Nasher

No, of course the club should expect elite results from its elite performance manager. But who's to say we're not seeing elite results, and that it's just been bad luck, or other unidentified (from the outside) influences? That's my point. A small injury list might be indicative of good performance, but a large injury list isn't necessarily indicative of a poor performance.

This is one item that is absolutely impossible to assess from outside the club. Injuries and recovery are such a dynamic thing, there are so many factors that influence them and one of them is just pot luck. Don't know how you could ever say from the outside who was to blame, if anyone. The evidence is only ever circumstantial. Hell, I'm not even really sure how you'd do it from inside the club unless you were a fitness expert yourself, or obvious gross negligence was at play (which I highly doubt). By hiring another external expert to review it all, I suppose.

See my edited post

Yep, I'm assuming JKH is for fitness, as per my post above. There's no way Harmes will play in the DL, surely. Suspect they just had to name someone. Edit: All of the extended seniors bench are named in the starting 18 for the DL except for Gent, Morris, White and the 23rd player Hannon. So if you take out four MFC players and take those four as a given, there are three spots available, of which Harmes will surely be one.

Really pleased for King. Hopefully the development league form translates. JKH playing in the dev league. Suggests to me he's at least 3 weeks away from being fit enough for MFC selection - this game will be a 50%er I reckon, to be followed by a limited game in the seniors and a full game in the seniors at least.

Thanks. Meant Riley.

Final bench: Grimes, Michie, Neal-Bullen and Riley for mine based on that extended bench.

And they're just the ones I remembered off the top of my head. Then there are some like bing181 and Sylvia Saint who are overseas. There's no doubt you have to be at the game to pick up certain details about what happens, but I think you can get the gist on TV. Some broadcasts are better than others, too (depends on the producer, perhaps?) - I've watched a number of games where the cameras regularly pan to a point where I can see most of what's happening ahead of the player, which is the most important thing. I've also seen others where the broadcasters seem intent on me seeing the boogers in the players nose and that's about all, which is frustrating. There are also disadvantages to being at the ground, like when you get people who seem hell bent on standing up and/or walking up and down the aisles obscuring your view, or when play is at the opposite corner of the ground to where you're sitting.

In: Tyson, Grimes Out: Garland, vandenBerg I see no need for any more than two changes, and since there are two forced ones, I'd leave it at that. No hurry on ANB. If he keeps up his VFL form, his time will come. Would drop Newton before Matt Jones personally. Both survive this week.

Thanks for the lecture. I'm one of many regular posters on the site that watch from interstate. Like others, such as McQueen, Ethan Tremblay, rpfc, Goodvibes, Billy2803 (sorry if I got the numbers wrong), Little Goffy, Pennant St Dee, grazman and Clint Bizkit, all of whom I consider to be knowledgeable and intelligent posters, I pay my membership and watch from afar and attend when I can.

I reckon joeboy's comment on McDonald is very harsh and completely misguided. Players have poor games sometimes; he's been arguably our best player over the season, I think it's grossly unfair to accuse him of an over-inflated ego after one poor performance.

Stuff knows, old dee. The Sainters will be licking their lips just as much; obviously one group will walk away disappointed. Not saying to pencil us in for a win, I just reckon to have already decided we won't is just silly.

Agree that it's got to be Gawn, but you definitely wouldn't be putting all your eggs in the one basket as there is still a very big question mark over his durability. I wouldn't go too far out of my way to lure an experienced ruckman in as I just don't think the position is that important and would prefer we focused our efforts elsewhere. If King is not retained or viewed as a viable long term option, we will definitely have to pick up one in the draft. Spencer has to stay on the list until we have a viable alternative; that buys him another contract after this one IMO.

You have a serious case of "grass is greener" syndrome I reckon, BBP. They're the worst side we've faced since Gold Coast in round one. The Richmond and Bulldogs teams we beat were much better. If this game isn't very, very winnable, then no game is winnable.

I agree sue. I walked away from the game disappointed that I didn't the shot of euphoria I'd have gotten from a win, but otherwise I thought it was an entertaining game. I really think that Eeyore pic someone posted the other day really does suit old dee.

Still can't believe the way he tackles, those skinny arms just don't look as if they should be able to hang on, but they do. I wonder what he'll be like when he's in a man's rig and not a boy's. He's significantly improved in the 10 games he's played, too. Super excited and happy with this player.

First game I've seen live in ages and I'm glad I did. What I noticed is that when we made errors was that it was it was amazingly obvious that it was going to happen, as there were no options upfield, and the close options were closed up, forcing us in to either a very difficult kick or a handball to someone stationary. I thought we lost today not due to poor skills but because we don't instinctively mobilise for attack when we cause turnovers. When we went long, 43 for Collingwood (Oxley?) picked us off. That makes the skills look poor but I think its more of an effect than the cause. Jimmy T is the biggest victim of this. Thought Aidan Riley was good. Don't know how much of the ball he saw but he was clean with it and menacing without. Thought Benny Newton added nothing. Riley and Matt Jones are both ahead of him for mine. That Fitzy throw was the most amazing thing I have ever seen in a footy game. WTAF? Was clearly a panicked action, but, wow. Travis Cloke is a way better player than I thought. We had no answer. The Collingwood supporters around me don't know the rules (calling "ball" on literally every single tackle) and the MFC supporters around me aren't up with the nuances of the modern game, with their "just kick it" calls and muttering whenever a chain of handballs started; even though they generally lead to something good.

I thought he improved significantly after a truly awful first quarter.

6. Vince 5. Cross 4. N.Jones 3. Viney 2. Brayshaw 1. Garland

Yes, it's at Fed Square. Walk is from 2pm I think. Already heaps of people here now. MND beanies and MFC scarves everywhere. Feels like home!

Pretty sure I just saw Mark Neeld on my flight. Not sure I love that omen.

I'd guess it's because it's a man wearing it. Just a wild guess though.

The result of one game is not going to drive the selection strategy for the year.

I think everyone who is going to say something relevant and civil in this thread has said it.

If you insist. Can't wait.