bing181

I cannot believe some of the posts in this thread. I just don't know how some of you manage to make it through the day.

Or even some parts of his game. If the instructions for today were "work on your tackling", then no point castigating him for "not being in the bests" if other aspects of his game take a back seat. Sometimes it seems that we want players to go back to Casey to work on their weaknesses, but when they do ...

... on a regular basis.

Actually, we won the clearances. Just like we won pretty well every stat (3 less tackles, but that's about it).

And who may they be, prey tell? Bail? McKenzie? Matt Jones? You've hit the nail on the head though - we just do not have nearly enough experienced, consistent players. I'd bring Grimes in, he's at least experienced, and then, if he has another decent game at Casey, Fitzpatrick. Hard to see any other changes doing more than just shuffling the deck chairs until the likes of Salem and Kent can return.

Thought the match was pretty depressing, but was nothing compared to reading a few pages of this thread. Plenty here are just kidding themselves. While we're counting on a bunch of under 21 year olds, some of whom have only a handful of games, performances are always going to be all over the shop. You look at some of the players who we're having to count: Viney, 40 games, Tyson 45, Gawn 31, without even starting on Brayshaw, Hogan etc. Maybe when there's a 1 before all those numbers we'll be able to start going into melt-down for losing "must-win" matches, but until then ... It takes years, there's no way around it. It takes years to get the personnel in place, but then it takes more years for them to learn to play as a team. Just the way it is.

Love Viney's intensity, but he's got to be more effective (= damaging). 11 disposals at 45% efficiency, including 4 clangers, plus 3 frees against doesn't actually put all that much on the "plus" side of the ledger. ANB, Stretch due for a run at Casey I'd think, and Brayshaw could perhaps been rested. Don't agree with the doom and gloom around here, though understand - as losses goes, that was about as deflating as it gets. But even if we'd managed to scrape home for the win, don't know that I for one would have been feeling much better. Still a long way to go, just hope that they're learning from these defeats that should have been wins.

Harmes in. Starting to see the benefit of solid drafting and equally solid development. JKH as sub for mine. He brings that explosion of energy that you want a sub to bring. But what the heck, happy with the changes.

Edited for accuracy. (forgive the liberty taken ...)

How can someone with 85% disposal efficiency "constantly turn the ball over"?

Skills, turnovers. Got a bit to go, but the kids are holding up OK. Alongside us, Eagles look incredibly well-drilled (has been pointed out already). Last quarter blow-out not ideal, but we're just a bit under-manned. Losing Bradshaw didn't help.

Tragic news whatever the causes. Still digesting it. The Crows also lost Dean Bailey last year. Brought home at the moment because he almost certainly would have been interim coach, and then ... well, we'll never know. Cruel, hard times.

Great to see Stretch and ANB hold their places. Probably a bit ahead of time due to injuries, but it can only benefit their development.

Cue Picket Fence ...

Why stop there? Whiteboard Wednesday?

Armstrong never faced any courts, anywhere in regards to his PED use. He was charged by USADA, charges he never contested through CAS (which was his right). BTW, CAS criteria is the same as the Tribunal. Comfortable satisfaction. End of.

Or even contribute to the wider cut and thrust on DL. e.g. Who makes way for Garland and Hogan? Toumpas? Watts? Colour of the jersey? etc. etc.

Not so much about dissenting opinion, more that in the feral world of football supporters, and even more feral world of club internet forums, you're seen as persona non grata.

In terms of what he brings to the side in terms of balance, experience, and a bit of spark around the place, Vince is irreplaceable, and the trade was a master stroke. Watch how many times Jones/Vince exchange the ball - a midfield that stays together, plays together.

Imagine you're pretty close, Bail and Riley probably bring the least, neither do enough damage on a consistent basis. Dawes won't be dropped. He played a key role in Geelong in getting the forward structures right, keeping the forward line open, and getting ball to ground for our smalls. Goal assists for a third of our score isn't to be sneezed at. Maybe: - Fitzpatrick for Spencer ... Fitzpatrick would be better than Dawes as second ruck, and can also do double duties down back. Was best for Casey on the weekend. - JKH for ANB if they really feel that JKH deserves a place. In spite of the 3 goals, feel that ANB is still a bit of the pace in general play.

Worth repeating. That was a hard lesson - but thanks to the coaches and leaders we have in place, one that was well learnt. Also, you could see in the last quarter, gone was that nervousness that comes with not being used to winning or being in a winning situation ... which has cost us the odd game in the recent past. Steely resolve.

Sure, it's only one game, and we've only won 4 - against that, 3 of the 4 wins have come against teams that are above us on the ladder, and to win against Geelong at Geelong is more than solid, no matter how you read it. The return matches against St Kilda and the Giants will be interesting, but surely 4 wins from the remaining 10 shouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility.

On a day like this, we can all dream a little.

Oscar McDonald 19 Liam Jurrah 26

Another pearler from PF. You don't look at what happens over 3 weeks to decide what to do with a player, you look at what happens over 3 years.