Pates

I think AA is extreme, however I would be very keen for the club to put some pressure on for him to give up the booze for the season. In a similar way a driver forfeits his right to driving when he breaks the law I feel that May has breached the club’s confidence in him being able to make the right decisions surrounding alcohol. Giving it up for the season shows genuine remorse and indicates we wants to do better for his teammates. But hey maybe I’m sitting too high on my high horse. I just think his decision making has been [censored] poor and alcohol has played a big part.

My opinion of someone increases when they stick up for a teammate, and when one of the “leaders” is in fact acting like a complete tool. Melksham’s decision to use violence is something I don’t condone, but his actions behind it are far better than the actions of May.

I’ve got a t-shirt that’s got “Froffies May” written on it, but I actually think he needs to put the beers away. I’m not saying he’s an alcoholic but this has shown the alcohol does have a negative influence on him, I would like the club to strongly urge him to place a ban on alcohol for the duration of the season. My opinion of Melksham has actually increased since this since he was the one sticking up for his teammate and questioning a leader for drinking whilst in recovery from a concussion.

I was thinking the same thing, though I don’t know enough about Turner. Throwing a debutant into a Queens Birthday clash is fraught with danger, particularly given our history.

*Facepalm* you’re correct. I’ll see myself out…

Bedford for Melksham perhaps, burst of energy and forward pressure (something we have sorely been lacking in lately). Personally I’m glad Melk is out anyway, both should’ve been suspended. I would also like to see Trac and/or Oliver play a bit of forward time, we know Trac can be damaging as a forward and we are struggling there. Perhaps and rotation of Oliver, Trac, and Viney through there could bring something new up there. What’s really concerning is what was the strongest line (our defence) has fast become our most vulnerable with poor form and lack of personal. I don’t think we’re at the “throw the magnets around” stage, but something needs to change.

I don’t know what to think about all of this. May is my favourite player and I’ve been so impressed with the way he’s carried himself since he first arrived and was out of shape and with a poor attitude, to develop himself into a leader and one of our most important players. For him to act like a bloody teenage with this stupidity of drinking whilst recovering from concussion, then clearly getting inebriated enough to say something as to hurt a teammate, all this with other players around him. It smacks of us regressing back to the club of old. This doesn’t have to define our season, and it can be used to tighten us as a group if done right, but I also have to ask why didn’t another leader/player step in from the start? We’re they all stuck with bystander syndrome expecting someone else to stand up and stop this train wreck? After our last two weeks this was the last thing we needed, but perhaps this can be our lowest point of the season. Maybe this can be the time our leaders step into the spotlight and lead the way out of this dark patch. Whatever has gone on between Melksham and May needs to be put to bed. For me this looks like the biggest Queens Birthday match that I can remember, we have to win.

I think we’ve got issues across the ground which impact each other. Our midfield isn’t delivering well into the forwards, and even when they do our forwards aren’t taking marks they usually would. Our small forwards aren’t putting enough pressure on the opposition coming out which puts pressure on our midfield to defend, which then leaves our defence vulnerable (and currently undermanned). Across all line we aren’t playing well. I’m not saying we need wholesale changes but I do think there are a number of players that need a rocket up them. May being internally suspended really annoys me, it’s the right call from what little I can see but FMD for such an important player to do such a stupid thing and to a teammate no less is a serious problem. These sorts of incidents can grow into bigger issues at the club, sounds like there are some fractures building perhaps born out of our drop in form. If Petty is injured I think Weid has to come in, play him forward and move Brown to defence. I think Max will need to go back to his old role of being the floating contested marker and start by floating back. For the first time in over a year I’m going to tip against us this week. Really hope I’m wrong but jeez the Pies must be picking their lips.

Another theory I have regarding his form is what is being asked of him? Is he being asked to play like TMac or Brown? Is he being given different sets of instructions? Are the coaches trying to simplify it to “affect X amount of contests and aim for a getting 2-3 looks at goals for one a game”. Maybe I’m grasping at straws but I just wonder if there’s a way we can get through to him that we aren’t trying.

No, to retiring the number. A great servant of the club but Robbie Flower is a club legend and we didn't retire it after him. Jimmy Stynes is an icon of the club, Max has paid 11 even more respect with his career. I would only look at retiring a number if a player passed away whilst still being a member of the playing group (ie Troy Broadbridge). The next player we get that we are convinced will be a future 200 gamer should be given no 2, or a currently player who Nate nominates can get it.

I totally agree he has been given chance after chance, but this opportunity may come as a result of another player being out for the rest of the season, much in the same way Petty got his sustained go following Tomlinson going down. I think part of the issue for him has been that he feels so under pressure to perform immediately because he knows someone else will be ready soon enough that he gets down on himself at the first hint of something going wrong. Yes the the Essendon game was against a relatively poor defence but he still had to perform and kick the goals, and he did! So the ability is bloody well there. I think for this coming week we will stick with the Brown/Brown combo, but this is Sam's genuine chance to force his way in and stay in.

I think M Brown has to stay in this week along side Benny, we have to give them a chance to work in tandem and get some continuity. Somehow we need to start making space in the forward line, I don’t know if it’s slow ball movement or not enough dummy leading but it seems as if every time we go in the it’s congested and the only option to the midfields eyes is to go to the top of the square.

Might not go that far to say they’re not up to it, they are all more than capable but are all horribly out of form. Trying something different to mix things up isn’t a bad idea though, it also gives Tomlinson an opportunity which he misses out on last season. Our mid/forward connectivity this season has been deplorable.

