pitmaster

I was surrounded by them yesterday and it's clear they don't know the rules and they cannot read or comprehend the spoken word because two weeks ago Wayne Campbell explained the tighter interpretation on ducking the head but not one of the Pie supporters near me got that right. They howl though because sometimes it works and an umpire allows them to guide his decisions. It's always hilarious when people start screaming "just kick it" when there are no options because they then get the chance to groan audibly when it happens and it lands with someone like Oxley. Still does happen a bit. Also funny is the bagging Watts gets because he is one who does hold on to the ball when there are no options and he is waiting for someone to present. Meanwhile MFC fans scream stuff like "make a decision Watts" when he has already decided that there is nothing "on".

All these people bagging the selection of Watts clearly cannot read or listen. Roos has said repeatedly - and you might recall this term - that he has exceptional "football intelligence". Clearly Roos sees the goal assists and the excellent below the knees polish that many others miss. Or you could just go back to when Watts was dropped and note Roos' comments about how you don't miss something until it's gone. So get over yourselves. I wonder how many of those pursuing the false "Watts or Grimes" option are those who have bagged Grimes' disposal in the past? I guess in defence of Howe, he has an attribute that almost no-one else has. AND FINALLY, none of us know the role every player is given on any particular day. Maybe a little less certainty in the opinions around here would be fitting.

Really? For a start it's a false dichotomy, however you clearly don't care where the ball goes once it leaves our player. Watts is not the complete footballer but his use is exceptionally good. I just wish he won more of the footy. We'd have a fraction of the turnovers.

St Kilda has played none of the top six from last year...we've played four of them. It's a false comparison. Our win over the 'Dogs was much more comprehensive than the Saints squeaking over the line by 7 points. Let's see how they go when they hit some seriously strong opponents as we did in four of the past five weeks.

Can we beat St Kilda? Too right (which is not the same as saying we will). But face it folks, the Saints have played no-one yet. We have played four of last years' top five while they have played one finalist, Essendon. So the Saints have three wins, two of which are over Gold Coast and the Dogs (sound familiar?) The truth is that our early rounds have been sandbagged with fixturing. The Saints and the Dogs before them were feeling pretty cocky playing in the shallow end while we were tossed in the old aqua profunda. The bonus for those two is a big confidence boost. Our confidence has to be rebuilt again. But it's too early to be indulging in Roos bashing. Let's see how we go in the second half of the year - two games against the Saints, the Blues, the Lions, Essendon (our latter day [censored]) , the Dogs again, all of which includes some hit outs at Etihad, as well as a trip to State Government Oval (sorry, Geelong) where you pay through the nose for a seat, and two games against the Pies who I think are a realistic benchmark for us. I desperately want to be at least competitive if not victorious in one of those - that will speak for improvement.

Was STROLLING at training on Friday. Looks to be a long way off.

How would you like to be on a sinking ship with the likes of ENYAW? Whatever you do don't get between him/her and a lifeboat.

I've got a long memory too. I loved that moment seeing that blue eyed boy brought down. He did get a handball away at the end of the 360 degrees (reckon it was at 357) which if he were Chris Judd would have been enough for 'play on' to be the call but the umpires had turned by then. As for those who were calling for Roos' head last week, are you now over yourselves? Roos totally out-coached the novice Beveridge who admitted he 'didn't see it coming'. What he didn't see was how comprehensively Roos would shut down the Doggies' running game with a patched up side. Credit to M Jones and Bail for much of that running pressure, although Bail did cost us with his lack of instinct (the fail to tap forward just before half time) and his lack of skill (missed shot at goal on 3/4 time). Still, this pair played their role, as PR would say. I for one thought Murphy and Johannessen would chop us up but the Swede was ineffective, and last week's Doggies hero Dickson was barely sighted. All that said, if Stringer kicked straight in the first term the atmosphere of the game would have been entirely different. Our guys got some confidence from leading at quarter time but Stringer should have put them a couple of goals up.

So generous of you. While he did have some very bad moments he kept at it, won a couple of contests in spectacular fashion and was a real contributor. Why not go with that. Live in the moment, as Neale D used to say. You can hang s*&$ on him later if that's appropriate but be decent enough to acknowledge he made a difference.

