The Russian

I don't think Bate and Dunn are flexible at all! Bate plays well leading up around HF and Dunn when forward, plays like a FF (even if he has a defensive element to his role for the day). Neither can play the hard runing/quick role Bail and Bennell played early on that works with our game plan.

I am interested in people's thoughts on our team balance over recent weeks. I wonder what team balance DB considers ideal for his game plan, especially in the forward line. The reason I say this is because one of the reasons we were good early in the year was the our hard running half forwards in Bail and Bennell. These two were perfect for running onto that long ball into the open forward line which appears to now be a permanent feature of our game plan. However a 'Bail' and 'Bennell' type was not in our team today. Instead we had four talls in Bate, Dunn, Miller and Watts. Both Bate and Watts failed to run onto the ball the long ball today when that specific play appeared. I find it hard to understand why DB would pick four talls this week, when a month ago we went into a game with only two talls (Miller, Watts) and three smalls (Bennell, Jetta, Wonaeamirri). I suggest that our best forward structure would contain two talls (Bate, Dunn, Miller, Newton, Watts) to mid-sized lead up types (Green, Hughes, Petterd) and a couple hard running types who can also crumb (Bail, Bennell, Jetta, Wonaeamirri). I am not being critical of any of the four talls perfomances today, just a bit puzzled as to how two totally different set-ups fit the same game plan? Note: Before people jump on me I know Bail and Petterd weren't available today because of injury, just wondering why they are not replaced by like players?

3: Moloney 2.5: Jamar 2: Morton 1.5: Garland 1: Davey 0.5: Frawley Gutted of course but good to know we can still match it with one of the competition leaders.

Didn't Bailey say that Bate and Bruce are a chance to return?

Big changes if true. Assuming Sylvia is the other out our team could look something like this: Backs: MacDonald, Warnock, Rivers Half backs: Garland, Frawley, Grimes Centres: Scully, Moloney, Trengove Half forwards: Bennell, Miller, Davey Forwards: Green, Watts, Wonaeamirri Followers: Jamar, McDonald, McKenzie Interchange: Bartram, Jetta, Jones, Morton Sad to see Bate go out but that is an exciting team! Oh chances are one of the 5 are flying up as an emergency. So maybe there are only four changes and Sylvia is in?

Johnson not worth a punt? Martin was no good yesterday both forward and in the ruck. Johnson has been in the best for Casey for a few weeks in a row now. With him in the ruck Jamar can start forward. I think Cheney needs to come also in to give the backline some balance. I thought Frawley, MacDonald and Rivers were all ordinary yesterday, MacDonald to miss for mine. Bail (run) and McKenzie (tackling) are required if fit. In: Bail, Cheney, Johnson, McKenzie Out: Bennell, MacDonald, Martin, Petterd (injured).

Apparently CC did, read SOD's post above. I find it hard to believe that we showed so much interest purely so that another club would part with a early pick for Ball. Didn't think we were so cunning and influential on other club's decisions.

No doubt about it for mine. I think more experienced defenders like MacDonald and Rivers are essential in a developing backline which will have some down weeks. Rivers is a leader and has all the qualities we want in a senior player. He must play when available.

No surprise? Pre-2008 most people on here had written Jamar off at some stage and some have written him off since. PJ's season last year is underated amongst posters. He shouldered ruck duties for most of the year without much support. He had some obvious bad games, which many of our players did, but he also had some very encouraging performances. In an improving side, and in more of supportive role, I am not why you are not prepared to give him a chance to improve? This team will improve together, I don't see PJ as an excption at this stage.

Written PJ off for the year before he even plays a game? PJ is a year younger than Jamar, with a similarly developed body. He is our most viable second ruckman option at the moment. He played some good games last year and I believe he can improve (like Jamar) in an improving team. If he doesn't cut it he will be moved on eventually and the others will get an oportunity. Gawn is on the LTI and Spencer needs time to develop. Martin should get the nod until PJ is ready, but do we want to develop him as a ruckman long term? Watching Harry Taylor in last years grand final convinced me we need to persist with Martin as a defender. However he has battled this preseason and had not earned a call up. I would select him as a second ruckman this week purely because it will be stupid to risk Jamar solo two weeks in a row.

I'd like Strauss to stay as well, but Bate is best 22 and he will be better again next week.

No, I didn't forget. If Luke Ball wanted to come to the club he would not have nominated for the national draft and we would have taken him with pick one in the PSD. No doubt. If Ball spoke to us we would have asked him to do exactly that. CC says we weren't interested. I think we were, it was Ball that wasn't interested. I don't think DB/CC and CS all commented on the club's want of Ball in the media for the sake of sponsors. Do you RR?

Bate is a notorious slow starter however he improved significantly this week and will most likely be better again next week. Rivers and Sylvia must come in because they are both best 22. It is unfortunate that a kid might miss, but it will happen over the course of the season. It is a better week to drop a kid as there is an actual VFL game that they can go back and be involved in. IMO neither Bartram or Newton are best 22 and neither will be on our list next year. However if Newton is dropped we need someone else to come in and pinch hit in the ruck. Having played ok for Casey last week Martin should get the nod. In: Martin, Sylvia, Rivers Out: Bartram, Newton, Strauss

It was definitely left foot, that is why he missed, was angled towards the boundary line and kicked it straight. A right foot kick across the body might have gone in! Not suprised by Jamar's form. He has been our first choice ruckman since the 2008 preseason competition when he started showing plenty. He became a monster around the stoppages, beating Sandilands and a few others through the year. Hopefully the one year extension is more because he only played 5 games last year (including a couple very good ones) and both the club and his management wanted to base a longer contract off of a more complete season. As good as he was, we need to get some solid support ASAP. Johnson would be ideal, as both him and Jamar can rest up forward as longer options, however in the short term Martin should be given the nod if fit, hopefully starting this week.

Easy comment for CC to make after the draft. If Luke Ball was interested in coming to us he would have been wearing red and blue on the weekend. Yes the kids did the job (well almost) against Collingwood, but our pathetic performance the week earlier should not be far from our minds. In CS's list analysis on Whiteboard Wednesday he mentioned our lack of experienced good/v.good players. During the trade/draft periods Luke Ball would have been considered by the club as fitting that criteria. In the end it came down to whether we got him at the expense of a kid (Tapscott).