Damo

I believe Brendan McCartney referred to Joel Smith late last year as a player who he considers will be a club A grader in the future. I was a bit shocked but happy to believe. By the time of the JLT as backline coach, Macca would have seen that May was underdone and that Lever had to have extra surgery for scar repair which put him back a few more weeks. He would have been aware of the rest of the walking wounded and I would expect he wouldnt want Joel pushing through an injury for JLT. Especially if the head coach didnt bring along enough players for the bench(!). If there were harsh words Im sure that macca was forthcoming. Anyway Joel Smith was regarded as a prize recruit who is expected to be top ten at our club in the next few years. Well that was then, this is now.

I watched the game again and I was wrong about Declan Keilty. It wasnt a good game and I noticed him more because he is new and caught my eye. There were a few passages where he jogged around the contest which was mainly torrid. Anyway on 2nd glance, it wasnt very impressive. His gather and kick out of the center was good but that was nearly it.

If Jeffy is out for a week or two , Id like to see Oliver tried in the forward pocket for a qtr or so with Pruess or Gawn at Full forward. Someone said he is getting less game time because of fitness, if correct he is still fantastic at roving packs and it would make him go for his shots more if he is closer to goal. Pruess with Clarry and Hunt in pockets could be workable.

I disagree. Weiderman never looked like trying to take a mark or even attack the football in the last 3 games. Keilty is ready to give it a red hot go. I dont think his efforts turned the game, I do however think the umpires did. He just did slightly more than I expected the Weid to do. I hope Sam W. turns it around but Im down on him ATM.

It is a dilemma to juggle who is coming back, who we need to persist with and team balance. Although Keilty didnt win the game, he added more than I thought Weid would have. So I hope Weid and Keilty stay where they are for 2 more weeks. Thats fair. Because of that change I would now consider Viney and Fritsch. Do either of them deserve a game this week? Would we play better without one of them? They are not exactly in good form. There will be good players available in the coming weeks.The season is dark and full of terrors. We need to pick the team carefully.

Oscar last half of 2018 was cr@p. Thats when Frosty changed peoples minds with his suddenly found delivery while on the run. Oscar has not played well since this time last year.

Although he didnt win the game for us, he was probably the difference if the Weid's form was the same as it has been. Glad he came into the side.

Probably the compound fracture to his knuckle he had 2 months ago had something to do with it. He only had a week off.

Fritch - surprisingly bad form

Ive been a supporter of Oscar for years. He has been going downhill without respite for almost a year. O.MacDonald out in 2 weeks lever in.

Jayden hunt has a few things to work on... true. but I have NEVER seen anyone lead so fast at the football and take it when he marked and kicked a goal. That was brilliant. Love the Hunt.

Umpiring should not make a difference to the outcome of a match... But when we started to get a couple of iffy freekicks with 5 minutes to go, I thought, this wont end with "Free Kick Hawthorn" in front of goal with under a minute to go. the umpiring is just [censored] house.

6 Oliver 5 Harmes 4 Gawn 3 Frost 2 Hibberd 1 Brayshaw

Thats about as likeable as if AVB was suddenly available.

I think I was a bit guilty of thinking we had a plethora of player riches to choose from. I know many others thought the same. Once the new year came and players were still hobbling around, the penny dropped for me.

Hey Den clear your cache - cant send you a msg about free tix to hawks game.

I wonder if Tony ever played on Billy Picken.

Running under the ball is the fault of the person kicking it to him, ON A LEAD. There really isnt much evidence for this one way or the other. He doesnt lead that way and the forwards are not looking for it. Wingards fantastic kick to a forward in expectation that he would swivel and lead up was one of the smartest pieces of footy Ive seen this year. Brilliant. Standing under a bomb coming from 5 floors up is not a great strategy unless you are relying on paying the man in front.

Sam W wont have a hope against the Hawks tall backs. He cant time his run up correctly to fly from behind and his stupid propping under the pill coming down with flat hands will be eaten up and in our backline in 2 quick kicks.

Id drop Weiderman and put some games into Smith and Keilty. They may not be as good in the end (that must be years off) but youve got to reward players and give them a chance. Weid is so far out of form he needs to go back a step to find it. Not a fan.

Sometimes I just know the Demonland collective work hard for their money.

To clunk a mark, your hands need to be clapping at the football. Weiderman is jumping with both hands facing forward. He isnt going to mark any like that. Really if anyone needs to be dropped, its him.

When you kick over your shoulder you are quite likely to turn it over. You do that because you cant get a meter on your opponent to turn chest facing the target. We are unfit which accentuates our lack of speed.

i thought we played better than last week. Weiderman is a prima donna. Wont hold his ground to get in position, wont bust into a pack. Wont look like he will grip the footy. Thats not out of form, thats not having a go.

Tim Smith flies for the ball expecting to mark it in one grab. The Weid flies but does not look to be taking the ball lately, just touching it. Tim is a crap kick when in the ones or twos it must be said, whereas the Weid has a fantastic fluent motion and doesnt miss many.