn - As above, whoever we get a deal for. Terlich - needs explanation? JKH - seems a little lost with injury and form. M. Jones - playing well but at 30yo next season we could be looking elsewhere. On the rookie list we have 2 that will need to be upgraded to the senior list next season, White and Wagner. Max King and Joel Smith to be retained and Michie is boarder line. So with my strategy we drop 5 off the senior list, promote 2 via the draft from the rookie list and leave 3 spaces open on the senior list and 2 or 3 open on the rookie list.

How much will Darwin have taken out of our legs and which legs will be most effected? these are the questions that needs to be answered. I do not expect OMac to be fit and there has to be a question mark regards Vince. if those two are out then I would also look at dropping Kennedy. In place of those three I would bring in Garland, Oliver and Brayshaw. if one more set of fresh legs is needed I would drop Stretch and look at Trengove, Michie or ANB. All three would be fresh.

I like the idea of giving Spencer a run in the side instead of Dawes. this would give a good rest to Max and would ensure that we had Watts playing his position 100% of the time he is on the ground. these two rotating through the forward line would make life interesting for the freo defenders and i can imagine it would be a bigger headache when max is on the ball and drifts down there. With the midfield, I am sure that there is a plan in place for the next few weeks to cover 6 day breaks and travel...... I am sure there is... there is isn't there?

I was on a flight early this morning my time when the game was on. I arrived in Cairo and when I got into the hotel I sat down and watched the reply without knowing the result. Had an enjoyable couple of hours watching and cheering the boys on. Was a very good performance with a good even input from just about all members of the team. a few outstanding players with Gawn, Vince, Tyson and Jones just great. I love watching Gawn play like this. Snapping goals, romping through the center and clunking marks and the best part is that he looks like he is enjoying it. OMac, TMac and Frost looked the best I have seen them. They were helped a fair bit by the Pies selectors. Petracca did a few things today that really had my eyes widening with wonder. He is going to have a huge impact on this club. Another win would not surprise next week.

Damn! Wish I had said that...... Do they have a 'Ball' playing for them?

While I am disappointed with the last quarter I can put this loss down to a lack of experience in the team and a lack of experience playing in these conditions. On average the Hawks had twice as many games than we did. if you were to remove the top three most experienced players numbers from the equation i believe it would be more like three time more games experience. I have no problems with the games of Trengove, Dawes or Vdb. as first runs in a long time, I think they were reasonable and will be better for the run. I hate to lose but this time after the Hawks game I believe i can see a brighter future.

I posted this on Saturday after the game and, after watching the replay, have no changed my mind. Out: Viney, Garland, OMac, Kennedy, Kent and 2 out of Bugg, ANB, Wagner and Newton. In: Pedersen, Dawes or Weed (Dawes More Likely), Dunn, Frost Oliver, Trengove and either White or Terlich. My team for the Hawks: Backs: Jetta, Dunn, Frost Half Backs: Vince, TMac, White/Terlich Center: Hunt, Jones, Stretch Half Forward: Watts, Dawes, Harmes Forward: Garlett, Hogan, Petracca Fol: Gawn, Oliver, Tyson Interchange: Pedersen, Trengove, Terlich, ANB

Wiseblood, have a look at the replay and you will see 4 or 5 occasions where Garland fumbles, fails to keep his feet or misses a pass to a teammate. At least 3 of those lead to Port goals. That has nothing to do with what might or might not behave img in the midfield. Similar with OMac. He was a shade better than Garland. I do not see Frost and Dunn being any worse than these two.

Wiseblood, what I would have them do is to be a hell of a lot more aware of where the opposition players are and where they are running. Yes, they kicked a lot of their goals over the back but our defence was poor when they were trying to get the ball out of our defensive 50. That is what I am mainly critical of.

I hope the selectors start this week with a clean sheet of paper and look long and hard at the players to ensure we are picking a team we think will win rather than picking a team we hope might win. I would drop 7 on their play and form today and Viney might get a week on top of that for,being stupid. OMac and Garland out of the backs with Wagner in line fora drop as well. Replace them with Dunn, Frost and Grimes. They coUtd not be any worse. Oliver, Vdb and Trengove to come into the midfield in place of Kennedy, Bugg and ANB. get Dawes or Pedersen in in place of Kent.

Defence was rubbish today with both Garland and OMac less than poor. Both need to go for next week. Bring in Dunn and Frost. In the back half the only one that looked competent was Jetta. Bugg either tightens up on his man or play for Casey. Midfield was a shadow of what it has been in games this season. A hell of a lot of passengers standing around letting others do it. Where was Kennedy? Tyson? Newton? ANB? Petracca? Harmes? All went missing and were hardly sighted. Viney completely covered in the first term. Jones tried to play a lone hand. Vince popped up a few times....too few... Stretch was there a outs but as an outside player you need others to get the,ball and there was no one there doing that. Delivery into the forward 50 from our midfield was dreadful. Th forwards kicked badly but got bad delivery and not often enough. Kent might enjoy a run with Casey. midfield selection. Start from scratch. A blank piece of paper and see what we have got in the cupbpard.