pitmaster

what? and lose the close ones?

Seriously, much of this discussion is off the point. Take Goldstein (Jamar), Petrie (Clark), Bastinac (Watts), Harvey (Jurrah), Number 34 - forget who he was but they went through him a bit - (Davey) and a couple of others and see how Norf goes. Thaipants says they toyed with us. That is just hyperbole. They could not score for 10 minutes into the second quarter. They did us with terrific running and linking over the course of 25-30 minutes from the first and third quarters but for lengthy passages our work ethic and occasional efficiency kept us in it. At the moment Norf has one injured player - McIntosh - who is easily replaced with their wealth of talls. So far as it says anything about the coach, last year this would have been a 90 point thrashing. He has improved the group even if he unravelled them to begin with.

Some time ago on a different thread (it's lost because I dared start my own when Hell's Gates thought he was running the show, and who knows he might be but he had lost his uppers that day and consigned my wisdom to the scrap heap) that Cook should debut against Gold Coast NEXT WEEK. We then have GWS two weeks later with the Saints in between. He could get three games, two against kids not that much different from himself, to get a taste of it. He has put on some size and he has shown a bit of form but I am not losing sleep over his non-appearance. He is hardly going to be a world beater this year or next. If we're lucky in 2014 he'll show his stuff and we can forget Jack Darling could have been ours.

I don't like it when people get bagged just for starting a thread but this one is so undeserving of consideration I'd make an exception this time.

Well said. what a waste.

Given Casey reports Spencil is a near certainty. No-one's mentioned Dunn but he will be close given he is match fit and hard. Watts a definite since he is one of the best users we have. If Jetta gets a run though, that's four changes. For mine, I am unimpressed with Bail.

Four seasons since debut. 57 not particularly memorable games. 23 goals. I have been constantly underwhelmed although ironically he showed a bit of dash in the first quarter against the Dockers. I would not like to see him cut loose with his knee smashed (the coach's word and it says something for the extent of the damage) but no-one in football would blame us if we let him go. We all wish him well but Jamie simply has not done enough and we have not had a decent small forward since Flash went upfield and Farmer went west.

Agree with Burgundy and would add that the point is players are allowed down years. It happens. Sometimes it's a sign of a career ending, sometimes form is regained. I think, tough guy, you've been found to be a bit quick to judge is all.

Re-signed for two years last week P Man, so at least rest easy on that score.

Thanks KC for the best footy news in weeks. Green's got to be a cert and Gys must be likely next week.

Welcome back Gys. Ditto Green

This thread was ultra worthy of being bumped after Spencer showed surprising improvement over six days. Go number 42!

Those forever backward handpassing forays yesterday put us under enormous pressure, with skills deteriorating as we went further back. And handpassing into the corridor from defence seems really dumb since that usually intensifies pressure, too. And players calling for the ball when they are covered by an opponent. That was so blatant yesterday I figured our guys had sworn a vow of silence. So which is the bigger weakness in our game? I am leaning towards decision making.

Don't agree. His form does not warrant it. I said on another thread and I still reckon it's right, that he should debut round 19 v gold coast. Give him 3 weeks minimum and he mostly will be up against opponents of similar size (gold coast, st kilda, and GWS in round 21). Just screaming for kids is pointless but I agree we need Gys back and I'd like to see Jetta - he's been around long enough.

Back on course...those bagging Magner need to back off. I reckon the guy is flattening out after the intensity of an AFL pre-season and season. That goal that was not paid because he blew the kick was the work of a player who is tired tired tired. He should be spelled but he should not appear on anyone's delist suggestions. Yesterday was appalling as an exhibition of skills but Spencer improved enough over a week to suggest there is something there as well. Can't say I am looking forward to next week but clearly Neeld is now not coaching to win individual games. He is trying players out and while I'd love to see Jack W up forward and giving us a target he is in defence for the duration for his education. After bad efforts like yesterday everyone seems to forget what most of us already know, that this is already preseason for 2013.

Skills were dreadful today, esp in the first quarter. I am not conned by the scoring shot discrepancy however. I lost count of the dodgy frees they had that resulted in shots at goal...that they squandered. THAT'S where some of their scoreboard dominance came from. Our skills were bad but the umpires were dreadful too. How about that out of bounds paid against us on the southern wing when the ball was handpassed towards a teammate? Or the free paid for an attempted spoil in a marking contest against us, when Morris' hit on Tapscott resulted in a play on call? Or that one paid against Nicholson in a marking contest when he and Nahas(?) went shoulder to shoulder? The umps were consistently poor against us today, and that's without mentioning the goal taken off Magner since he should've kicked it better in the first place but ladies and gentlemen, it WAS a goal. I am taking some comfort from the fact that we 'won' the last three quarters, and two quarters clearly. Also Spencer showed a bit. Sylvia gave us something but I have to confess as to being unconvinced by Bail. His use of the ball is not a feature.

Absolutely not a shirt front. As judged in the 60s and 70s this was a 'charge' (defined by the fact that Wellingham was airborne with both feet off the ground at the time of contact) and was always worthy of suspension if nabbed on it.

4 at a minimum

Bleak news. Will have to adjust expectations or the telly could be in danger.

Bombastic [censored].

Agree. We've committed to the kid and his family.

Thanks - he was 'supposed to be' wearing 35.

Anyone know if Jack V is playing for Vic Metro and what number he might have?

It's made life simpler, but there were a couple of outstanding contributors who have yet to cross over and who would be constructive additions to 'Land. So yes, I miss it, a bit but I'll live.

You both could use a dictionary