I actually think this could be worth a go if Brown x2 and Weid don’t improve. Petty did show himself as a capable forward when placed there, he’s a good mark and he knows the tricks of defenders. It could also solve the issue of losing TMac as the swing man should we come under pressure down back mid-game. Foe now I think he looks like he needs a spell on the sidelines to repair some niggles, but we’ve seen several examples of defenders turning to being forwards.

Not trying to make him the whipping boy again but just wondering if Bedford for Nibbler could be an option. Bedford is quick and exciting, give him the pressure man role and throw this challenge down to get him in as a permanent fixture. May for Petty seems the obvious choice, Petty must be so sore he’s hanging out for the bye so give him this time to recover from his ranging issues. As much as both Brown’s were absolutely useless I would prefer we persist with a team two weeks in a row. BBB needs a rocket up his [censored] though.

Brown’s fallen back to the form of early 2021, giving absolutely nothing right now and is even missing shots as goal he would normally kick with his eyes closed, so he’s not even taking his limited chances. With TMac out, and Weid struggling I’m not sure we have any other choice than to persist and hope he comes good. You make a very good point though that the deliver to him is poor at best, we’re not getting him on leads, instead we’re popping it on his head and hoping he pulls something out. While we’re on the subject of forwards out of form, I would be looking at stopping ANB for Bedford. Nibblers a whipping boy and I don’t want to be harsh on him but his goal kicking season has been atrocious and to me he’s not doing enough on the forward pressure side of things. I would expect him to come back but for now I’m wondering if a spell at Casey might give him the kick he needs.

Sam will NEVER get a better opportunity, he has to work for it but he should be now seeing this as his chance to not only force his way in but become our focal point.

If last week didn’t prove it this week does, Freo are the real deal. They feel very similar to us last year, they’ve got lots to prove and the talent to do it. Question will be if they can sustain it, that question was posed to us and the rest is history. How will Freo go if they reach the top of the table and become hunted though?

The question you’ve asked is really unfair as he still offers plenty as a leader in the back line and still gets back into good positions. But yea he along with many of his comrades are way out of form. I think focusing on the defence isn’t the right place to start, we’re getting beaten in the middle and this isn’t a new phenomenon. Against some of the poorest teams in the competition our midfield has been matched, and it’s been only through our ultimate class and the fact the other teams weren’t able to sustain it that we have got the wins. It’s no surprise that coming up against two of the better teams in the competition at midfield combativeness that our mids have looked second rate at times. I hate to say it but it’s looking a bit similar to 2020 where a few players are getting selfish. Way too often they are taking the wrong option, case in point was in the last quarter with us in front we were streaming down the centre and instead of looking for the outside runner (in Harmes) who had worked hard to make ground and be an option, but was ignored because the player kicking it (can’t remember who) rushed and didn’t do our old team thing of looking around first. QB is going to be massive for our season. Win and we can reload and get things back on track. Lose and we’re in the middle of the pack and genuine questions are asked.

Yep, that and his miss was a huge moment. It was a huge grab he took, a good kick to a forward could’ve been the moment to win the game. Instead it was a turnover, and they kicked the goal from it. We had our chances to win it, and we didn’t take them. They did, that’s where it was won. Composure to get the job done. We are still in a great position for the rest of the year, but next week has just become our first final. We need to win, it will be a massive crowd, finals like atmosphere, pressure will be on and the Pies would have to feel we are able to beaten now.

TMac out makes things tougher for sure. Also is interesting that if the Brown/Weid twosome Brown got the call up. Hate to say it but this looks like curtains for Weid at the Dees, really wanted him to come good but it just doesn’t seem to be happening. As for M Brown; play your role, that’s all we ask.

The loss last week isn’t important, it was always going to happen eventually. The biggest game is the following week. what have we learned? How will our players respond to that losing feeling? How will our coaches react? What has Sydney learned from Freo beating us? We have been really good at times this year but to be honest our last 3 weeks prior to Freo have been pretty meh. And the loss last week was a capitulation, something we haven’t seen since 2020. So this is where the stars and the leaders need to step up and right the ship. Our ins are very good, so there’s no doubting the quality. May out really hurts though.

Having Gus sign on for us can’t be underestimated. There are players that are stars that do the impossible and there are players that will do anything for the club and the team. Angus absolutely falls into the last part. He is heart and soul, and he’s bloody good at what he does.

Literally couldn’t have said it better. Banking wins whichever way they come is huge, Brisbane losing to the Hawks could be huge at the pointy end. Also just a side note, an embarrassing record fell yesterday. We had never beaten North at Marvel/Docklands/Etihad/Colonial, but this team have broken that record. Just a word on the crowd numbers, I’m willing to give passes for a while given we’re creeping back from covid and I understand picking certain games to go to. But next week we NEED the support, it this game was in Perth it would be just about a sell out with with crowd absolutely going bonkers for Freo. Our players, for all the incredible work they have put in over the last 18 months deserve to have our fans turn out for this crucial match and make some noise. I have to work and will only get there for the second half, but I want to stands to be packed and loud. Is that asking too much of our fan base?

TMac looked sore after his final involvement in the game resulting in the shot on goal. Really should’ve put his hand up and say someone else take this kick. They looked like on the minor end of injuries in both contests but he will probably be on light duties all week. Really hope Lingers is ok, was a heavy crunch so he might need a week. Just a random one, Gus had a very heavy tackled applied on him resulting in his head hitting the turf. Played out the game but could there be lingering symptoms given his history? Really hope Viney is good to go and pulled out for precautionary reasons. Was a bruising day vs the Kangas. I think Melks or Dunstan will go out if Viney is right. Could just be the one change, though I thought Bedford was lively when he came on so it it would be good to get some proper game time into him.