Pates

I'll preface this by saying I was only able to catch the last 10min of the third quarter and the final (nail in the the coffin) quarter. First I'll say is while our inside mids were able to win the ball last week from the stoppages, this week faced with Goldstein he was able to give the North players clear advantage. He can do this against the proper ruckmen of the competition, it stands to reason he'd easily be able to do it against our makeshift rucks. Secondly when last week everything was going right, this week a lot went wrong. Simple stuff. Bugg's kicking for goal, Oliver dropped mark in the last couple of minutes in the third, streaming out of defence kicks and handballs missed their mark. Maybe it was Norths pressure, maybe it was internal pressure, but either way things that worked last week didn't this week. Finally, and this is not the reason we lost, the umpires were biased. Can't say it any simpler. Frees that were given to North weren't for us. A CLEAR 50m penalty to Bugg was completely ignored. They were crap. The worst part about this loss is it doesn't surprise me.

Close thread.

That's game.

C'mon we can still f-ing do this!!

Very soft from Kent there.

If we get in front we win.

The umpires are deadset cheats today!!!

An AFL footballer should be nailing it from the near but how the f&$@ was that not 50!!!!

Being in the UK always makes it daunting checking the scores when I wake up. Hoping for good news, but then I see this. Last week might not be so season defining after all, c'mon Dees fire up!!!!

I'm nervous but determined, we have been in every single game this year and last week was the most professional win I've seen from us for a long time. This is where Lewis earns his money, keeping everyone in the right headspace and fired up for this match. Time for us to make good on our talent and get the job done. Kangas were so lucky to beat us last year, we are a better team and they are a weaker team. Get it done Dees!

Ridiculous statement to make from him. He's a tired senile old man. While I feel they are overrated (mostly by their own fans) the Cats are still probably in the best "window" of the Victorian teams, and while Melbourne and the Saints have promise both are yet to show it regularly enough to be justified as contenders. The Dogs I'll give him because they've "been there", but they really look like they've lost their bite. Of the non Victorian teams GWS and Adelaide are the only two that stand out. WC seem to be down hill skiers and Port will be in the finals hunt but I can't see them making much of an impact. It's a very difficult year to judge.

I'm pretty sure it was Roos that spoke about the importance of having a capable best 25. You have your stars but you need to others to be able to fill the roles when required and have guys at Casey putting selection pressure on those picked. I see Stretch as being one of those guys who may not be best 22 week in week out but stays in that 25 for consideration and when given the opportunity performs his role. As for this weeks game there is zero doubt in my mind that if we come to play we win (and probably comfortably), our best can beat anyone in the competition. Whether that happens....

I 100% called it last year, they are more reliant on two players than any other team in the competition. I would even go so far to say simply Dangerfield, lose him and it's all on Selwood and he wouldn't be able to carry that team.

Bottom line for me. We need to bring it. We played 3 quarters and a half last week, and it that half of a quarter we got scored against heavily. It was an absolute credit to the boys that they were able to arrest the momentum at a hostile venue and stay in touching distance at half time. But North did manage to get a massive jump on the crows in their game, hit them hard from the first bounce, they can try their tactics against Oliver all they want he won't take a backward step. I know it's an obvious statement but if our mids win and prevent them from giving good delivery to their forwards, we will win. Not gonna lie, the heart palpitations are telling me my MFCSS might be creeping back just a little.

I think what Deemented is referring to is not so much the creation of this thread but the players getting ahead of themselves and asking the question of whether they're contenders (much like what we are doing). Too often this club has been up and down and up and down. Even during our "stable" period under Daniher of 2004-2006 our best would be exhilarating but it would be followed up with a stupid loss. I know history, completely different teams, yada yada yada. But two weeks ago there were serious question marks over our fragility and ability to bring it on a consistent basis. Until those questions are answered, I won't consider us a genuine contender. We are in the mix for the finals, nothing more for me.

Dogs have got their premiership, they can wait another 50+ years for another one! I haven't watched a single minute of this game but sounds to me like Geelong are ticking along without really showing much to terrify the competition. I wish we were playing them again this year, maybe we will!

Until we can consistently back up the effort and ability shown last week we are not a contender. While I'm loath to look far into the future our position at the end of the year is heavily dependent on the rounds up until the bye. Can we beat any team this year? Absolutely. Equally we can loose to any team this year so the point is be ready to play every match We are a week to week proposition at this point, stay in the moment and whatever will be will be.

Look he hasn't been good this year but at his best he is a very handy player on our list. Take a look at our win vs Hawthorn last year, he was one of our best. Everyone was critical of Viney earlier this year and are now eating their words. He is a lot better than what he's currently dishing up.

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.

Early reports were that Hunt was coming along well, the 8 day break would also help in this regard. I'll trust that the doctors will make the correct call for Jayden. Should he go out it I would say either Melksham or ANB to come in.

Amazing recovery if true. Credit to Max and the fitness staff. The questions will come, what do we do with Pedo when he's back. Cam has been playing his role very well and I wouldn't mind him staying as the second ruck/extra tall in the forward line.

With Gus's history I'm sure he's having regular scans. I just had a watch of the interview, he's an impressive young man and I can tell he's really frustrated by this reoccurrence. While a lot of fans on this forum seem to be already putting the pencil through him he seems to be looking far away from that thought. All we can do is trust that the club doctors and all the experts will have Gus's best interests at heart and proceed from there. As he said, first step let's get him through the short term concussion symptoms and then figure out strategies to prevent/manage them in the future.

Good initiative by the club to do this footy 101 idea. I hope the club gives them a scarf or something to wear, once you give someone your teams colour it's hard for them to look at anyone else.

Because of his size I don't think opposition players expect the lacehe brings but his first 5 steps once he decides to get on his bike are incredibly quick. He's really become the guy we use to break the lines coming out of defence. If we start using Hunt a bit more around the ground and up forward than this is very important as it means we aren't losing that pace out of defence.