Damo

Im not agreeing with everything the good Doc has put up but Sparrow and Pickett are 2 players that I have queries about and would be surprised if they are regular players. Im surprised how a slowish not super skilled mid like Sparrow is spoken about reasonably highly and hope Im wrong in my negativity. Those that rate Pickett as 1st class and about to explode (theres quite a few), are plainly wrong I think, and rose coloured glasses abound. Look at the Stats. Why would we draft 2 similar to take his spot? About as spectacular as David Cordner (look him up) and about as useful. Im picking a side here and dont hope to be wrong!

All i can say is I will write some negative or IMV even handed posts without being told to go away if that's what I think. Im not going to write positive notes about training we cant get into or BBB and TMac fanfared returns as it is a hope not yet galvanised or proven. Not that I have anything else to write now but Ill think of something! Please put me on ignore and think happy thoughts.

I nearly added to my original post, that its not only negative reviews of training that were met with derision. Any negative or even my even handed post gets chicken Little responses that the club should shut down. Then a long soliloquy about things we already know just to round it off. Yes we want to see Tmac's progression. But again, there may not be one. Yes a practice match will tell us more. Lots of Ra Ra doesnt add to the discussion.

Last time I saw him play he strained his groin or upper thigh and broke down in tears (as he knew he would miss last couple of games) for at least 5 minutes. He then kept telling the Hawk doctor/trainer who was walking with him to repeatedly F* off. I may be wrong but that is my recollection of events. Im glad we dont have him.

I bet its a goal.

I can understand this viewpoint. I would add Ben Brown and Tom Mc as Ben looked quite lame last year under Rhyse Shaw whom I suspect insisted BBB play while injured. He is still pretty bandaged and I dont know if he is fit to play. We got him cheap which should be a flag and to me he is still unknown as is Tom McDonald.I think that our season will largely depend on these two players. I dont have particular excitement for this season yet. Not having anyone at training is both a boon and a hindrance. It is not possible to post negative reports easily as the blowback is hard and fast. Only positive ones get good reviews. I dont blame anyone as we all want good reports. This leads me and others into false hope each and every pre-season. The boon is that like Dr D, I think that many players are at their peak (or past it) and I just dont expect improvements from most of our top 18 that are over 23 years old. Injuries though will reshuffle the cards. I hope the best players for each position are chosen and "faith" or "trying out" are shown the door. These are Goodys faults IMV and Yze and Choco hopefully will be tougher with Simons selection. For example if Mitch Brown looks better than Weid, Tom or BBB I hope he is picked as the full forward. If Nibbler looks like he kicks goals in the FP I hope he is picked ahead of Kozzie, and so on. These are not my best 22 but examples of tough selection.

Alastair Clarkson is quite old fashioned in his view of relationships and respect for women. JP couldnt have had a less sympathetic coach. Cant see this ending well.

I take it, that it is a closed session?

Ross Lyon was a forward and kicked 5 playing CHF for Victoria.

I think Pickett will very much be competing for his spot by Laurie, Bowey as well as Viney, Jones, Hunt and ANB. There are other positions Laurie and Bowie may be looking at but if Hibberd among other HBF's comes out firing then FP must be up for grabs. I believe the footy club has to look at Kozzie Picket's stats and tell him the honeymoons over.

surprised Pickett is touted to be in the ones. It looked to me we went to lengths to draft for that spot.

Saints had very little injuries last year as we did in 2018. The best teams 22 gets in sync. No injuries mean any teams "window" is open.

I still think of 16 as Johnny Townsends number.

I was an original demonland/demonology poster. I have only changed my handle once. It was to distinguish myself from another poster whom I had unfortunately been associated with. My name was Franky-31

Thats a very big call IMV. Warren came over from SA with Stretchy and Obber, I think. And if not for trying to patch holes at CHB and HBF could have been another wingman of the ages. But it was the time of, "just clock him" and Gary Ayres at about 20Kg heavier seemed to do do it regularly. It was an era of seeing my favourite players Flower, Johnson and Dean who were all very light and ball players, get smashed by thug players responding to Jeans and Hafey. Still gives me the tom [censored]...

Alex Neal-Bullen is worth including because the Late Danny Frawley when commentating thought his 1st name was Neal and last name was Bullen.

Salem and Ben Brown is a quite good return

A lesson from the hub might be that you do not need to be home then away during the season. If Tassie home games were scheduled mainly in the 1st half of the year it would be a much warmer propostition. And also if the Qld and WA home games were in mainly in June/July/August it would escape the blistering March and April weather. Not sure if it is feasible but we have seen stranger things happen. And we have also seen "home" games in far away locales. It is good having the MCG where we get four seasons in one day.

Disposal by hand 2nd to none. Id like to know if his higher kicking average this year has meant he got tackled more.

Did vanish. Hope he weighs more now! High hopes.

Jye Caldwell?

Elwood. And thats what they say about us! I think all the old victorian inner city teams need to stick together. i hope North bounce back.

Has he had a fitness test? Or did he hop on the other (good) leg to show his knee is ok? As the story went with Kelvin Templeton...

I think he will probably be a bargain wherever he goes. IMO the best out-of-contract player we have. Just isnt working for him at present. At 196cm and 24(?) yrs old, his best is in front of him, but still may be a year off. I expect him to be in the ones at Adelaide and pushing into top 25 if at Pies. He is friends with Darcy Moore already and they may work together well.

Id rather keep Harmes than Melksham. I expect Melk costs more too.