John Crow Batty

His only goal yesterday was in junk time. His four gettable misses earlier were all when we needed a goal to keep us in the game. His last miss ended up as a coast to coast turnaround that sealed our fate. He has to kick the pressure goals and that requires a reliable kicking action for long term sustainability as a key forward.

Kennedy has the added advantage he can really roost it. Hogan outside 40 is touch and go to make the distance from a set shot though on the run he has no problems.

3 behinds from 4 shots when we were still in the game is not good enough. Today another opposition spud(Redpath) out scored him again.

Funny watching him, body, arms and legs flailing about at all angles and then the ball suddenly pops out straight to a team mate.

I have gotten disapproving looks and comments from my school teacher mother in law and wife when I drive past there as say it like it is. Looks like a place Colonwood supporters will feel comfortable in.

I don't think his family would blab out the truth unless the recipient is one of the closest confidants of the family. We did hear a lot of crap and disinformation coming out of the Scully camp. If Neale is intent on leaving I doubt he might fit our requirements if Brayshaw, Petracca and Oliver continue to improve. Freo will put a high price on him even if they are desperate to secure Hogan.There is the possibility of a three or four club super deal where someone like Hurley may come into the picture if Hogan decides to leave.

If Hogan does go to Freo he will end up as a goal kicking harlot and premiership virgin like Lockett, Richo, Pavlich and many others. He has been warned.

You might have to google "rugby league confessions". Should come up at top of the news page.

Read this. Only a fool would believe it doesn't happen in AFL. Freo have some big mining magnates backing them who can deliver a dump truck full of cash. I don't think we have those heavyweight supporters. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/rugby-leagues-dirty-secret-confessions-of

http://tenplay.com.au/sport/sport-news/2016/5/11/just-a-family-visit

I believe as a rule of thumb, with the exception of Cloke, that these moving rumours that never seem to die down usually turn out to be true. FFS what interest does Hogan have to not kill it now? I don't think it is all about money like with Cloke.

Hogan did not much in two very good wins and was awesome in a pathetic team game. So he is not a problem or a saviour ATM. We should be ruthlessly trying to clean up our peer group of clubs and pushing the big boys as an indicator of real improvement. The way we are going we can win eventually 10 or 12 in 2017 on the back of 8 to 10 this season but if we continue to pick and chose our efforts the next big step after could be a big fall. I can picture all the premature high fives and back slaps celebrating our future success happening if we reach that stage. At the very best we might grind our way to a GF eventually in the next 2 or 3 seasons and it's a 50/50 we lose by a dozen goals like 1988 and 2000. Then fall in a heap again. Efforts like against Essendon and Saints are just not acceptable.

Give Ross Lyon any team and will make them into contenders. He was unlucky not to win a flag. His game plan was sound up the middle of last season. However he is too loyal to players past their use by date and has no clue how to maintain continuity of development. Eventually the well dries up.

Mundy is close to retirement also. Fyfe's injury could also be a career killer.

If the Freo rumours have a grain of truth, he now certainly has a lot to ponder about. I was curious how he would perform against Richmond with Freo's disgrace still fresh. Though a reasonably solid game aside from a few errors he was unusually low key as if pre occupied with something. We have been accustomed that he is always noticed whether playing good or bad. Now time to empty the tea leaves and wash the cup.

Love the way he helps him up so he can dump him twice.

If he continues to build on last weeks very good performance and plays out the year without anymore of his hissy fits I will lay off his back.

I was told SEN. Maybe I was told crap.

If Carey can help with his footy know how that will be great. Master of controlled competitive aggression. BTW had anyone heard Carey this week on SEN radio say we didn't come to play and he also was alleged to have said that a mystery punter backed Essendon for 2 million at 7 to1? I didn't hear it. Someone who listened told me. Did anyone else hear it or is it all bull?

If he is going, then the quicker the better so we can sort out our forward line and future direction with more clarity and certainty. We can't put up with the ever increasing rumours and speculation along with his petulance. So far this season he has been one huge distraction. A trade on the cards at end of season.

Freo are taking a huge risk if they try to get both McCarthy and Hogan IMO. Bringing big guns to fix structural problems does not work as well as most think and can be a destablishing influence. Reminds me of the Swan's situation. Tippet and Franklin have been negative net value so far and the Swans are not the tight close knit side they were before them. Similar also to when we recruited both Templeton and Moore. More trouble than they were worth. Some consolation I can take with this uncertainty is that we have demonstrated we can play well without Hogan and also when he's having an off day. Interesting to see how things develop in the next few months. If his contract uncertainty becomes a destabilising influence I would prefer he leaves with haste. It has been my concern that he may be too high maintenance for a fragile developing club like us.

One comment we won't hear from Hogan is; " I've made my bed, been rusted in, call it what you like. I'll leave the money and contract talk till later. Right now my ambition is to help drag this club kicking and screaming towords premiership success." Is just not done in modern football speak.

Well JB and NR are bona fide one club champions. Maybe there is something cryptic in the Ox's comment?

Last season we showed we can play well without him. Against Geelong our forward line was the most fluid and functional for years. Of course I want him to stay but if he goes I hope he plays like a true demon so he can leave with dignity if so. But I don't want to see the club held to ransom and everything revolving around him for the next two seasons. Last season we tended to make him the be all and end all focus of the forward line. I prefer him to be a role player and let's see how much he gives. PS. I thought I saw him or someone that may be impersonating him at a Perth restaurant last Sunday night with a female companion.

I'm glad to see him come over even for pick 25. I hear he is a pretty good boxer also.