Pates

Truthfully the competition is so even this year that I wouldn't be surprised if we lost to the Lions. Sydney are 14th, but they're definitely not that bad. North are 15th but have beaten us and Adelaide. The spots where teams are mean nothing, for crying out loud Richmond are 4th. We need to bring it every week and take it week by week. I'm barely looking at the ladder aside from where we're placed.

Oh well in that case, play on!

For sure, but the last time we started looking ahead we capitulated. The path is laid out before us, but let's take it one step at a time.

I don't know if he always get his match ups right from the get go but I think he's showing great adaptability to situations. Trying different things to motivate players and he seems to get his message across in a very clear manor. Still early days but I think we've got ourselves a very astute coach here.

Too funny! The Pies fans were have always been into Watts and booed him when he kicked the sealer, I hope it made it hurt even more for those idiots! I dare someone on here to make an account and start a thread entitled "Who replaces Bucks?" Will that incite them?

Maybe it's nostalgia but I reckon his mark vs Sydney is still better. Bloody fantastic leap, I think Sean Smith's is still better by a whisker. I liked Howe, wasn't stoked we let him go but at the same time I'm not worried that he's something we're lacking. That said, fact we got Ben Kennedy shows we are definitely the loser in that deal.

Does anyone have quarter by quarter stats for players? I'd love to know Oliver's first half stats vs second half. He was almost unsighted in that first half (which given his hair is quite a thing), but boy he was influential in the second half. Another tick for the young man.

Actually I think it was the tactical genius Mark Neeld that was first to send him back!

Stretch for ANB? Would be a like for like swap and ANB didn't do much. That said he played well vs GC. Hard to say, the better selection headaches are here.

I know early in the game he copped something to his arm and I think he had it strapped for the rest of the game. I suspect this week will be mostly about managing the players than training them hard. Wagner sounded like he played well, and Spencer put his hand up. Goodwin seemed to indicate he liked what he saw from Pencil so I have a feeling he will come back in. Gawn's probably a week away, still needs conditioning I'd imagine. ANB and Harmes as you pointed out didn't impact the game much but Harmes was good last week so I think he'll retain his spot. ANB could make way for Wagner, and if OMac is sore than bring Pencil in.

Still a lot of water to go under the bridge, we have a tough passage coming up. But we're in positive W/L at the half way mark so it's definitely there for us.

He was down, I expect him to bounce back.

Absolutely. There's a lot Jack does that I don't think the average fan notices. I have a feeling it was against the Gold Coast last year where he kicked the goal to get us in front and then took the contested mark in defence at the end. Riewoldt is a fantastic player, but I feel that he's emulating Nick's style of football with great athleticism. His shot for goal he hit the post with came after big time running. Credit to the Seven commentator (can't remember who) but he called it because of his hard running, and when he had a shot where didn't have to run so hard for he nailed it. In fact I noticed when he kicked that goal in the 3rd he was really trying to gee up with teammates. I think there's a lot of love for Jack at the club.

Fair call. I wouldn't be annoyed if he stayed. But he needs to do some big time kicking practice. Get the noise cancelling headphones and record crowd noises to get him in the frame of mind, or hypnotise him but he needs to start nailing them.

Melksham played on Pendlebury and I think kept him relatively quiet. He also kicked a crucial goal in the 3rd (I wasn't confident at all). I don't think he'll be dropped. If OMac is still sore than I think Spencer comes in for him, move TMac back to defence and Watts moves into more of a natural forwards role. Watts's hurt his back apparently so let's keep an eye on that. Sound's like he's nursing a few bumps and bruises is Jack.

Agreed, there was word that Gawn was training hard to put his hand up for the Dogs game but I'd be leaning towards giving him one more week to be sure. Bring Spencer in, he's had his VFL game to get a bit of match fitness. Interesting to see that when the ruck taps start to become draws our ball winners are very good at digging it out. I know he's not on the match committee but Jackson said Hogan was still a couple of weeks away. Who knows anymore! Bugg had an ineffectual day and missed another soda which killed our momentum and started Collingwood's run. I'd like to see him dropped but we'll see, he actually gets himself in good spots but his goal kicking is deplorable.

I love Hunt, he's got great dash and flash, but he has to start lowering his eyes. I reckon he had about 5 inside 50s and none of them were to our advantage (I think Watts got a goal from one for a hold). It looks fantastic and if we have a one out FF like Hogan then great but we didn't today and often they went straight to a 3 on 2 at best. He wasn't the only one but I think he was a serial offender.

I would imagine post MATCH fumbling fingers! Does anyone have any pictures of the Walk to the G today? How did the turn out compare with previous years, is it on the up? I remember the first one, it was at one of the lowest points of the club. Might be one of the few positive enduring legacies from that era.

He was a liability first half, but had a ver good second half. I think he panicked with the occasion and the pressure. Hibberd has been immense and was again fantastic. He and Salem are our two best field kickers in the team, where everyone else blazes away and bombs it long (in the two Macs cases I don't mind) they will take the extra quarter second, sum up a situation and hit a target. I would actually prefer Hibberd taking kick outs than Vince. Just on kick outs, was it me or did the Pies seemed to get the ball out really easily from our behinds? I know they had more tall timbre but I'm talking uncontested marks outside the 50m. Shouldn't be that simple.

Hannan, shame he misses the goal. Would've been a big time play. Great to see the Dees fans on their feet clapping him off the ground. He was a good servant of the club and another I'd put into the "we failed them" category. I'm glad he's got a second wind with the Pies, but even happier he didn't celebrate a win today!

We got murdered by them against North. Turnabout's fair play, best option is to take them out of the equation and just beat the opposition.

Petracca has been huge today. TMac almost isn't rucking anymore, it seems to be confusing Grundy.

Well we have the momentum going into the final quarter. Trelor's miss was huge.

Hunt needs to lower his eyes.

That hurts, Harmes burnt us there. We should be in front.