Timed Kent on one of his laps: 1 min and 44.43 secs - was moving very nicely. Tyson and Dawes were both watched carefully (obviously) but Dawes finished the stronger and ran some pretty tidy laps also. JKH and Salem strolled laps and did nothing more that I saw. Interesting match sim drills concentrated on stoppages and throw-ins - one team in training jumpers, one in yellow vests and two in orange vests who played transition for both teams. Grimes kicked brilliant goal on the run...if only he could do it in a game. Billy Stretch scrounged a cracker as well. In fact, for goal kicking it seems none could miss. Even Spencer and Bail were in on the act.

Anyone watch the Doggies game? I can't see who we've got to run with Johanissen who gave them amazing drive in the second half. Fit, Kent would keep him accountable. I just don't see where we have the pace to stem the drive he offered.

Strewth mate, go watch the replay.

Looking at his numbers last week surely Riley gets Bail's spot this week. We know what we get with Bail and Mackenzie for that matter.

Good. Then you can see a spot for Dawes, then, I hope.

I want to congratulate and thank all who reside here for the fact that it's past 9.30am and no one has bothered to respond to Jon Perik's lame article in The Age today regarding the potential trade value of a certain former one draft pick whose name I will not mention. Administrators feel free to close this thread immediately lest someone drops the surname or feels compelled to reward Perik's 'work'.

Just to push that Bullies and us versus Freo comparison a bit further - we kicked 6.14 compared with the Dog's 14.4 - 20 scoring shots against their 18, which looks much better than the points outcome. Freo had just two more scoring shots against us (18.10 versus 15.11) than when they played the Dogs. Inside 50s we were minus 20, the Dogs were minus 17. Every stat points to the Bullies doing better than us, but by much less than the final points outcomes suggest.

Spot on goodoil. This is something to be remembered when we start beating ourselves up over the Hawk's recruiting - Hodge in one super draft, then two years later Roughhead (who we wanted but we were playing finals at the time) and Franklin a couple of picks apart. Mind you, Morton over Cyril, that one is on us.

The issue (read: problem) with Toumpas may be related to the outcome of his hip surgery. As others have noted, he never seems to have any space from his opponent. He can be a skilled kick of the ball - I've seen it at least once in a match - but I reckon he lacks the mobility to create the time and space he needs to execute. And he would know that, hence he looks panicked so often on those rare times he actually has the ball. The most important person in the Toump's future is probably Dave Misson. If he can loosen Jimmy up and have his legs working properly then there might be something there, but yes, before anyone jumps on me, I know it's been a long while.

Is that you Jeff?

Doggies very good against Freo but helped by extraordinary accuracy (14 goals from 18 shots!) and beat Swans, but were whipped by the Hawks (70 points). Unlike us who copped the trifecta, the Doggies played those three with softer games in between over five weeks, and still managed to lose to the Saints after leading by nine goals! So they are good and bad like us between and within games, but no doubt they are ahead of us in development. I don't see anyone this week staying with Johanissen for speed for example. He gave them great drive out of defence when they challenged Freo and we are seriously going to miss Kent when Johanissen takes off. But let's face it, their two years before their current coach was a period of constructive growth whereas ours was all destruction. Tough week but Hogan and Newton return rested, and hopefully Jetta, maybe Watts. It will be a better looking team on paper at least.

An eternal optimist, of the three I thought Sydney were the most vulnerable. For this, I give us next to no chance. But I did enjoy seeing how thoroughly Hawthorn's system broke down in the last 10 minutes against GWS. Their defence was very poor. And Gunston, a terrific player but one who has had it easy because of the company he keeps, freaked out. I loved it. I hope at the least we can give them the s&*@#s this week for a while.

Yep - should have read further. Tks.

We don't play those bums until round 21. Shame.

So now there is a $50 bait to get the unsigned members to put their hands in their pockets. I applaud the initiative but I wonder what it says to those of us who always sign up, pay full price for no special reward. The Race to Renew is on! http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-05-06/the-race-to-renew-is-on

Rubbish. They were both going for the ball and May tried to bump Rockliff during the chase. Absolutely standard conduct. Just unlucky he caught Rockliff in the head. Two weeks for this while Lewis gets the same for an act of thuggery is crazy. Lewis should be getting three weeks if May takes two.