Lord Travis

Still injured. Posted on his instagram today that he's out of the moon boot.

It really depends how much he'd cost. We could use his leadership and foot skills, he'd be a definite improvement on 6-7 players currently in our 22 for the next two years. If he came on a lower pay contract, then I'm all for it. If he's wanting coin, than it's a pass as he won't be around long and his body is struggling as it is. This is subject to medical checks obviously, as a player who can't get on the park is useless.

Oops, missed that one. Adelaide in Adelaide may be our best bet to lock away the win needed to make the 8.

6 Viney 5 Jetta 4 Brayshaw 3 Oliver 2 TMac 1 Lewis Hogan, ANB and Petracca for worst on ground honours.

I thought it best to start a central thread to discuss finals 2018, as a lot of this discussion is being lost in weekly game day/post match threads. The last two matches have put a significant dent in our campaign for finals. The Collingwood game was a write-off, but the Port game last night was a definite opportunity missed. We absolutely dominated that game and Port stole an undeserved victory. I'm absolutely f*cking fuming we lost, but what's done is done and we now have to look forward. We currently sit 5th on the ladder with a ledger of 8-5. We're lumped in with a number of teams fighting for a spot. Usually 12-13 wins is all that's required to make finals. This year however a higher number of teams have racked up wins than usual, and 14 wins will be required to guarantee a finals place. Barring an insane run of form, top 4 is now gone. What we do have in our favour at present is our percentage relative to competing teams around the mark. Our run home presents some challenges now. We play Saints, Freo, Dogs and Suns. That's 4 wins we should bank. That takes us to 12 wins, meaning to hold a spot in the 8 and play finals we'll need to win 2 more matches. The other matches are: Geelong in Geelong Adelaide in Adelaide Sydney at the MCG Eagles in Perth GWS at the MCG So the question is, which of these 2 matches are we going to win? Personally I think we'll account for GWS at the MCG, but I struggle to see us winning any of the others based on form. The Crows in Adelaide looks to be our best chance, but who knows if their form will turn around before then as they get some key players back. Obviously a lot can change over this time, but what are everyones thoughts? Will we still make finals? How much have we improved? Have we actually improved? How do you you our season playing out? Note: This thread is not intended to be a b*tch session, it's to have genuine discussion on the remainder of our season as we strive to play finals for the first time in over a decade.

Anything less than finals is an abject failure. Stop accepting mediocrity.

Doesn’t deserve to be in the team on form, but he’ll keep his place purely for what he could potentially produce. Very frustrating player and it doesn’t look like he’ll become the player we thought he could be. He’s definitely not capable of becoming a full time midfielder, and now he’s not scoring or getting involved as a forward either. He just lacks clean hands collecting ball quickly and has lost his vision to hit up short kicks for goal assist that he was so good with up forward last year. Maybe try him off half back to spark him?

Hunt is out injured for 4-6 weeks. Agree Garlett needs to come in. Our forward line is a shambles and needs a spark. He can provide that spark and is a genuine goal scoring option.

Was poor last week and poor again this week. If he lifts and gets on his bike this second half we’ll win.

We’re 6 - 0 away from the MCG this year. We’re 3 - 0 at the new Adelaide Oval. We accounted for Port twice last season from memory. We’re 2 - 4 at the MCG this season. On those facts, I’ll back us in to win tonight. Ironically if it was at the G you’d tip Port. We need to learn to play our home ground or we’re ever going to get anywhere come finals time! Dees by 11 points.

He's had more disposals and laid more tackles than anyone on his team thus far tonight. He's no longer a purely outside player, and is winning his own ball in a team getting smashed. Not having a great game by any stretch, but he works so hard and would give us something we sorely lack through our midfield.

We're definitely too small and too slow down back. Lewis and Vince in the same backline is getting exposed for pace. No talls other than O-Mac could be exposed by a tall trio of Dixon, Westhoff and Ryder. Hopefully our midfield is on top and restricts the supply getting down there. If their mids get on top, it will get ugly. Dees by 11 points.

If they’re willing to offer that, he’s staying an Eagle. It basically means they will match our deal and we’ll have to trade for him. We have nothing of value in terms of picks we can trade, and I doubt we’d be willing to trade any of our guns to acquire him, so game over.

