Pates

Perhaps we get some games into him and try to push his value up. Until we got Jacko I had no issue about have Preuss in the background as a back up ruck but he’d be considered behind Jackson now in the heir to throne of ruckman at our club. How many years does he have left on his contract? Against Grundy he was clearly outclassed but he battled well and did some good things. It’ll be good to see him go against ruckmen that are more in his standard.

So we got through our horror start to the year (fixture wise) and we’re now in the patch of games where we should be considered either favourites or 50/50. I meant to write this before the pies but in a lot of ways our finals almost begin now. We can’t really afford to lose 2 more games for the year, so almost every game is considered an 8 pointer. Massive game for both clubs next week.

If this year was the experiment to work out how a midweek block of games was possible they’ve probably found out the 4 day breaks are maybe just too much for the athletic rigours of AFL. I didn’t think Tom was as awful as what some have said, maybe we give Brown a chance in his place but I wouldn’t be rushing to mess with the mix. I was worried about the functionality of the forward line as previous occasions it’s looked like Tom and Weid got in each other’s way, but they seemed to have more defined space and there is connectivity between forwards and mids. With the calls to drop Tommo, again maybe I can see where it’s coming from but the team defence was held up as a reason for our upward trajectory so again I wouldn’t want to mess with it. I think trialling Tommo in defence is worth it, he’s got the size and athleticism, seems to have a good footy brain, it’s just his kicking that is a real worry at times.

Not to nit pick but that wasn’t after the siren. Much like Big Max vs Cats in the 2018 it was essentially the last kick of the game.

I just really don’t know what Taberner was thinking, I mean there must’ve been enough communication to know there wasn’t much time left. It just seemed like such a weak option especially as it would’ve resulted in a throw in still in a close enough spot for Carlton to get a clearance and a mark inside from it. I’d be filthy if I was a Freo fan.

Exactly what I was thinking, the old “I don’t want to offend anyone but...” [insert offensive comment]. What this shows is that Collingwood with the players they currently have out are a bottom 10 team. We can only beat who we’ve played and we should’ve got at least one win against either the Cats or Lions but choked.

I missed out on the tip (I changed at the last minute) but having seen the closing moments of the Freo v Carlton game I can always be comforted by whatever is going on with Melbourne that Freo exist. The way they managed to stuff up the last 10-15 seconds epitomises that club. They had everything on a platter, but Taberner bizarrely gave the umpire every reason to pay the deliberate, and then the younger Brayshaw did a moronic bump after the Blues player had kicked it to give away the down the field free kick. But Newnes, wow cool as a cucumber finish. Had no right to kick that after the siren. I hate Carlton and love to see the lose, but seeing Fremantle be the architects of their own destruction is hilarious to watch. EDIT in very Carlton style they managed to pull one over the umpire by having Newnes take the kick as well. (And Brayshaw was probably a little stiff, going for the smother and momentum carried him into the Blues player)

I missed out on seeing the first so it’s been interesting to watch, I thought Lever was poor from what I’d seen of the game but his first quarter was very good. After that though he looked really shaky around the ball, I don’t know what shook his confidence but he looked fine and then turned to poo.

I wouldn’t say he looks cooked, he’s played some good footy in patches but I agree that he hasn’t given big numbers so fitness is still an issue. I think he has more to his story for the year but I wouldn’t be rushing him back in.

I think he tries too hard not to seem biased and goes a little the other way, which can be a little frustrating to listen to.

I thought Tom did enough to keep his spot, if anything seems to be closer to what he was. But you’re right on his marking, almost seems to be swatting at the ball rather than having strong arms ready for contact. If there’s still doubt on Gawn then persist with Preuss, I still think our midfield need to improve at hunting the ball when our taps aren’t working to advantage. For me I thought Fritch was one of our poorest players when the contest was on, he seems to be becoming a bit of a junk time specialist. I wouldn’t say no to dropping him for Hannan. We could well be looking at no changes if Gawn still needs time.

