heartbeatstrue

Is Jack going to kick the goals for him?

Jack is going to kick the goals for a lot of our team, we hope. After all, that's why he was drafted no.1...

No he didn't. Miller played his best game at CHF against Fremantle in the semi final in 2006. He took something like 14 marks and dominated.

He played his best game against the Saints several years ago at the MCG, he had space on the wing between centre and CHF and fed the ball to Neitz beautifully, marking and running. It was a delight to watch. As Jaded said, one on one in space, he'll usually win. Just now, he's totally down on confidence.

Bit of a pattern here. I suspect his best role would be roaming a half-forward flank, one on one with space to run and mark and jostle. Like was said, one on one he usually wins. Then kick to our marking forwards... Watts, Robbo, Stefan Martin. From what I remember of those two games above, Miller would relish that role & do it very well.

Classic - nice quote. would also like AFL to investigate ...

How many of those Hawthorn 51,681 are living breathing human beings - Budgies, cats & dogs, pet rats etc should not count.

How many pets has Jeff Kennett got... ???

Miller played his best game on a rampaging Barry Hall. Miller is a key defender - nothing else.

He played his best game against the Saints several years ago at the MCG, he had space on the wing between centre and CHF and fed the ball to Neitz beautifully, marking and running. It was a delight to watch. As Jaded said, one on one in space, he'll usually win. Just now, he's totally down on confidence.

Another positive

- just thought of this, our backs keeping Buddy & Roughead goalless in the second half. Great effort!

Positives

- Sylvia

- Stefan Martin

- Great fightback, especially in the last qtr

- Maric, good decision-making on ball

- PJ, especially his strong presence around the ground

Negatives

- Hawthorn's strength (when they get tackled, they keep their feet which gives them time to get off a handball to a team mate. We go to ground and get pinged for holding the ball in half the time the Hawks get allowed)

- Miller (totally lacking confidence)

- Jones (great strength to get the ball but takes so long to make a decision to dispose that he invariably mucks up, cost us 3 goals at least)

- Hawthorn's smarts (their coaching was clever together with their ability to execute the game plan, their zones stuffed our style and they were quicker in response which meant on a turnover they had numerous options running free). Basically they're a smart side

- Robbo's lairising

We better watch out or we'll have Carltank tanking on us again this year!

(I wouldn't have Stefan Martin in my bottom six - nice article on him by Andrea Petrie in today's Sports Age incidentally. The problem with your choice of those 6 players is their different stages of development, a few have potential to develop into absolute champions. But like you i'm happier with our list and its potential, except for missing a couple of top-class champions)

Westy's a genuine decent fellow and great career, 324 games. I think what happened last year with the Bulldogs broke his heart. Glad MFC can be there to help him through this patch, and vice versa. Best wishes Scotty West!

What about Dew? He can be very damaging.

I heard Dew's out for disciplinary reasons. Ironical if it costs us a draft pick.

Robbie Flower (silky, a gazelle)

Garry Lyon

Ron Barassi (too young to watch him live, but he broke my little heart when my uncle told me the news of his defection)

Alan Johnson

Jeff Farmer (my son's choice, along with GL, Neita, Jimmy Stynes & Robbo)

I spent about 1 and 1/2 hours trying to leave the carpark after the game. God it was awful.

Same, I remember just sitting in the car, totally empty. Stuck in that wretched carpark not moving and not really caring. When the siren sounded I was feeling great, top of the world. By the time I drove out of the carpark I had caught the flu. Spent the next three days in bed, not speaking to anyone.

Don't think i have ever quite got over the '87 Prelim Final. I have never been so gutted.

Our Car was near the Hawks Cheer squad van, so even later we copped it in the car park for about 2 hours. Traffic didn't move fast at Waverley!

I didn't speak to anyone for hours. It was like a death. Still makes me Angry now.

John Northey...What a champ.

Yeah, I was going through those exact same emotions. Gutted. Like a major death. And I love John Northey...

The lead-up to the finals was brilliant. I remember being in Perth, we were playing West Coast at the 'G and it was exciting attacking footy. I had to leave the TV to catch the plane home. On the flight back, the pilot very excitedly told us of the Dee's victory. There was a buzz, most on the plane were pleased for us. It was then I knew that this was for real. That last round at Western Oval was the most exciting ever.

Thrashing North Melb at the 'G was impressive. Then we ran all over the Swans on that Sunday afternoon, also at the 'G. I remember us streaming down the ground towards goal. Great footy. It was hot & sunny for the preliminary final at Waverley, the most painful day of my whole life following Melbourne.

