DemonWA

Doesn't help when he can grab the ball and have it punched out of this hands and the umpires blow play on too. BBBB was far from the worst today. The guys that go out will be making room for Gawn and potentially Jacko. They might also drop 1 small (Kozzie suspension?) and play M Brown or Weid in the TMac role?

Huge week for Sam!

As many have said he will go down as one of the all time great demons. You build entire game styles around players like clarry. What a time to be alive haha

I think the team that played last week is getting pretty close. Obviously with Gawn in for Weideman. A Fit Tom McDonald is a no brainer too, probably at the expense of Bedford who would be sub. On form I'd toss a coin between Spargo and Bedford though. What I loved about Bedfords game last week was that he backed himself when close to goals, and was happy to kick to space and let Kossie go to work. Both of these aspects have been lacking in our team during the run of 3 losses. We've butchered attacking play by trying to be way too unselfish in the f50 and we've been safe and predictable in our attacking ball movement. Bedford changed that.

Strikes me as the sort of bloke who would stay for a pay cut. Heart and soul player

Sumich also went hard on the 'Neale back to Freo' trade rumour. Grain of 🧂

I don't think the debate has ever been about whether loading occurs- the debate is whether it is the primary reason for our form slump.

Trengoves career was tragic in some respects. On the other hand he was a captain and was much loved by fans and team mates alike

Don't mind Wattsy coming out with this stuff. Just goes to show it's not such a big deal really

I'd love to see Daw get a game but I wouldn't be surprised to see a Jackson/Weideman combo picked. I think we'd get more from Jackson rucking in shorter bursts and Daw is worth a crack IMO

I admire your confidence

We won 17 games last year and the flag. The loading narrative has been applied in hindsight so will always hold up. Watching the 3 consecutive losses it's pretty clear to me that we have bigger issues than fresh legs and tired players. How many games do you have us winning from here?

Trent Rivers

It would be never spoken about because it shouldn't be seen as an excuse - All teams will vary loads at various times, and all teams try to win each week regardless of where they are in that process. Only hand wringers on demonland look for a silver bullet or 'line of best fit in form' to explain our current poor form away. At the moment we've only lost 3 games - Therefore the loading narrative can be maintained for now. Loose a few more and the theory starts to unpick itself.

Oh man, the post match topic is off the hook with loading excuses again haha

Disappointing but expected loss. We haven't been able to cover for May and McDonald. I think the effort is generally there but the execution isn't. Surprised to see the reactions that almost expect us to win the flag. A tough run home will show whether we're upto it or not with nowhere to hide. Good time for a bye.

Trying to imagine what would have come about if social media and smart phones were around in 2004-6 when the West Coke Eagles boys were at their 'best'. AFL condone drug use with their weak as [censored] drug policy so not surprised to see this be less about a footy player breaking the law and more about the 'poor complicated boy' .

True. Also Fritsch had a set shot which I was ready to bank in Q4 - he didn't register a score which is unlike him in recent years. Gawn too with the close range checkside. I think that's why the Sydney game burned for so many fans, we were down but probably still could have won.

I got sent a screenshot of a text that contains some ridiculous claims that suggests the May/Melksham incident is just the tip of the iceburg. Choosing not to post it because it seems like unsubstantiated BS to me, and I don't want to get banned!

How many sherbets have you had old mate. Good read though. "old fashioned epoch-making Melbourne MCG slaughter" is a great line haha

Perfect. Close thread.

It's not clear from the reports that it was May who made the 2nd comment (about getting injured before the finals). Either way, I reckon there's nothing at all in there that should have lead to fisticuffs

I'm being facetious mate. It's actually quite humorous (as a non player that doesn't particularlyrate Smith or Milkshake) but I understand that it's not what Gawny has been trying to instill into the group

Great banter tbh

Only additional outcome I can see is warranted is a ban to Melksham (due to violence and the AFL wanting to ensure they're seen not to condone it) and potentially some fines.