Nasher

We are 5-5, so either the game plan doesn't require everyone on 100%, or it happens more often than "rarely". The results don't support your assertion. "I can only remember the last thing that happened" strikes again.

I agree with the order mostly. Generous to Derwayne though. I assume Tony Shaw was omitted deliberately, to avoid the traumatic experience of having to recall the assault that occurs on one's senses when he's on.

3. Tyson played like he was still ill anyway.

Thread title updated.

Some bastard in the office is chopping onions again.

Hi all, I've updated some software this morning in the back of the server. There shouldn't be anything noticeably different, but please post in this thread if you do come across any new issues (yes - I broke the site for about 1/2 hour while doing it).

North, GWS? Ahh, I get it, it's the old "yeah they're good teams, but they must have been playing crap against us" (or my old favourite: "I can only remember the last thing that happened").

It's just laughable to suggest he broke fingers slapping Ebert in the face when Ebert didn't have so much as a red cheek. I once punched a wall with a fair bit of force (not full force) and had some minor bruising of my knuckles. The only time I've ever seen anyone break fingers by punching someone, the recipient of the punch got totally flattened. Come on guys, it's just silly. We're just fueling our need for conspiracy theories against all common sense by running with this one.

Curry and deeluded are both alive and well.

Good story > facts I bet this myth carries on for years now. Sigh.

Yep - I had very similar thoughts. I even made a similar comment to my brother re: the Hogan shot - "if he misses this it's all over". I truly think if we'd put a few of those earlier misses through, we'd have been looking at a totally different energy in the side. You could just feel the energy go limp with each miss. Roos even said in the post match presser that players naturally get energised through scoring.

That's pretty much what middle of the road teams look like - capable but inconsistent. Good footy interspersed with the occasion garbage is exactly what I'd expect from teams in the 8-10 range, which is where we are. I'm no less convinced than I have been for most of the season now.

I think the prevailing view among our coaches is that it's hard and time consuming enough drilling a group in one game plan that you can't really expect to be able to practice a second one with any effectiveness. I know many supporters dismiss that idea; I take the view that I don't have enough hours of experience in coaching an AFL side (zero) so I can only take their word for it, but it at least sounds like a reasonable proposition to me. I think if anything, plan 'A' failing due to poor implementation of our defensive systems is evidence that plan 'A' needs more attention and rehearsal, not evidence that we should distract ourselves by ditching it and trying something else.

Every time we look like kicking a goal that might get us firing up, someone misses. I reckon if we'd put a few of those through it might have been enough to get us going. New half up soon though and a chance to start again. I'm not throwing in the towel just yet.

Well, that was a disappointing quarter.

Median games is the most relevant stat there. 30 is simply a crazy number. We are winning games with a team of babies.

Phil Read, heh. Read, Pickett... you can see what Danners was trying to do, but...

Uncalled for I reckon. Let bygones be bygones and all that.

That's pretty much what I do anyway. One thing I've learned over the years is that I know bugger all. I can spend valuable brain cycles by trying to work out what's going to happen, but then get it totally wrong or I might fluke it right. Far more fun just to let the emotion take over and run with that. Well, that's more fun when we're winning anyway.

?!

Part of me can never but help but feel that the next bitter disappointment is just around the corner, though... I don't usually leave that part in charge though. The rest of me tells that part to bugger off and stop ruining my optimism.

Pleased enough with that - the side is very settled, no changes at all around the edges. Thought Pedersen might come back, but happy to live with out him. Also glad that ANB and Newton were both able to remain after good performances against Brisbane. So much for Roosy's "yeah, we'll definitely makes changes" comment though!

Our first pick on current standing would be #28 - it's hard to get enthusiastic about the talent at the pointy end when you know we're not going to be near it. Though our trio of Viney/Mahoney/Taylor have developed a habit of pulling a rabbit out of a hat in the last few years, so I suppose we'll see - but I find it hard to see them trading in to the top 10 with the tools at their disposal (i.e. no first round pick) this year.

Yep - last year he was the youngest player on our list. This year only Hulett, Weideman, Mitch King and Oliver are younger. Stretch came to us as a bottom ager - I reckon this makes a big difference in the level of development you'd expect to see when they arrive at the club; he would be nearly an entire year behind in development than a player like Brayshaw who arrived at the same time. Scary to think that Oliver is the current youngest player on our list and is in the same boat.

20 possessions as a second string mid and a goal, and loses his place. Bloody stiff, but I can't see a way out of it. Welcome to the new MFC.