P-man

8?? Wow. I count 3 - Macdonald, Bartram and Bate. Pretty strong team on paper actually. Just seeing Magner on the team sheet gives me so much more confidence in our ability to win some contested ball. As through the pre-season it will be the effectiveness of our disposal that will determine the outcome. So much love for Grimes in the midfield. Bring it on. In saying that, if we start bombing it forward without pride or purpose early on, I will become agitated and concerned. Let's see some some attractive footy. The kind we're more than capable of playing.

haha..I'd like to think it stands for "Pragmatic" but Pessimism is probably closer to the mark.

I'm slowly coming to terms with the club facing another rebuilding period, as farcical as that may seem. We just don't appear to have the cattle at the moment, particularly in the midfield where games are won and lost. 9-10th is an absolute best case for me, but I'm seeing us finish about 15th by season's end, above GWS and the QLDers. I'll be praying that I'm wrong.

Objected to it at the time and my stance hasn't changed. Shameful treatement of a Captain. We will still be recovering from it this year IMO.

RIP Jimmy. The footy world and humanity as a whole is better off having had you on this planet.

Port Adelaide had 138 more possessions than us. haha...I am laughing out loud at that stat. It defies belief.

So essentially our near full strength side is being whalloped by a supposed bottom four side with several big names missing. Good season ahead.

Not listening to this rubbish anymore.

There are players out there that no longer care. Sorry, but what other conclusion can be drawn from this rubbish? Just one colossal train wreck.

Dunstall's commentary in the Hawks game was ridiculous. At times he would actually exclaim, "oohhh no.." when it looked like Melbourne were about to score. It would've been funny if it wasn't so shamefully biased. Anyhow, Commetti and Whateley, and you can't go past Bruce, are the ones I most enjoy listening to. Dwayne Russell needs to be dealt with. He ruins games of footy with his zany catchphrases ("get and go", "outside the paint", "plays for the free", "gives it some toe") etc etc) and complete misreading of the play. It takes a particularly bad commentator to actually ruin a game.

Just please no more Bate in the midfield. His decision-making verges on embarassing, if you can call hurriedly booting it forward without looking up a decision. Can't understand everyone singing his praises in the new role considering how often he turns it over. I can only assume people are leaving out Tappy because of the lack of pre-season games. If fit he's one of the first I'd pick. Tough, reliable kick, and leaves nothing out on the paddock. How many can have that said about them? Plus Bartram is in the leadership group, for some reason, hence he will get plenty of games no matter how good his disposal. Two key players that need to stand up this year if we're to have any chance of moving up the ladder are Morton and Gysberts. Those are the two I will be watching most closely, and I'd like to see both playing in Rd 1 but I doubt it will happen. Previously I was pencilling this in as a win, but now I just want to see us go out there and stick it up them.

At least we got to find out how Tom's mum is doing. I'd been wondering about her... I apologise for drawing attention to this show.

Worth sitting through Maguire's smugness to see what LJ has to say. Fox Footy at 8.30pm.

I think what hurts is seeing teams like Richmond and North taking positive strides forward, and genuinely knocking on the door of the Top 8. Teams that 2-3 years ago were at the same stage of development, or arguably behind in Richmond's case. It was a near full strength side last night. No hiding from it. We are so far away from being a contender it doesnt bare thinking. One positive is that we looked to have done alright in the most recent draft, so perhaps the rebuild has started in earnest. What concerns me is that great teams build a winning culture by having the senior players pass this down to the next generation. Who is mentoring the younger players in their specific roles now? Really? As for the new gameplan, playing hard contested ball is admirable but only if you know what to do with the footy once you win it. Bombing it long every time is a backward step. Several decades backward. I tell ya what, ANY footy fan who thinks they have it tough should live in the shoes of an MFC fan for a week.

Howe must wonder what the hell he's doing here. Already showing he's a class above pretty much the rest of the team. What a rubbish, pissweak excuse of an effort. No more posting tonight.

Our kicking is woeful. Half the time it's literally kicking in hope and hitting a target is coincidental.

This could get real ugly.

Sainters should've been awarded the points.

Loving this. LOVING. We've drafted well.

Holy hell. What a start.

Ah thats right. I'll still be chuffed.

If Watts kicks 4 goals in essentially half a game of footy....it's an understatement to say I'll be surprised and extremely pleased.

Mags should start again.

Whoever it is, as long as it doesn't mean we're resting our hopes on Bater in the midfield long term. Wet weather or not, the bomb in hope approach might work against the Suns but the majority of other teams won't be so generous when you continually hand over possession. I love his endeavour but a playmaker he is not. I just hope Neeld knows what he's doing. I do agree that Blease is an exciting prospect, having emerged from the shadow of he who shall not be named. Not many genuine potential gamebreakers on our list but he's one. Saw alot of upside in Tynan also last weekend. Jones must step up this year.