whatwhat say what

aish is as scared of the hard ball as toumpas

this 'nominate the ruckman' thing is a farce

sideways, sideways, backwards, forwards, turnover pies have no confidence

this has been a truly rubbish game of football - but it's entertaining, cos they're both rubbish.

Lily Mithen will be the best player in the competition in two years. Fantastic youngster.

Isn't that exactly what Keilty is?

Based on that footage, Kent would be a lock with Spencer not far behind. Tyson didn't seem to feature all that much in selected highlights? Ben Ken's change of direction is impressive.

until such a time as we see the casey report, only ones that make sense are tyson and kent in - they're clear best 22 players. structurally it'll change our side quite a bit, but other than levi and weitering - and potentially harry mckay - carlton don't play overly tall but instead rely upon small forwards to kick their goals, alongside mids and kreuzer pushing forward. B: Jetta - T McDonald - Melksham HB: Hunt - O McDonald - Salem C: Lewis - Jones - Stretch HF: Petracca - Hogan - Brayshaw F: Watts - Weideman - Garlett Foll: Gawn - Oliver - Viney I/C: Tyson - Kent - Hannan - Neal-Bullen Emerg: Bugg - Spencer - Harmes ??

He's a recidivist

o mac is not going to be dropped. he gets to and impacts the contest. he's tracking as well as his brother was at the same level of age and experience, if not better.

camry's vs gw$ is a cracker of a game.

6 - oliver 5 - jones 4 - t mac 3 - lewis 2 - hogan 1 - gawn

Would make sense

One of the things that really struck me was just the pure contest from all players right across the ground. There were mistakes made but it was the second, third and fourth efforts and the one-percenters that players were prepared to do. Some who were down early really came into their own as the game wore on - thinking particularly here of Salem, Brayshaw, and O Mac who I thought were all impressive as the game wore on, rather than showing a heap early like others. Sat right at ground level at that hotbox of a stadium - for god's sake, OPEN THE FREAKING ROOF!! Individual player comments: 1. Hogan - I thought he was immense, his movement around the ground was so (dare I compare?) Riewoldt-like when he was about the same level of development, and he really relished in tackling today which he doesn't always do 2. Jones - superb with his ability to change direction when in possession, and then use it well; not going sideways and backwards but instead punching it forward and to advantage 3. Salem - really quiet early, it looked like it was going to be another game where he wasn't getting involved enough but was it a case of the team improving and thus he improved or was his ability to win the ball the catalyst for the form turnaround midway through the second term? I lean towards the latter 4. Watts - I thought he was okay overall and 'did his job', yet at the same time he gave a lot of spark when he was in the ruck and again like Salem he improved as the team improved in that second quarter period when we started to get on top 5. Petracca - how funny was it when he had the set shot and dropped the ball, casually picked it up and dobbed it from around the 50m mark? He has an incredible arrogance but fortunately backs it up 6. Lewis - thanks Hawthorn, he is so classy, has such a calming influence on play, and will be massive for us for the length of his contract I think 7. Viney - wasn't massively influential when compared to others, but still did his part and his fierceness at the contest is brilliant to watch, plus that ability to accelerate out of the contest 10. Brayshaw - bugbear of mine is his short field kicking, but for the most part I didn't really notice him going short, and if he did he wasn't muffing it up, and I'd say he was about as good as Viney on the day 11. Gawn - Maximus Gawnius is just a collusus in the ruck, and the way that he got on top of Hickey (who from my spot right by the bench looked very sore in the lower back before Gawn went off for treatment on the same) was fantastic to see after last year; he kept giving his rovers first use 13. Oliver - I just watch him and marvel; I don't think I've ever been so excited for a player in the red and blue as I am Oliver - he's even more exciting than Hogan 15. Stretch - SOS is a pearler, his contested work is getting better and better all the time, and his run and carry has always been so encouraging, and now he's really starting to get heaps of damaging ball 18. Melksham - was a bit rusty and slow to dispose of the ball at times, but like others he contests and fights and works hard to retain the ball and brings strong defensive accountability to the back half, freeing up other players like Vince to be more creative 19. Hannan - a really super debut I thought, the way that he kept bobbing up and doing something creative - be it an outstanding goal or a strong mark - was a really bright sign that he'll be an excellent contributor 23. Vince - that's the Bernie we know and love! Sure he stuffed up once or twice but I'm personally okay with that when he's doing so much so very, very right 25. T McDonald - stopped Riewoldt completely once Roo pushed forward permanently, was creative when he got the ball, didn't take the wrong option very often and was a rock down back 26 Weideman - another player who did his job I thought, love the way he flies at the contest, and his field kicking and goal kicking are both really, really good; I love the way he gets involved at ground level to stay involved in the contest 28 O McDonald - I actually thought he was pretty good - sure, he made some mistakes, arguably more than others, but his ability to get to and impact the contests was good and I think he's tracking as well as his brother was at the same age / experience 29 Hunt - those kamikaze crazy runs are contagious; what's great is that he's also comfortable leaping at the ball and impacting the contest, tackling, getting down and dirty and is not afraid to use his surprising strength one-on-one 30 Neal-Bullen - another like Viney and Salem and Watts who got better as the game went on, and his ball use was great; you'd like to think he can build on that sort of game going forward 36 Garlett - the tackling and defensive pressure exhibited all game was the best thing, but his goalkicking and speed was also fantastic to watch 39 Jetta - thatta boy Jets, I was so worried when he didn't play a game in the preseason as I think he adds so much to the backline; much like his game today where he was just so good defensively and even got on the scoreboard! 44 Smith - such a shame to see him go down like that as I thought he was looking good; was it when he went off that the Saints started to get on top? That's my glow-of-a-win memory of it all

And Keilty reports too please. Losing Smith we are short down back - a third tall defensive option would change our match-ups quite significantly. Edit: was it when Smith went off in the first that the Saints got their run on?

GC17 coming home with a rattle and a bang against the Bears

Huge second half coming up. The maggots love calling holding the ball, seemingly unless it's for us!

Nervous. So very very nervous.

other than absolutely dominating an understrength carlton, mccartin did nada all preseason. acres tore us apart last time. edited to add that i am sooooooooooo freaking nervous about this game. i'm excited too, but more excited for the start of the cricket.

So is McCartin out?

Pies worked hard but their skills... That's the big difference between the good sides and the also-rans - the likes of the Dogs and Hawks and Swans and GW$ on the whole simply don't waste it. I really want to see us moving the ball with skill tomorrow, because I think like the Dogs and Pies we'll be up for the contest.

Less than a goal in it with under a minute to play. Dogs can't win a clearance.

the only issue with marchbank and plowman is that they're both more the height and shape of classic third talls, as is weitering.

No, cos Gibbs will get his wish and be traded to the Crows. It was an entertaining game to watch - free flowing and high scoring. The likes of GW$, Swans, Footscray - basically, any side that puts on a scintilla of pressure - will hammer the both of them.

No defensive accountability from either side. Entertaining to watch but not exactly champagne football.