DeeSpencer

So much to learn from GWS. Yeah there skills are a bit up and down at times especially in the wet. But their intensity and physical stuff is 110%. And they tackled like their life depended on it. We were insipid tackling. I can't even remember us forcing a second ball up or locking it in our forward line even once. A wet day kept us in it but also highlighted Mumford. Spencer sucks but at least he tries and the free against him was laughable. Speaking of laughable - Jack Watts. Complete joke how a couple of skilled efforts paper over the giant cracks in his game. He can't even outmark Scully. Positives - Pedersen as a lumbering defender at least tries - McDonald held up pretty well on Cameron - Frawley and Dunn were kind of ok - Viney and Kent better for the run, they try and have talent these blokes, give them a bit of time - Evans, whilst very sloppy, showed an ability to find the footy, I'd persist with him My main concerns today were that the midfield couldn't win contested ball or spread and match them on the outside. That and the form of Grimes and Terlich who both have some horrendous moments. Terlich by foot and by brain and Grimes with no touch or feel around contests and no creativity.

First 3 quarters - whilst not great it seemed like a pass. But last quarter we just totally gave up (again). It's unacceptable but I don't know what can be done about it. Strange thing. 2 forwards go play in defense and as good as any of our other defenders. 2 defenders go forward and are as good as our other forwards. So just how bad are the rest. I'm talking Grimes, Terlich, Byrnes, Fitzpatrick

McDonald is doing well on Cameron (so far). I'd sub Georgiou, if GWS presumably sub Patton or Giles we can then throw a midfielder back and bring on JKH. Fitzy might not be doing much but the game time is good for him and he's had a shot on goal and Frawley should've dished him another one.

I've been a fan of Spencer's this year. He was good in round 1, somewhat acceptable against 3 West Coast rucks in round 2 but he's been smashed by Mumford right now. Completely inept at boundary throw ins (his height and high centre of gravity probably hurts him). Come on Jake show some improvement in the second half.

Thing is he's never afraid to take contact under a high ball or winning the ball. He just gets the ball and panics now. Crazy.

I wonder if after getting run down from behind a few times (including the broken collar bone) he's so worried about it he's now panicking and dishing off fumbling shoddy handballs at world record pace. He's making Matt Jones look clean by hand.

Add Byrnes and Grimes. Maybe Evans although I'd judge him after a couple more games.

Jack Grimes can't [censored] handball. What is wrong with him! No composure

what's the bet we have a 5 goal breeze right now. Update sydnee?

New female goal umpire looks a good sort. Where's Dean Kent?

It's a wet windy day. McDonald gave it off to Terlich who kicked ong down the line. That we have no CHF or ruck to mark or halve the contest isn't always the defenders fault.

Frawley isn't a forward. I've seen 2 contests and made my mind up. Caught behind. May as well swap him and Georgiou now.

Mummy has some powerful fingers!

Cut below the eye. Looks ok.Fingers crossed

Using him in an attacking mode. I'm really worried about Nath Jones' eye here, that could be very nasty. Finger to the eye causing that much blood. I'm very worried.

FFS someone take care of Nathan Jones. [censored] kick from Terlich.

Yep can't be bad for him. More worried about the other defenders without Dunn and Frawley than Howe himself.

Interesting changes, doing 2 at once. Dunn has to be the goal kicking target surely. Frawley's job just to run around and compete and hopefully get involved in the game. Pedersen back is pretty simple. He just has to sit on either Giles or Patton and see how he goes, use his long kicking. Howe back might be the most interesting move. I'd be very tempted to put him on Cameron. Give him a chance to prove he's not a show pony.

Form as well as fitness. Although he did get close to 3/4's against St Kilda and significantly more than a quarter against the Eagles. Still find it strange they haven't thrown him is for a full game against the young giants. Viney for Michie - inside mid/forward. Evans for Trengove - wing. Kent for Toumpas - half forward with stints on wing. All seem very similar roles. Possibly Roos gets creative and swaps Howe for Dunn but besides that I don't think there will be significant changes to game styles. It's just about executing it now as we did in patches against the saints. Even against the Eagles besides the standard first quarter demolition there were small moments of mercy in the remaining 3 quarters where we managed to be in the play. Hopefully we take the positives and for once show enough mental fortitude not to just roll in to old lazy bad habits.

Worked well Trengove and Toumpas (sorry couldn't help it). http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/season/vfl/2014-results/practice-match-v-ais-afl-academy Also seems the AIS got thrashed

Money was the main motivation but it wasn't chasing money to buy a fancy car, house or [censored] it all up.The money was about being financially set to care for his daughter as a single father, that's a noble thing to do. Melbourne also helped relocate his partner. They also compensated Brisbane which is something Clark was keen on. My point is that Clark's decisions have never been selfish pursuits. I think that gives an insight to his personality that he's likely neurotic and susceptible to breakdowns although that might be overstating. Demanding to go to Perth, fighting Freo on cash and letting his girlfriend sort her self out would have been more selfish and greedy that settling in Melbourne. That's my take anyway.

If Clark is willing to come forward and take a pay cut whilst on leave then I think it says a great lot about his character. AFL contracts are pretty tight and in the players favour, he'd probably have a chunk of accumulated sick leave from his career to date that he could take whilst on big coin and possible then turn up and give minimum effort and pocket most of his pay day. If he restructures his deal to much less money (possible with incentives if he does return) then it will be good for everyone (except his manager). If he retires then I'm not sure footy was the real problem. If he asks to be released from his deal ASAP with minimal pay out and then moves back to Perth with the possibility of AFL for Eagles or Dockers/WAFL footy in 2015 then again so be it. Maybe he was a ticking time bomb and 4 years and more was too long to hope for him to stay fit and productive but after watching his half season in 2012 I refuse to believe he didn't enter in to his contract with perfect good faith to deliver.

Also: Evans > Trengove Viney > Michie (over first few steps anyway) Kent > Toumpas Definitely trying to up the pace in the team to help ball movement. Downside is we probably lose fitness, but we are coming up against a young team who have lots of speed but ran out of puff at the end of quarters last week against the saints anyway. Trengove should watch some Jobe Watson or Jimmy Bartel tapes to see how those players can play fast despite lack of leg speed

I think he's bordering on overrated by us due to us having no good midfielders last year. He's pretty hard at it and seems to run hard and might just have a bit of x factor about him but really he hasn't found a lot of the footy, isn't a great kick, isn't tall. I'm hoping he steps it up but he's very much still on the cusp of showing enough to really be persevered with. Big year for him, glad he's got an opportunity and I hope he takes it.

I think Kent will probably be the sub but I hope it's Byrnes. I'd like to try Kent and JKH playing the small forward roles compared to Byrnes and Toumpas. They offer much more excitement I think and are better natural players in that role. Rosa and Gaff cut us up as wingman last week. Watts stays in but others who spent time on the wing - Toumpas, Trengove and Michie have been replaced.