Pates

Wow, just wow.

Wow, just wow.

Unbelievable.

He's better than what he's producing which begs the question, is there something wrong? I'm yet to see why the coaching department rate Wagner so highly to bring him rapidly, for me he doesn't offer a whole lot. But he is young so perhaps they're figuring his replacement would be older and not give a lot more. Stretch and ANB would have cause to feel a little annoyed, there seem to be a few in there who've replaced them that aren't offering a lot. I know injuries are a lame excuse but to be down by 10pts at quarter time with no recognised ruckman to arguably the best team in the comp is a good indication of how well we should be able to compete when we have one of Gawn and Spencer available again. Those two injuries could be the key to our frustration/pain for the year.

Playing a tagging role on Sloan who's had 7 disposals to half time. Vince has only had the 3, I'd like to see him try to damage Sloan if he see the opportunity.

Sounds like we've done well to claw ourselves back into it after the onslaught of the first 15min in the second quarter.

I've managed to see the first quarter and first half of the 2nd quarter. It's so far gone a bit like the way the Tigers went against the crows. Took it to them early but couldn't sustain it. I came in expecting a big loss, nothing's changed with that, big test for Goody and the players

Wow you of all people! I don't know whether to be heartened or petrified you're putting the kiss of death on us!

I don't think any clubs have any beer companies as their major sponsor. Is there a restriction here like the sports betting companies?

I was hoping Stretch would come in for Bugg but their two different players. Bugg's more of a "get under your skin hassler", whereas Stretch gives us more run and better ball use. If Bugg's being used for a role than fair enough. Dont feel good about today, it's that sinking feeling I haven't felt since Roosy's first year. We need a four quarter effort today to prevent being destroyed let alone having a chance in the game.

FWIW I used them a couple of years ago and they helped with finding me a health insurer right for me. Glad this issue of BOJ sponsorship can finally be put to rest.

He'll get games this year but sadly he's become depth. We've done some wrong in the past but we've also had some rotten luck with high draft picks, I'm really hoping Brayshaw doesn't suffer the same bad luck as I think he could be an absolute gun. But then I thought that about Trenners too.

I totally agree. Take each teams most important player out of their team (and their back up) and in this years tight competition they will lose games. I honestly feel that had we had Spencer, let alone Gawn, we would've beaten the Hawks for sure and I doubt Richmond would've run over the top of us. We've shot ourselves in the foot a few times, and we've had some bad luck. This appears to be a year where you need everything clicking or you'll lose.

Congrats Bernie, like a few others I'm a little taken aback at how many games he's played for us. He's definitely a Demon now! I'd like to see him return doing a run with role this weekend, ever since he had his foot trodden on he doesn't seem to have that killer kick down back which is one of the key factors for him being there.

To be fair to him, he got a very bad run with injuries which appears to have affected him confidence. Either way whether he had it or not, he doesn't add anything of value to the side as a small forward. I know their different in body sizes but maybe he should take a leaf out of Jetta's book. Nev was being given chances as a small forward/midfielder but wasn't cutting it but reinvented himself. Maybe that's what JKH needs to do.

They are not that team anymore.

He can't survive next week. It will be the most baffling and fracturing decision if so. I say fracturing because if he does managed to keep his place you'd have to imagine there'd be players at Casey getting frustrated and annoyed. The Hawks game was one week too many for me. He can't be in the team next week and for his to come back into the team he should have 3 BLINDERS for Casey.

When Roughead got that free for holding against Hibberd in the last quarter I just thought, "well than Hogan should be getting free kicks at every contest". Hogan gets absolutely manhandled and doesn't get anything, admittedly he does play for them more than I'd like but the defenders physically prevent him from getting to/getting his hands to the ball.

I missed the first half but I feel the moves he made in the second half were very positive. Hunt into the forward line provided us with some real electricity, though I think the Hawks were able to curtail it for the 4th quarter. Our game plan naturally opens us up if we don't use it properly so ball use is critical. Are we good enough to execute it yet? I'll go for some positives to change things up and bare in mind I only saw the second half: Hunt in the forward line is a genuine option. Not to put pressure on the kid but he reminds me of Nat Fyfe a bit and I'm starting to think he may be wasted as a defender. More midfield and forward roles could be in the cards for him. Frost is fantastic in defence. I have to admit for a while I thought he may be just depth but he's defensively good and very quick and agile for such a big guy. Viney was a big part of our comeback, he had ferocity for the contest and was able to read the mostly Hawthorn taps. My only criticism of him is that he's so used to working in tight spaces that when he does get free he's not hugely damaging. Hogan kicking 3 goals after what he's been through. Just being out there is huge for him, well done. Garlett was huge in that third quarter, but I will say I wasn't a fan of him showboating against the Hawks player. When you're behind you're asking for trouble if you play up like that. Wait until we're in front (which sadly never happened).

JKH can't survive this week, while I don't think he's been as bad as what some of D-land feels he is ineffectual. Doesn't influence the contest, not enough forward pressure, and doesn't have that mercurial edge he first started with. Must be dropped for Kent. Bugg was another who appeared to do very little, the one passage of play I can remember from him was him trying to pass it instead of going for goal. Sometimes you need to be a little selfish in the forward line if the goals are on offer.

I missed seeing the first half, that's obviously where we lost it. We won't make finals this year, we're too inconsistent and Gawn is so important to our team. There were so many centre bounces that the Hawks were able to easily break free that just wouldn't happen if we had a recognised ruckman. We're going to take a step backwards this year I feel, the core of the side is still young and susceptible to varying levels of intensity. The competition is also very tight so I feel we'll get some good wins along to way but we're going to get some bad (and stupid) losses as well. Strangely I don't think I'm angry, more numb. I've seen us going through so many rebuilds and crap times, I really thought this year was going to continue the upward trend. Now I just can't get my hopes up for this year, I'm just going to do what I do every year: ride it out, enjoy the good moments and push myself through the bad ones. Hawks had leaders who stood up when needed. Gibson, Hodge, Burgoyne, and Roughead were able to steady the ship when it counted. Viney and Jones were good in the second half, as was Lewis. I can't imagine what a train wreck it must've been in the first half, I'll never know as I won't put myself through seeing it. Gutted, numb, sick of this feeling I've had for about 90% of my Melbourne supporting life.

Fantastic way to wake up in the UK. This is my mistake for thinking after our round one win vs the Saints that we'd finally turned the proverbial corner. But we sound like we're still stuck in our old habits of inconsistency and leadership going missing when it counts. I haven't watched any of it yet, hopefully they come out to play in the second half, Goodwin better give them a bake.

I would love nothing more than for Lewis to put in a blinder tomorrow and rub it in how bad a decision it was for them to push him out. All indications are that he probably will,every game he's played he's been fantastic. He's also unbeaten as a Demon!

This surely does have to be JKH's last go before he gets sent back to Casey. While I thought he did some good things cs Richmond he's hardly been setting the world on fire. There others in better form who deserve a go if he doesn't do much this week.

Let's stick with the old cliche of "one week at a time". Let's deal with the Hawks, they'll be under fire after last week and people questioning their resolve. Hope Lewis smashes them, will be interesting to see if the Hawks fans boo him. I just hope when Hogan first gets a hold of the ball the Demon fans give him a big cheer and if/when he kicks his first goal the boys really get around him.