monoccular

WTH is with the Taggert back injury? Do we recruit guys with bad backs every year? A KPI?

Does he actually need to have DumbItriou to say he can train or play? He hasn't been found guilty of anything - do we still have a presumption of innocence in Australia? I know Bob Brown would like that to be removed should you be a media owner, but he hasn't managed to worm that one through his Parliament, yet.

2 + 2 would surely hinder player development - some poor buggers will get at most one quarter for weeks on end. Surely the same effect on 'tiring players' and 'encouraging endurance' would result from a severe limitation on the number of interchanges per quarter, say to 15 or even 12. And for those who complain about the effects on a team of getting an injury late in a quarter, any interchanges after the limit would be permitted but would in fact be a substitution.

He certainly has a lot to show some of the more "highly rated" players on our list in terms of hardness and determination,and getting the very best out of himself, week in, week out. I honestly cannot remember him having a "bad game". Take heed.

Hard to tell - hardly anyone has seen him

Whilst I don't particularly like Malthouse, surely he has hit the nail pretty much on the head. A coach with a game plan, provided that he is able and prepared to let it evolve especially if it ain't working, is a nice change. And I am sure he is goading Watts, as many here are - Jack, are you up to the challenge, do you really want it?? I doubt I he would waste his breath if he felt he was a lost cause. And from what I saw of Saturday, wasn't the essential difference clean ball use, and gut running to position? We seemed to win a lot more hard ball than last year, which is a start to moving forward. Now we must move on and use it better, which requires those upfield to offer genuine options, and not just one. We have been extremely lazy, unbeleivably so, in this respect over the last few years, and MN will surely not tolerate it any more.

Thanks for that clarification. Perhaps Liam should be advised to keep away from the press altogether - in fact I am surprised that the club hadn't advised or even insisted that already. You never know what can slip out inadvertently, or intentionally if the interviewer were hostile or someone inclined towards big-noting themselves (not suggesting that Ediie is hostile by the way). Doesn't seem "sensible" to me.

I didn't see it but isn't it a bit tacky, and possibly legally improper (comments lawyers please) whilst serious charges are sub judice?

From the little I managed to see on TV, it seemed that the big gap was crisp and clean disposal to players working their buts off to make space and options. Skill? Fitness? Enthusiasm? Experience and familiarity with game plan? PS: just watching SBS UEFA Barcelonla v Bayer Leverkusen. Barcelona absolutely ruthlessly dominated with magic foot skills. Similarities - once a champion team gets on top, watch out! 7-1!

......and please don't tell me we could have had Cyril ahead of Morton. Please don't.

As long as it is on a decent ground (safe surface) it doesn't really matter, does it? It is another practice match: if we do well the optimists will take heart, if we do poorly the pessimists will slash their collective wrists.

LOL They treat us like toys and we rarely put up a decent fight against this mob.

I read that too - extraordinary to publish that regarding a sub judice case I would have thought. Any lawyers here? Is that the sort of stuff that could result in a mistrial? Still - H-S = headline grabber, or more like headline grubber.

I would have thought, again FACTS not clear, were he in fact found to be intoxicated regardless of any potential criminal matters, the club would have to impose a sanction on him as they would to any other player who was intoxicated. They could surely do no less. And I don't think that prosecutors lawyers, as you put it, would gain anything useful from a site such as this - a lot of hearsay here.

.....and just wouldn't that be the best outcome for all concerned. But the wheels of justice turn so slowly.

Do his bail conditions allow him to leave the City or the Territory? Does he have to report in regularly? If he can get back here, and wants to train and play, we should give him full encouragement - no "special consideration" re selection issues, but full encouragement.

I feel the same deep pain in the guts as I did when I heard news of Troy. We must remember that the Centre is an extremely violent place, amongst the indigenous community and particularly amongst families: there are serious assaults on an almost daily basis - bashings, stabbings etc. This is not to excuse Liam in any way if he is in fact guilty of these charges, but just a bit of background. I had always thought that Liam was a fine young leader who could possibly be a sort of ambassador for his people, and maybe lead than from this sort of violent culture. If this is all true it is a huge setback not just for Liam and his family but for the whole indigenous community of Central Australia in moving on from this violence based culture.

Liam has been seen by many, myself included, as a shining example of what an indigenous boy from the back of beyond can achieve by application, and opportunity. It would be a huge set back not only for Liam, but for his community and for indigenous progress generally were this to turn out as it may appear from first impressions. Let's just all cool it and wait for some FACTS.

The guy is an absolute looney; what the hell is he talking about? Far far worse than the Martian man, who at least has the excuse of senility.

There is nothing wrong with Doglands surface according to Dumbitriou, so it must be so.

You repeat that he is a star. IMVHO he is a very talented player who could be a star IF he showed the application / concentration to play consistently at or near his best. That is the frustrating point repeatedly raised by so many of us here -- he risks being remembered as being a wasted talent: a 'superstar', if you like, who wasn't because he went missing far too often. So far he is more like a meteor or a comet than a star that shines brightly consistently. And I also feel that many of us here hope and beleive that MN is the person who can inspire / cajole / demand that Col reaches his best, and is remembered as what you already describe him as, a star, and not the coodabeen he risks remaining as. Serving the club imposed suspension is step one in this 'rehabilitation' and must not be revoked.

And he isn't even Western Australian tall timber ;-) On a moor serious note, it wood be great news were Liam to get back into the team, possibly even in the next month or sew.

I hadn't noticed, but if that is the case then get him some MFC pantyhose quick smart. ;-}

That is a good summary of where young Jack is at present. And the commentators are at least right in suggesting a sense of urgency will take him a long way further. That should come with time, experience, and a structured team with a game plan around him, and especially alternative forward targets.

I wasn't at the game; listened to some of it and watched very little - I too felt, after about 120 (was it in the second quarter?) that more was probably better in a perverse sort of way, as it would have to bring on change. Now other than the coach, nothing much changed as far as I could see in the approach or the intensity of the playing group for the remainder of 2011, but since then..........wow! I don't know if anyone could have seen just how profound the change was to be, but it has I think turned out to be a very purgative event. The next few months will give an indication as to how effective this change will be: let's hope it carries on from where it appears to be heading at this stage. GO DEMONS! GIVE THEM HELL!