jnrmac

Only three of our players had 10 kicks or more. If its a practice match we didn't get much practice. We learned nothing. We change nothing. We had our backsides handed to us on a plate. As for Brad Sewell and his 5 free kicks. Mostly for ducking his head. The maggots were disgraceful.

Wow just checked the stats. 38 marks to 108 Our highest dreamteam getter was Jones at 66 The Dorks had 12 players get more than that. Moloney had a shocker

Just got back from the game. Very disappointing, 1. Umpiring was a disgrace. 3 goals gifted to the Hawks for ducking heads. Frees given to Hawks when the ball went out of bounds off a Hawks player. Ruck infringements all day - Jamar and Fitz were monstered. 2. Hawks have a very impressive zone and they follow it to the letter. We could not get a string of possessions all day. We were harried out of the ball time and time again. 3. Our kick ins were OK - the first kick but then it was totally static. 4. Our midfield was atrocious. 5. The Hawks possessed the ball brilliantly. Hardly stuffed up short passes and when they did there was no pressure on them. Us couldn't be more opposite. Every kick was hurried or a long bomb to a contest. 6. Don't know what the i50's were but I am guessing 60 to 15. Appalling I am a big critic of Davey but he was far from our worst. Thought he chased and tried hard. Missed a couple of sitters which he should have got. Zero confidence. In fact all our players tried but just weren't good enough. Clark was terrific and gave a great contest every time. Stuffed up a few balls when we had position and/or extra men. Jones was gang tackled every time he got the pill. Howe is a smart footballer. Tynan tried hard but is small and was outbodied We didn't have a player in the top 10 on the ground IMO. Interested to see what the coaches thought of proceedings We will get smashed by West Coast in Rd 2. Put the house on it.

Jack Watts is playing to instructions. If he doesn't follow the instructions he will be dropped. simple. It's a team game and no-one should care what Jack's favourite position is. Its all about structures.

Hopefully no injuries??

Appreciate the summary guys. Thanks

Yeah but its on the internet and they have that in Alice Springs. I doubt you will hear a peep from Liam. This is not something to fight in the media. It will be evidence based. From what I have read, Liam has denied it was him. His 'cousin' said it was him but it was dark and there was a group of about 9. Will be hard to pin on just one. As well you might have someone who is keen to 'finger' a high profile person from the 'other side'. This situation is clearly alien to most of us and I guess the outcome of this will be very much up in the air.

It's more one of hope than confidence... has all the tricks and could be our Leon Davis, Chris Yarran. Just needs to be a little harder..

Howe Davis Magner Bennell

Good for you. Anyone out there that was a member last year NOT received a membership renewal pack??

Anyone else not received a membership renewal this year? Poor form from the club. It's March and I am still waiting for the renewal pack to arrive..... It would explain why membership is below last year but I can't believe the club has been so slack.

I couldn't care less how many Brownlow votes he gets. Frawley got 2 and Trengove got 1 - so what?? That in no way measures a players worth to a team. As for your argument I can't see it. Davey polled the same votes as Col?? Davey had his worst ever year. Are you drinking electric cool-aid? As for tapering expectations his best finish in the Bluey I would suggest is a fair benchmark of where the club sees his efforts. You are blind or have never watched him closely if you think he deserves our accolades. His second and third efforts are virtually non-existent. He is exactly the reason why we have not had an elite player for such a long time. Is not prepared to do what it takes to become elite. And he is one of the few that could become elite. The most frustrating player on our list bar none.

It's always darkest before the dawn.... which makes it a great time to steal your neighbour's newspaper...

He is the only KPP amongst that lot (if rucks are not KP's) He was 17 and still at school. His first pre-season he was injured. His second pre-season was really his first. He has now had 3 pre-seasons and is still 20yo. The way I read Malthouse and Matthews comments are that his desire or attack on the footy are poor. AS well he positions himself incorrectly. But we don't know what his coaches re telling him. It's too early to tell who is right. He has a lot of talent and his brain and disposal are first class.

Hmm, Sean Charles ...

Can t see a comment from Matthews there. Are you imagining it?

Elite players cannot be tagged out of a game. Elite players can destroy an opposition single handedly Elite players are rare. There would be less than 25 in the whole comp IMO. And we don't have any. Have we any that could be elite? Sylvia could. Frawley could. Jamar could. But they're not. The others its too early to tell.

These little things are what the good teams do. Every little bit helps. From a pat on the back to a shout of encouragement to manning the mark properly. I am really pleased to see it as well because it means they are thinking out there and working for each other. Have rarely seen it in the past few years... For me the other great things are: intensity at the contest - clearly a Neeld not negotiable. We finally have players who are prepared to throw their body over the pill fitness - looks like we can run out a game flexibility - we have some players that can work in a range of positions Sellar, Stef, Bate, Sylvia, Dunn, Watts, Howe. MN seems happy to move em around as well. we won the contested possessions against the Pies as well as the tackles - Malthouse said that was a rare occurrance in the past two years and very commendable momentum - for the first time in a long while we can carry some momentum into the season proper. We have been training like we want to play unlike training with DB where he spent time building up their bodies and not picking up a footy until February. This is critical if we are to win early games Pressure - we are able to pressure their ball carriers and force turnovers. This requires a solid team commitment and we showed we can do it, So a lot to be enthusiastic about without getting carried away. It looks like we will be a 'hard team to play against' which is what all our supporters want. Could be enjoyable at the footy this year knowing they are having a real dip - regardless of the final score.

I disagree with this. Jnr has been out for a year. You can't judge him by what he produced yesterday. Last year would most likely have been his final year. What is undeniable is that our leadership last year stank - witness the performance on-field AND the cleanout by Neeld. Junior might well have provided some seriously needed leadership last year at a club that was imploding on and off the field.

Essendon are such arrogant tossers. They deserve nothing but scorn and ridicule for this stupid decision to fly. From Essendon its under 2 hrs by car!

Earth to Demonland. He is not David Neitz, he is not Wayne Carey he is not Dermott Brereton , he is not Nick Reiwoldt.... ...he is Jack Watts. And he is doing fine, Have patience.

Sylvia has simply not delivered. Best finish in Bluey is 5th. For a talent with 8yrs under his belt its simply not good enough, Poor second efforts and previously has not done the work required to become elite - which he could be. In short a very frustrating player as his best is brilliant. Hopefully a hard taskmaster - as Neeld appears to be at this early stage - is exactly the spark that Col needs. I hope so because if he can step up we are in for a ride....

Nice effort. Well done. INterestingly I have been waiting for my membership renewal and haven't yet received it. Anyone had the same thing happen? I'll call them up this week but Its a bit poor I would have thought not to receive something by now.

Hmmm Sean Charles.......

I love the fact that Bleese still took the mark despite close attention from Grimes and Davis. And the fact we have co-captains. Smart move that....