Pates

One advantage the AFL has going with the "make it up as you go" fixture is they might be able to be more flexible with how they create the draw through the year. If a team starts to show some excitement and entertainment they could be bumped into higher exposure timeslots. This should 100% be an aim for us to be pushing into the minds of Seven and the AFL to get us into those prime time slots by the end of the year.

Plus the Happy Gilmore quote.

On the fixture, there is absolutely no excuses for us. 3 of them very winnable (would go so far to say should win), one of them we will be definite underdogs but it's at the MCG which helps us. If last year was the odd one out, then we should be winning 3 out of 4 at least.

Producer: "we're short about 3-4 minutes, what dribble can we use to pad out the show for a bit?" Hutchy: "we'll I was thinking that Max Gawn's hair looked a bit strange for a first time captain..." Producer: "done!" I think that conversation has been had more than a few times during the lockdown, not much to talk about so create stories.

I'm going to be genuinely interested to follow his progress at the Hawks, so many in the media were giving the club a grilling for letting him go, but I don't know if Clarko will be able to work his magic on Frost. He is way too unpredictable.

There was a golden example in there of what Frost does when he is on the liability side of things. Gave up a stupid free kick directly in front to give them level, takes a mark and immediately coughs it up. I was sad he left but we have enough liability players.

Basically I agreed with you however, and I admit I'm not familiar with the Blues list, but who would be the direct match up of OMac? Might be that he misses if there isn't a suitable match up for him. That said I still actually think as a defender taking the 2nd tall forward he isn't the worst going around.

Given up until coronavirus we were going to be playing GWS I think this draw has become favourable for us. Really 3 out of 4 should be near enough to 50/50, if we can get some momentum from wins over the Blues and bombers then the cats at the G might be a chance. I’d take us being 3-2 by the end of this. Good to have some footy to look forward to!

I’m pretty sure they’re looking at him as unlikely for the restart, if they’d gone with extended benches then I would’ve had him in to do 5min bursts here and there. Really hope it works out for him (and us!).

‘98 could’ve been a year to pinch one, we had a great team and the competition was quite even from top to 5th. It disgusts me that Adelaide went back to back in 97/98, not even close to being the best team that year, but they were the better team on the day it mattered. I was only young but I do look back at ‘94 and feel like they had the team to win it.

One would hope that would be the case, remembering though that should we play Richmond, Collingwood, Hawthorn, and potentially Blues away they could be MCG games so “sort of” home games. Given we have already got one interstate trip out of the way, we really shouldn’t be traveling that much for the rest of the year. Its interesting with the Kangas bleating about Tassie that there has been literally nothing said about the Alice Springs game, should we assume that just isn’t happening?

With Collingwood going down this path their collective IQ at the ground is set to double in 2020. ?

I think this is one of the biggest issues, the kick doesn't have penetration or direction to it, it's just "getting it in there". I remember one of Melksham's goals came from a Kozzie kick that while not exactly on point, was still delivered at pace with a trajectory that made life difficult for the defenders. It also didn't loop in a way that allows players to peel off to intercept.

One of the things I'd like the coaches to do is show Weids and TMac footage of Neitz going for marking contests. There was this intent and determination in his eyes, he was totally fixated and nothing would get in his way. I know we're talking about one of our greatest ever but both of them could really learn from that attitude. I'm pretty sure Glen Archer actually said that of all the forwards he played on Neitz was the one player he did not want be between him and the ball.

As he said it's one game in so small sample size, but we had the whole pre-season (extra time than WC) to address and fix. But it looked exactly like last years entries for almost the entire game. It's one thing to get the ball in long and quickly, but know where to go with it, look for space to lead the forward to the ball, at least put it to their advantage. Like everyone, I'll believe it when I see it.

I know there is something to be said about being a one club coach, especially with his record. If hypothetically this year is another disaster, the only current coach I'd really be desperate for us to nab would be him.

Not sure if this has been discussed but I wonder with Coronavirus happening whether perhaps Casey will be looked at as more of a long term permanent option. Currently it's the only ground we have available to be able to do closed sessions, which is definitely something required for the foreseeable future.

It'll be interesting to know if Hannan will have enough body of work behind him to get straight into the team. For me he is a definite in if ready to go. Jones and Salem walk in for sure, Spargo, Bedford, and Brown out. I'd want to see Weids in the there, he should be pushing his case big time by now but who comes out? Hibberd (and I hate saying this because I'm a fan) should be on notice. His kicking was an absolute liability against WC. On the subject of Hibberd, obviously it's a private matter but I wonder how he is coping after the tragic loss of his brother. Awful thing to happen at any time, but made even worse during COVID.

Sad to hear, he's been a fantastic person to have around the club. Given his additional role as runner is it possible he may be retained in the role exclusively for the time being and perhaps given the opportunity to come back next season in full capacity?

No to Lyon, is still have hope for Goodwin but 2020/2021 are huge years when you look at the age of certain players on the list. If we have another bottom 4 finish then I do think Goodwin should be in the cross hairs, but I don't think Lyon is the answer.

So much of the hope in our club depends on TMac either returning to form as a top forward or at least us creating a cohesion that means we kick a winning score. Our forward and midfield are on two different planets right now, doesn't help that our accuracy on goal is terrible.

I think we will still have our trip to Geelong and a trip to Tassie but I can only hope, but we also have to consider that we have already got an away match under our belt so really in theory we should be dropping at least one of the tough trips we had left. It would be a dream if we managed to play the cats at the G and see the Pies be sent down there. But I just have this sneaking suspicion that even though there is no reason for them to gain this advantage, the likes of the Pies and Tigers will still be given a dream run at the G. You'd hope in theory they would look to give the teams that finished lower last year a better run of home games in the interest of fairness. If crowds are a possibility in Alice Springs I hope we retain that game.

Look I didn't like our round one performance but aside from the first quarter the Eagles never blew us away. In Perth, having to travel, found out the decision on the season postponement on the bus; I'm not saying it mitigates a lackluster performance after a big pre-season of blowing winds of change but we've got one game to go on and we were beaten by a flag favourites at their home by 27 points. It could've been a lot worse.

I wonder if the AFL is going to look at any scratch matches being played between clubs in order to give players not selected a bit of match fitness.

So far Watts for pick 31 (taking Fritta with it) is looking a positive trade.