bing181

Little to do with Burgess or Misson if players are put back on or not, it's the MEDICAL team who make those calls. Further, you would need to be able to show that May going back on is the reason he's missing 1-2 weeks (with a hamstring we presume), as opposed to he would have missed that in any case.

In a nutshell. Which is why so many of the players were sent for one-off operations last year. We were never going to win the flag this year.

They understand it, but they reject it as it doesn't align with their feelings (anger, disappointment etc.). It's because of the way our brains have evolved to work. As Daniel Kahneman says, "We are much better storytellers than we are logicians."

Let me guess: straight white male?

My predictions: Alaphilippe won't be able to sustain this, and will crack at some stage, at least enough to lose the yellow. Thomas is not as strong as last year, and will lose time in the Alps. It'll come down to Pinot vs Kruijswijk, but time gaps will be small.

Hard to see Lockhart or Preuss holding their places. JKH for the former, Weideman/Smith for the latter, both of those if Petty is injured. Wonder also if Hore wouldn't be ready to come back in, 3 weeks is generally enough for a shoulder. Jetta is still underdone (match-wise), but hard to see him being dropped for the moment. Frost does some fancy things with his speed, but is a poor one-on-one defender. Perhaps depends on matchups, not to mention, whether or not May is injured (Hamstring).

Not all players become champions, not even all players with long careers are champions.

None of them can replace his experience.

Wasn't he in Alice Springs as emergency?

This. Also, skills. Also, both of those: experience.

Preuss.

Jesus ...

2 decent quarters, we at least look like a team. Put Melksham and an in-form Tom Mac into that, get some games into Lever and Jetta, and we'd be on our way. Going to miss Viney (plus his rotations) for the last quarter, could be the difference.

People don't want sense, it doesn't match how they feel.

Not getting anything from Preuss or Lockhart, and if Weideman had put in a game like Petty's ... Petracca's cameo in the last 15 minutes enough to give him some browny points, but has been invisible for much of the game. Lots of room for improvement.

You mean there's a reason for why Fritsch was playing Lever's role?

Obviously we've changed coaches at quarter time.

Jetta underdone.

Perhaps not at ground level, but the flags would seem to indicate otherwise.

Which was BS, they'd been out for a half hour or so before the main session started. But heh, who needs facts when we can just let our confirmation bias run riot.

Talk to the Melbourne players about the way they're tackling. The frees are there.

That free to Petty was the first to us - against 9 to them. Lots of clumsy, unnecessary tackles on our part, which sums up the game. Willing, but low on skills ... and confidence.

I posted this in the "Jesse Hogan out for the rest of the year with a recurrence of his navicular injury" thread. Probably more relevant here, as it's clearly Dave Misson's fault. Got all the hallmarks: - a foot injury (players only get foot injuries at Melbourne/under Misson) - a repeat injury (and as we know, repeat injuries only occur through either bad management or players coming back 'too soon') - an injury that was misdiagnosed: "scans have confirmed that his right mid-foot sprain was unrelated to the navicular injury he suffered with Melbourne" - an injury where it takes over a month to get an exact diagnosis (see above) - an injury where a short period out: "The Dockers' confirmed that the 24-year-old would return to playing football in the coming weeks." turns into "Fremantle confirmed that Hogan will require a 16-week rehabilitation" - an injury where it takes over a month to get an exact diagnosis (see above) etc. etc.

Clearly Dave Misson's fault. Got all the hallmarks: - a foot injury (players only get foot injuries at Melbourne/under Misson) - a repeat injury (and as we know, repeat injuries only occur through either bad management or players coming back 'too soon') - an injury that was misdiagnosed: "scans have confirmed that his right mid-foot sprain was unrelated to the navicular injury he suffered with Melbourne" - an injury where it takes over a month to get an exact diagnosis (see above) - an injury where a short period out: "The Dockers' confirmed that the 24-year-old would return to playing football in the coming weeks." turns into "Fremantle this afternoon confirmed that Hogan will require a 16-week rehabilitation" - an injury where it takes over a month to get an exact diagnosis (see above) etc. etc.

J Wagner is a back/defender, while the others aren't. i.e. it's not a choice between Baker and JW for example, as they play different positions. It would suggest that they want Lewis in the middle or playing a tagging role, plus some cover/relief for an underdone Jetta. With Petty moved forward, JW is next cab off the rank. (Actually, with our injuries, when it comes to half-backs, he's the only cab off the rank ...) But heh, lord forbid that I suggest that the FD know what they're doing, I realise it's not how it's done around here.