Webber

That's the thing about round 1, it's a very unreliable indicator to the way things settle. We now know Gold Coast are substantially less than the team we thought they were, and the Kangaroos are not the whipping boy they appeared after round 1. All up, our effort in round 1 looks far less impressive than it seemed then, and Adelaide's even better.

In respect to this weeks game and Adelaide's form and massive crowd advantage, what we do at selection is just shifting deckchairs. I fear a mighty thumping on its way, and a further slide back into the abyss. The last half on Saturday was the worst football played by any club this year, and indicative of our fragility. The Adelaide game looks very scary! Then again, Footy's a funny old game, particularly this year.

Amazing what toughness and endeavour will give you, huh?

13 goal to 1 second half. All the defensive improvements we made last year are effectively an illusion. We are defensively an absolute shambles. We are also an attacking shambles....... Oh.....dear!

You won't be saying that when good teams thrash them. And they will. When we are bad, we are the worst team in the AFL. Yes, including St. Kilda. GWS are young, very fast and skilled. A good 'team' they are not.

That's us for the day I reckon. Too little run and desire. The old style Dees have returned. Utter rubbish.

Very ordinary quarter, lost our intensity at the ball, and stopped running past the ball carrier. We can't defend this lead playing that way, so need to hunt and attack. Odds only slightly our way now, if at all.

This is true.

What about the things that would ACTUALLY make him a star, like kicking, marking, reading the play? He's no natural at any of those, and I hope he'll learn them, but at the moment he's a willing unknown.

Other than Frost's size, speed and tackling, what about Frost makes you think he will be a star?

5 marks a game for career. Are you honestly suggesting Frost is a more effective forward?

Why Vandenberg PaulRB? The Frost love and Dawes dismissal on here are bizarre in equal amounts. Frost had 11 possies, and took 2 marks, neither inside 50. He tackled well and created pressure. He's looking ok, but a goalkicking forward he ain't. Chris Dawes is absolutely essential to our forward set up, given his presence and that he can actually take marks (sure, not as sticky as some hands), and is a very good kick for goal. He was our leading goal kicker last year with the worst supply in the league. Roos would drop Hogan before leaving Dawes out!

Hmmmmm.......How many marks did Frost take in the forward 50 on Saturday?

Yep, Brayshaw out. He's played 4 games in a row, showed he's going to be a gun, manage his game time by missing this week when it's a tough call to drop anybody.

6-McDonald. Was impassable and almost had perfect disposal efficiency 5-Garland. Had a flawless game, back to his creative running best. 4-Viney. Defensively brilliant, and used it very well 3-Jonesy. Ho-hum, same old bleed for the jumper stuff. 2-Watts. He's gonna be a hard man to stop this year. 1-Vandenberg. Is he a midfielder, a forward. Skills, nasty, speed and footy smarts.

They had the same match practice we did. We were missing our best forward and arguably our best ball using midfielder.

Yep. He panics defences.

For those imagining that Dawes won't come in next week, you are deluded. He is in the best condition of his career, at the best age, was excellent in the NAB, and increases the physicality and forward focus like nobody in the team (including Hogan). With Hogan now up and about, oppositions have two huge, quick competitive beasts to worry about. Garlett, Kent, JKH have a potential opportunists field day. Then there's Watts! Dawes comes straight in, and I can't wait.

Highlights!!!! Who would've thought? *Brayshaw's contested mark between 2 opponents. WTF! *Garland's creativity, run and contested strength. Reminded me that he's a bloody good player *Jesse Hogan taking 7 marks by using his still only 20 year old body. Soooo much upside. *Jack Viney tackling Gary Ablett like he was a first gamer. *Ben Newton and Aaron Vandenberg being big, physical and with secure skills. *Jeffy Garlett making the opposition panicky whenever he goes near it. *Tom McDonald being enormous in defence *Jones, Tyson and Cross being so consistent *HL's steal and run into goal. *Jack Watts being there for 4 whole quarters, and knowing he's got more to give. *Jeremy Howe's marking

Saw the last half before our 26 point first round victory against the Suns (just wanted to type that), and agree on Billy Stretch WJ. He is a natural footballer, a cut above.

'The Red Fox' is both a book made of paper, and has hundreds of pages, WYL. I'm not sure the young would know what to do with it!

Tricky thing with old footage. Those of us of a certain age love it, in the same way any history takes on a fascination as you get older. It's interesting how bored under 25's are by anything other than current though (there are minority exceptions). It just makes them glaze over. The ad is targeting potential new members, and giving as potted a nod to our history as possible, which along with our name (city association) is our 'brand'. Those potential new members are young. Thus, there is footage of a tattooist at work in the ad! Love or hate, I think the makers of this ad understand their market.

Eddie?........ Eddie, you there?.......... Hellooooooo? ............Wherefore art thou, Eddie?

Agree with this type of approach. Hawthorn make a nonsense of the OP. It's just the current fashion.

Yep. We should've been flogging the city connection for years. THAT'S our brand. We are the genesis of football, and thus the AFL. We ARE why football even exists. Sounds like grandstanding, and other club supporters will hate it, but it's a truth that should be in any non team committed persons face. New arrivals, visitors, whatever.