bing181

Hunter was a good pickup, filled a hole in giving us a genuine wing opposite Langdon. Cruelled by injury this year, but for 2023 average 22+ disposals, a couple of clearances and a handful of I50's per game was more than decent. Same for Tomlinson, was very good until the knee injury. Other trades were cheap/depth - but once again, most trades are for not-required players and players who can't get a game. This idea that there's a pool of first-22 players just waiting to be traded is just a myth. As for midfield depth, perhaps, but we weren't to know that we'd lose Brayshaw, then Petracca, and that Oliver and Viney would be down due to injury and whatnot. Suspect also that there was an expectation that Sparrow would come on more than he has, even Laurie. But you can only plan for so much, and no decent or even half-decent mid was going to come to Melbourne to be backup to a stacked midfield - which is what we had back in the 23 trade period. The reason even players like Jordan and Harmes left was because they couldn't get games. Lots of Hindsight Harries on this and other threads.

The problem here is that it's not just adversity, losing Brayshaw and then Petracca and not having Melksham and on/off Salem available has ripped the heart out of the team in terms of leadership and experience, both onfield and off. Max and Viney being injured/down on form is then just the cherry on the cake. Teams can cope with losing star players (to an extent), but they can't cope with losing leaders and heart and soul players.

Nothing like enough. He also broke his hand and is apparently playing with pins and painkillers.

So nothing to do with the fact that Oliver had no pre-season and is playing with a hand held together by pins, or that Viney is probably so shot full of painkillers to get through a game that it's a wonder he can remember which direction to kick in? And that we lost Brayshaw as well as Petracca? Our A-grade midfield has been decimated and is being held together by a half back flanker thrown in there to shore it up. Once agin, just what were people expecting?

Yes, exit interviews could be interesting unless he makes the decision himself. Would prefer TMac stayed, even if he plays the year out at Casey where he could bring a bit of experience. Can't see BBB or Schache going round again.

Jeffo will only come in if one of the other talls goes out. Can't see them dropping anyone, in spite of anything, players like Petty and Turner need game time. So depends on May?

Given that Max averages 5 clearances a game (with plenty of games more than that) 2 clearances tonight and you pretty well have the difference right there.

Grundy was never going to hang around as a backup ruck, and we weren't going to be paying a first-call ruck salary to a backup ruck.

We lost centre clearance by 2. Considering who we had out there and who they had out there I'd just about take that as a win, on paper we should have been slaughtered. (Also only lost stoppages by 2.)

No it's not. Grundy had a huge contract, and with that in place there were always going to be very few takers, especially as he wanted to leave and we didn't want/need to keep him. We traded him for a second round pick, basically got that back. Big picture.

How many of those 9 are fully fit and firing? Langdon and ANB, perhaps Lever (but he's half the player without May) and Melksham, but that's about it.

One of the issues we have isn't just with playing the kids, but playing them in an environment where they're not adequately supported. Losing Salem down back - he's been on of the leaders over the last couple of years - plus a down-on-form Viney and Oliver, and add to that the absence of on-field leaders like Petracca and Brayshaw, just leaves them too exposed.

Critiques of Tholstrup are ridiculous. He's a first year player having a crack. It will come with a bit more experience and a calmer head.

A few positives from tonight. Thought Rivers gradually worked his way into it, but as someone said earlier, too much for him to carry it by himself. Also thought it was Bowey's best game for the year. Also Turner - blown out of it when he first came on, but got better as the game wore on. Same to some extent for AMW, felt he improved as the game wore on and was far from our worst.

Unsurprising result. So many players should hardly even be out there through injury and what not. Will be interesting to get to the end of season and see how many get sent in for surgery. Great to see players like Tholstrup getting a taste of midfield, but run up against a team of A-graders in Bont, Libba, Treloar etc. results were predictable. Sure, play the kids, but don't expect to win too many matches, especially against in-form sides.

McDonald forward is the right move. Provides mobility that none of the others do, and we were getting nothing from Petty - who would be better down back in the absence of may.

Viney 5 possessions. Carrying something. Add that to May and Gawn ... walking wounded, and we were already undermanned.

Not sure it's on McQualter, they're experienced players.

Ridiculous and superficial. How many of those 14 are fit and in form? Would be lucky if it was half of them. Gawn, Viney, Oliver, Petty, Bowey all well under where they were in that premiership.

Ah, Brayshaw, Oliver, Petracca and Viney when they were together and on song. Memories.

Amongst all the other outs, missing Windsor. Provides so much drive through that wing and is a key link between the backs and forwards.

Oliver a shadow of himself. Sad to see, end of the season can't come soon enough for him.

Bulldogs look very very good. Will go deep into finals if they keep playing like this, strong all over the ground.

Also last season.

Yes, playing week in week out directly affects your fitness. It goes backwards. But heh, if you think for one minute that your argument has any validity, put up some documentation to support it. Bizarre.