P-man

Second quarter fightback was promising but we’ve been comfortably second best in both games.

Thanks mate. I felt it needed to be said.

Fantastic few minutes from J Smith.

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Could have so easily been 9 or 10 conceded.

Nibbler has been awful this pre season. No other way to dress it.

Defence is a shambles atm.

Yeah I was referring to Hudson.

That’s pretty reckless to report Viney limped off if it isn’t true.

I think it was during the scratch match against Collingwood where one of the commentators asked, “Is Clayton Oliver in the top twenty players in the competition?”. I actually burst out laughing. Of course he is. How is that even up for debate? 21 years old and the kid is already an out and out star.

We were pretty clearly outclassed in general play but with so many important names missing it’s fair to reserve judgement. Young defenders got exposed as you’d expect but given their experience levels I thought Kielty, Hore and even Petty showed they have something worth holding onto, To win the clearances so convincingly without Max was a big feather in the cap. The value of centre clearances has jumped with the new 6-6-6. Throw Gawn and Viney into the mix and we’re very much in business. I was a bit disapooonted to see Trac do his standard disappearing act after starting the game on fire. This is the year we need to see some consistency. Forwardline overall was a bit meh. Weid again showed glimpses. Need to remain patient with his development but he will be a gun forward. Watching Rance ragdoll T Mac wasnt fun. Hoping for a better outing from Tommy next JLT. He looks like he needs the run. Clint mentioned in the gameday thread that we missed Melksham which is very true. His class, smarts and skill around goal was noticeably absent. Middle tier players like Hunt and ANB were a bit disappointing but it’s JLT1. I like having Hunt out there as even his pressure acts can be invaluable, but I’d like to see some signs of further development which weren’t evident today. A near full strength side will be one to be reckoned with this year, but on today’s evidence, we wouldn’t want our depth to be tested too often.

Terrible from Trac.

In again, thanks. The Chunky Tulips.

I think anyone expecting Jesse to run around with a million dollar smile now is in for a rude shock. It’s not in his makeup to be Guy Smiley on the field. Will Jesse play better? Maybe. It’s unlikely to click straight away given the team he’s playing in now. His supply will be coming from essentially a bunch of kids. We will see what leadership qualities he has because he’s going to be on the back of a few hidings this year. His leadership wasn’t really called upon during his time at Melbourne. I don’t mind Riewoldt as a person but he is prone to some off the mark comments. Saying T Mac wouldn’t be on the list this time last year is one such example. That’s just plain incorrect. Riewoldt also has admitted his bitterness over not winning a premiership and I sense some of that bitterness being directed towards the club that is on the brink of breaking its premiership drought. Were that to happen, it would leave his beloved Saints as the last remaining club mired in the 1960s, They blew their big chance and are a mile away from getting another. He feels a large degree of responsibility for that.

So you maintain that the majority of posters wanted Goodwin sacked last year? Or am I misunderstanding your post? I see no problem in asking questions of everyone, coach included, after a bad loss. There is a chasm between that and calling for someone’s head.

I must have missed the thread last year where “every man and his dog” wanted Goodwin sacked. Probably because it never happened.

Vanders’ tackling is a thing of beauty.

It’s not easy to break through all the football cliches with a message that resonates, but they achieved it and then some with that video. It’s also great to see Goody drop the stoicism. Even for just a moment.

Bump for any last minute predictions. Entries close 28 February.

Jetta Oliver

Name is one of my nicknames in real life. I’m lazy. Display pic represented what it was like to be a Demon approaching the 2010 season. Unimpressed and waiting for the next turd to drop. That little fella had no idea what was still to come. Things are a lot rosier now obv but I’ve grown too attached to let him go.

Holy hell, Preuss is a monster.

Richmond second? Please. I wondered why they didn’t list the rankings of their midfield last season. For good reason. 8th for contested possessions and 17th for clearances. 17th! Shane Edwards being All Australian is simply testament to the dodgy nature of the AA selection process.

I was and am a Pedo fan as I think most here are, and he wasn’t always treated fairly at the selection table, but his time was up.

Have only heard bad things about the new format and can now see why. Carlton sitting there for 5 minutes while Sam Walsh twiddled his thumbs was idiotic. Seeing the head coach read out the player’s name and handing them the jumper was a great feature and that’s been stripped as well by the looks. Now it’s just Gil meandering on and off stage? How inspiring. They make sme odd decisions.