pitmaster

Robbo has been terrific. He gave us a lot, but the best comment on this matter came from Stan Alves weeks ago who said Robbo was not the sort of player to be a mentor to our young forwards. He said it outright - that Robbo was playing a selfish game. I think it 's fantastic that a bloke who was twice rookied got himself up to play 226 games and became the third all time goalkicker for the club. His style, however, is not right for us right now and probably won't ever be again.

Anthony kicked the winning goal but was otherwise a non-contributor. Didak looks ordinary suddenly and might be having an attack of the Milnes. Cloke is simply horribly over-rated as is Thomas. That said you have to admire the Pies as a playing unit. I know many of their fans seem to major in boganesque idiocy but I also admire what their playing group regularly achieves despite less talent than their opponents. Face it - they give their people a great ride. No slinging off at the mental or phsysical shortcomings of their fans can take that away. Get a little mature people.

Nothing wrong with what Brock said. He said Newton has talent, can do some amazing things but needs to be more consistent. Pretty standard stuff unless you think the bit about it being an interesting time for Juice is too edgy, which I don't. It's an honest answer. And generous.

Re Peake: I read that article and it seemed to me that CC did no more than not rule out going after him. It looked as though CC was the only football department manager the writer had been able to get on to - I don't read anything into it.

Which is just what Hutchy said. Weird. First time he's made sense. So Garland goes forward?

Dees make big offer to Dog defender says Caro.

If we are not clearly better than Richmond next year Dean B will really start to feel some heat. They are poor and we had to work at losing to them. I am a fan of Richo but I don't think he can make enough of a difference when he comes back. Keep yer shirt (and jocks) on.

13 - gave Kardinia Park a miss this year as well as all the Etihad games. Figure next year i'll buy a 16 game membership on top of my MCC membership and that way attend away games without giving any money to the enemies

Interesting stats...but you know what they say about stats. For mine Newton fails to read the play well enough, often enough and even at VFl level is unable to get to enough contests. Then there's his poor conversions. I live in hope, since he has a year on contract, but I am not expecting anything.

no point in this until we see the fixture

That's essentially correct, although it was pretty clear in his one year with our midfield that Ratten did a sensational job. We have not gone close to that good in the middle since he left. West full time would probably be as good as any.;

Point of consolation - injuries meant had we won we'd have taken the field without flower and wilson the following week. We weren't gonna make it and a second consolation - the hawks got smashed by the blues anyway...

Joan Armatrading "To the Limit" as the alternate theme with the memorable line - to the limit here we go, from the bottom to the top

Jacob Mollison is his name - a complete [censored] and another example of being the worst team means you get the worst umpires. Totally a fraud - his work cost us two clear goal scoring opps and handed several to the aints. David Parkin said on 774 that none of the umpires at our game yesterday would be seen again this year!

He should never have been on that angle. He actually took the mark close to the middle of the goal square but fell back completing it. When it was replayed at the North Melbourne GF breakfast the next Saturday the buzz that went around the room was incredible. Everyone realised how totally screwed he had been. From memory he slipped on the kick as well, but Campbell and Yeater were just as culpable. And remember, we had the wind for three quarters...

When you consider how long the Saints No 1 picks have been around - 8 years or so - our premiership target looks pretty remote. Hawthorn showed it can be done quicker so was Thomas the problem at Moorabbin?

The future might look great but it's also a long way off when you think that Kosi and Reiwoldt both debuted in 2001.

Sylvia looks to Jurrah to bring him into the game and as a target. I think this might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

maybe it's the Buddy thing but I can't help wondering what Strawbs O'Dwyer did to get rubbed out of the '88 Grand Final. Maybe this is one for WJ but can anyone who can remember fill me in? How bad was it? How many weeks did he get? Would he have been rubbed out of a GF if he played for Colingwood?

I hate Hawthorn more than I do Collingwood. They are thugs at heart - have been since the 1960s and the fact they boast of unsociable football now is testament to their low down dirty ways. That said, Franklin's bump was fine. The rule that did him is rubbish. It's a shame that he's been rubbed out for that because it's taking something from the game that's always been there. On this Mike Sheahan is right.

Try a deep and complex individual. Conflicted too. What Demon ain't?

I reckon the word Jimma would use is STABILITY. That is what he is trying to bring to the club and that is what he would see an extension for DB bringing. It means he can get on with the job next year free of distractions about 2011. That said, I don't see the need for it, but it's interesting given the rumours that G Lyon was falling off DB's bandwagon after our slump around round 14 that he apparently has the board's confidence to continue.

Subtlety and nuance is lost on you ain't it, Sergeant Schultz? And Mikey J and AzzKicka? The point of my post is we CAN this week honestly barrack for the dees because they won't get up. But for the first time in weeks we don't have to go wishing for a loss - it will be seen to. At least BBPowell got it.

Wouldn't it be great now that pick one is sewn up to send the Saints into a tailspin? OK we miss a priority, but the morale boost would be sensational and it's always good to derail someone else. And we'd be doing it virutally with a second 22. Take hold of that idea and we all can go next Sunday and truly barrack for the Dees, knowing the FD won't let it happen anyway. They have been far too professional for that to let it slip now. And how about that J McKenzie - a real prospect!

Terrific article. And the bonus is there's a backhander in there for that loudmouth Brian Taylor.