praha

Probably do okay there. Might play 20-30 games.

GWS most certainly a win. GC are far too classy in the middle. North have lost 5 games by 5 points or less. They aren't easy beats. They'll beat this squad by 7-8 goals, at least.

Silly OP. If you're unable to match the average, that's NOT a good thing. Also, it's all out of context: what's the average score and inside-50 count from the opposition in that period? That would be a better determining factor than the team's output, which is only as good as its capacity to counter the opposition.

He's not getting sacked. I find the idea of sacking premiership coaches particularly arrogant. I can understand resigning, or moving on, but at least give the individual -- someone that brought your club a flag -- the opportunity to step down rather than sack him.

This article is hilarious and oh-so-true. Gold Coast I could understand because they have one of the biggest amateur teams in the country down there. But GWS? A Canberra team would have been a better option. Also, the drafting hand-outs were a bad choice. They should have run an expansion draft: each team selects two uncontracted players to enter into the expansion draft, and the expansion team can select one, or neither, of the two players. It seemed like the logical thing to do. GWS is basically on the path Melbourne took: no true leaders, young, inexperienced young tikes fighting it out against men. Only problem is Melbourne is 150 years old and people care about the club.

The scoreboard

I find it hilarious how people seem so certain who will or will not take the job. Unless we're right at the end of the season -- Grand Final week -- or the season is completely over, no one is going to even hint at interest in the job. It's ludicrous to dismiss Roos' possible appointment based on his comments, and equally ludicrous to suggest any of the individuals the club has contacted are legitimately interested. We don't know, and won't know, until much later. This conjecture is so pointless. Roos is still a contender. People are acting like as if they want him to come out and say, "I WANT THE JOB I AM INTERESTED!" You can't do that mid-way through a season while another person is currently in the job, and who could potentially be there next year. It's unprofessional. Gee whiz people lap up everything they read. There is NO chance Roos or anyone else would come out and admit to wanting the job, because that means they'll get it. Craig is a contender so all of this won't happen because no one wants to step on the shoes of a respected individual like Craig. Wait until the season's over. If Roos says he has no interest then, then he has no interest. Until then, everyone is just playing it safe with their comments. I thought it was common sense. "Oh, On The Couch said he won't coach. So who's next?" Urgh. Dah! Of course he said that.

If you're trying to improve the long distance slow twitch fibres -- which allow more oxygen to keep the muscle working nicely for long periods of time -- you can't work on your quick burst fast twitch fibres at the same time (which allows for a quick burst of speed). They require two very different fitness regimes that collectively as a team may be different to train simultaneously. Obviously, considering the widespread inexperience and overall poor fitness, they wouldn't be able to maintain such a high level of fitness training. They appeared to struggle quite a bit in the early part of the season to stay within the contest beyond the first 15 minutes. This probably make sense considering how bombarded they admittedly were at training during the off-season. They are probably fit for their current levels of experience, but unfit by AFL standards. There are many players in the same position in the team that are still below that threshold. Players like Howe appear to have only now started to last 4 quarters, while Blease struggles. Still. It's probably more representative of the club's training regime over the past 4 years, but it's probably fair to give him a bit longer considering just how below standard they are.

He said it. I'd be part of the uproar if such a thing happened.

I found it damning that from around half-way through the 3rd, the work rate dropped off significantly, whereas Geelong's seemed to grow. Players were giving up on contests once a bit of a flow-on began, and even when Melbourne had the flow players weren't working hard enough to stream and offer an option, hence so few inside-50s.

Geelong's highest pick in 17 years in pick 7. You all heard that stat yesterday. The priority pick is condescending, pointless and anti-competitive. It is going to put this team in no better position in 5 years than not having it would.

Reminds me a bit of a movie I saw once... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsA4FnwrR7E

Cool. Is he playing on Saturday?

He is paying good money for the Brownlow. Probably won't play beyond 2 more years though.

I am certain than if Melbourne ends up on 3 wins for the season then, Half-Life 3 = confirmed.

I'm not excited, but I am curious. I've learnt that as a Melbourne supporter, the worst thing you can do is get excited about a player performing well, hell, dominating, at VFL level. He could be the next Michael Newton. Or he could be the next Tony Lockett. Two extremes. I understand how young he is but he needs to perform on the big stage before I give him a metaphorical handjob like some people on this forum.

I'd imagine any pick involved in the transfer would be a cushion to lighten the blow of anti-expansion club sentiment that will surely follow Franklin AND 1st-round pick? Only an expansion club could afford to do that. And the Hawks should be able to get a pick. GWS has a distinctive advantage in its first few years because it has the flexibility to pay so much, something an equally poor-performing, established club like Melbourne couldn't fit within the cap. If GWS had been around for 10 years, it wouldn't have this money to throw at Franklin.

LOL @ "Hogan - sign for 8 years" That I can agree with.

Tim Watson also defends Essendon every 10 seconds.

I'm seeing double: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-07-07/grimes-rapt-to-be-back-leading-his-team http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2013-07-07/jones-rapt-with-craig-in-charge

The guy's a shadow. No.

The free kick against Scott Chisolm in the '99 game against Hawthorn is one that will stick with me. Similar to the tackle yesterday that should have been holding the ball but was called a trip. Chisolm ran down the Hawthorn player from behind as they ran into the square for a goal, and pulled him down. Was called in the back and they kicked an important goal late in the game. Yesterday was pretty bad, though. That's the price you pay for being a poor side playing against the league's darlings. There were some bad calls but you can balance it out the other way. Problem is there were many non-calls while the Swans got many a weak call.

I was convinced it was a 3pm start. Still in sleep mode atm. Not long to go. Hopefully it'll be an entertaining match.

Didn't he compare the Goodes "racism" debacle to refugee issues? He is a major [censored]. A high-and-mighty self-proclaimed moral prophet. Good footballer though. Get him. EDIT: Wow..."D O U C H E" is censored? Well done, Demonland *facepalm*.

So basically this forum is filled with apologists? Gotcha.