pitmaster

Don't just say it, show us the difference. FWIW I think our lack of skills is part of the cascading effect which stems from being underdone at season's start, unexpected losses undermining confidence compounded by some players poor form and others' seasons interrupted by injury, resulting in more losses, less confidence and diminishing skills. But I could be wrong. Anyway, I am interested in you elaborating on the above comment.

You can teach football to an athlete. You can't teach athleticism to a footballer. Athleticism is innate.

22K. At least they lost money on the deal.

Ya think? How much do you know of his history?

Rest assured I have neither inside knowledge nor expertise. What I was getting at was that players were clearly underdone in the opening month and while that may have been unavoidable given the extraordinary number of surgeries, given how the season developed some element of our preparation in the context of those medical issues has left us poorly positioned to compete. Like you, I don't want Misson copping unjustified criticism which is why I reminded posters that his appointment was welcomed and seen at the time as part of the club's growing professionalism.

Having just watched the Adam Goodes documentary I have to ask whether anyone here remembers our response to the bloke. I was personally appalled at the time and I remember when the controversy was at its height was around the QB game. I don't remember our 2014 game against the Swans but I don't think we booed Goodes at all. The documentary clearly shows Hawthorn, Collingwood, West Coast (of course), Richmond and Footscray supporters howling the bloke down, but the only footage of us features the players wearing red, yellow and black wristbands as a mark of solidarity with Goodes. So for those who remember, did we behave well or did we make Eagles of ourselves?

I have no expertise to comment but given his background, in the EPL and AFL, and the fact Fox says we beat others to the punch it's welcome news. Moreso because it is setting us up for a proper preseason framework already in place. People here bag Misson but at the time of his appointment he was welcomed as a well-credentialled operator and he certainly lifted us in his early days. This year though, some heads had to go as our preparation was clearly below par.

The season is now officially shot. We cannot even technically make finals. Everything is about planning for next year. At least we have found that Petty can take a strong contested mark and is only 19. His performance yesterday was revelatory. He could develop into anything. Also we have found Hore who has become a key part of our remade back half. Then there is Baker who has some serious pace and dash as he showed in the twos yesterday where he was a class above. And that's without counting Lockhart who is developing nicely. There have been some gains amid the injury carnage. The rest of this year has to be viewed as an extended preseason for 2020. Look at it through that lens rather than what might have been if the footy gods had been kinder.

Efforts this year suggest we don't have the skills to implement that game style right now. It's only since we abandoned the kamikaze style that we have regained some competitiveness. I reckon that approach is gone at least until we have a healthy list and more skilled users.

A close loss like this one can make you lose context so here's some balance: we went into this game without a key forward and relying on a 7-game novice defender to substitute for a 150 defender-turned-forward who had just struck from the previous two weeks. Our developing forward was also missing taking out seven goals form last week's total. Our defence looked good on paper but Lever and Jetta, Nev especially, were underdone. Criticism of their selection is misplaced however. They are part of our long term backline and the sooner they are alongside May and Hibberd to develop an understanding on one another's games the better for next year and beyond. We need them playing together. That was as bad as Nev has ever been but his upside will come with match fitness. Despite some absolutely horrendous umpiring decisions that hurt us we were right in this game. Fritsch (and May) cost us with that last quarter miss but his snaps earlier gave us two goals of a sort we have not been able to find this year. The sooner he is released forward the better. May's determination to take the game on late was brilliant despite his missed shot. He is going to be great value. And finally, we were playing the Dogs who have finals pretensions (probably misplaced) on their preferred deck. Play that elsewhere and umpiring included we still win. They will point to their third quarter misses for what might have been but we matched them for that by game's end. There was more to like about that game than dislike given our injuries and underdone returning players. Come draft time we might reckon it's a good one to lose although I can see the Blues having only two more wins - the Suns and Saints.

Dalgliesh - yet this is his game 204!!!

Kicks for goal like he's already on our list.

Baker looks a class too good for this level. JKH on the other hand has given his critics plenty of ammunition. That early miss, and then the refusal to have a crack and attempt a pass instead both costly. Bradtke a fine mark and shows us how to kick straight as well. Well done.

Conflicted about the Swans-Blues result. Swans lose and we can feasibly finish higher. But equally Blues more likely to overtake us and gift us a top two pick.

Sad face workshop was indoors.

I wonder were you at the game or watching on telly? Because to me, viewing from the northern stand, plenty changed. It was obvious from the opening minutes that our play-on-at-all-costs-through-the-corridor approach of earlier this year had been jettisoned for a much slower, controlled possession game. We looked to switch wide at every opportunity and did not seek the corridor until closing on the forward 50, and not always then. Rather than gambling with frantic play-on football we set out to deny the opposition possession by maintaining it ourselves. Statements like this: Watching us enter forward 50 is amateur hour at its finest. We are literally a comedy act. It's as if we try and navigate the most difficult route to goal once inside our forward half are simply meaningless. And considering we had a key forward kick six goals in three quarters and another forward score three goals from 11 disposals your remarks are simply wrong. It seems to me your prejudices prevent you from observing what's really going on.

Errr...three goal assists.

Talking dumb football, now you've got me started on Angus' crazy overhead bandpasses that either went to the opposition, no-one, the ground, or a contest. When did that become something worth persisting with?

Dump on me for this but reading between the lines of Gawn's injury I'd say rest him. He is too valuable long term to mess about with. They hope the swelling goes down in time because it's a seven day turnaround? No thanks. Preuss deserves a run and was by reports in decent form the past few weeks. He looked OK in Sydney but ran out of steam. His fitness must have improved. Give him a go and let's see what he has.The midfield was rubbish last week with Gawn so let's put the challenge on them to do the job without Max as a crutch. So Preuss in for Gawn. JKH also apparently was dynamite at Casey. Well, against expectations he was pretty handy late last year and was unlucky to cop an injury just when he was starting to look like he belonged so JKH in for ANB who had little impact. No other changes needed. Some pride required.

Terrible the kneejerk responses on this site. Some perspective: we have had the absolute worst by a big margin injury list this year. Players come back but it takes time to get match fit and new players to the club need time to settle. Brisbane has the least injuries of any club. Only one player (Cutler) is currently not available. They are settled, well coached I admit and well lead, but they know one another's games. Our blokes are second guessing about one third of their teammates. Hipwood has played 66 games and usually stuffs up at least half his disposals. He averages 1.5 goals a game. He kicked five. Too bad. He kicked like a donkey a few weeks ago and cost them the game. This time he didn't. Our lousy luck. Weid had played 29 games for just under one goal a game. Get off his back. It's too soon to make a call on him. Having said that I really cannot credit this week's lack of midfield attack but bad games happen. These are the times to stay staunch.

Hoping for a big rebound from our mids. Tim Smith...take the shot within 35 metres please. Angus...forget the overhead handballs into contests.

On further thought Alves should not be there. He was not a trade. He went to the VFL Appeals Board. Melbourne received precisely nothing in return.

But I would be rapt if he made it back. He elevates our forward pressure incredibly. I was sorry to see Kent go like others, but he has been unusually resilient for the Saints. He really never had a good run at it with us. And as much as I liked him he was not particularly reliable in front of goal, although that seems to have improved too, like his fitness. Still, if AVB were fit we would not be missing Kent. I realise this answers precisely none of the questions in the OP but that's because I don't know.

Are they "trades" when they are walk-outs? Alves, Wells, Spalding, Scully, Healy CHOSE TO LEAVE US. So if you're counting them where the hell is the best of the lot: R D BARASSI? Apologies for shouting.

Dipper was North Kew from memory.