jumbo returns

Pagan's Paddock! Every forward plays defensive side of the square and we leave ONE man down there....you know who I'm talking about. The freak could kick 150 goals.

Not Jones - he was saved by yesterday's effort. 2 or 3 blinding kicks that hit targets from 50. Bennell, on the other hand....half the time I'm not sure if he's playing or not, then he does something mercurial. A real enigma.

Paul Roos still talks about the Swans in 1st person - 'we', 'us'. He doesn't objectify much. Easy to kick a club after a young list got belted by Hawthorn's big bodies. Roos' game plan was to have a final score line of 3 23 to 2 17 with 32 players around the ball. Sorry, I can't stand him.

Aaron needs to play on the half back flank (in old terms) and become the general of the kick outs. This releases Jack Grimes, who is not a great kick, but he's very creative and knows how to get the pill. Davey streaming out of the square, hitting someone in the middle of the ground is more damaging than having him in the pocket - that's Aussie's domain.

OK - Scully hasn't signed, but let's go the pragmatic line. A club, starting off, needs big bodied, well known players to kick start their birth. Scully has ONE season under his belt and if GWS throw bucketloads of money at him, their FD should be sacked. That probably works both ways as I think the MFC shouldn't make a massive offer either. Having said that, here's my two cent's worth - no bigger target/s for GWS than Adam Goodes and Brendan Goddard. BIG signings, wait and see.

Jetta's speed? Can't agree with you on this one. His reaction time is okay, but his foot speed, well, is non-existent. BTW, did anyone else see Cam Bruce run away from Trengove? Is he carrying an injury? Surely he's just as quick as Cam?

The Crows are too quick for our team - the boys dazzled through their 2nd quarter yesterday, running their guts out and the Hawks were left flat footed. Unfortunately, they couldn't sustain the gut wrenching running. Against Hawthorn, the Crows just kept running and running and running. They will catch us out as our slow midfield will be found wanting.

Better? Not sure - I reckon tricky. So many unknowns from the other teams and I agree with Rhino about some warning bells. Hope I'm weeellll off the track.....

The last couple of years has seen the ladder quite stable after Round 7, hardly changing for the year, with the only exception being Port, who fell away badly. Having said that, our 1st 7 games appear quite a challenge. Swans, Hawks, Lions, Suns, West Coast, Crows and Roos. If there's going to be a legitimate challenge this year, you'd love to have the team in at 5 - 2 or least 4 - 3 as some players come back and others gain momentum. Sunday should be great day and even better if we can get over the Swannies, who I really, really, rate.

You're right, he'll need to be tag teamed. If Bailey starts Warnock on him we're doomed, Bail and Bartram don't have the physicality or size and Stefan Martin doesn't have the development. Goodes is an absolute star and his pre - season form has been outstanding. I'm getting nervous......

Cam Bruce is now a Hawk, Goodsey seems to save his best against our team - this player is a gun (imho, a GWS target) so, who will stop him? Chippa injured, Rivers has the ability in the air but no foot speed, Warnock is a class below, Garland? Left field? Grimes? That'll be worth watching. Thoughts?

I sort of know what you're coming from, old55, but I get so nervous when Spencer goes near the ball....

Whose turn was it to don (pardon the pun) the non - clash strip? We all know the game is beyond hectic with many, many close stoppages and reflexes need to be lightning..... It was difficult to discern the strips, regardless of the shorts. It was tough to watch.

I concur with some of your comments, but like I said, my concerns about Warnock are still there. Can a modern footy club continue to play any player that has minimal impact, average decision making and ordinary skills? Garland has the versatility and skills to be part of a rotation that is integral in today's game. Hey, of course it's your opinion and it's a valid one - I've really enjoyed the debate.

Soooo, what's your point?

I believe that defenders are the hardest to recruit - it's just so hard for kids to get picked if they're not midfielder, tall or forward. The last 'natural' defender to get drafted was Glass, imho, and that was how many years ago? Garland is not great in that position, but he's not a disaster either; however, jury's out with me re: Warnock.

Thanks guys - a real pleasure to read.

Back to my original point: 2 games 2 years Do the math. Thorp = damaged goods. Just because he was a high draft pick, it doesn't make him a viable proposition, not even as a rookie. List clogger. Time to move on.

2 games in 2 years with a dodgy hamstring history? Picking him up would be a backward step.

I've seen some natural freaks in my time, but this guy takes the cake. A young Schwarta (before the knees, obviously) Wayne Carey, G Ablett, Phil Carman - all had amazing presence. Jurrah's just got 'it'

I actually watched him play a couple of times with Marcellin (his old school) and the Knights. Too good for school footy and was serviceable against the Suns in one of the matches I saw. Not overly tall, lovely kick but there was no....sparkle? I don't want to malign the kid, but we've probably got too many players his size ....

Is it possible that he's still suffering from the Giansiracusa bump? He showed absolutely no awareness that day....

He hasn't hit a leading player for about 5 years - Freo saw this bloke's limitations.

Was he really? (Shakes his head in disbelief....) Some recruiters have NFI.