As they say in politics when something really bad happens, there's more that unites us than separates us at times like this. Our love of footy & human decency, for starters.

And we need the Pies, how else will we get our fun on Queens Birthday??

(BTW was at Preston market today and saw Joffa trying on some new shades. Maybe he's planning on going into disguise... )

You're not alone. I'd rather that Green is rested for an extra week than to bring him back too soon. He is far too important to us to risk.

This year, why rush Green back, risking any further injury or confidence issues? This year is for getting as much experience into those young brains and them learning every lesson they possibly can by playing the game at top level.

As much as I love watching the guy and his big heart, our interests in Sunday's game against last year's premiers are best served by giving our young potential champions the experience, imo.

What about Dew? He can be very damaging.

This is scary. We have absolutely no-one to play on the Fat Boy. In 10 minutes (remember last September) Dew can destroy you. Knows where the goals are, a very dominating presence always threatening.

Rod Grinter would have got the job. Moloney??

The moral here is that our young team needs a Dew or two, and somebody who's able to stop that sort of player. Certainly in a year or two when we are definitely going to be finals contenders.

So, for my vote I say let Warnock slap the little [censored] all over the park again.

Cut Buddy some slack, he was a Demons supporter as a kid over in Perth. Not his fault he ended up playing for the tassie hawks. I want Warnock or Martin to keep him goalless, but apart from that I wish him well.

I'd also like to see Green playing in the forward line on Hodge. He's got the defensive skills to keep Hodge from creating, and his marking and accurate kicking mean that Hodge can't afford to leave him.

Isn't Hodge out injured??

34,000. Wretched time.

If Richmond finish 15th and offer us pick 3 for Valenti, are you honestly telling me the club would refuse to do the trade, and that you'd support this decision?

Nope, but was trying to be realistic. If pick 3 was available for anybody, then there's a few who would move from "untouchable" to grab it. Age would certainly become a bigger factor too. Older players for pick 3 (if available) might well be good trade, whereas for a more realistic pick you wouldn't consider it.

From what I've seen, Valenti is in a group including Maric, Cheney, Jetta, maybe Bail & Jurrah (not seen them) - all different I know but still very much 'in school' and learning and getting experience. Got certain potential. Time will tell which category they belong in. Hopefully by end of year we will know more definitely.

It's been a long time since we've had a genuine star. It's not outside the realm of possibility that we could have 2, 3, even 4 within 2 or 3 years. Long way to go but exciting times ahead.

I like your positivity, furious d. And I agree with you!

Someone posted here that Davey's got composure & awareness and something else, then deleted it. But they're right, there's some kind-of sixth sense about the way he plays.

And I've totally forgiven him for passing straight to Aker, Aaron made up for it with a mighty gutsy effort straight afterwards. Fantastic skills and heart.

Bartram has been playing good footy. He has been playing as a tagger all year. They spoke about how well he is playing on the radio. He was on cooney and did a great job today.

Will not get dropped.

I'm sure you're right he won't get dropped, it's just his disposal and decision-making at times that he needs to work on.

Valenti & Maric would go before him, but I'm wanting to see them get opportunities and see if they are learning.

Three possible OUTS for me: Dunn, Petterd & Bartram

INS if fit: Green, Rivers, Bennell

But I'm not convinced about likely fitness of the first two. and Bennell's very much in the learning school. BTW when is Wonna going to be ready??

Maric & Valenti deserve more time, they're learning. Valenti showed some nice promise, first qtr particularly.

What about bringing in J. Watts, let him watch Buddy & Roughead & Williams & co first hand!

The umpiring was pathetic, we got the best of it early, they benefitted later. The fact that it maybe evened out kind-of doesn't take away from the fact that the umpires today made too many mistakes.

The best way they can avoid this, and the only lesson they really need to learn, is to tuck their whistles away and only use them when there's a blatant free kick. If unsure, let the game flow. Is that too hard?

Cant believe you cant see improvement in Jones and is only just 21

I think he was better previous years than this. I agree however, he's got potential.

Anybody else think so? Something I saw today reminded me of watching Greg Williams. I remember Williams once, on a forward pocket surrounded by Demons' players, his back to the goals, and he kicked it kind of over his shoulder directly into the arms of the Carlton forward (probably Kernahan). Williams couldn't have seen him, he somehow knew instinctively that he was there (maybe from what his brain had computed fractionally earlier). It wasn't luck, he did it too often.

Davey did this today, into someone's arms (Bate?). Anyway, it was so quick and perfectly positioned and he had no time to look and think. He just knew where the Melb forward was. Kind of uncanny.