the pearl

Was going to say something but by the time I got to this page I had forgotten what I was going to say.

We should defer the 'Demonland Player of the Year' until 2014. No Melbourne B&F this year either.

OUT: McKenzie, Nicholson and any other VFL standard players. IN: Don't care. Just get rid of the sub standard players and never let them return.

I like your defiance.

Some of these pre-season conditioning experiences seem to be trying to address the main causes of fatigue. The main causes of fatigue in an afl game are fuel depletion and the build up of metabolic by-products that are both delayed by developing a higher oxygen carrying capacity and a more efficient aerobic energy system. Of equal importance is the players ability to keep their body temperature at a level that is not over the top. They do this by hydrating properly and cooling themselves, even in the winter! Poor thermoregulation means that the body will send more blood to the skin and organs to keep the core temperature down instead of sending enough blood to the working muscles to supply oxygen energy and to clear the metabolic by-products - therefore rapid fatigue. The body can be trained to do a better job at thermoregulating and therefore, reduce the onset of rapid fatigue and this could be one of the objectives of the team's Darwin camp. I thought that an athlete had to train at significant altitude for about six months to really develop more red blood cells, unless they combined a short term period of altitude training with EPO or blood doping. The same gains could be achieved with hypoxic tents or rooms in Melbourne. The team-building positives are probably the main benefit of all AFL team's training camps.

No. Don't get rid of anymore quality players. We need some quality to stay here if we are going to go anywhere.

The Carey factor. Take a slightly wayward, talented footballer and give them the responsiblity of leading the team. Create a champion. Compare that with the scenario of taking two greenhorn, wide-eyed potential footballers and give them the responsibilty of leading a team of strugglers out of the dark. Destroy their potential.

Should be captain.

Moloney has always had 'quiet' games where he is completely taken out of the game. It is because smart coaches realise that he can only play on his right side; right foot kick - usually bombed up in the air into the forward line indiscriminately, right hand pass and he only has vision to the right hand side of the ground. Because of his bullish style, his junior coached probably never coached him out of it. Now, it seems that most teams overplay his right side and he can't get the ball and when he does get the ball, his opponents don't let him do anything with it! This is not something that can be easily changed or taught at his age.

Your god or my god?

The trouble with Moloney is that the opposition are all over him. He can only turn right, kick right foot, handball right hand and only sees the right hand side of the ground. Any assistant coach worth his salt, can teach even your average stopper to over play Moloney's right hand side and that is the end of Moloney for the game. He might get eight or nine scrambled possessions but that is it. It's not his fault that he is limited. It is our problem that we expect him to do more than he is capable of agianst quality opposition.

Look at our game this year in Perth. 21 frees to 1 at half time. Game over.

Out: Midfielders who can't get the ball, who can't take care of the ball and can't dispose of it effectively. In: Midfielders who can get the ball, retain it and pass it by hand or foot to someone on our team.

Flippant remark. Ward was highly regarded by coaches and selectors in seasons where we had some success. He had anticipation, pace and, despite what you say, quality disposal. A player with this sort of ability would be more than handy.

When we look at Geelong's performances, there is no doubt that the biggest loser is one G.Ablett Jr. You just can't buy the highs your ex team mates are experiencing Gazza!!

Our Jim.

Should have been challenged with the responsibility of being the new captain.

Promote Sylvia to captain now and give him the ultimate responsibility - as North did with Carey.

Bwarhahahahahaha!!!

Green turned down a couple of shots he should have taken! The one in the last quarter where he gave it off to Jones was a certain goal if he'd had a shot. It's never a certainty if you give the ball off to Jones.

6. Martin 5. Watts 4. Scully 3. Trengove 2. Frawley 1. Sylvia

2. Sylvia

Jack Watts' confidence is more to do with whether or not he is prepared to take significant risks when he gets the ball, and when he is trying to get the ball. He would rather try to do the 'safe' team things at this stage. As a junior footballer, he was free flowing and attacking and really good. As a basketballer, he was amazing as a decision maker and an aggressive offensive player. He is not showing much of this type of confidence at this stage. He looks scared to make too many errors. He may still look confident to you but there are many different levels to sporting confidence.

In the spirit of change, youth, vigour and genuine gutsy progress, let's go for the dynamo, Colin Sylvia, for captain next year. It would be perfect for the team, the club and for Sylvia.

6. Bruce 5. Bail 4. Rivers 3. Sylvia 2. McKenzie 0.5 Jamar 0.5 Frawley Bartram tried hard - too many howlers!