jnrmac

Great post. Well done.

Good stats. Well done for putting them together.

I'd rather not look at Robinson. He is a gutless thug for belting Rohan Bail behind play at Casey.

The worry for me is that the senior players have not developed into more consistent players. When I think about this my criticism of the past few years is that we have lacked true leadership. Junior prior to this year has shown it but we are lacking. The only bloke to show it this year from the senior brigade is Green. Maybe Davey as well. I would include Sylvia if he can keep going for the second half of the year. Is that the coach? Is that lack of success culture? Ultimately the coach cops it if these senior players don't perform. DB has been good at dropping them if they are not playing to his plan (whatever it is!). But the team can become unsettled and thats the trade off. Players in my view that are running on the spot (no improvement) are: McLean, Bruce, Miller, Rivers, Bell, Jones PLayers going backwards: Bartram, PJ, Whelan, Dunn. The improvement we are seeing and yes despite the past two weeks we are seeing it is coming from our junior players: Warnock, Frawley, Morton, etc These guys have stepped up but then again you would expect them to. The new guys like Bennel Jetta, CHeney, Watts are going to make plenty of mistakes. And at this time of year they also get tired.

Gutsiest player we have.

According to German Bail has good disposal skills but just had a shocker on the w/e. Watts doesn't want to and probably won't play 10 games this year because a) he has exams and, B) he can then win the Rising Star next year!

Tambling went at 4 Franklin went at 5!

Analysis of defeat. LACK OF RUNNING BY DEMON PLAYERS. Poor skills. That's it.

I was talking specifically about number one picks and Watts and Goddard are the only ones as far as I can see. Judd was pick 3. Scott Clayton who knows a bit about recruiting is on record as saying that the private school system doesn't prepare players anywhere near as well for AFL as the TAC Cup or some of the other leagues. They are not as mature in body as they are not playing against men like Bryce Gibbs did in SA at age 15. And BTW it was a joke abut Caulfield Grammer. Maybe I should have put or or whatever! This is not a slagging session of private vs public but more a curiosity. Given there are 24 number one picks and only two to date have come out of the private school system. Scully would make it three and two in a row to Melbourne.

Giant Killer Watts!!

If the Dees take Scully that will be another private schoolboy taken as a first round pick. That'll be two years running. I don't want this to be a private vs public school bagging session but historically private school recruits haven't been seen to have the hunger for success that perhaps others may have. There is none that I can see in the list of Number 1 draft picks since 1985. And before people say Brendan Goddard, Caulfield Grammer isn't a real private school! Luke Ball was touted as the No 1 pick but the Hawks chose Hodge because he was seen as more 'hungry' and had a bit of mongrel about him. Can anyone think of other highly successful private school kids??

I'll even volunteer to sit the exam for him!!

Maybe the Dees are worried that the AFL might take Queens BDay off them unless we get a big crowd????

You people calling for Martin to be dropped are pathetic. And you have no idea how difficult it is to play fwd when you have little or no experience. And before you say "put him back to Casey to learn how to play fwd" forget it. It won't happen. Unless he plays 4-6 poor games against instructions.

3rd quarter 15 min mark I50s 10 to 0!!!

Goal to Green. 6 pts the difference. Close to half time. 7.6 to 6.6

Frawley kicks into a Saints player rebounds to Reiwoldt who kicks out on the full from 5m out!

Thanks guys. Please keep up the updates.

The issue is about workplace choice. Just like we all have. Sure they sign a contract but when that contract is up is it right that the club can 'sell' the player to whoever it wants? Chris Johnson is a case in point. He was out of contract and wouldn't agree to a 2 year deal when Carltank offered a 3 yr deal. Because we had 'nurtured' him so to speak does he owe us any favours? Is it any different from any of us being trained at a company and leaving for a better opportunity? Scott Thompson the same. While it works in corporate life I doubt it can work in the AFL. The problem as I see it is that weaker clubs will get smashed because their good players will simply trade up. Look at the useless sport in the UK called the English Premier league where only 4 teams (!!!) have won since 1992 Season Winner 1992–93 Manchester United 1993–94 Manchester United 1994–95 Blackburn Rovers 1995–96 Manchester United 1996–97 Manchester United 1997–98 Arsenal 1998–99 Manchester United 1999–00 Manchester United 2000–01 Manchester United 2001–02 Arsenal 2002–03 Manchester United 2003–04 Arsenal 2004–05 Chelsea 2005–06 Chelsea 2006–07 Manchester United 2007–08 Manchester United 2008–09 Manchester United Do we want the EPL? Clearly no. Free agency no salary cap etc all ensure the most uneven and uneconomic competition in the world (At least for the other teams!). At least in our comp teams have a reasonable chance of playing in a GF and even winning (9 teams of won since 1992). Immediate Priority 1. Fix the Draw 2. Fix the Stadium Deals The we might have an 'even' competition. Forget Free Agency

What about Robbos's brain fade. He didn't cross the mark. Moss came in from the side and grabbed the ball away before it hit Robbos foot. Should have been 50m penalty. If a player takes a mark, fakes a handball and then gets it knocked out of his hand its 50m. same deal here. Doesn't excuse Robbo but the maggots got it wrong.

I think you are wrong on this. We got smashed in the clearances particularly the middle. To say the kick ins cost us is too simplistic in my view.

20000 at the 'G and we lose money. 20000 at Shell Stadium and the Cats make $500,000. Thats the difference between having a good stadium deal and a bad one.

Doesn't matter how many rounds he plays. The Rising Star is all about potential. You could be picked in Rd 22 and still win it.

Hey here's an idea - Why don't we try to become RUTHLESS! That'll fix things.

If we improve through the year like we did from Round 22 2008 to Rd 1 Nab Cup 2009 then we will have had a fantastic year. I was impressed with: Our tackling - sticking tackles was a highlight Our ball movement - none of the crud from last yr. Moved with purpose and mostly, poise. Poor finishing let us down and the fwd line is going to be vulnerable this yr. Our back line - has been a weak spot for a decade. Add a fit Jared Rivers and we will start to look good back there for the 1st time in ages. Our endeavour and effort - worked hard all day and never gave up. Didn't see that much last year Individual players - Bate, Bartram, Spencer, Cheney, PJ, Green, Miller, Garland, Warnock, Whelan - a lot to like. Some disappointments (COlin and Newton you know who you are) We got hammered in last quarter centre clearances. That was very dissapointing and shows that we are still a long way off the pace. Don't understand DBs plan at the centre bounce. Our set up is weird. Too few on defensive side of centre. All in all I hate losing but was quite happy with yesterday's effort.