buck_nekkid

Good article. I think it provides a reasonable summation of where we are at, and the challenges ahead

Out: JKH in : that stupid letter writing [censored] lets see if he can do any better.

Teams are going to run out of gas at different stages throughout the year with all of this frenetic running. Not sure Adelaide were exposed - simply that 5-10% drop off in this comp will kill you. (Note our first half last week). They are beatable, but they will want to 'redeem themselves' from last week. I expect them to come out hard. Jacobs is a big worry, as he will be difficult to cover as the chop out mark, drifting forward for a sneaky mark and as a big body in the ruck. However, if we cut off supply, their forward line could be Plugger, Dunstall and Dermie, If they dont get it, they cant kick it. We have to hold our defensive structures and not get sucked too high. We have to win the midfield, and halve the contests when they have the ball. We need to find better ways inside 50. We need to play for the whole game. Then we can win! When we do, I'll donate 10,000 days of access to water to a communities in Africa. Go Dees.

This pus-eating pile of dog turrds can take his letter, and his cut up membership, and shove them forcefully inside his anal cavity. He was never a supporter. What a waste of space. Have your say - somewhere like this - but we are playing better than we have in a decade - we are more aggressive and exciting than ever - and he throws in the towel over a loss by 3 points? Sheesh. A letter to the coach? I'm sure Goody is immediately changing strategy and worried. Thank god they sent the letter, the coach had no idea what to do before this. WHen we win a flag - maybe not this year, but in the next few - it will mean SO MUCH after what I have been through. This Farkwad should barrack for Whorethorn. Soft as, and fair weather. Being a true supporter is not easy, but it is valuable.

Some rude looking heads in that bunch..

The kid has just come back from a knee reco, and is 3 weeks in. Suggest that he will need to really build his tank before he steps up to AFL level. Even Dec Keilty, who Played all last years in the VFL, is building his tank this year and may be valuable later in the year, or more likely after another pre-season. Way too early for King. Keep him working on his craft and building his fitness, and he could be really valuable. If he didn't do his knee, this would likely be a different discussion. (And Flippers...even further back)

Any word on Maynard? The earlier reports suggested something around the eye? Was a dog act by Thomas. I wish him a speedy recovery, and Thomas a long holiday.

We are missing the Dawes role (maybe not Chris himself), a ruckman, and Vandenberg. Hogan is too deep and stagnant and we don't go through a CHF to straighten us up. Maybe Trac at FF and Hogan at CHF could really help our entries. Tim smith is out, and Weids a bit green yet. And Max. When sooky boy mcevoy snuck forward and marked, he kicked a couple of telling goals. If I was coaching against us, I would be encouraging this all game. We really miss a true ruckman, not only at the bounces, but to compete around the ground and be a cut out target. Clarrie, Lewis and Salem are pretty good ins, though that crows team looks damned good on paper....

Last year we prayed for an 'honourable loss'. We are far more competitive, and exciting - in a year that is a tipsters nightmare (and seems to be very even). I think with the crazy speed of the game, many teams will run their tanks dry at different stages, and results will be up and down. we have lost a few we shoulda, coulda, woulda.... we have lost our AA player ( name a team that can manage that) and their only backup. We field a bunch of kids, with a new system, and some obvious development need. i hated the losses, but I reckon we are heading in the right direction. When this clicks, I'm going to so pleased I stuck fat. I don't think we are mentally damaged. I think the team needs a kick up the tailpipe and should be made to watch that first half. We need to draw lines in the sand around effort. Who knows how we will go against the Crows. I hope we play our systems, our way, and we are exciting to watch and support.

Gawd, so many down below minimum requirements. we have to set up to beat the crows, we certainly didn't to beat the Hawks. Gave them too much room and time to do their precision passes, and stood back and watched them play through us more often than not. Stop Sloane (hard tag), fix up inside 50 transition, and bring pressure on the ball carrier and the next kick. who to bring in? Anyone who will give 100% for 4 quarters, prefer kick to handball, and bring pressure as a minimum.

That was shyte. we will be a good team when we play 4 quarters. The first half was TERRIBLE. Frost, Viney and Garlett all good. just gutted. handball circles are just awful, and don't work. Kick the thing. it is not an 'honorable loss'. It is a kick in the balls. We should have won. Not good enough over 4 qtrs yet.

As for the report, he hit the kid pretty hard, when he was unprotected and late. Be interesting how the MRP review it.

Listening to KB read his scripted tosh is embarrassing. He tries to create the story, and I bet he smells of urine and old farts. He may want Trac's biatch at Richmond, but it's not,going to happen. Sainters would be looking at 2018 and beyond for this kid, and the rest is a bonus.

I hate these fluff pieces. I almost mark that player down for a shocker. Who gives a stuff if he went to Luna park? I like that he got a rocket from Grimes and McCartney and turned himself around, though.

