Dockett 32

Pretty good effort I thought. It's true we are not yet a good side, but I think the evidence would suggest we are surely getting there. Seems when Jonesy and Gawn play well then so do we and they did yesterday. When we finally get there I hope many old scores are settled.

Stats from here on in tell us who we should keep.

Agreed and 6/1 in a two horse race is enticing.

Twice in a row Maxxy has been towelled up by this bloke. Jamar used to get beaten by Hudson every time we played the Bulldogs. Maxxy needs to turn it around next time to avoid a similar pattern evolving.

Roos comment "We don't have a Dangerfield" says a couple of things to me. Firstly Prestia just shortened and it was a veiled comment on our skippers effort. Normally I'm a bit of a fan of Jonesy but he didn't show up yesterday. Not what you would expect of a leader.

On the basis of their current playing list and deals in place and even allowing for a few retirements at the Swans, if we are serious about keeping McDonald it escapes me how we couldn't be competitive with an offer. Understand the Hogan factor but if we don't sign T Mac ( which I hope we do) would assume we have an even better plan B .

Fair question I would have thought and I would also appreciate being enlightened.

Would be surprised they would be able to fit a 'high priced' Tmac in salary cap with Buddy , Tippett ? . Would think something would have to give.

If our young midfielders get better and become bigger problems for the opposition to counter, as most think they will ( eg Viney who is almost there, Tyson, Oliver, Brayshaw ant Petracca) Jonesy will only get better and better as the job gets shared around more equally. At the moment he ( and Vince) take on a great share of team performance responsibility each week.

Three weeks in a row opposition clubs have used some interesting physical stuff on Hunt. A fair bit has been very ordinary , but most impressed by Hunts focus at the footy.

6. T Mac 5. Grimes 4. Hunt 3. Watts 2. Hogan 1. N.Jones

Very good game. Well done Jack

Haven't seen him do a drop kick yet, but that aside, there are similarities I reckon.

With Max getting his fair share in the ruck, more than fair share at times, IMO our midfield should be doing a lot better. Not ruthless enough ( like Hawthorn,Swans) in the engine room. We have to start smashing sides in this area , Max gives us an advantage but I thought that both last week and this week the opposition were way harder and cleaner than us in the midfield. Would kill for a Selwood , Kennedy, Fyfe or Hodge. Maybe that's why Petracca was moved there and I hope its persevered with.

Very disappointed about today,especially in some senior players who were just missing. You need 22 working against the top sides and we just didn't have that. Garlett got the message and it should certainly happen to another couple this week . On the other hand just rapt in young Hunt. Two weeks in a row has impressed against top 8 sides.

Be a decent outcome, but for it to happen he has to want to go , has to want to come to us and no other club with a better first rounder or trade can outbid us. IMO defence ok, midfield and forwards need to perform better. T.Mc ok for me at a sensible arrangement for both parties.

No thanks. T Mc way better.

Would be 26 next year , just a player and injuries a concern

Ok and who replaces?

We are 6/7, ( improving) nearly every week we walk away with something positive that indicates a baby step (this week Hunt) and this has been going on for three years now. Hogan, Viney , Gawn , Brayshaw, Salem ,Tyson ,Petracca, Oliver, Hunt, Stretch Harms ( apologies to others) plus a bit of astute trading ( Vince, Lamumba, Garlett , Kennedy, Bugg) and there is more to come in the seconds. The top sides are not going to roll over or give us an inch. The above players and others when the they are truly ready and prepared , when the time is right ( and its getting closer ) are simply going to shove them out of the way. It takes time. Take a look at the Giants with 24 first round draft picks ,Premiership players and Club captains. We managed to beat them. Roos has held the cup up, he knows what it takes, he knows how hard it is and we saw exactly what we are up against Sunday. ie.Tough hard, forged blokes with bigger bodies who can really play. They also play for each other and would die for the cause. These blokes have been operating at the top end of the curve for a long time and then you throw in Franklin and Tippett. Happy to have Roos steering the ship, the other more successful options are?

Worst conditions for AFL football, I've ever seen, so I'd be going a bit easy. I didn't think our backs were that bad and despite the brothers one stuff up reckon they did ok. It was a tough day at the office. Hunt too stuffed a couple, up but I thought he was terrific. He just took it on, no matter what. Really impressed with his never give in attitude. Despite Jones and Viney's flattering stats I felt our midfield ex Vince were a little disappointing. Thought Maxxy gave them many chances and they just weren't as clean or as hard at it as the A grade Sydney mids. The Sydney mids just take their attack at the ball or the ball carrier to a different level. I also admired their off the ball blocking for their team mates. Their mids are always doing something for the team and rarely out of the game. At every contest they just seemed to be asking "what can I do for the side". We have come a long way but Sydney taught us a bit. Was sitting right next to our players race and young Oliver had to come in mid game for treatment for something and TMc was proppy too. Don't know if this was shown on TV.

Its a great viewing venue, enjoyed this time despite the weather. Learning experience for me and I'm sure for a few of our young boys Hunt, Stretch and Oscar. Consolation was the Bradman Bar.

Superannuation maybe to fill in for Hoges and the Weed when needed and mentor future forwards.

Decent set of 'fun bags'

Beautiful isn't it? Work of art.