bing181

Throw in Frost to that.

Lewis and Jones have around 300 games each. Then big jump back to Garlett on 185 (and will be moved on?). With Lewis almost certainly gone, just not sure that having Tom Mac and Jake Melksham as our most experienced players, and on around 160 games, is ideal.

He was mainly talking about defense, but if you look at who we're putting out there and where they're coming from, not to mention the constant revolving door, I'm not sure what people are expecting. Until we get a solid back 6 playing more or less regularly together, hard to see how anything much can change.

It does on Demonland.

Not if you take into account the whole trade, as there were decent picks that came back to us. By the points system he was the equivalent of one first round pick, pick 10. He actually cost us less than May.

Our minds are not logical, and are not even designed to be logical. "The brain is a machine for jumping to conclusions." Daniel Kahneman

If they can get through a match, in May, Melksham. More than anything, we need above-the-shoulder skills and experience.

Not lost, but you only have to lose a few % at this level for it to have a negative impact on performance and execution, especially under (extreme) pressure and when exhausted. And not just AFL either. In any sport, the higher up the elite ladder you go, the more time/effort is required to maintain skills at that elite level, and the greater the drop-off when - for whatever reason - that doesn't happen.

You're not wrong.

Agree - but the problem is exacerbated by being surrounded by a team that's currently not very good at football. Put one or two of the hard-working Stretch's, ANB's, Wagner's into a team full of Lewis's and Hodge's at their peak, and they'd look like a million bucks. Well, maybe not a million ... Every team has so-so players, but it's what's going on around them that determines outcomes.

Criminal that the Weid is injured again, he desperately needed a full match under his belt. Season turning into a wash-out for him development-wise, he's really struggled to string matches together.

Not necessarily. Really difficult to improve on base fitness in-season, as it's hard to get the load/recovery balance right (too much of the former, not enough of the latter). Thus the importance of cough pre-season cough. Running around would help him get more used to what he's currently doing and to managing that, but improvement ... hard to say. Will be a good assignment for Burgess.

Can't be bothered digging out the exact figures, but if you take into account the TOTAL value of the exchange using the points system, remembering we got a second and third round pick back (Petty and Jordon I believe) - he cost us the equivalent of something like Pick 10. Not that that really changes the point you're making, agree he could be a better kick - but hard to know where he stands given that he's missed so much footy and the whole team is so unconnected. As you were.

Yes I know, much more effective to run around like a headless chicken.

We've already got the players, the problem is that we can't get them on the park, and in particular, we can't get them on the park together. e.g. basically our whole forward line from last year's finals is missing.

Shell of a team. Hard to know what to say. The forward line we had out there today didn't have a single established forward, yet alone a key forward. Throw into that players like Baker, the Wagners and an underdone backline and that's about what you get. Lever's 3 clear kicks out from the back line that ended up with the opposition about summed up where we are. Their 13.6 from our turnovers says it all. Hard to see too many positives. Oliver, to his credit, worked his way back into it. Petracca and Fritsch were very good for a half, Harmes did OK when moved forward, Max was Max ... apart from that, struggling.

Love everyone having a go at Oscar, while Frost lets Membrey run off him almost as he wants.

Confidence shot. Includes confidence in each other.

A contant revolving door lineup does that to you. e.g. the forward line we have out there looks nothing like the one we had just a month ago. Also due to injuries and having to play fringe players, including in key positions.

Yes. In spite of all our other shortcomings, this is where it's falling apart. Their midfield is well on top, so we have little drive.

Nothing to do with the game plan. If the players don't work to position, that's what happens.

God, how did I ignore Bernal! Was always going to be there.

There won't be any injuries under Burgess.

He sent players back out onto the pitch when they were injured, brought others back too soon, and continually gave vague "4-6 weeks" answers to how long players would be out.

My work here is done.