Pates

I'm quite happy with the fact we've gone in unchanged. Monday was a character building win for the team and so now they get the chance to back it up. This will be a great chance for our ball winners to show what they've got. I think this will be a very even contest.

I actually don't think he's all the overrated, in fact I reckon he carries a massive burden for Geelong. Without him they'd be stuffed. Without him and Selwood they'd be battling with the Pies etc.

Oh no I'm definitely not saying that! Still one of my favourite days on the calendar. More just pointing out the AFL have given us a very tough ask of backing up a 6 day break (and travel) after another 6 day break, with another one coming. I know the way the fixture works these things happen, but more to my point I'd like West Coast to come out of this game nursing some injuries and maybe a suspension or two!

All I want from this match is for Geelong to make it as bruising as possible. Give their key players some niggles going into our match, after all they will have a 9 day break and playing at home vs us having a 6 day break (after another 6 day break) and travelling to Perth. Seems fair right?

He's been performing very well in the VFL for a while so if anyone is going to get a chance to come in it should be him. We haven't seen him at AFL level yet this year so perhaps the time in the VFL has helped with his tank and is playing as less of a small half forward. When he first came to the club he actually showed some promise so I'm not giving him the flick just yet.

I agree with others thoughts that given Spencer is named on the bench I doubt he will remain in the final 22. I see the bench being: Salem, Melksham, Harmes, ANB/Kennedy I don't think ANB was bad vs the Pies, like many others his first half was pretty poor. But I equally don't think he played a huge role in our comeback so maybe this is the week BenKen gets his chance. There are some interesting contests this round and I can see out match vs the Dogs being the best of them. It's another that has big implications win or lose for both teams, and it's a fantastic opportunity for us to prove our credentials as a top 8 side. I definitely don't fear the dogs, for that matter there's no team I fear this year, but we can't afford a slow start. Can we please be the team that's up by 20pts at half time (but go on to win!)?

I hope not, Pedo has been an absolute workhorse for us and I'd be disappointed if he went out so quickly. My thoughts would be either Melksham or OMac (giving OMac a rest rather than dropping). I have this feeling we're not going to bring in either Gawn or Spencer, bring Gawn back to quickly could hurt us in the long run so let's hold him back until we're sure. While I would prefer to have Spencer in the question becomes what will he add, will he make a big enough difference at the stoppages? Perhaps this being a more even ruck dual allows us to keep the status quo for another week.

I was happy but cautious about us getting Hibberd, there was always that unknown after the year off as to how he would go. He would have to be up the pointy end of our B&F count, he hasn't put a foot wrong and again was a calm head down back. As many have said, Watts gets the plaudits (rightfully so it was a clutch goal) but it would never had happened without Hibberds desperate spoil. One of the recruits of the year for any team.

That was a much better kick because he kicked it to space to give our forwards a better chance. I love the kid and I reckon he could be an absolute star of the comp, once he starts lowering his eyes or looking for the space to kick into. He also had a fantastic opportunity to nail a great goal, so wanted him to kick it because you can see he loves snagging them!

Since we are on the commentary (and I did just say I prefer BT over Hamish) what the hell was BT banging on about at the final siren with Fasolo having a shot on goal talking about the runner? There was 5 seconds to go, I don't think there's much a runner can do at that point!

That is one of the funniest thing's I have ever seen! Of the ones they highlighted I would say 20-30% of them they'd have legitimate causes to argue, the rest you wonder whether they even know the rules! In fact by highlighting those argued decisions it has only proven how ignorant they are! Are they going to do the same thing the next match they get a good run of decisions? When we lost to the Roos it was one of the most one sided umpiring displays I've seen, I was furious but I'd say close to everyone on here recognised that while they're a factor it's ultimately up to the players to do their job. The one passage of play that was of importance in the context of the game was the push by ANB and potential HTB following up. Apart from that they are bloody sooks.

So much better than Hamish's "Oscar-Elliot" and "Watts, kick, goal". Seven are really pushing him but I'm simply not a fan. Hell I'd even take BT over him.

Someone mentioned it earlier but I didn't actually catch on to it, when did they start running a countdown clock at the game? I've always thought the theatre of not knowing how long is left when you're at the game is one of the things that makes our game unique. On the broadcast is different but is the countdown at the venue a permanent fixture?

