P-man

This is amazing to watch.

lol...what can you say.

Ya reckon? Geeze he was poor in the first quarter. Much better in the second. Stats sheet is deceiving. Harmes has had 14 touches but so many kicks have gone to payer's feet and so many poor decisions. Well done to Vanders kicking two goals but he owed them. He's been largely awful aside from those two moments. The players standing out to me are Petracca, Watts, Stretch and Frost.

We look so much better when the ball is in Stretch's hands. Massive asset going forward.

Harmes, Matt Jones and Vanders have been beyond dreadful. Frost has been huge in defence and thank god for Watts.

No doubt there's a tipping point in terms of who goes out and in, although Vines would never have 5 bad games in a row so it's not a realistic example Those in charge of these decisions know a lot more than me and, you'd expect, a lot more than anyone on this site. There are nuances about roles that we're not privy to for a start. But as an armchair observer, we are placing ALOT of faith in some of these young players by routinely snubbing players in their mid 20s who are bashing the door down in the seconds. The apparent favouritism makes me a tad nervous. I'd feel more comfortable seeing strong performances getting due reward.

Watching Brisbane is so much like watching 2013 Melbourne it's scary.

It's not make or break. I'm not suggesting Michie is some unrequited star. It's as much a cultural thing for me if anything. Every individual performance should be assessed on its merits in my opinion. As you allude to, that isn't the reality. I see a player like Wagner for instance who has fairly obvious deficiencies but is continually selected, sometimes it seems irrespective of performance. Justified on an age basis perhaps, but Michie is 24 so he's hardly a pensioner. I think we could do alot worse than these blokes to place pressure upon those in the seniors. If we can replace them with Prestias and Hibberds, fair enough. If not, a new bunch of kids to place pressure upon the existing bunch of kids is not an enticing prospect.

I admit I believe in depth players like Grimes and Michie more than most on here. Right now, the VFL ladder is backing up that belief. They are certainly a major step up from the Pigdogs and Couchs of previous years. I see great potential in ANB. I don't see the sense in letting Vanders stroll back in when he's stunk it up for the majority of the season. He should've been made to earn his spot back. Some are not afforded one average game, whereas others are afforded several in a row. I think performances should be assessed equally to determine the best 22 players every week and that simply isn't happening. Anyway, I've bashed this drum more than enough times.

The point remains that I don't believe he is finished at AFL level.

When you say neither, are you saying that we will recruit someone else to take their role, or do you think Hulett/Weed/someone else already on the list is equipped and ready to assume that role full time in 2017?

No he isn't. If the club lets him go, as looks increasingly likely, he will get a fresh start elsewhere and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he is a regular contributor in a halfback role. He had a poor game against Saints. He was pushed forward more as I recall which ultimately didn't suit him. He was in healthy company that day but isn't afforded the leniency that others get. The week before he was more than decent. So of his two opportunities he had one good, one bad, and out he goes. Still, at least they got him to 100 games. If no club picks up a player like Grimes I'll be amazed. Is he really that much worse than Jed Adcock, for example? Age wise he is at his peak as a footballer and on today's evidence he'd arguably be one of Richmond's top handful of players at the minute.

Firstly the last decade is hardly a high bar, and secondly O Mac has looked out of his depth most weeks, as was the case again last week. He's been a detriment in defence regardless of results. It's no slight on him. He just isn't ready to compete against AFL key forwards and is hesitant in most of what he does. Winning games is good for development. If you genuinely think O Mac is doing as good or a better job than what seasoned AFL defenders in Garland or Dunn would do, then we're in disagreement. But I won't label you a "know-it-all" because of it as I learned at about the age of 10 that disagreement is okay. I'd however remind you and others that every selection decision can make a difference. We lost the game last week by one scoring shot. I really have no words for dropping ANB after one game when we're playing him out of his natural position only to bring in AVB whose doing next to nothing to justify a spot and on the back of no VFL form. I think I'll take WB's advice and give up worrying about selections. There's rarely been a week where they've all made sense.

I'm bitterly disappointed with the result last week, but it's worth recognising we played some great footy at times. There's no doubting our contest has gone up a level again this season and the stats support that. Ball movement particularly to create scoring opportunities remains a slower work in progress. Last week really hurt. That would've been a massive notch in the belt for the season. As it stands, we didn't get it. Like every loss it needs to be used as motivation. We need to get the job done this week the same as against Brisbane and Fremantle. 9 wins remains a pass mark for mine and that's still firmly in sight.

I'm more leaning towards hoping he trips over running through the banner than the congratulatory side.

This. It's all very well to say that gripes about the selection is overdramatic, but it's a frustration that has accumulated over the season. The principle of selecting the best available side has been sketchily followed at best, and the rewarding of VFL form has not been applied equally.

Firstly, calm down. Secondly, that's good. His low tackle count has been a trend. I'm a Viv fan and want him putting his best case forward each week.

Appreciate the effort. Always good to get a detailed take on the list from fellow supporters. Hogan is top 5, Brayshaw is top 15, as much as I like Tommy Bugg he's closer to the bottom half than the top half. I feel Harmes is becoming a bit overrated. A future prospect but our 13th best player right now? Not even close for mine. I think the summation of Clarry is spot on. Some work to be done between the ears to get him hitting his ceiling. Some good talking points.

I doubt Sheahan expected to be insulted to that degree. I think Jacko has played a character for so long that it has blended into his persona and the lines are now blurred. The guy is clearly bat [censored]. .

I reckon people can get a bit tin foil hat with this stuff. Are you seriously suggesting Jackson and Sheahan sat down with the producers and said, "okay, so Jacko you unload on Mike for 45 minutes telling him how much you despise him, wishing he had a cancer, ruined people's families, and Mike you sit there and let him denigrate you and your reputation for the entire interview and we'll all cash in!". Come on. Jacko likes provoking people. He gets off on it. And if it helps him in a promotional sense all the better. He's not intelligent enough to take on a battle of wits so he chooses to insult and berate. I don't think Sheahan knew fully what was coming and if he did, he's a brilliant actor.

The Footscray side that won the 2014 VFL flag featured players like Johannisen, Redpath, Dickson, Campbell and Jong. All of them took a significant step forward in their AFL careers last year and havent looked back. I'm leaning towards the taste of success not being the worst thing for belief and development

Michie with 1 lousy tackle again. You're killin me Viv.

Harmes was very poor. Can't remember a touch in the first half that wasn't a fumble or a turnover If one poor game is enough then he'd be the one, I'd be looking at others before Oliver to come in though.

Thomas is a fair call.

I'm trying to think of a player I'd less like to recruit. Zac Dawson perhaps. But it's a close call. Really cannot stand this sniping [censored]. Complete spud to match. I tell myself I could cheer for any player in a red and blue jumper. Vickery would be the ultimate test.