RalphiusMaximus

Too little run out of defence at this point. We keep trying to chip out and wind up with another stoppage.

Tyson goal. Great work from Watts in traffic to set it up.

Damn that was a hard finish to the quarter. Well done to the team to stop the scoring, but we needed to use the chances at the other end. Imagine what this will look like with a couple of tall forwards up there.

GREAT WORK WATTS!

I think people need to chill out. As I said before, we've been winning this game and just not kicking goals to finish. If we keep this up and convert a few of the chances we'll win comfortably. We had at least three easy set shots that were points instead of goals, and that would have us in the lead. The last few years we were down by 50-odd points at this stage and on the way to being thrashed. This is a great improvement and we are showing that we can shut the game down when we need to. Just need to get some forwards on the park.

On the bright side, Watts, Toumpas, looking great. Dunn has been very good but is now playing hurt. Tyson is looking pretty good as well. This is just another case of poor kicking to the forwards, not helped by the Saints flooding back in vast numbers. Vince has three points, Trengove and Jones both missed set shots they should have nailed. Honestly, we're winning this everywhere except the scoreboard.

That hurts. 2 goals 10. We're not taking marks forward and we're missing them when we do. We should be up by 30.

Best thing i've ever seen Pedersen do.

Anyone get what that free was for?

Better service would've seen Watts with two set shots. Both passes were shyte.

Up by 5 at 1/4 time. Toumpas and Dunn looking very good. We still let ourselves down with the kick into the forward line. Should be well up.

Good result given the lack of real forward in the side. Last year they had Hogan and Fitz dominating for much of the season.

I was thinking from the moment they kept him on that Jade was the man they were looking at. I suspect that he'll be under consideration and basically is being assessed during the year as to whether he is the man for the job or not. The fact that they kept him on when they sacked the rest of the coaches is a pretty good endorsement.

I think I saw something about a 16 game membership getting you in, but I can't be sure because I wasn't paying that much attention.

We should win, but I and probably everyone else on here am hesitant to make the call given how badly we've been let down before. Don't want to jinx it.

Spoke well enough. Didn't give us anything new. Mentioned JKH has had a great pre-season. Gave a nod to the new trade-ins. Throw to Vince to ask his impressions of the club, he said he was amazed at how hard and intense the young guys are with their training, Trengove, Watts singled out. Asked about the succession and whether he'd go a third year, duck and weave. Brings up the notion that a lot of people don't want to put their hand up in case they are turned down and it damages their reputation. Brief mention of how hard it is to be in the Saints' position with a bunch of players breaking down at just the wrong time. Not all that much really. Tipsters said it's close but went with the Dees.

Agreed. Roos clearly likes his workrate and ability to find space in the forward 50. If he were a better set shot I'd be happier, but he's been doing a good job.

SO they're clearly asking us about the big issues. Forget about how the team plays, what we think of the coaching situation, the board, whatever. We want a say in the club logo and what shade of red appears on the jumpers dammit!!!

Bluey: Bernie Vince. I say this in hope, because if Nate Jones wins again it means we aren't really improving. We need some other players to step in and challenge him for it. Goalkicking: Very hard to pick this with so many forwards in and ou of the side, but I think Howe will get it through consistently being on the park. Most Improved: Pedersen. e was shocking last year, but all reports have him much fitter and training better. With the ongoing injury issues he could find himself playing a more regular forward role. Number 1 ruck at season's end: I think if Gawn can string some games together he might just get up there this year. Best first-year player: I suspect JKH will be the one. Hogan is the other massive chance, but again I worry about how many games he will play. James Frawley, stay or leave? Stay. This is a wish as much as a prediction. There are a couple of very big clubs in his ear. Season win tally: I've given us 9=10. I figure 10 is the most we could win this year if you look at the draw and base it on current form. I would hope that in the second half we would be seeing real signs of improvement, cohesion and instinctive play coming in and that would add to our on-field impact, so there is a chance of a couple of upsets to go with the inevitable poor loss or two. There is also half a chance of seeing a full-strength forward-line in play on the back end.

Didn't Riley say he was expecting to be playing VFL next week and back for the seniors round three or four?

I actually really rate Cross. He may not be in the same league as Vince on the field, but he is setting such a good example around the club. Ask a Bulldogs supporter and they will tell you that he had a lot to do with the development of their young mids through is mentoring and training example. He's doing the same thing with our group now and we are going to see some huge benefits from it in the next couple of years. If we're lucky we'll manage to shift him from playing straight into a development/coaching role in a couple of years and continue to benefit from his skills in this area.

I thought he said they were discussing the LTI with Mitch and would make a cal in the next 24 hours?

Pretty sure he was drafted as a versatile tall who could do either end.

I had them by 17. Bloody pies can't even get beaten properly.

So do we get a discount flying with them?