We got a great ride from the umps tonight, that was probably the worst decision of them all. Dead set taking out the legs from Viney, then best part was he got one go his way that was taking out the legs that despite the commentary clearly being bizarrely geared towards the Pies on that was just as clear as the other. Ah poor Bucks......actually stuff him!!!

Those two stupid acts deserve an absolute scolding and he is very lucky he’s survived the chop on the back of them. For an impact player he isn’t making enough of an impact.

I’m ok with Preuss coming in but I was equally keen for them to keep Tom as the main ruckman and bring in Brown as the second tall forward. My reason being that Grundy will likely win most taps regardless of who we have in there, with Tom at least we might have someone to run him off his feet. It’s entirely possibly they might choose to do that during certain stages of the game and use Preuss as a tall target (hopefully he’s learned how to clunk some marks). The Pies have brought some serious quality in, fingers crossed they may be a little underdone and won’t have the usual impact. I want Viney to go hard for Pendles and tackle/smash him with authority, legally of course ?.

Don’t understand Rivers getting dropped, looked good to me.

I could be wrong but I think the club probably sees “dumping him” or leaving him behind in Melbourne as a bad move for his mental health and at the end of the day he is a contracted player so no harm in helping him rehab with the unlikely chance of him getting fully rehabilitated being something in the background.

Bring in Austin Bradtke? He rucked vs North in the practice match earlier this year. You asked for a 4th option! It’s a tough call, for me I just worry about Sam and Tom in the same forward line. They just don’t seem to click. I’d be leaning towards Brown for LJ and continue playing Tom as our ruckman with Tomlinson chopping out. If Grundy plays then tell Tom his number one job is to run hard all day to tire him out. That said the obvious choice is probably LJ out, Preuss in.

I’ve taken the absence of his name when injury updates are given as a clear indication that he is being rehabilitated towards retirement. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s been working with the coaches a lot for perhaps a career post-footy. Concussions are such a difficult one to work out because it appears everyone reacts differently. But right now a footy club would be a good environment for him. Whatever happens I hope he doesn’t suffer ill effects through his life.

I think officially it was “ankle soreness” sounds like management so fingers crossed he’s good to go.

I guess they are actually keeping some of the behind the scenes footage going so I won't be shocked if we see a full fledged doco by the end of the year, though perhaps not if we don't make the 8! As for this, maybe pumping up our own tyres a little. Might've liked to see this come out after the Pies game should we win.

Sounds a lot like Salem vs the Cats.

I would imagine it probable makes the scenario towards the end of the year more simplified. As Simon Black said on Triple M the two point draws can help and hinder you. I just really wish the Suns had got across the line, sounded like their two late opportunities were not dissimilar from our stuff ups against the cats and the Lions.

For me the biggest thing that stunted Weids development was using him as our second ruckman, that’s been the beauty of recruiting Jackson and him being able to make an impact (a lot earlier than expected to be honest). Sam being our key forward has simplified his role and given him confidence. I wanted him in earlier, particularly when TMac was doing sweet FA, but Goodwin was adamant that he wasn’t showing enough in the scratch matches. Impossible to know these things for sure in hindsight, but Sam’s in now and for the time being I can see him going anywhere. Just needs to work on his set shots.

Apparently this week was the first competitive footy Preuss has played since getting injured. You’d have to imagine that TMac with match fitness would give us more across the ground than an underdone Preuss (who isn’t particularly great even when fully fit). Grundy looked pretty knackered against Adelaide and off a short break either he’ll be very underdone or they might just choose to rest him. If there’s doubt on Max then it’s an easy decision for me, give him time. Don’t burn him out. I really wish we’d rested him vs Adelaide but I suspect the decision was left to him and he wanted to play to make sure the club got the win.

In a strange way I almost feel like the finals have started for us, we can’t really afford anymore than two losses. Really needed to get a win from one of the Cats or Lions to give us a little buffer. On our day we can beat every one of those teams, but we aren’t consistent or mature enough to go on that big a run (in my opinion at least). We need to get the W against the Pies though, we are in a good position to do so and we have to press the advantages that we have (healthier list, longer break, strong fitness to run games out).