Bates Mate

Eagles rebuild going well

Joel Smith being an answer to our forward line issues is a massive hail Mary He's been on the list 7 years ,26 games for 1 goal and played almost exclusively as a defender. I don't get how one game at Casey and training with the forwards for 3 weeks is going to enable him to slot into a forward line and be productive in finals.

I thought the same but didn't see is used to great effect on Friday. Hunt hasn't been the dashing , take the game on player for the past 2 years . I would have thought last week he would have played on ginnivan but they went with lever.

I think him and Langdon would be besties

Don't quite understand the whole let's get a player who just announced his retirement thing. There where some calling for Kennedy yesterday. These guys are old with shot bodies and retiring for a reason

Based off Godwin's press conference. I'd say minimal changes this week. Harmes for hunt would be my tip. I'd prefer to see Brayshaw back or on a wing and harmes/JJ taking midfield minutes. Also not that sure sparrow should be automatic selection at the moment

Yep the blue baggers supporters will definately not show up as might have expected a month ago. I've got two mates who where talking up this game big time 5-6 weeks ago , different friendship groups both not going now

Best contested ball winning midfield, definately not elite for foot skills and kicking to forwards advantage. There is a screen grab on another thread that's shows our midfield are below average going forward

I'd be happy to see him try, snap or torp it. His drop punt technique when goal kicking is awful

Agree on kozzie flying for Marks. Airways looks spectacular but can't recall him every taking one

Gawns accuracy has been woeful . I really thought he was passed the missing from 20 m straight in front stage. He was alot better last year. Particularly later in the year

Goodwin was asked about it in his press conference today and wouldn't deny or confirm meeting with Grundy which means he has. Also talked about the club needing to have contingency plans and that he is happy with the current 2 ruck set up.

I'd like to see us fit him back in. He was looking a bit exposed at times physically before he was dropped but we have definately missed his creativity to turn defence into attack with a 20-30 m kick from the back half recently

I'd have more confidence in Grundy 20m out directly in front than Max

Our fitness program is not our strong suite if you've been reading allot of posts on here lately

I Definately didn't have Salem in the top 5 players on the ground

I've given up on trying to predict what the tribunal will do. I must admit when I saw the incident in real time I wasn't thinking suspension

Horrible conversion. I automatically mark anb down as a point in the footy record from set shots and he never fails to miss

If we can't beat this mob off a travelling 6 day break vs us 8 day. Stick a fork in us

Looks like it

Fritsch , b.brown , Spargo I have some level of confidence that they will slot them. Everyone else i expect will miss when lining up especially a set shot

Of course we can win it. In a comp that is a series of single games anything can happen. things we are going to need to overcome are. Better conversion in front of goal. Ability to play the game on our terms for longer. Im worried we are not fit enough to sustain the game style we rely on for long enough and the fatigue it causes enables teams to score quickly. I also have concerns that our best 22 and playing positions within it are not as settled as last year.

What's been our grand final this year?

The ferals sitting near us where more interested in rubbing every goal and decision that went their way into us Melbourne supporters than cheering on their team. Wasn't just an isolated group it was multiple.

Our set up from opposition kick ins was horrible last night. They went end to end on so many occasions after we kicked a point. The most infuriating was after Ben Brown took his full 30+run up time and missed. So roughly 40 seconds for us to set up/man up if/when he missed. Collingwood took it end to end uncontested , pretty sure they scored a goal from memory