RalphiusMaximus

For those saying that he hasn't been playing well and hasn't broken any games open this year, I seem to recall a third quarter earlier in the season where he exploded and dragged the doggies right back into contention. I'll have to have a hunt around and see if I can find the game. He's been playing most of the season with a buggered groin. For those of you fortunate to have never had one, the two things it really affects are your lateral movement and the power of your kick. Not easy for a player to play well when he's unable to change direction or kick a full strength. As for him making trouble or opening his mouth, as with the Lions it was understood right from the beginning that he had media commitments and would be continuing with them while at the club. The Bulldogs knew that he would be writing his columns and appearing on TV and Radio shows. They could not possibly have a realistic expectation that he would sanitise his comments to make their life easier. I have never seen any reason for the furor surrounding his article on gay footballers. He had nothing bad to say about anyone in the article. He gave honest advice. If we are honest with ourselves it was probably very good advice as well. Perhaps I'm a cynic, but I don't think society (and in particular footy club society) has evolved to the point where there would not be any difference in the way an outed player were treated. Quite frankly, I think that he has been remarkably restrained in his comments in the last few weeks. Had I been treated the way they have treated him I would have been at their throats and daring them to punish me for it. The club has acted like he is an erring schoolboy, they have demanded that he give up a major source of income without making any offer of compensation beyond the "privilege" of playing for them, they have insulted him and questioned his integrity. I truly hope he cuts loose and exposes them for what they truly are. Personally, when the doggies bomb out of the finals again this year, I'll be toasting Acker and wishing him every success now that he's not being dragged down by a poisonous, precious pack of conformist wimps.

Given that he can only get 6 points a round I'd say Jamar has that one pretty well wrapped up. However, Frawley could overhaul him by the end of the season if things go his way.

Same as last week. Jurrah to lead our goal tally. I'll add Morton to play on Goodes at the start of the game.

You've hit the nail on the head for me. I'd love to see him crash a pack or two. I also understand that he's not ready to be bashing and crashing with the big boys just yet. What I'd really love to see (oddly enough) is Jack get suspended for charging or high contact. Something to show the league that he's not a little boy they can push around. I know it's counter-productive, but it drives me insane that every opponent he faces sees him as an easy target and spends every moment possible pushing, shoving and generally roughing him up. It would be one of the best moments of 2010 for me (and probably a lot of other supporters) to see him flatten someone with a bump, even a head high one, just to say to the thugs of the game "I'm here to stay and I have nothing to fear from you."

Wow. I guess the MRP are trying to convince people to take them seriously or something. Perhaps if they were to hand down consistent penalties in keeping with the laws of the game they might have better luck...

Didn't Goodes get most of those in a singe quarter? I'd like to see Mortin have first crack. If he can hold him again it's a clear win for us both on the day and in terms of Cale's confidence. If he looks like getting blown away we have other options like Dunn and Garland who can run with him.

Well normally Grimes would be doing it. Since he's out they've obviously struggled a little to find a designated kicker. The kickouts were a feature in the Queens Birthday match, so I think the setups are there, it's just a matter of having the right personnel in place to execute the plan.

Silly comment. Fails to take into account the evidence available. Last season Morton went to Goodes and slapped him all over the park. It was his best game of the season. I'd be thrilled if he picked him up again.

I haven't actually seen the game yet, so I won't list omissions. I'd like to see Maric and Trengove into the side for next week. We missed Trengove today and Maric was great for Casey and deserves a chance.

One of your better sets. Morton comment is gold.

I just have to add one thing to this thread. If we're going to start blaming individual players for the loss, and in particular the abysmal first half, why has nobody mentioned Garland? Plenty of people are willing to jump on the Bruce and Dunn bandwagons, but Garland gave away at least two (maybe three?) goals in the first half directly from his own poor kicking. Surely he deserves a mention?

Pity he missed the easiest of the lot or I would have had it. Funny. We did that. Frighteningly close this one. He wound up with 4 From the stats Watts came pretty close to the best he's been for us. If he'd nailed those set shots it would have been a certainty. Some pretty good efforts from people this week I would think.

That hurts. We had plenty of chances, just couldn't kick a goal when we needed it.

Bugger. We didn't need that. Watts is feeling the pressure with his kicking.

Ouch. Dockers have steadied a little. We need to step up the pressure.

Another quarter like that would be nice wouldn't it?

So did anyone see this coming?

Scully is killing them.

Silly mistakes aside, Jurrah's started well this quarter.

Jurrah Facepalm.

First goal of the 3rd to Davey

This isn't a coaching problem. It's not that the gameplan is wrong or that the setups aren't working. It's simply that they players are not working hard enough and are butchering the ball too often.

Garland and Bruce seem to be killing us. Hard to say which is worse at the moment.

Big goal assist to Bruce there.

Goal Bennell.