Redleg

I agree that Maynard has ability and may like Joel Smith, Hannan, Weid and others become good players for the club and the only way for that to happen, is to play them at senior level when they deserve games and give them their chance. However, I think it was a big mistake, to send a second gamer out into the same midfield as two of the greatest players in AFL history, one playing his 250th and leader of his club and the other being the return game to his club after years at another club, without the assistance of experienced mids in Viney, Tyson and even Brayshaw. Put simply it was too hard a task and the Coach blundered.

Watch the second half of last week again.

Yes you should.

Yeah, it was an easy shot for Pedders, only 60 out on the boundary and the wrong side for a right footer.

If he gets through the session tomorrow he plays.

Was very poor early, like so many team mates, but came good in the second half.

And just BTW, Hawkins kicked how many goals on Oscar?

I think we should drop Oscar as he doesn't fit in with the rest of the side, every time he gets it, he gives it to a team mate.

Well yes that must be right. Normally the umpire moves players away and sets the mark. Maybe he means when the free or mark is set, you can't enter the area.

Correct.

Spoke to an AFL umpire mate and the offence is ENTER only now. Remaining has nothing to do with it.

I just love the big bomb to Garlett on two 194 cm defenders each week.

Then if you are right, you don't need the word remain, as the offence is on entering.

He appeared to say " you are f...ing joking". To me that is not a 50. It is not like saying "you are a f...ing idiot". It is in the heat of battle and that is surely not personal abuse. Yes he shouldn't say it, but umpires have got to be better than that. The umpire could simply say " no I am not and the next thing you say will be 50". Players mouth off all the time.

Well it reads as though if you enter the area but leave immediately that is not a 50. The penalty is for remaining. If I am correct in my interpretation, the umpires have got it wrong consistently as most penalties have involved players entering the prohibited area for a second, or being near the area, but immediately leaving it.

No we don't, but you don't send a 2nd gamer to play on them.

Hunt had a shot and missed from straight in front.

We have no pace and spread. They have 55 more uncontested possessions and they use them to leave us flat footed and score. They have scored 20 times from 24 entries and us 13 from 30. Who are our running players.

Don't forget Jimmy T.

TBH, after our pathetic last round in 2017 and the Camp crap in the media, we should be extremely ruthless in our attack on the ball. That would bode well for a good start and result.

Maybe I should have said "create scoring opportunities" rather than set up play. While he is not the best kick he is also not a turnover merchant. He is a big guy who has real pace and can create opportunities with his play, as he has done in the past. Hawkins is a beast and might need one to play on him. With Frost, he is strong enough to go body on body with Hawkins and if he can effect a spoil, he has the pace to get the ball and run away from him and also the pace to beat him on a lead. I don't see Oscar having that yet.

You can also if possible go back to the video of the final for Casey at port melbourne, where he was simply unstoppable, even with Steven Morris belting him illegally several times. He was a beast, a possession beast that day and so far best on the ground, that I thought wow we have another very good tough mid. His only AFL game was good and he was unlucky to be dropped. I would imagine this weather would also suit him. Advice: don't stand between him and the ball, same as with the smaller Viney.

Coaches do love that.

That is my concern, though predicted wind and rain could change it. Frost not only has the body to compete with Hawkins, but is so much faster than him, he could run off him and set up play. While I am an Oscar fan, I don't think he can do that.

Pity the Crows were decimated with injuries.