Slartibartfast

rpfc are you surprised he's achieved what he has to date? He looks very comfortable at the pace. If he can develop his tank he could be damaging. What sort of mid was he in Canberra? Inside? Outside? Who would you compare him to in AFL? Did he have a history of kicking goals and if so from general play, crumbs or marks. He's been very impressive to date and coming off a limited preseason it's amazing.

I don't think there's any chance Salem will go, Roos will want to keep a settled back 6 and although Salem was quiet he didn't do a lot wrong. Kent had the defensive job on Malceski and Shaw would certainly be a target for this week. I've got no idea really. It's hard. It's good.

I think Salem will come into the conversation at match committee although I think he'll stay. He wasn't very good on the weekend. If I had to guess I think Toump and Kent will make way although there can be good arguments made for both. We now have more than 22 deserving of a spot. What we need is some of those (lesser) 22 push to become A graders Match committee did a great job last week, it will be a fascinating night at selection.

Joeboy - about bleeding time

I'm not stalking you rpfc, I'm just trying to help you understand your inconsistencies. I thought you'd be grateful for my help but you seem to take it as an affront. Can't understand why. You said stats lie while your sig quotes stats you like. You quote stats when it suits your cause (even start threads on them) and dismiss them when they don't. You think the stats in the Gold Coast game last year lied. Well here's a stat for you. We lost by 8 points. That margin was aided, IMO, by a poor free kick to Ablett in the last quarter who kicked a goal when we had all the momentum. GC didn't put us away? They were always in control? They are all opinions, not stats, and the stats don't support your position which is why you dismissed them. Another of your inconsistencies is the "unnecessarily personal" defense you present. You get all huffy when things get a little bit personal ( I think I had the audacity to call you a pedant, a shocking personal insult, not) and then you make the above comment about another poster. Can you see the inconsistencies (I've avoided the word hypocrisy as that's a harsh word). We all make mistakes rpfc, hard to believe this could include you but it does. Just acknowledge it and move on. Hope this helps. Cheers BBob

But if he plays a stinker next week you'll be wrong!The thing that really surprised me was the attacking game plan and dare. We didn't see that in the preseason games.

But you don't believe in them so how can you use them to support your argument? BTW I agree with you. Watts has shown steady improvement under Roos and unlike you I believe stats are indicative and don't lie. PD has a different view. I can live with that.

61

No, he thinks stats lie. Said so himself. Hold on, we're they stats he quoted about Jack?

The way I see it is the doubters will be wrong if Watts becomes a top 50 player. The doubters I'm talking about are those that have written him off. Not the ones that give a shallow week by week commentary, say "I was wrong and I'm happy" and move their doubt happily to someone else never recognising that having been wrong once before it could ever happen again. They're just the dumb clucks.

One swallow doesn't make a summer but I'll take the swallow. It was the best we've played since Bailey's time and long overdue but we played a Suns team short on match practice and without their two key forwards. Clearly the most pleasing thing is that we kicked goals and from my point of view that Jack Watts took another step in proving his doubters wrong. Interesting that the commentators kept accrediting the attacking play to Simon Goodwin. Personally I'd give the credit to Roos. The buck stops at the top. And isn't the brand of footy so far this round so good with its attacking mindset. I also like the new holding the ball interpretation. A win next week would really be something.

Forward entry awful. Gawn struggling with Pensil in ruck.

Casey 3.5 v Coll 2.1. Spencer dominating ruck giving first use to C mids. Vince good, Michie, Grimes, Jordie doing well.

If it's any consolation none of us have. My view is that if we had a first year player perform as well in preseason as Grimes has this year Demonland would be in uproar if he hadn't got a game.

He most certainly played the weekend we played a very weak Essendon and I thought he played the week before but I'm probably wrong. Look, he's obviously talented, he's playing well and the FD know what they are doing. I'm just surprised. Does anyone know which players are playing against Collingwood tomorrow. I presume if you're fit and not playing for the seniors you'll play for Casey apart from the carry over player.

I note that you haven't changed your sig despite your statement that stats lie. It's hard to take you seriously now.

Does anyone know any details about the game against Collingwood tomorrow. What time does it start, who is playing for us, all that sort of thing. Really disappointing it's not on the MFC site, or have I missed it?

He's confident. He gave the captain a whack in the Age this morning.

Something similar was on the AFL site, but I don't know where ProDee got his info. The one thing it doesn't measure is talent. A talented 40 gamer will always be better than an limited 80 gamer.

Unlike most this is not the team I would have picked. I struggle with the concept of a player who hasn't played any sort of game or practice match being picked ahead of someone who has played in all three NAB cup games, an intra club game and any number of match simulations during the preseason. For all that people go on here Grimes is not a bad footballer, most conceding that his last two practice games were good. I don't like the decision itself and the message it sends. Let's hope that Grimes is the last victim of the Neeld years and let's hope Jack can fight back. I really feel for him, right or wrong it's an awful thing to happen. I'm also struggling with the idea that Brayshaw gets in ahead of M Jones when he wasn't deemed good enough to get a gig in any of the NAB Cup games and Jones did ok in that series. And I'm surprised that Vandenberg gets a gig. I like him but I don't think he's ready and I think come Saturday night others will agree with me. I'm surprised with this team because it seems to me to be picked for the future. It doesn't seem to me to be the best team to win on Saturday and I didn't think that was the Roos way. The caveat of course is that the FD knows more than anyone here and is in an infinitely better position to make calls. Lets hope they have it right.

Then get rid of your sig.....

What's the team?

I'm angry Jack for reasons I've stated above. But if anyone, players included, thinks they weren't given illicit drugs then they live in fairy land. And if anyone feels they were exonerated they are deluded. The whole world knows they cheated and the whole world knows why they got offI agree, Essendon are like the East Germans and Chinese. Let's hope they don't win anything.

But as you've said previously you have only seen part of the evidence. I would have thought your legal training and logical thought would have led to a position of support for the tribunal who, as Redleg has so clearly pointed out, are honourable men of your profession. After all Jack, they've seen it all and you haven't. Having said that I accept that when you have read it all (I can't understand how you have the energy) you won't change your view. I think your apparent anger is misplaced. But you should be angry, that I agree with.

It does in their eyes. I'm glad the players got off. I'm glad we can, at least for the present, get on with playing footy. I'm pizzed to the back teeth that those that administered and orchestrated this thing are anywhere other than facing criminal charges.