bing181

Sounds credible.

That's right, the reason we're losing is all because Jack Grimes isn't playing.

Hyperbole. Just ridiculous. We're playing against one of the consistently best teams in the league, and yes, they're better. They're also more experienced, and they're also playing on their home ground.

What's Spencer's contract situation? Could be some clubs sniffing round, but as our only serious backup for the moment, we need him!

Brayshaw back after the bye?

Nah, too obvious. Got to be something sinister in it.

Perhaps. But it's not that we have talls that are lumbering elephants. Both Dawes and Frost are busy when the ball hits the deck. I'd definitely not drop O'Mac, as some have suggested. He's improving with each match and isn't a liability, but if the reason for playing him has been for experience, then give him the chance to learn from a master in going up against/around Buddy.

Perhaps best to keep it that way.

Happy to have Dawes in the team. Definitely straightens us up, and adds something that Pedersen doesn't. He also took most of the ruck duties for the final slab of the game. A few more goals and/or marks wouldn't hurt, but he's earning his place. Only his second game back from a long layoff, so hopefully he'll continue to improve while giving us a bridge across to Weiderman over the next season or two.

Getting to be a very good disposer, good by foot and hand. I'd keep him. Even if he's not taking the game apart on a weekly basis, he's not playing all that badly. Agree that next two cabs off the rank would be Grimes and Matt Jones, but short of injuries, I don't see them getting a run.

AFL site: "His brother Oscar was also very good in defence, playing his best game for Melbourne, outpointing the Magpies' tall forwards when the football hit the ground."

http://watchafl.afl.com.au Think there's a daily (or monthly?) subscription. Generally works well, even on OK internet.

Trengove working his way into it. Don't know that we're going to see his best this season, but proving his value.

Butchering the ball, missing easy (and not so easy) shots. None of this is helping, but then creates a turnover, with predictable results. More than anything, this is a team that needs a season or two of just playing together, so they're all on the same page, and they know who's going to do what and run where.

Well, it's always tricky. If we play him and he has another dud game, everyone will say he should have been dropped ... and vice versa. I think with a lot of these selection decisions, there's a lot going on behind the scenes around what players have been asked or instructed to do, what roles they fill etc. If Garlett was told a week ago that he needed to work on x/y/z after the preceding weeks' poor effort, and he then didn't do it, well ... Same goes in reverse for players who perhaps Demonlanders are not seeing the benefit of: if they're doing what they've been told, and playing to instructions, and doing so effectively, equally, well ...

Not enough it would seem ...

Or, just his development.

I don't know that it is per se. Two of our first call HB are out long term - H and Salem. We still have White in the wings, and from all reports, he's developing nicely. We then have the McDo's and Frost as KPD, with Dunn and Garland (OK, not quite KPD) and even Grimes as backup - not to mention Melksham. Presumably we'll pick up someone in the draft or trade, and while I know Hulett is being played forward, I wonder if they don't also see him as a possibility down back in the long-term. (.... online musing, with no basis in fact!) I think what has most hurt us is missing the first two there, Salem and Lumumba, though equally, I don't know that there's too much lacking from our back stocks that another season or two of experience won't sort out.

O Mac won't be dropped. Fanciful.

Also partly in response to the "Rioli had 4 clangers". More relevant stat would be clangers as a percentage of possessions. All players are going to have dud disposals. Also, it's worth considering the position they play in. For Jones and co. playing in the guts and under the hammer the whole day, clangers come with the job. Not sure on Harmes. Was great a few weeks ago, but since, the wheels seem to have come off. Due for a rest?

Difference there though, is that Vince, Tyson and Jones had a lot of it, even Omac had it 22 times, and Frost 18. Harmes' 4 clangers came from only 10 possessions.

He did take ruck duties a few times last year, and unless I'm mistaken, rucked a few times yesterday. I suspect it's a combination of a) FD feel he offers more as a forward and b) concern with injuries. In any case, it's the coaches' call, not Dawes.

There's not much wrong with O'Mac that a) improved skills under pressure and b) a bigger body won't fix. In the absence of anyone else, happy to see him playing, and I just don't know who people think would or should take his place or who he's keeping out. Dunn is not the answer, as his continual non-selection confirms.

Yes, but he's been doing that at VFL level for a season or two. It's translating it to senior footy that's the issue.

Not even close.