Webber

Doggies are great to watch. They play for each other, with belief and intensity. We don't do any of those things. Can't see us getting within 10 goals of them.

We got the Swans on the rebound after a loss, and they put us down. We're getting the Hawks in the same situation. This will be their first 'season defining game' this year. They will be ruthless, and I don't really expect us to compete with that, sadly.

White looks good. Reads the game and kicks beautifully.

How have this rabble won a game of footy this year. They are playing weak and stupid football. The disturbing thing is the parade of uncontested possessions Sandy are getting. Like oppo tems get against the dees.

Yep. It's about so much more than just personnel.

You stole my thoughts C & B, for which I forgive you.

It's called a 'fixie' Earl Hood. Sheesh....

Really did. Consistency is the only thing he needs to provide now, and he becomes core.

I have the same feeling. Defensive forward role. Just seems that's the way the team's being structured. He doesn't offer as much offensively as Kent obviously, but is being groomed for that role methinks.

Is he too good not to eventually be moved to the midfield, or does he just become a back half general, a la Hodge?

Gary Hardeman was a great, and Tom McDonald is fast becoming one, but Hardeman was silky smooth. Tom is clunky and junky, but in the best possible way!

Agree. Perfect spot for MFC really. He is non essential, and would give us access to a player more valuable.

Brilliant post.

In respect to Kent and JKH, I think Roos wants to just get games into them. He sees them as the future, and as long as they reach minimum standards (which we are unaware of!), he'll keep playing them. This applies to all of those he sees as the core of this team going forward. He's big on team unity (not chop n change) and accumulation of experience. What I think he doesn't want to do is give guys a game or two here and there, then send them back to Casey. And I agree. Frost out obviously, but I reckon that'll be the only change.

This. Each club's war history could be appropriately publicised when their turn came, and thus commemorate the losses and sacrifices. It personalises the day, and draws it away from corporate marketing, which is effectively what the Essendon v Collingwood repetition is about. Sadly, it reflects the consumerisation of Anzac Day as a whole.

I've always had a problem with Greenaway's films. 'Cook...thief' was the high point for me, but he descended into pretentious self awareness rapidly after that. Heard him interviewed a few years ago when viewing a video installation piece he'd made of the last supper (of all things), which I enjoyed. His interview on the other hand would suggest he is a monumental tool, or has become one. He dismissed cinema as a waste of time, and proceeded to outline why he was above it. His latter films certainly reflect it, no matter how many Ewan McGregor and Toni Collette genital reveals they have! Other opinions are available of course

Nasher, the frank and enthusiastic awareness of your own delusion is to be both applauded, and pitied. But definitely to be recommended.

With the best ruckman going around, and in form, a midfield of hardworking ball magnets, and Tex on the end of it, Adelaide are going to rip us to pieces. I can see the media feeding frenzy in the aftermath. I've tried to imagine other possibilities, and they are so unlikely as to be laughworthy. It's going to be an ugly few weeks for this club, lucky we're used to it!

its got to do with the bigger picture. There are no changes that can correct the fact that we are a team with a predictable habit of being useless.

That's the thing P-man, we've expected them to play for professional/club/personal/whatever pride for years, and years. Have we ever had it? So for me, humiliation, or capitulation, IS run of the mill. I hope against hope that we TRULY see the worm turning, I mean really a change in this club's game day expectations. There are no signs of real change this season.

That resilience you speak of is rendered meaningless by the last 3 quarters on Saturday, and that St. Kilda comfortably beat GCS at home. Resilience against what then? A team that are currently worse than the two worst teams from last year.

It's hard to face up to praha, but I reckon you're on the money. When GWS hit the front on Saturday I was as confident as one could be that we were going to get hammered from that point on. Our ability to capitulate is unequalled, and depressingly predictable. Objectively, it's quite staggering how fragile we are, and it makes supporting this team like a cruel joke. I have no idea when it will end, but this season so far tells me it's not even in sight. I compare it to the Hawthorn v Essendon game, where at no point until the siren went did I think the Hawks would lose. They're as predictable in the opposite way.

Yep. It's really like watching children go at a task that needs a big investment in time. They can only sustain effort and concentration for short periods, and the rest is a boondoggle. To some extent, the age of our list supports this idea, but it seems we completely switch off en masse. It makes me wonder about on field leadership, or lack of it, a la North Melbourne?

Agreed, and the first 2 rounds of the AFL this year are a very odd series of contradictory results. However, our worst is THE worst in the league, and indicates a weakness which is as comprehensive as you'll see. The best teams are the most skilled at exposing it. I've seen our improvement, and it's game winning at its best. Our worst is like an avalanche of ineptitude, and still more likely. That's the fear.