Think you’ve got it the wrong way around. We’re 2 from 6 at the MCG. But we’re 6 from 6 away from the G. Not sure it’s a good thing, but makes tipping easier!

Don’t have time to wrong a long post at present, but the single biggest issue we have with playing the MCG is our defensive press. It pushes far far too high up the ground. There are stages when OMac was is the deepest player, standing forward of the centre circle and less than a kick ahead of the play. Time and time again the ball slingshots out into half a ground of space for opposition to work with. It’s embarrassing and obvious to all. Pull the defensive press back like it is on smaller ground where deepest defender is back near the goal square and we’d be a 5 goal better team at the G without any other change.

Games having another good year. We just need to make sure we make the most of his dominance around the ball. I expect him to be AA ruck this year, tracking really well is big Maxy!

Murphy has had a good career. However, a 31 year old who can’t get on the park is of no use to us. Next.

One year contract as depth or trade for a low pick to a WA club to clear list space.

This season he’s basically doing what we expected Petracca to do. He’s kicked bags of goals when playing forward (5+6 goal games), and dominated in the midfield on both the inside and outside. We don’t have picks to get him, so pipe dream. Hopefully Petracca gets a rocket and follows De Goeys lead as he should be the better of the two.

What do you rate our performance out of 10 to this point? Why? 6.5/10. Our win rate so far this season is 66%, so 6.5/10 is the equivelant rating. We've had huge wins against poor teams that in the past we probably would have stuffed up. Unfortunately we've also had huge losses against most decent teams we've played. Statistically we've improved from last year, but our actual win/loss results aren't too different. Which player has impressed you the most? TMac has been brilliant. If only he was available to play all season! He's genuinely one of the best key forwards in the league now, comfortably. He can kick a bag, clunk contested marks, cover heaps of ground and play a variety of roles. He's a star and it's great he's signed a new contract with us. Brayshaw has also been good once he was finally played in the middle. He's always had the talent, and it's good to see him getting past the lingering injury side-effects to start becoming the player we know he can be. Which draftee has made the biggest impact? Fritsch has been better than I expected. He's a seriously skilled player who takes marks he has no right to. Hopefully he can continue building strength in his body and cement his place longer term. What has been our best win to date? Adelaide game in Alice Springs was a ripping win. The style, structures and intensity we played with that day was everything we aspire to. Which player(s) needs to improve in the second half of the year? Petracca has been the biggest disappointment of the season thus far. After a good season last year, his improved fitness and vaunted move into the midfield have been a failure. He's gone backwards. As a forward, he's kicking less than a goal a game. As a midfielder, he's not wining enough ball or even getting to enough contests to have an impact. His first few matches were decent-good, since then he's been poor. I'd also list Hunt here, but he's now injured. I was bullish he'd be All Australian half back flank this year, but unfortunately he lost his mojo and is now injured. What has been our most disappointing performance? The Hawthorn game was probably the worst, followed by Collingwood match. Our inability to play the MCG is a big worry. It's at the point now where I back us to win nearly every match away from the G, but pencil in home games at the G as a loss. For whatever reason, our zone gets way too high up the ground at the G, and teams stream forward with all the space in the world to utilise. We won't go anywhere until we can learn to play our home ground again. Where do you see us finishing? Give a win/loss and finishing position 13-9 record finish in 8th place. We won't be top 4, and we could realistically finish 9th again unfortunately.

Won’t be seeing Hunt anytime soon. He was at the game today on crutches. Not sure if the injury but he said he’d be off legs for a while.

Biggest disappointment of the year for mine. He’s capable of so much more but has gone backwards and just doesn’t seem to have the drive of others. He’s looking like a slightly better Sylvia at this stage.

Belted around the ball today. Shocking!

Disgusted by the lack of intensity in the midfield and backline today. Very disappointing day for the club to cough up 2nd on the ladder and fall back to the pack.

We need to win tomorrow and claim second spot on the ladder. Lots of our finals competitors have fallen over, so this is a good chance to put a gap between us now. I think the selection panel have got the (forced) changes right this week. Pedo has been in ripping form in the VFL all year and has learnt his shot replacing Bull Smith. J Smith, though I haven't seen him dominate at VFL level has the right skillset and attributes to make it as a player, and with his leap he could fill the Lever role down back. Get it done Dees!