Rogue

Finally played a decent game and then got dropped, but that's life on the fringes. Even at his best I wouldn't say he was in our best 26, but a better option than the guys we've delisted.

I think he would definitely be a good get, particularly if we're losing guys like Kent and Vandenberg.

Not at all a surprise, given the articles published during the second half of the season about his plight .

We make a prelim for the first time in 18 years, and the finals for the first time in 12 years, without Hogan and Lever, and with Oliver struggling for two months with what's resulting in a double shoulder reconstruction, and we're going to lose a bunch of people..? Hilarious. Reminds me of talking to MFC members who swore never to buy a membership after Watts was traded. Wish I could call every one of them now and see how they're going.

Very thin-skinned if that article was the reason she got canned...

I'm questioning your Demons bona fides. *186.

If Fork em's son's hairdressers said so, it must be true! I don't think he's the sharpest tool in the shed.

I reckon you've just contradicted yourself. On one hand you lay the blame on our game plan, and in the same breath you acknowledge the horrible skill execution. I'm not an AFL coach, but I'm pretty certain that horrible skill execution is not part of any game plan. We had three gettable shots in the first 10 mins and failed to kick a goal, and I think all of their first quarter goals might have been on the back of turnovers... NB: Once Lever went down I thought our outside chance of a flag was gone, given that our defence is the weakest third of the ground personnel-wise. However, since the QB game I've been consistently pointing to our lack of polish going forward as the thing holding us back from winning games regardless, and I still reckon that's on the money. Although we struggled with contested ball, if we'd been more polished with the ball then we'd have kept ourselves in the game and had a chance to regroup. We need to continue improving (both improving the players we have and improving the squad) to ensure we consistently maximise our chances.

What's with all the Dees hate? (Serious question). Does anyone care when the Magpies get shortened to the 'Pies, or the Kangaroos the 'Roos, or the Bulldogs the 'Dogs, or Fremantle labelled as Freo (heave ho), or Brisbane becoming 'Brissie', or Essendon as the 'Dons, or Port Adelaide becoming Port, or Tigers becoming Tiges? If there's a problem with abbreviations, Australia must be tough to bear, because that's something Aussies are renowned for.

What makes you say that? I don't think he's the kind of player we need at all. I agree with the earlier comments re: his lack of polish meaning he doesn't fit the bill.

After the Queens birthday debacle I made a post about our poor inside 50s/conversions. At the time, no one was interested. However, here we are and it's still a problem. I think our defence is easily the weakest part of our game and once Lever went down I wrote off our premiership chances, but if we can just add some composure and polish up front we can win the thing regardless.

Great post. I'm also really worried about that camp we didn't go on back in January.

+1

Sounds like you should swap with @old dee

It's a shame that Ticketek* doesn't release standing room tickets until virtually all tickets are allocated, because there'd be plenty of people who would be happy with 'row e' and you would have been just as happy with a standing room ticket. Just another problem with the ticket sales process. *Ditto for Ticketmaster

Head along, mate - if we win, the atmosphere will be electric. You can always record the game to watch later, like I said, but the only place you'll get the atmosphere will be at the 'G with 90K+ other footy fans. If you're struggling with seeing the finer details then there's always the AFL.com.au audio streams (or a radio, if you're old school) to give you a hand with who's got the footy.

To be fair, there are seats available - you're just not keen on them. I'd go to the game, even if the tickets were not ideal. You can always watch the game on TV later if you feel like a closer look.

I completely agree.

Spargo gave us what he's been giving us for the last 4-6 weeks, so I'd be surprised if he gets dropped now. I don't like forwards that have no goal nous and can't kick over a jam jar, but with no VFL game this week I reckon it's hard for potential ins to change the selectors' minds. I think Fritsch is being played out of position, so - sans Lever - Joel Smith releasing Fritsch to play further up the ground is attractive. Fritsch would give us a good link between the arcs and some class in our forward half. It's worth nothing that Fritsch came second in the VFL's 'Coleman' last year. I really think this could be a significant change. On Garlett, at anywhere from 80%+ of his best form he would add polish that we desperately need to convert our chances. However, he's been so ordinary at times - including in Casey's final 'home and away' game, the week after he was most recently dropped - that I don't know we can trust him to deliver. I've been a fan, but surely one decent game in Casey's first final is in no way enough to demand a spot. I think we'll go in unchanged and defeat the Hawks, but I also think there are guys in the VFL who will have a realistic chance of playing in a prelim final. The fact we're playing on the Friday night is a bonus, since it means we don't need to have anyone sit out the Casey game in case of an AFL call-up. Can't wait for Friday night!

If Lever, Hogan and Tyson were fit*, I reckon our bottom six would be something like this: Frost OMac Hannan Neal-Bullen Tyson Vandenberg If only..! *I've squeezed out JKH, Weid and Spargo. I think this is more important than the deck chairs. If our big guns like Gawn, Oliver, Brayshaw and TMac don't fire, then I don't think fringe players like JKH, Tyson, Weid and Spargo get us over the line on grand final day.

Yep, pretty average article to provide so little context.

If Weid can start clunking most of the marks he gets his hands to, watch out! He's doing a great job for us at the moment, and he should be even better next year.

At least he got a debut. It'd be tragic if he played out half a season in the VFL and then got delisted!

No - both games go on-sale at 9AM on Thu for AFL Members.

I find it ironic that in 'member appreciation round' we wore this strip. I'm pretty sure most members prefer our normal jumper.