Pates

Agreed, I think redemption will be a big thing for him this year. I can't remember who it was but they suggested at the time what Bugg did could end his career. I thought it was a completely ridiculous comment (and typical sensationalism). Bugg has poor disposal and poor kicking for goal (really hope he's worked hard on that over the summer) but he gets involved. I'm happy with both changes though would like to see Brayshaw out there.

Seems silly to say but a definite danger game. After coming so close last week and really choking at the end it's important we get the W against our names this week to kick our season off. I want the team coming in ruthless as if we are playing last years premiers. The Lions will be improved this year for sure and they almost caught us (stupidly) last year. In fact their fight back (and our lapse in concentration) cost us the finals as much as the loss to the Pies. I would love us to blow them out early with a first quarter blitz and never look back but I'm still a scarred Melbourne fan so it wouldn't surprise me if the opposite happened and we had to play catch up.

True maturity would've had us finding a way to win today. We had some golden chances at the end (none better than Gawn) and we failed on all of them, we also had so many repeat inside 50s but kept fumbling it. We lack composure when it counts, today was a missed opportunity.

I will preface this by saying I haven't had the chance to see the first half (not sure I have the stomach to watch it to be honest). Primarily what seemed happen last year when it happened was that we would lose focus and composure, we would stop running to the correct areas and stop attacking the game. I feel this is more down to attitude and mental fortitude than coaching (though it plays a big part as well). This has to stop or at least we have to find ways to mitigate the oppositions run and momentum. Even if they are on top we need to find a way to halt them and get the game back on our terms. It's incredibly disappointing it has already cost us a game this year. I also noticed when I was keeping an eye on the score we also conceded a very late goal in the second quarter, we prevent them from kicking that goal and we win. The late goals always seem to hurt us the most.

We still lack the killer instinct that real contenders have. With them down on rotations and Selwood not at full strength we should’ve been able to get over the line. We had those chances at the end, I actually thought Oliver’s mark wasn’t 15m but I think he needed to kick it on his left. Petracca missed some very gettable shots as well. Gawns miss hurts the most, he should’ve kicked it. He didn’t, he’ll be hurting. Just wuickly thiugh I notice that when he took the mark no one came over to him to get in his ear and help him. Everyone just patted his shoulder as if he’d already kicked the goal.

I’m sick of us learning lessons. We need to win these.

We lost it in the second quarter, but bloody hell we had our chances at the end. I really thought Gawn was going to nail that, he should’ve. He’s better than that. Geelong were lucky against us last year, and they were lucky against us today. I’m shattered.

Shattered.

I managed to watch that quarter. 2 things: if we keep the tackling intensity up they appear to be crumbling, and they look to have quite a few injured so they will be running out of legs. Considering this happened to us against them last year we have to capitalise. C’mon Dees!

So I haven’t been able to get to watch or listen to any of it but so far everyone’s concerns about Maynard and Wagner being selected have been justified. I honestly have no clue how either got considered for round 1 after their JLT efforts.

Did I say depth? No I said A-grade depth, meaning our midfield bats deeper with quality. I would pay top dollar to see our midfield have an extra A-grader (borderline star).

What does he provide we don't already have? A-Grade midfield depth. If he's getting tagged no one tags Viney, Oliver, Petracca etc. Or they tag one of them and he's able to roam free. Meat and potato's? Yeah right. I'd have him in a heartbeat.

Structurally TMac, but Jack comes with so much passion and guts that he lifts the players intensity around him. He's our (co)captain so he will always be a big loss. Really hope his foot injury isn't going to set him back longer than the first third of this year.

Totally agree, I can’t recall a single time where I thought Maynard was going to get a round 1 call up.

FWIW this topic wasn’t designed to create a new whipping boy thread. I liked what I saw from him at the back end of 2016 and I can see talent in him. I just find it strange that a high draft pick entering his 3rd year had such little written about him. He may just be someone we have to be patient with, but with TMac our I hope he views this as an opportunity to find his way back in the team.

I can only surmise that the selection committee aren’t convinced that Tyson and Brayshaw are fully fit and are being given the chance to be fully fit for round 2. I like Wagner attitude but he is a turnover king and it’s not just half a meter short turnovers, he does grubby chaos kicks that are impossible to predict. He did them in both JLT matches I watched. Prove me wrong Wags. Starting 18 I’m happy with, I’m just really worried about our depth on the bench.

So with TMac out until rounds 6-8 (at best given no match fitness) it means there is an opportunity for someone to step up into the forward line. Weideman showed a lot of promise at the end of 2016 but 2017 proved to be difficult for him and was arguably played when he shouldn’t have. I’ve heard a lot about plenty of other players but I’ve heard next to nothing about Weids. He was a high draft pick and showed some promise in his debut, I hope the coaches are telling him to work his ass off to aim to force himself into the side.

It's a nice little fantasy but I don't see it happening. Very happy to be proved wrong though! Prove me wrong Dees!!!!

I'd imagine this was a strong request from the broadcasters so that their production could flow on a tighter schedule.

Certainly my understanding of this change was for the possibility of curtain raisers to come back. But when they aren't happening I don't see any reason to prevent the players from accessing the field until say 20-30min before the bounce, I always liked the warm ups because (particularly early in the year) it gave you a chance to observe and identify some of the new boys. If this was done to bring in curtain raisers than it's a tick for me. If it's tinkering for the sake of tinkering (and "fan engagement") than it sounds pointless.

I don't mind the re-record, but I don't know that it was necessary. I'd be interested to know if the backing track was actual people playing instruments or just computer generated MIDI samples. There was something almost warm about the classic recording, but I guess these should be clearer over the speakers. Ultimately at the ground I doubt it'll sound much different.

Actually felt like quite a balanced article. She also makes the point of on field results will dictate whether this continues to be a story. I was ultimately disappointed that this happened and for the reasons that the players felt like it was too over the top, I wonder whether a lot of them knew that the Storm had (successfully) done it for so long? It did for me put forward questions of mental strength amongst the playing group. Jones' comments were very diplomatic, placing equal blame for how it happened on both sides. If anything positive comes from this it should be that the players feel a lot more comfortable about approaching the FD if they have concerns. And side question: did someone really suggest the Goodwin offered his resignation? That sounds like the biggest load of crap ever!

That disgraceful free kick at the start of the quarter cost us the grand final. That umpire should never see his way onto a footy field again. Dubious my arse.

We ca't seem to get it past the half way line.

Commentators saying "dubious". How about holding the effing ball to us!!!!