I kinda threw up a little bit seeing Hogan as 4-6! They could've made it anything else. Hell make it indefinite! But not 4-6!

If it's a choice between those two I'd go with Frost. WB have a smaller foward line so Oscars size it less important, and Frost has pace so will be able to run with them more. There was word that Oscar was playing through an injury on monday, perhaps with the short break and the fact we have the Eagles afterwards where he may have a better match up, Oscar could be given a rest for the week. I don't think Bugg will be dropped, having watched more of the highlights I realise that Bugg does more than just play as a forward. He niggles, chases, and makes contests (I just wish he could bloody kick straight!). He also plays taller than you might expect from a player his size. JHK would be a small crumming forward, with maybe a stint in the midfield. For me JHK just needs to keep putting his hand up and he'll get his chance again. In terms of rewarding VFL form, ask Trengove and Kennedy about that. Kent also came in off the back of a very quiet game a few weeks back. There seems to be some that just get more of an opportunity.

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.

Ah memories.......

The irony is that Eddie, who probably has more love for Buckley than his own wife, has been the architect of destruction for Buckley's coaching career. Panicking that another club would snaffle up his golden boy he engineered what he thought would be the perfect change over, he failed to actually consider whether Buckley was ready for/good at coaching. Untried coaches that don't go through the proper channels of learning the art and taking multiple roles at different clubs clearly don't seem to work. I expect Buckley won't be there next year if they miss finals and I don't think it's all Nathan's fault.

Would've liked them to include the build up of Watts's goal with Hibberd's spoil, and a few replays! Deserves to be replayed over and over, and over and over, and over and over!

Is the navicular that horrible bone that's cruelled Trenners career? All the best him, I was really looking forward to seeing him push for senior selection.

There's definitely something satisfying about hearing their crying and claims of it being "fixed". If that's the case then the Pies are in on it too, why else would they give up a 28pt lead so easily! Unless, maybe could it just be that we are just a better team than them at the minute? They are kidding themselves blaming the umpiring. There didn't seem to be any bizarre calls that were just plain wrong, it was just decisions that were there went our way when on another day they wouldn't. If I'm being picky the two at the end that I thought we were lucky on were the holding the ball paid to us in defence for the Pies player "diving on the ball". I didn't agree with it at the time, I felt it was heat of battle picking up the ball and falling from pressure. Definitely could've been a ball up. And the other was I think Bugg pushed the Pies player has he kicked it and it affected the kick. Again, another day it might've been paid. But the fact there isn't a massive descrepency in the numbers shows it wasn't biased one way. Pies fans just need someone else to blame. And for what it's worth I actually think Buckley coached pretty well yesterday. When they executed the spreading and the switching properly they looked dangerous, but as our pressure grew their disposal started to falter and the 50/50's that they were winning in the first half went the other way in the second. It'll be interesting to see what happens with him at the end of the year, but I don't think he's a hopeless coach. I think he was thrust into it too quickly, much like Voss.

I'm not Bugg's biggest fan but at least he is getting himself into contests. Kent can't come back in until he shows the take desire for the contest that Bugg does. Kent has more upside, but isn't currently showing it.

There should be one out there in TV land, hopefully it'll turn up on one of the programs. I'm living in the UK now, only being able to watch this streamed on my TV is the first time I really wish I was back home! I would've love to hear that roar in person as it sailed through the big sticks! Just as an aside a moment I did get from the broadcast, Neale Daniher was interviewed at the quarter time and at the end of it he cried out "Go Dees". Gave me goosebumps, he still has love for the club.

Definitely wasn't great for all 4 quarters. First quarter I felt the occasion got the best of him, second quarter the defence was under siege so I'll give him that as it's difficult to rate a defenders game under such pressure. Second half he was a different player, like most of the team. He wasn't the only one to make errors early, Lewis, Jetta, and Vince made some howlers as well.

I keep replaying Watts's game sealer, honestly there is no one I'm happier that got to be the man at the end. I bet it even stung the Pies fans even harder, they give it to him more than any other Melbourne player for no other reason than he's a number one draft pick we trotted out all those years ago. I'd say they should move on but this is the same mob that boos Travis Cloke when it was the Pies that showed him the door! Logic and reason are not words in their vocabulary. Might just go watch his goal again!