jumbo returns

Granted - but debate, don't dismiss with ridicule and sarcasm.

Absolutely - but there are two or three antagonists on this site that continue to take cheap shots with their sarcasm and belittling responses.

Typical infantile response

I see - yet, one of the major reasons for picking Watts instead of Natanui was the eventual 'home' factor. Didn't Judd come 'home?' Didn't Thompson go 'home?'

So, output in heavy traffic equates to captaincy credentials?

So, does a training regime consist of contested work in today's footy? I remember the old days at Nth Blacky Baptists where the coach would kick the ball out and we'd wrestle for it. Are today's footballers too precious for this sort of work? or too expensive? is the drill too risky? Anyone know?

You're right - perhaps they have to follow their men in to create a flood. Unfortunately, we don't effect a turn over quickly enough which would allow 2 or 3 players to sprint back quickly.... Geelong just rely on ALL their players to win the one-on-one contested ball and there are usually 2 or 3 outriders ready for the next delivery.

Every player, every club, every commentator, every media scribe knows that the game plan is to run the ball quickly through the corridor. It all went pear shaped against the Kangaroos as the ball was cleared only for the player to look up and see a 4 or 6 man zone had been set up, just waiting. I don't think that our skills are good enough for precision ball movement (yet) and the new team hasn't been playing together long enough for that sense of awareness that comes with time (read, Geelong) So...whilst the team is a work in progress, is there a Plan B? Hold onto the ball a bit longer? Allow some cheap possessions? Go a bit wider? Be very, very patient? Thoughts?

This is a big chance to hit 1,000 posts again!! I wonder if Anthony Banik felt this pressure?

Btw, you might want to take off your rose coloured glasses and put on your dose of reality set.

Oh yeah, good one - offer them Miller and Rivers. What a coup for the Gold Coast......

Exactly - then what happens? Will our backline need tweaking when our forward line catches up? I hope they both come together over the next 3-4 years.

426

As an aside, Nathan Jones won the ball on the far wing (beating Bartel) and hammered a 50m pass, lace up to a leading Brad Green. I can't help myself - Kelli Underwood's commentary: 'Jones HACKS the ball out of the area' Hacks? Hacks? If any of the posters are doing Year 12 English this year, she's a perfect example of Lady Cliche. Such gems as: 'The Geelong juggernaut rolls on' or 'the little master'. One more rant and I'll stop - she was saying that Ablett would beat the record for most possessions in a game!! Anyway, I think Jonesy is not top shelf, he's hard and tough and he needs to assert himself with more physicality.

A 54 point loss didn't thrill me today. The forward line was inept at creating pressure when the ball was down there and it was cleared too easily. Where was all that run and pressure? Manning up? Why adopt a zone? What was wrong with standing next to their opponents? Stage fright? I wasn't expecting a win, but I thought today was....meek.

I remember how much Sean Charles struggled......

Me too - I reckon he goes good

Is Rohan Bail okay? Haven't seen or heard his name for a while. He was burning before he got injured and really offered us another hard running option.

Hope reigns supreme

Heard an interesting snippet from Shane Healey late last night on 693. He said that the final 8, in the last several years, has basically stayed the same after round 7. If the Dees want to defy this stat, big win must happen against Port.

There's a bigger question I'd like to ask whilst this thread is up: Why is Bruce the link up man into the forward line? I haven't seen him hit a target since he chipped a pass to Neita, Round 4, 2000. Grimes should stand up and take this role.

Hang on! I got it! It's either Bailey or Prendergast?

I don't get it....?

You raise some excellent points. Jack probably will kick more goals because he'll spend most of his time in the forward line, but as I see it ATM, you need to get the ball down there. Seriously, West Coast's forward line was full of second stringers yesterday, I only rate Le Cras (if he had kicked straight, it was game over at half time) yet Naitanui gets his own clearances that allow scoring opportunities. I still contend that this debate will not be answered on this forum, but played out over the season.

Yep, we could have drafted Naitanui.