Dr. Gonzo

I said the same thing to my dad and sister listening to the radio on the way back to the car yesterday - one kick changes the commentary so much, proves how stupid and micro-focused the media are.

I did but the point I was trying to make was there are some teams who are on part with where we are and we lost 3 games to them. We also beat the Pies and Tiges who are around about where we are but really we're ahead of where they are at the moment

Exactly the faces as I walked out of the AFL members was shock/disappointment. I did a fist pump walking out saying "we bloody won! Go the Demons" not sure if it helped or not. We've won, what, 54 out of 216 games? I for one am glad we ended up with the 4 points, it was looking dicey there late in the last quarter.

We've tried importing it but you're not going to get the kind of leaders you're looking for (ie those who will take a game by the scruff of the neck and win a match) - other clubs simply won't let them go or if they do they only go to preferred destinations (eg Dangerfield). In the meantime we simply do "have to make do" with guys like Cross, Vince, Lumumba etc as guides to the younger players until Viney, Petracca, Brayshaw etc are at the level to do it themselves.

We do, they're just young. Until the under 23yo's grow into the 24-27yo group we'll have to make do with Jones and imports.

I've been very impressed with his development this year, he's tracking nicely. Didn't think he'd make it but he made the wing his own yesterday.

Agreed good post. As hard as it is, supporters really need to forget about 2007-2013 and realise this rebuild or whenever you want to call it should only be measured since 2014. The 2007-2013 rebuild failed.

But that's because we lost to them. Had we beat the Saints and Port we'd be 9th and on top of both of them.

We've fielded the youngest team almost every week that's why. Roos has been here 3 years but look how many players on the weekend have only played about 20 games.

I don't think importing leadership works. You can have some peripheral leaders like Cross or Vince but the true leadership, that which drives the team towards success, will always come from within.

What you're saying might be true but this sounds like something that would come out of middle management at an insurance company. Gives me cold sweats. He's a footy player, a key forward. His job is to run, bullock, hustle, mark, kick and create goals. I don't think there's any confusion or engagement issues, he's just had a slump the last couple of weeks. He's still working his backside off though and the delivery isn't helping. He needs to take advantage of his opportunities though I agree.

Of all the things to criticise, his work-rate is not one. He works his arse off up and down the ground all day and then has to put up with rubbish delivery when he makes position in the forward 50.

He was working so hard up and down the ground to the point where he was absolutely buggered and kicks were going over his head, at his feet, 5 metres sideways, to a pack - basically anywhere except out in front of his face. I would've been furious with the delivery and stuffing around with the ball if I were him.

What an absolute farce - how can they possibly justify letting that holding the ball decision go? It was as blatant as you will ever see and could have impacted the result.

Neeld was back in the box today?

I couldn't help but laugh at it all.

We won ugly. The game day thread will probably provide greater entertainment than the actual game did.

We should cream this mob today. I haven't felt this confident going into a game since we played the Saints.....

We've improved significantly this year in all aspects bar the most important. Before the season I had us on 10-12 wins. We'll probably fall short but still a sneaky chance if we do what we should and win today and against Carlton. When you're coming from so far back the last thing that happens is the wins, we've improved but so many times this year have just fallen short. I'm confident they're on the right track though and this will translate to wins next year. Look at our % as an indicator of our improvement. Besides the Swans game played in miserable conditions no blowouts. The Essendon game is obviously the one that still bitterly hurts and the two Saints games are just plain annoying but overall I think it's been a consistent effort all year while blooding such a young team each week. I think we've foregone potential wins having such a young defense and leaving out players like Dunn and Garland but long term I think it's the right call. Overall I'm more positive about the future than I have been since 2010 (! not sure if that's a good thing ) and far more comfortable with the side than I was this time last year.

The cancer comment is a bit of a beat up - it was a reference to something he wrote inside his locker (his "hit list") 30 years ago which he half heartedly defended (he's not the type to ever back down from anything is he?) It was also apparently in the context of Sheahan writing an article linking Jackson's suspension to his father's death on the same day?

The AFL destroyed the soul of Australian Football. Maybe it was inevitable but so much could have been done better and so much has been lost in the last 20-30 years. As for a thriving 18 club competition, some clubs are kept on drip feed with little chance of success while rules are bent for others in the interest of "spreading the game" ie $$$ for the corporate bonuses.

What's the deal with Oliver? Don't understand why he's languishing in the VFL is it just his fitness? ANB very stiff doesn't do a kids confidence any good when he's dropped after one game, happened a couple of times this year I think. Should be given a block of games to show whether he is worth persevering with. Bwahaha

Firstly, Hurley is easily a better player than TMac, to think otherwise is just parochial thinking. Secondly, I didn't necessarily say that is what Hurley was worth, only that that's what the Bombers will demand for him. He is still contracted and despite everyone's wishes there's no way any of the EFC players will just walk on the club as a DFA going through the grievance tribunal. So if we want Hurley we'll need to come up with a top 5/10 pick.

Yeah they would - pick 20ish from Sydney and pick 10ish from us? Theyll want at least a top 5 pick plus something else

Made a good point about the AFL's commitment to suburban / bush footy.