Funny how long 12 months is in football. 12 months ago, commentators were lauding the precise kicking and 'stacks of left footers' of the hawks. Recruiting threads were full of who we should recruit to be more like the hawks. The Dees were showing increased competitiveness (3-3), and had stemmed the flow of big scores from previous years. Roos was making a difference to our defensive systems. 12 months on and the tables have turned. People are lauding the highly competitive, 'fearless' football, and the crop of emerging talent in the dees. They are also suggesting that the Hawks are old, slow and the competition has passed them by. Round 7 this year brings some interesting questions: Is there any fight in the old dog left? Did they trade out the heart of the team a year too early? Do they really need catastrophic change to get themselves back on track? Are the Demon young guns ready to bring 4 quarters of intense, fearless football? My sense is that the Hawks are going to come out and test us. We need to counter their 'precision' with super competitive football. We will win by forcing the Hawks to make contests and to brutalize them when the contest happens. We need to run past them, through them and from them. We need to be accurate in front of goal and minimize the stupid turnover. Importantly, we need to block the corridor and force them wide, and bust open the corridor running the other way. McEvoy and Peterson should be interesting, and this may be the only position on the ground where they have us (on paper) bested. Cyril is a pest and the umpires love him, so it is really important we keep him quiet. With their lack of leg speed they are going to have to pass the ball. If our zones stand up (dont get sucked too high up the ground) and we can slow their movement, it should be a great day out for the Demons. Demons by 45 points

Re Milkshake: he was recruited at a time when our defensive stocks were not so strong with running, rebounding types. In the time he was out, there have been significant advancement in competition. Hunt, Wagner, Hibbard, etc. I have no problem with him getting a few weeks to prove himself and find his feet, but there are some areas where he now needs to go back to the VFL and prove he is up to scratch to earn his spot. With Wags getting over his injury and having a good VFL game, he might be the switch. its a great problem to have- depth.

Dunn was a great servant of our club, and I wish him well. I dont think he suits the 'fearless football' mantra - he is great 1:1 and kicking down the line. OMac might be developing, but I reckon he is quicker, can play zone/intercept, get off a man and suit our structures better. DUnn would just slow and anchor the defence, and might be suitable for about 3 or 4 matchups per year. On the 'independent selectors' - can I please call 'BS'. Why hire and empower a professional coach and coaching department if you are then going to put another layer of admin over them for selection? Your massive assumption is that the coach is somehow 'playing favourites' - where is your evidence? Without being a fly on the wall, you (along with the rest of us) have no clue as to why they make the calls they do. some are obvious, some less so. We as fans can argue if we agree with them or not, but 'independent selectors' are only needed if you dont trust and believe in your coach to do their job.

Wants to play in a premiership, does he? would want to see what he is like as a 2 way runner. Any player we pick up has to fit - and enhance- the system. he is a boy from Bright, and Collingwood have has brother. Go home factor would suggest they would be in the lead for his services.

To beat the Hawks we need 3 things: Speed Pressure (x10) less silly errors. lets see how they all pull up, but I would only make changes to enhance one of these three things, injuries aside. (Excepting Hogan, of course). That means maybe stretch gets a look-in, if he was rested for a freshen up. Otherwise, a few guys need to kick the door down for a spot via Casey.

We beat this bunch of front runners with perhaps the worst half of football, then being good in the third, and OK in the last. We are yet to put a full game of our new game plan together. Essendon are essentially making up the numbers, and we have to be better than this if we plan to beat good teams. We are the sort of team that used to run others into form. We face Hawks next week, who were pretty good two weeks ago, and poor last week. Need to play more than 2 1/2 quarters of football. Lots of good signs, even with the list issues we have at the moment. Plastic beer cup half full, rather than half empty.

Loved: Daniher's goal kicking. Viney's third quarter Oliver- my god , what a beast. His ability to get the ball and get it to advantage is unbelievable. Trac, Watts, Garlett. Forward line. In the last, every time we took a bummer to ground, they hurt getting up. That is awesome. winning. Hated: second quarter. It was horrendous. the simple errors that cost us goals. that we will go in next week as favourites. turnover tommy and turnover Tyson. Kicking pie floaters.

It is the CLUB that is systematic as drug cheats. Individuals have paid their Dues. They will be forever tarnished.

Forward line of: Garlett. Weideman. Petracca Kent. Hogan. Watts On potential, that is something special. However, there are reasons right now why each and every one of those positions is not delivering: Hogan - family circumstances Weideman - still developing, probably 12 months early to expect too much Watts - being played out of position in the ruck Kent - is this attitude? Reports from the VFL not so promising Petracca - hasn't 'broken out' yet, but I think could even play full forward for us today Garlett is probably the only one who is up to scratch at the moment. We can sub any of these players worth others (eg, Hannan), for similar results. We have the makings of excellence on all lines, they are young (often the youngest team of the round), and haven't played to their group potential. If we could snare a 200+forward ruck that didn't have a [censored] tickler moustache and could deliver of course we would. But not too many of them are lying around for under a million bucks a season. I think the Weed will really arrive - but expect it will be in 2018.

On the way we are playing, we are one of those teams that might 'sneak' in. Until we find the groove with the game plan and get a few fit bodies back, I think that is our reality. I think Richmond will be this years North - they are a pretty crap 5-0 team, and I think they will be totally pantsed by the Crows.We can write off North, Swans and (maybe) Hawthorn, although Hawthorn are the more likely of this bunch to get their Mojo back. I think there will be lots of upsets all year. I so want us to win today - because it is the bummers, because of how it sets up our next 6 weeks, and how it sets up our season.

Great the club looks after him. Hope he recovers soon, and can put together some strong games and push into the firsts late this season or early next.