Nasher

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.

Thanks for that, praha. Particularly liked his comments on giving the players a spray and the last one about not needing to dramatise the fact that players are playing for their careers. These are things that get suggested on here with tedious monotony, maybe a few posters could take these quotes as an opportunity to learn something.

I don't know that he's blaming the past per se. It seems to me that he's just searching for the answer to why this group does such an impressive job of dropping its collective bundle. It's like a switch, we seem to go from good to awful in the blink of an eye. I take Roos' comments about mental scarring to be just speculating about why this happens. I don't think he has the answer. He has another season and a half to figure it out.

I don't think anyone is in the position to say how much he's worth; you can't do that unless you've got other players to compare it to. I really hope he stays, though. Not entirely sure why, but a vote of no confidence from Col would mean a lot more to me than it did from Frawley, Rivers, Moloney and Sylvia. Perhaps it's because it's because of his introverted, thoughtful personality type.

We've been solid against the middling teams and garbage against the good ones. We are a genuine middle of the pack side on evidence this year. I expect our results in the back half to be better than the front half due to the easier draw, with a bitter disappointment or two along the way.

As a once-off lump lump sum, no. As an annual salary over 5 years with other large incomes in the years either side of it, yes.

Pretty sure I saw a tear in Robbo's eye too. I really enjoy Robbo's interview style. It's a good mixture of relaxed banter and asking serious questions. This one was both a trip down memory lane and a capture of the essence of Neale's cause. Great stuff.

No issue with that. The guy's 20 and wants to avoid saying something that may come back to bite him in 10 years time. It's cliche but you just don't know what's going to happen or how you're going to feel about the club, your financial position, or life in general so far in the future.

Sorry, my memory failed me in the one minute between reading the article and posting - he said July for Kent so it's more like 4.