Adam The God

Nah.

I just hope we're at the forefront of it...

I'd play Jeffy and Tyson in that team. I'd look at someone like Spargo or Baker instead of Vince. We will get exposed on the MCG playing Vince and Lewis every week.

No. As I said, Tim Smith is. I've got nothing against him. I think he was simply taken as an understudy to an aging back up KPF in Pedersen. He doesn't have the tricks to play KPF in the AFL and he won't get a go with Hogan, Weideman and McDonald, so they're trialling him this year as a mid. I reckon McDonald's emergence as a genuinely good KPF will seal Smith's fate, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a game if we've got some injuries.

I saw it too, but then saw him out on the ground 10 minutes later and immediately thought he must be alright, otherwise they wouldn't risk him. Probably had a jab and was fine to go.

He'll play. They wouldn't have brought him back on and risked him after all his time out if it wasn't something he could shake.

Hmmm. I'm quite conservative when it comes to AFL. I wouldn't implement netball-like zones. I reckon the game will sort itself out and evolve to something else, without the AFL's interference.

Tim Smith is incredibly vanilla. I don't care if he is playing midfield. Who does he replace in there from last week (remembering Salem played off half back)?

DJ, I'd ask you though. Have you disliked the press since 2000? It's been tweaked and evolved to an 18 man press in some forms. I think we'll see certain sides take different pathes this year as team's try to defeat the 18 man press.

Every couple years, there are people that complain about the current trends in the game. And then two years later, a new set of trends emerge and surpass the last one. The same will happen here. You have to keep on evolving, otherwise you become too easy to counter. I'm not concerned by the press. I find it exciting. I'm confident Goodwin and his team have a few more tricks up their sleeves for the coming years ahead.

Not sure I rate Gary's football intellect too highly though. I think it's a terrible idea as he's a turnover merchant back there, but a gun up the other end. I'm now at the stage of viewing it as akin to playing Hogan back. The guy is one of the straightest kicks for goal I can remember since moving forward. Why not play him there the whole time?

I reckon we might try and trade him to get cap room for Gaff. We'll see.

Jeffy for Harmes or ANB every day of the week.

Oscar was super impressive again today. I was also a fan of our press this week. Only our mids and forwards pressed and our defence sagged back to protect and sweep. We almost always had a sweeper or anchor too. We play Etihad so well.

It makes a huge difference when you're clean with the football and kick the goals you should. Our three most reliable set shots for goal (Fritsch, Hogan and Tom McDonald - apologies Melksham) all nailed goals in a short time and when Gawn finally kicked true, we were away. Can't wait to get Viney and Petracca back into this side. ANB and Harmes should make way.

Gawn's tap work has been excellent but his handballing and contesting around the ground has looked tired and half-arsed. For a guy who talks up his leadership, yet another example of our poor leadership. Jones has tried his heart out but panics in critical moments. That punch over the line is the perfect example and there were numerous last week. As for the rest of the team, they are so low on confidence that they fumble almost everything and our forward line continues not to function. I'd be trying to isolate Hogan or Tom McDonald one out. We're also far too predictable at stoppages. Viney and Petracca can't come back quick enough.

Impressive coaching staff, but we have assembled a reasonable team too. I'm more concerned by the on field, than the off field. We simply have no leadership on the field. I'll be interested to see how we go with Tom McDonald in the side.

You look at Sydney's leadership and then ours and that's why we are where we are. Struggling.

I wouldn't say Wines is skilled or quick. But I'd agree with the rest of it. We need speed, so he's off the list for me.

Lynch would walk into any team, but we have Hogan and a developing Weideman already. Plus, Tom McDonald who rarely misses in front of goal. While at the other end, Oscar is developing nicely, Lever, Hibberd and Jetta are all stars and Petty looks to be a ripper (can't wait to see him play some more). Our key positions are fine, it's our midfield that is lacking. I'd throw Dylan Shiel a 5 year contract and $750k. Pace and ball winning ability. Could be the missing ingredient to our midfield. I'd go hard. And I've been a Tyson fan in the past, but I'd look at a trade if it helped us get a comparable mid with better pace.

It was Fritsch for Jeffy, otherwise I was pretty close, mate.

Wow. We traded pick 10 for Moorcroft? I'd forgotten that. What a horrible trade.

You may well be right, mate. Wagner has been passable.

Jones' lack of on field leadership is certainly problem. I'm sure he's great off the field driving standards and expectations, but on It, he doesn't impact the overall contest enough. The perfect example of this is the Richmond game. One of the most ineffective 30 disposal games from a captain I've seen.

I think they'll go with the following team... B: Jake Lever, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta HB: Bernie Vince, Michael Hibberd, Jayden Hunt C Jordan Lewis, Nathan Jones, Christian Salem HF: Angus Brayshaw, Jesse Hogan, Jake Melksham F: Alex Neal-Bullen, Sam Weideman, James Harmes Foll: Max Gawn, Dom Tyson, Clayton Oliver I/C: Charlie Spargo, Mitch Hannan, Tom McDonald, Jeff Garlett Ideally though, I'd prefer to replace Neal-Bullen with Spargo; Harmes with Hannan; and put Fritsch on the bench, but since they're both playing, I don't think we can have all of Neal-Bullen, Harmes, Spargo, Hannan AND Fritsch in the same team.