Bitter but optimistic

All of that of course Bear ....... and posted pre Shiraz

Pedo will be giving a fair amount of height to Bellchambers , who by the way, is a useful tap ruckman. So his main job will be to compete and muscle Bellchambers to ensure the Essendon mids aren't handfed. Our mids are good enough to gain the advantage from there. A couple of marks around the ground would top it off.

Tom Flower was in a very big shadow.

Surely AF you will be to ...err .... shall we say "preoccupied" on Sunday to go to the footy. Watching on the TV will be OK though. While your new missus brings you beers. Train them right from the start.

The inexplicable wonders of zone defence!

If Watts stays forward and kicks six we win.

A shiraz (or three) later od.

No doubt the most fascinating selection conundrum in years. I'll be hanging onto my phone for the text message tonight ( it comes after beer o'clock so I'll be hanging onto a stubby also).

Not flashy. No histrionics. Just does the job.

How is the current vintage of Pinot coming along OD?

Hope you see a win Steve but your timing is unfortunate - away games at that Shithole!!!

Picking up 600+ this week might be a bridge too far!

I agree Lex. The Crows too good at this stage but the others are doable. With a bit of good luck.

Currently at 39344. Three loses have cooled the ardor somewhat.

Out. Spencer, Smith, Melksham maybe JKH In. Lewis, King, Pedo maybe Kent/Kennedy/Bugg In this scenario, Milkshake is unlucky because I thought he played an improving/reasonable game. Jkh is lucky because despite laying some tackles he didn't look like hurting the opposition offensively. Pedo must come in to provide another target up forward and do some ruckwork. Lewis must come in simply because we need him. King. His role will be to not allow the Essendon ruck to dominate. There are grave concerns about his match fitness but to rely on a stop gap ruck set up that involves tying up our currently most versatile and dangerous forward in Watts for large parts of the game would be crazy. This week delivers the most interesting and crucial selection dilemma in years.

So it seems jnr. I have wondered about this myself as you see it often in all games. I guess it will inexplicably have its turn as "Rule of the week" eventually.

Gotta love Daisy. She may well have put her foot in the door for an expanding career in the media. She seems to be universally respected ( apart from [censored] like Nixon) and I certainly find her comments valuable and incisive . She provides a terrific ambassador for the MFC. I have to confess to a crush though - I have her pic on my membership badge and live in hope of running into in the members so I can get it autographed. ( I even carry a sharpie with me)

He has been reduced to the role of a pathetic and bitter sniper. Trying to get publicity through cheap shots like that - bah just ignore the fool.

Perhaps I put it poorly. I'm not underestimating the massive loss but when it happens during a game, structures are confused, players are in unfamiliar situations and with Watts rucking so much we have a glaring hole up forward. Whereas, going into the game without a key ruckman gives a chance to select/ set up differently. The Dogs did this very well at times.

There's a big difference between going into a game without a recognised ruckman and losing your ruck during the game.

Only if we lose.

I spilt my shiraz over that ANB shocker.

Poor old Bitter has been toiling all day. Just settled into a third warm up stubby and shall be an armchair critic from The Manor.

Give the squeeze a jolly good flogging.

I'm a pedo man.