Pates

I'll put my hand up one that was less than impressed by OMacs decision making and disposal in the first quarter and I don't think I'm guilty of anything there, there were three passages of play I can remember that just simply weren't good enough. But credit to him, he shook it off and had a very good game after that (under injury duress apparently). His grubby kick to Harmes at the end was very clever and exactly the right decision, which shows he may develop more poise in the future as the heat was never higher than that moment.

He was down, I expect him to bounce back.

Why'd they have to choose the goal against us after the siren first up?! I was shattered when he left, him winning the game against us with a kick after the siren was just the dagger in the heart! But they definitely got the rest right. He was the wizard at Melbourne but Jeffery Farmer at Freo. His 9 goals in one half springs to mind first for me, but 8 goals in a prelim is phenomenal. There are very few who could say they have done that. I was at the game but still in the corridors when he took that amazing mark, he was totally robbed of MOTY but he got GOTY for that run against the Hawks. I think back then you got a car for both so they couldn't give him both!

Thanks for the interview write up, sounds like he's got his head screwed on right. Has recognised he didn't put in a good enough pre-season and is trying make up for it now (how will he be when he DOES do a good pre-season!?), amazing story going from expecting a rookie spot to being taken pick 4. Most top 5 draftees would be already penciling themselves in at potential suitors a fair distance out from the draft, and he was hoping for a rookie spot! Top pick up Taylor!

I thought I saw something that the Port player got the nod for the week. Maybe not.

I could not believe he didn't win GOtW, it was absolutely freakish and I 100% maintain that had it been Betts, Rioli, or another "name" player it would've been given more of a run. Seriosly would've said close to goal of the year.

I feel the boys should be on the look out for future rough treatment on him. When a young bloke gets found to be such an important cog of a team it tends to put a target on his back. Be prepared to fly the flag for the young gun!

My bad, Taylor definitely is the man in the recruiting team.

This kid keeps getting better, and I can't thank Todd Viney and co for picking him. He could be the best of our lot of young lad and given the talent in that group that is really saying something.

To direct it back on topic, the numbers this kid is getting in his second year is phenomenal. Put him in a Collingwood, Essendon, or Richmond top and I reckon he'd be the talk of the town. Personally I'm quite happy for him to keep flying under the radar a bit.

The last three games is exactly the reason why we brought him to Melbourne. To be in those positions and needing his guidance and leadership out there does make it infuriating that he got suspended. That said I feel both he and Hogan got hard done by by one week each. It's been interesting to hear his change in attitude on screen when speaking to Fox Footy. The immediate week he was mostly unapologetic, I think he sort went the line, "it's unfortunate but we move on". After Geelong he started to recognise he felt could've helped, and after Freo he definitely could feel his absence had hurt the team. We've missed him and all the teams we've lost to should be very thankful he wasn't out there because in at least one of those games I feel he would've made a difference.

He's yet to have a game that he takes by the scruff and destroys a team. It'll happen, hopefully against Fremantle. But he does enough for me to suggest he will be an absolute gun for us. Brayshaw I feel could have a bit of Salem's luck about him. We were patient with him and it's starting to pay off, Brayshaw has it in him and I see him being a valuable mid for us in the future.

Really I thought the highest we ever got under Roos was 9th, always just missing out on the 8.

As an aside when was the last time we were in the 8 at the end of a round? Did it happen in 2010, it didn't happen at any time during Roosy's years as far as I know and it definitely didn't happen during Mark Neeld's tenure.

Well apart from beating North Melbourne (god I want that one gone this year) we're into the business end of the records. With finals and things that have us at the northern part of the ladder. I say we keep ticking them off until we get to the all important one.....

This is a really good pick up in my opinion, something we have lacked is some polish out the half back line (Salem was meant to be that this year but had his Thyroid issues). Now we've got Hibberd, Melksham, (Vince as well), and Salem as options back there plus Hunt with his run and carry. Welcome to the Dees Michael!

His whole speech is like a stand up roasting routine! Love the guy!

Haha by creeping I mean I know it's not going to happen this year, and probably not next year!

Think we'll have to do that again this week, we're the away team so I'd expect us to wear that thing. 4 in a row, 2006 the last time that happened (we actually won 5 in a row twice that year). We're starting to creep towards the most important record of them all....a premiership.

Well on the other hand it's probably a lot easier to continue a downward trend in W/L!

Don't forget there were periods in our history the WE were the dominant team! Pretty hard to improve when your the best team in the comp. And it is also actually very difficult to continue having an upward trend for improvement in W/L ratio. At some point you either get to the top, get your teams ceiling of improvement, or you just get some bad luck. Would be interested to know the all time AFL record for improved consecutive seasons.

I'll quibble over cost if it costs us Hogan. I believe we are already building a very very good midfield, obviously Fyfe would make it better but I don't want to lose the big forward we've already invested so much into for Fyfe. Inquire but also think of the bigger picture.

True, that one we were so close to breaking this year too (probably should have). If we can knock those two off they would be the two most frustrating records broken on the list.

You have too much time on you hands....

Big chance to knock another couple off this week. 3 in a row + Port + Port in Adelaide. I'm just so stoked that we've got over the Hawthorn hurdle, surely next year the St Kilda one has to be smashed into the ground.