Choko

Gday fellow dees! A few of us are heading up to Manuka for the big clash in 2 weeks... I can get seats in the hill stand, which seems to be on the flank... the other choice is behind the goals. Re behind the goals, which side will the dees be sitting? Any other recommendations?

I was there tonight. Went up from Melbourne with my son as his 7th bday present! The boys delivered big time. When we were 26 down, away, against a good side, undermanned, I thought it would get ugly. So much to like about tonight. The way the backline setup, the numbers we got to the ball, the incredible tackling, the 1 on 1 performances and the even contribution.... magic win!

I think a forward/ruckman is essential. Vickery is inconsistent but I would like to see is make a strong play for him. He would improve our list, our flexibility and gives Gawn support. That or Tippett where Sydney still pays 40% of the salary (they may go for it to retain Mitchell).

It's the same culture that you could excuse for violence against women.... for years and still today that's prevalent. Leaders should demonstrate leadership. Yes, they trusted too much. That's a failure. They also didn't make reasonable enquiries and misled ASADA. Now they are drug cheats.

No, they aren't responsible for testing, they are responsible for ensuring that what they consume is legit. There were sufficient red flags for further enquiries to be made, and they weren't. If you think about it, if an athlete was able to be, or claim to be, willfully blind to what they consume, we would have a perfect defence to any performance enhancing drug taking. I read above that 2 people were responsible. No. It's a system. Two people may be directly responsible, but so was Hird, Bombers, Dr Reid and the players. Ultimately the responsibility isn't with Dank at all, it's actually with the players. It is a fact that Zaharakis had sufficient concern to opt out - now that's leadership. I have every sympathy for the young bombers players who would have trusted their club and their leaders. If I were 18 and given assurance by coach, admin, and seeing Jobe doing it, honestly I would too without question. Bottom line is Jobe failed badly in leadership (Hird worship and too much trust in the club) and unless the appeal gets up, he is a drug cheat. Not because he intended to be one, but because he is one.

I think we learnt a lot last time we played the Saints and I am excited to see how we go. They moved the ball very quickly after a turnover and got us out the back all day. It was horrible. Since then, we have remained poor at defending opposition kick-ins, but as a general rule our zone has responded to turnovers much more quickly, and our coverage to prevent goals out the back has been far better. Adelaide was a good example of that IMO. So I think we shouldn't make too many changes. Definitely Wagner if he is ready.

Yeh fair enough. I am more focused on people who say he doesn't have a competitive bone in his body and similar. Junk comments directed at a kid. I also think the level of focus is disproportionate and we should be showing more support. Billy Stretch isn't ready either, but he is improving every week. Our depth is improving, but I think we are not at the point yet where only seasoned and ready players get a gig. Don't underestimate how much quicker you learn when you are playing with and against seniors. If we waited for Gawn for example to be ready, there is no way he would have improved so quickly.

Even for you. that was a stupid comment. If Rawlings was average. Clarkson was a spud. Ross Lyon too, Sheedy, and many others. Paul Roos picks him - but what would he know.

I think the Oscar bashing here is appalling. The guy has played 5 GAMES. 5 GAMES people. He's a kid in a grown up game. I heard Jade Rawlings speak about him the other night, and he asked supporters to focus on what Oscar does well, not just what he isn't doing. I for one am pleased that instead of a bloke like Garland or Dunn who have no more upside, we are blooding a guy the coaching team sees something in. Either way, the focus on a bloke that has played 5 games is absurd. Let him learn the game.

Billy Stretch was definitely best on for mine. Ran all day and neat by foot especially. So 3 words for Billy are best on ground or runs all day!

Am I allowed to nominate Brent Grgic?

Very unbalanced team. I can't understand what they think they are doing. Brisbane is that bad it shouldn't matter, but ffs a lot of bad ball users off the backline and potentially a lot of players in the forward line who will get in each other's way.

I suspect we will play O Mac and not Garland. To me, Garland is either low on confidence or the game has gone past him. Every time he gets near it it looks like he is trying to wrestle a bar of soap. I am a Dunn fan, but I personally love the fact he isn't getting a game. There are too many things the coaches have been frustrated about with him, and for too long we have had to accept that because there were no better alternatives. For mine, the fact he hasn't remedied those areas and now will not get a game without doing so will lift standards across the board.

Not a player, but I thought Neeld was going to be an excellent coach!

The club has formed the view that it is a strategic imperative that we see some serious improvements and aim for the finals in 2016. On that basis, we have recruited for needs and front loaded our draft. At least we have a strategy and we are boldly trying to implement it. For mine, we cannot bring enough midfielders into the joint, so our additions are welcomed. Yes, no a graders but a series of competitive mids is about all we could hope for.

I think we are desperate to become competitive, and we can only do that with midfielders. It does seem overs though....

In one sense I agree it may be a lesser feeling to win one at a second club than it would be to win one with a club you stuck with. On the other hand, I am quite sure it is a better feeling and legacy to win one vs never play a final. One in the hand vs two in the bush.... I think that the Lake, Frawley experiments are actually going to make their mates think more favourably about leaving. Frawley would be telling them how amazing it is winning a premiership, how professional Hawthorn is, etc.... I do agree that the compensation for Frawley made it a win-win, but a win-win is a win for them as well as us! I am not sure that pick 13 for Danger is as good an outcome for Adelaide!

Top 3 in order: - Vince - Jones - McDonald (Oscar's brother)

Hahaha... I think that this tackle has to be eradicated. It is dangerous and leaves the head exposed. There were 2 motions. Comfortable with the decision.

Last week was more furious with the players than I have been for years. This week, they can get stuffed because it's the first time I've missed a Vic game I could have been at in years - so of course we won!!! Brayshaw is a complete footballer. Amazing. We kicked a big score but we won the game in defence - which shows what the best Paul Roos coached side can do. Best thing is there's still plenty of improvement and blokes to come back in! Still pinching myself!

I've said it before and I'll no doubt say it again, but Jack Watts makes himself difficult to defend. That dropped mark in the goal square was a total killer. And it wasn't just a poor skill error from someone senior enough to do better... where was the desperation? Worst play of the day.

I think Watts should be dropped.... no delisted..... but if he has a good game next week, I reserve the right to change my mind and say he should be knighted.

Well I enjoyed last night enough to lose my voice and watch the replay when I got home. I am really enjoying watching us this year. I was equally proud of the way we played last week against the Crows, and I thought the difference between last week and this week was the opposition. Our intent was the same, as were our skill errors, etc.... We wanted it more last night. I thought Salem was just about our best last night - clean disposal, kept his feet, took tackles, etc... he is going to be a gun. Tommy is a man mountain now. Hoges obviously. Footy is starting to be fun again! Other than 10 minute lapses here and there in the first 4 weeks, you couldn't be critical of much. Better than that, we are doing it on the back accountable and tough tackling footy, and with a heap of contributing youngsters. Let's see how we compete against the really good sides - of which Richmond is not one.

Our foot skills were poor all day long, even before the rain. We stayed in it because of super endeavour. Watts makes himself really hard to defend. It's not errors, because he had friends there. It's the lack of application, guts and heart. The first mark he dropped was because he dropped his head waiting for contact. He showed nothing for the rest of the game to demonstrate that he wanted to make amends. Bitterly disappointing.

It was an appalling effort really from quarter time and the body striking thing was a total lack of on field leadership when things started going badly on the scoreboard in the third. I think pace is an issue but you look slow when you're being smashed. We didn't look that slow in the first quarter or last week. Geelong isn't quick through the middle. We were embarrassed in the contest after half time and that cost us most. Some of the Roos bashing here is totally ridiculous.