bing181

I don't know how careless she was ... On the other hand, at least she put her hand up.

I just don't know that with the team that we had out there, we would have been able to. I just hope Hogan doesn't miss too many games this year. Our structure and intent moving forward isn't as decisive when he's not there.

I agree with many of your points, but is anyone saying it was a good performance? It's pretty obvious that if WB had had their best side out there we probably would have lost, but then a) they're a better side anyway and b) Hogan out and a rusty Jones and Vince take the cream off who we are as a team in any case. I also feel that it's misleading saying that we had a stronger, almost full-strength side. On paper, sure, but then you can't put players like Wagner and Hunt out there, and then wonder why our "full-strength" side is suddenly leaking goals. So sure, it was a scrappy game, but I (for one) just don't buy into the "the sky is falling" discourse because we didn't beat an undermanned side by 20 goals etc. etc. etc

Frost has hardly played for a year, not surprising if he's a bit rusty. Nice goal in the last quarter ...

From what we've read, neither Petracca nor Trengove will be playing any games anywhere until they have a really solid block of full training under their belts.

We beat them on every stat except free kicks. We kept them goalless in two quarters. It mightn't have been a crushing win on the scoreboard, but was solid. They're also short quarters, so I don't realistically know how far we were ever going to get ahead, especially in those conditions. Another 5 - 10 minutes in the last quarter could have started to create some carnage on the scoreboard. Speaking of the last quarter, was pleased that there were no junk time goals to them. But ... amongst the stats, we had 14 more Inside 50's. That those 14 more inside 50's only yielded a couple of goals extra speaks volumes about the kind of makeshift forward line we had with, ahem, Hogan out. It's not just about how many out, it's about WHO is out and its impact on team balance and structure. If you have 3 or 4 key mids out, but another 3 or 4 mids ready to step into those roles, then the impact can be minimal.

Perhaps because some of us just don't see things as black or white.

Fine. But there's the other side to the McDonald coin. Equal most kicks today (for example). Of the others down back, Dunn had 2, Garland had 5. For Marks, Tom was in the top 4. Garland didn't take a mark all day, and Dunn took one. Even his disposal efficiency: poor today, but around the same as Jack Watts and Christian Salem, supposedly amongst the best kicks at the club. But the most telling stat in Tom's favour (to offset the stats in the "clangers" column) is game time. Most players are averaging 70% - 80%. Tom managed 90%. Big difference. In regards to Tom, notwithstanding his failings, there's more than enough to work with. Like it or not, his name is always going to be one of the first on the team sheet.

Wild card entry into the 8?

On paper, but not on the ground for the whole match. Hunt, Wagner, Mitchie and at least a couple of the others aren't going to be starting Round 1. There were passages when we had a fairly inexperienced side out there. Not to mention players like Jones and Vince having their first match for the year, and it showed.

Much of their score.

Jones, Vince, Tyson quietish. So far.

Or not.

Not sure what's different to what they are doing already re regional and suburban grounds. Which always seem to be packed out.

I believe you'll find that WJ is being sarcastic.

Our opening series of games are going to be challenging. Could easily be 1-4 by the time we get to St Kilda. North have had it over us for years, and both GWS and Collingwood are starting to look the goods. The only unknown amongst those, as always, would be Richmond.

Met her once. Terrifying.

Just like Hogan, Brayshaw, Viney etc. Goes both ways.

Because he hasn't played footy, any footy, for over 12 months, and because he's had zero match practise or training in match situations with the team. It's not just about fitness, or even ability

Not what Misson is saying (re fitness). Re his spot, I'd wait and see. Going on last year's form, perhaps, but it would appear that he had ongoing injury issues that couldn't have helped. He was good enough to play in a premiership, and at 29 still has a bit of mileage left, so if he can get back to something close to "in form", he would have a place. Let's remember also that the alternative is probably one of Wagner, White, Hunt or Terlich.

Actually, I don't know that he does.

Starting to see what "buy-in" looks like. It's been a while.

Not that much. The damage was done by 3/4 time, it's the last quarter that you'd expect to see a difference. In any case, there was an 8 man bench, so situation was unique in itself, and with that amount of resting going on, not sure Port were all that disadvantaged.

Sounds like we'll be fighting it out with Hawthorn for the wooden spoon.

Too early to call for the team, but the Demonland gameday thread ... business as usual.