pitmaster

Shocking news. For those who did not see it, I remember him going forward in the second half of the elimination final 1987 vs the Eagles and turning the game off his own boot. Kicked four, memory suggests. Terrific in the air and courageous. His passing is very sad.

Don't like the joint - it's got tired very quickly - but if we win I'll love it. And yes I will be there.

I was majorly peeved - two interventions by field umpires to cancel out goals to us, plus the crucial turnover on the members' wing late in the final term when Bartram mistook an umpire (in pink top and blue shorts for chrissake!) for a team mate. We were royally screwed that night. Let's hope we repay the 'dogs what we owe em - which is plenty.

anyone else watching the auctions on the club website? terrific battles going on for the signed caricatures with some bloke at shepparton determined to take out the set. after appearing unwanted the scully price has caught up too!

I'm conflicted on Cale. His first two disposals were shockers and split us open, but he again was able to complete some goal-saving marks and won plenty of the ball - 6 kicks in the last despite those confidence shaking first couple of possessions. He has been handy in the air the last few weeks while in defence. I would like to see us persevere. There's not a lot left to come into this side - Tapscott, Davey and Bail this year, and Grimes a definite for next year. Dunn a maybe this year.

Interesting about his game v Richmond was that while his first two possessions were rubbish, he kept at it and finished with eight kicks I want to see the replay to see everything he did, but there were certainly a couple of defensive saves in that last quarter that were telling and that's been part of his game since he has been back. Worth perservering with.

[Had Pie fan hanging it on Jack yesterday. Told him about that shimmy against Freo but the clown hadn't seen it. His Collingwood arrogance shining thru he went on about how worried we must be. Wonder if he will see today's game? Nah, I just hope Jack lies in wait to bury them when it counts. And he will. The kid is growing by the week - 2 votes on 774 today and lots more to come.

Like others here, I respect Tiger fans for staying staunch in hard times, but tell me, is there a more pig ignorant bunch of supporters for any club? Their ridiculous cries of 'ball' every time an opposition player is tackled are simply pathetic.

Artie, do you have a job?

Nothing at all? How about the possiblity that the game moves on quickly - faster than ever nowadays. I hope Aussie makes it back but if he misses another half season I fear for his ability to keep up.

Let Geelong stew in their disappointment while we develop Howe and Cook to complement Jurrah and Watts. Don't rate him that much to disrupt our development. Hey, why don't we chuck in Fev as well?

sweet memories - '87 elimination final and the 2000 prelim - looking forward to belting them again - hopefully with the squealer harvery still on board

what a find - love this kid, and Howe!

I suspect we can't afford Malthouse and his entourage and I am with those who query his record anyway - 3 flags in what, 20+ years? Most of those spent at two of the best resourced clubs in the land - and no success at the under-resourced Doggies. Clarkson will get another year at Borethorn - injuries get him off the hook and they were looking pretty tidy until then. Roos is a non starter and for one, I hate his style. For Eade, I agree with those who suggest he is not quite up to it, as good as he has been with the scraggers. Depending on the next 11 weeks, it is possible DB will get another year and likely he will see out this year. Given all we know about who is running our club, if DB goes I'd give Viney front runner status.

Someting overlooked in all the above is that without sufficient leadership kids can get burned out or hurt in ways that prevent them ever reaching their potential. That is why GC and GWS are intent on recruiting some mature bodies, and it is something we lack. That is why those rationalisations for getting rid of JMac on the grounds of "putting more games into kids" are slightly misled. If you want an example of someone who was thrown to the wolves never to achieve his percieved potential, think Josh Fraser.

I think he's Addam Maric's uncle or some other form of blood relative (if that helps).

At the risk being accused of nitpicking - he was born October 1976 - he was 33 last season and is 34 now and will remain so until after the GF.

I am not making a case for retaining Bruce but trying to understand the difference between us and the Pies 2010 and yesterday. Physical maturity is a part of it. You're right - it would only be changing the margin - or perhaps avoiding such a big backward step. We could still be putting games into Evans, Nicholson, Tapscott had we retained Junior, just not so often. And that's not such a bad thing - West Coast have a terrific mix of senior and novice players right now.

were planted last year when Dean Bailey sacked James McDonald. Everything started at the centre bounce and apart from some brave stuff from Moloney in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and McKenzie trying hard we were smashed in there. I am trying to understand the gulf between us and them in 2010 and yesterday and thinking about the tackles that didn't stick and the bodies brushed aside. Sure, once the ball was in their forward zone we could not work it out, but it was their near total dominance in the middle that determined the result. Key outs for us compared to last year are Jamar, James Mc, Bruce (much as I hate to admit it) and Brad Green (I will explain in a minute). Macca was a physically mature, mentally strong man for the engine room. He was in career best form and should have had another year, no question. There would have been less ragdoll treatment had he been available and more resistance from us. Bruce would have put team mates under the hammer yesterday, but he would also have negated an opponent and won a fair bit of his own ball. His departure, while not lamented as much as the former skipper's, was influenced by the treatment of McDonald. And having disposed of McDonald, Green was elevated to skipper. Green also was in career best form last year but the captaincy seems to have taken a toll. Dumping McDonald has cost us two mature players who were at the peak of their powers, plus Bruce. Bailey has expressed regret at the way McDonald was treated, but when Dean moves on I reckon he will have come to regret dumping him in 2010. We were not ready to lose him.

The problem with Schwab's proposal is that as appealing at it might be in some sense of keeping late season games alive it fails the real world test of what happens to second tier teams when they fail to get even close to equal broadcast time with first tier teams and their sponsorships are discounted accordingly. After a few years on reduced revenue even a club that is promoted will be uncompetitive for reasons of resources and football department/medical spending. Over time second tier teams would be entrenched as second rate. I can deal with the luck of the fixture - for years the VFL ran an 18 game season with 12 sides.

He should get a week at least but since the punch did not seem particularly forceful they'll offer him 97.5 points with an early plea and no games missed. That is despite the fact the MRP owes us. Anyone else notice that the panel that outed Trengove on the eve of our game against Norf included Wayne Schimmelbusch? Just another AFL conflict of interest that goes unremarked.

Crikey you're not reviving that Maric argument are you? Did that flogging you took in the hotel room (what was that, Season Five?) do more damage than first realised? Listen, back to Strauss. I admit having shifted from seeing nothing exciting in his two previous games to being a little impressed this week. Showed tackling intent, run and reasonable use of the ball apart from that last quarter clanger that for many will leave a query over his kicking for a bit longer. But overall, an impressive outing from the kid.

And five players (Strauss, Nicholson, Evans, Gawn and Howe) with I think, five games between them. Gives us plenty to look for Friday night. Don't have any problem with Maric out and Bennell in. Bennell has one clear asset - his pace - whereas Maric I am afraid appears to have none and is not reliable as a goal sneak or a field kick. I am rapt with the ins.

Yeah good idea - another skinny kid instead of a mature body. I'd like to see Howe but not at Dunn's expense given how physically overwhelmed we were last week.

Clearly needs time and glad he is getting it. I like the club's supportive tone at what is a difficult time for Aussie and the club itself.