John Crow Batty

Dysfunctional enough to win a premiership it seems. The forward line was a lot worse before he took over. The problem with our current forward line is not having stability with key forwards. Tmac in and out of form now injured. BBB in interrupted average form. Weid can’t step up. Relying on Fritsch to be the leading goal kicker when he should be icing on cake. I believe he’s doing a good job.

We don’t need another key forward who’s only going to play for a season or two. We need one to play for the next decade. We are not Geelong which can top up in perpetuity due to their insane home ground advantage.

Its an easy fix, penalise the players that do it. Free kick against for holding the ball/prior opportunity of disposal. Why is is so hard?

Waiting for when a player gets his neck broken when milking a high tackle free and then suing the AFL for encouraging dangerous play that could cause injury.

Adelaide looked more hungrier than us. That was a worry even though we got over them.

Great result for US. Let’s hope now WC continue their improvement.

It’s not a matter of pessimism or optimism. Its more about the reality of the current situation. Freo are white hot and unrealistic to expect them to stumble. Currently we are equal to the Saints as the worst performed top 9 teams for the last 6 rounds and we have two games against sides that are still desperate to make finals and the rest are top 8. If we don’t improve we will slide rapidly down the ladder. If we improve and make top 4 then it’s a moot point. But as yet there no clear signs we can recapture our winning form and hunger so having a top 8 buffer is better for finals appearance chances. We are at the crossroads now and can’t afford a lame performance next week against Port which will be pumped up. We need all the helpful variables available to get out game back in order for a strong finals campaign.

We can’t hog all the top 4 spots. We have a very tough run home and our form is shaky. I don’t want to see us battling for 8th spot if we lose a couple more.

Now dockers to beat saints please to increase our final 8 buffer.

Shouldn’t Selwood be cited for this? It was reckless, dangerous and caused injury that could force Clarry out to recover. He should get a couple of weeks for what he did.

There is a pattern with May in first quarters. Is fumbly, uncertain and poor disposal early in many games. Happened in GF as well. Improves as game goes on. Last night he was worse than usual and cost us goals and momentum though he did well one on one against Hawkins.

Geelong were more hungry than us. We have been playing a passive/aggressive game all season relying on bursts of rapid scoring to defeat teams that we allow to throw everything at us. The only games where we have appeared more hungry than the opposition was against Brisbane and Port. Last week though be beat Adelaide we let them dictate the play all game. If they were a marginally better side they would have won. Next week we come up against Port again in Alice. This game is their last chance to have a hope of securing a finals spot. They will throw everything at us.

In our last 6 games we have lost clearances in all four losses and won them in our two wins. Our powerhouse midfield is slipping.

Gawn and Jackson, one mark between them as well….ugh. Maybe both rushed back too early?

Smashed in the clearances. maybe better with Weid and Mitch rucking. Gawn and Jackson more or less useless.

Yes played at Pork Barrel Park. One of my favourite all time non MFC finals game. Steven Hills 5 bounce late charge along the Pork Barrel members wing to goal and ice the game was sublime.

Are you sure it’s Fish Creek? Fish Creek is on the other side of Wilson’s Prom and from Geelong it would take longer to get there than to fly to Adelaide.

An acquaintance here in Perth who’s a WC supporter told me WC stopped tanking because they are now out of the running to get Jackson. I take that with a grain of salt but who knows what goes on.

Port choked this one at the death.

I don’t think it matters much if commentators are connected with certain clubs. Sport is entertainment. We had Daisy Pearce commentating and no one here complains. The football world and associated media has always been incestuous and nepotistic and bias in some form is always there. It is what it is.

He did alright in the finals and GF as I recall despite being so so early in the season last year. He’s here for the duration this season.

That’s assuming other clubs were interested in him at the time. Delisted players hitting 30 years old usually don’t have too many offers.

Mitch Brown must be one of the longest travelled journeyman ever. Drafted in 2008 but only played 79 games for 3 clubs. Very few players remain from that vintage in the league. Amazing.

There were 77 free kicks paid that game. 39 to Fitzroy and 38 to Adelaide. Unbelievable.

Both Weid and Mitch battled hard. They played their roles perfectly.