bjDee

A good plan executed violently right now is better than a perfect plan executed some time next week. - George Patton

"What matters most is not that we do our best, but that what needs to be done gets done." - Churchill. Basically - I don't give a sh!t if you trained and played all your life in the VFL. We need an inside mid at AFL level, and you are our best chance. Get in there and make it happen.

Hi All, Soooo disappointed in what I saw of the seniors on screen that I went down to Casey to look at the potential replacements. First time watching a game at Casey and only got there for the 2nd half, so discount this heavily. Really can't see what the fuss was about Morton. Saw him get into a few contests, but more as an outsider - in free space calling for the ball, or tapping the ball on at the edge of a pack. One time - had a moderately easy chance to advance the ball down the wing and kicked out on the full through a misskick. Blease - have been a big (hopeful) fan, but agree with comments above - bit of a downhill skier today. Showed some skill vs those around him in positioning the ball off his foot when kicking, but it was a 50:50 outcome whether it went to a teammate or opponent. Didn't deserve to be reinstated on what I saw. Fitzy - looks to have the size & shape to take the next step, and makes a good contest running into a pack (several times) but kicking let him down on a couple of the occasions I saw him. Tappy - was swung into the centre at the 3/4 time huddle. Brought some good encouragement from his teammates - 'go tapdog', 'go tappy', 'go bull', but while he was brought more into the play, the ball mostly didn't go his way. In some ways he was too unselfish and would shepherd his own players through instead of going in first. Lawrence - only saw him in he action a couple of times. First reaction was - he's too slight to make it in the big time. Made one good tackle in our forward pocket which led to a turnover, but the opportnity kind of fell into his lap after he had given up chasing a previous play. Davis - was the best of the listed layers that I saw. Regularly made good spoils under pressure, and handed off to players in better position. Couch - liked what I saw, but didn't get it a lot. Makes good decisions, spots up players not too far away and generally delivers well. Others - sorry - too uneducated an eye to pick them all out. All in all, I didn't see any of the breakout performances that we all want to see, which demand a selector to elevate the player at next opportunity. God knows we have the oportunity, but the players well, ummmmm..... Basically, the Scorps players made more of an impression than the Dees players. No. 11 as above, and no. 9 for great tackling and running though the midfield. Really don't quite know how Frankston couldn't get up and win. They had so much of the play especially in Q3.

Fully agree. We lost so many chances by sticking blindly to the 'down the line' mantra and not straightening up to the half forward line or looking for the switch. There was no Plan B ready to go. Also the delay in making the sub switch when we were just getting creamed all through the 3rd quarter had me really frustrated.

"I was just going up to have a look around".

Oh stuff it. Lots of thing to say, but I don't really feel it's worth the effort to hammer the thoughts out on my keyboard. Shades of early 2011. Just so much disappointment. After 50 years, and another promisiong pre-season, am I going to start a search for another team to support? One that actually gives a fig? Bombing it to 2 on 1 was sooo 1 dimensional. Ralphy, no offence but this is one time you need to watch before posting. Yes it's a radical departure from the previous game plan, but one that takes us no closer to dominance than anything else we have seen over the past 20 years. One regret though - Jimmy Magner deserves a lot more spotlight for a great 1st AFL game than we are giving him, amidst our disgust & grief. And of the more seasoned players, I really admired Barty for the effort he put in all day. He was the one player, leadership group or not, that I thought carried a bit of Jimmy Stynes' spirit with him today.

Thanks for the update. Nice first post - filled a gap in our knowledge. Welcome to the zoo.

Farewell Jimmy. Thank you, and thank you, and thank you again. Rest easy now. Rest in Peace.

Fan bloody tastic. Come on boys - show us that same fighting spirit and will to win in 2012. I'm off to wipe away a tear or two...

Quite apart from whether it was the right decision... And quite apart from how it was delivered.... My feeling is that Brad's admirable response (provided it stays consistent with what we've seen yesterday & today) just earned him a few decibels more of cheering when he gets the ball on the members' wing. And mine will be one of those voices.

So - what are the chances that the next rule changes from AFL HQ involve: removing the point posts and scoring "1" for a goal? allowing throwing the ball, as long as it's backwards? I would put nothing past them.

I don't understand how people can't see the link between being 'competitive' in the pre season and having a decent start to the season proper. IIRC, last year few here seemed concerned that we were bowled out of the NAB cup rounds (we were probably all mesmerised by initially winning in Adelaide), but yet they still expected us to somehow switch instantaneously from a losing to a winning culture within a few weeks. I may be hazy on the recollections of last year, but I do know I was a bit angry going into the start of the H&A season for the team not having come to the party well before round 1. I don't care if we never win a pre-season cup. But I DO want to know that the boys are about equal to their opponents by that time.

What about the tram-riders? And the train travellers? Do they get a look in? I think he also said something about cheesemakers....

And maybe Trengove's mum as well.....

Thanks Binga. And how pumped does Nicho sound?

I'm no fan of Graham Richardson, but when it comes to footy, "Whatever It Takes" is how I'd like us to play in 2012.

Yeah, nah. Bit too much weed being smoked down at SEN.

Brilliant!. For my part, I assumed there must have been a big bag of cash at the finish line for the first home.

I virtually wrote off Bater last year, questioning if the game had passed by a player with his abilities/physique etc. But I really really really hope I was wrong about him last year. I just liked him from his first game. Would love it if Neeld proved to be a magician and Bater was his best trick.

I remember being excited at the enticing reports of Scull's training. And I hated the AFL-sanctioned scullduggery that got him to GWS. But i do not regret losing what turned out to be a lying skunk with no character. Sorry to open up on the topic that probably belongs somewhere else. To get back on track, I too agree that the squad is looking in much better balance with all the changes that have happened.

Nice snaps. By the way, can you believe this is January in Melbourne? It all looks so green.....and a great surface to train / play on.

Touche and more strength to you and your posts.

Off topic: Sorry Macca, nice avatar, but I can't help hearing Kramer's voice read out your post every time I see it.

So, has anyone seen Aaron during the training setups this pre-season in a forward crumbing role? I do like the thought of it, just reckon if it was a serious option, it might have been implemented at training before now. There have been plenty of changes to the structure & forward line since AD was positioned there last, so I'd reckon it needed to be practiced well before it was rolled out on game day.

I would love to see John Clark and collaborators do a comedy series based around the AFL & its administration, like they did with the Sydney Olympic Games. There's plenty of material to work with.