Pates

He got enough of it today but just seemed to try too hard to force himself into form, never actually looked to settle. After quarter time he was ok but given he's in the leadership group he needs to read the game and the situation more.

He just looks a goer, doesn't seem to be any lack of confidence and backs himself every time. Even when he missed his goal he straight away took the contested mark to win the ball back and set up a goal for another player. Those two goals he set up for Garlett were just poetry in motion. Congrats Gus!

Well done to Jesse but given this was the round he won it, it really does show how much of a nothing nomination/award it is. Brayshaw must be next surely!

I'd say his defensive efforts have been mostly good but offensively and how he's using the ball have been average. He also has not been getting enough of the ball for me. Early form was good, last 4-5 weeks average.

If Jetta's good to go he comes in. Anyone who is dropped from our win this week will be desperately unlucky but we have to pick best 22 when we can. Dawes on the other hand has done little to solidify his claim as best 22 when you look at Pederson's output the last two weeks. Viney is best 22 and if good to go is a logical swap for Matt Jones. Tyson is the same but I would be happy for him to have another week off, to me he's looked a little restricted so having another week to be cherry ripe for the Pies could be good for him. Great problem to have, 4 (almost) walk up starts trying to force their way into a winning side. Is this how the Hawks/Sydney/Geelong have felt the whole time for 8 years?

I think all of us were genuinely trying to, but how can you? The guy plays like he's been out there for 5 years. The Melbourne store is going to run out of number one's to be printed on gurnseys!

I'd like to add a record that I'd like to see broken. Last time our leading goal kicker had 50+ goals was Brad Green in 2010. Since then we've had: 2011: Jurrah (40) 2012: Clark (29) (after 11 games) 2013: Howe (28) 2014: Dawes (20) A slow decline, but obviously it is being turned around with Garlett and Hogan.

Goodes doesn't bother me, he's not longer our concern (although he is in my supercoach team!). I'm just Glad that Garlett's wasn't even looked at and he's free to go up north. This is an important game so having him available is fantastic.

Actually really don't care about this award. Hogan hasn't played one bad game yet, and every week he continues to show more of his ability. He will destroy a team this year, personally I hope it's against Collingwood. He did seem to like the big stage against Richmond, the pies will try to rough him up I think it'll just spure him on.

No way in hell should Dawes come in. I know it'll be tough for him but he'll have to have another week off because our forward looks settled with Pederson playing as our other big tall. He also can pinch hit ruck and takes good grabs. Dawes should have to work his way through Casey, which means we might not see him until QB given the bye at Casey. Tyson, Jetta, Viney are the three that spring to mind for a return. M Jones (inj), Bail, Grimes are the three that spring to mind for an exit. But that's a fair amount of changes following a winning week. Might just be Jetta and Viney in and give Tyson a good amount of time to recover. Jones and Bail go out for me. Surely Jetta must be back this week, I'm glad we're being conservative with his multiple concussions but it'll be 3 weeks now?

Difficult to rate Toumps game for me. The good was excellent, the bad was face palming. Problem is he panics in certain situation and gives up goals from it. Last night he got 2 of his own so that's a good output from him. It may well be a slow build with him getting him confident in his abilities. Part of me thinks he's still got Neeld's voice in his head at times.

So haven't really said anything about the game yet but something I really liked was that it was a very even team performance. It didn't feel like there were any passengers. Even Lumumba with low numbers still did some good defensive acts. But Jesse Hogan, he is just gearing himself up for a big one some time this year. I would love nothing more than for it to be v the Pies on QB. But his game last night was really rounded, kicked his 3 goals but was also involved in others. Push hard all day all around the ground. Brayshaw I also seeing having a big one soon (hopefully next week), but I love his grunt and pressure. He's also got a really mature head on him. I was critical of Spencer being in there but no doubt he one the day as the ruckman. His second efforts were also quite good. I don't know his future, but it would be great if he could back this game up next week. We get Jack Viney back next week, and possibly Tyson, tough call on who comes out. Probably Matt Jones with concussion, possibly Bail. Is Jetta also set for return?

I wouldn't want to see Goodes rubbed out for his hit but it won't surprise me if he is. Garlett's was very minimal impact and pretty unavoidable, probably looked at but I can't see a suspension.

I didn't actually Toumpas was bad, not saying he was good or anything but plenty of others who'd I'd level criticism at first. The thing I liked about his game was he seemed to do 2nd and 3rd efforts, something that I feel he's struggled with in the past. Those things won't go down on the stats sheet. I dunno maybe I'm delusional. FWIW I would also put Spencer in the very F ugly category. He looked totally out of standard and I honestly can't work out why Jamar was dropped for him.

Yeah knocking it down early is always a good thing, sometimes you hear families of players say stuff like "we just want what's best for him but it would be nice to have him home" sort of throwing out there the idea of a return. But that really just sounds like Jesse's enjoying his time here and his family are just as happy for him.

It's no so much that channel 7 have a choice over it, they just make their requests and recommendations. The AFL makes the draw on what will be the best "advertisement" for the game ratings and coverage wise. It is totally up to the AFL what they fixture and when (as they showed with the Sunday night games last year). But this is the season before the broadcast rights get signed and sealed, they have created a draw specifically to cater to the broadcasters to give them the best reason to shell out billions of $$$. I heard Barrett get on a rant and "demand" that the AFL move some of these Blues Friday nights be moved. It's one of many things that annoys me about him, he has the luxury of making these huge calls with zero ramifications on him. Instead the AFL should use these horrendous Friday night fixtures to push for a floating draw. To use a fantasy football analogy, you have players that can be mid/fwds and swap them accordingly. What the AFL should do is designate some floating games that can be moved if needs be. Always have the Friday night as a shiftable game to determine the best game to represent the game.

Yeah don't understand the angst towards Lyon. He's a passionate demon and I think he fights it at times to be seen as more impartial. I don't see anything particularly wrong with what he said, we're still a bottom rung team (albeit seemingly improving). We were just destroyed over the weekend by Freo, we will realistically be destroyed in a couple of weeks by the Hawks, with or without Lewis and Hodge.

I was listening to the radio but it sounded like on the commentary that if anything it was Pavlich raising his arm into Garland. Haven't seen it but sounds very strange. On Hodge and Lewis. I think 2 is fair for Lewis, reckless and stupid rather than malicious IMO. Hodge I'm kind surprised they didn't give him the same, 3 down to 2. I don't know that he meant to do exactly what he did, there was more intention but I don't know that it was much worse than Lewis. Maybe 3 given that it was out of play and instigated a pretty big melee. Glad we won't have to deal with these guys but there are plenty more to be concerned with. They are racking up a fair list of outs though.

Th only downside of Open Mic is that often he gets players that have so many levels of memories and opinions that inevitably things get left out. Given what Todd went through during the Balme years with the potential merger, the fact that when he joined us as a kid we were just getting into premiership contention, being the captain during the rejuvenation of the club under Daniher (also the fact that Neale's battling such a terrible disease), recruiting and even coaching the club, and now watching his son play and starting to show potential as a future gun. I would be shocked if there's time to get a question about Wines in there, and to be honest it's the question I'd be least interested in.

Good to see the top 4 Casey players all MFC listed. Not so good that none are Toumpas.

Watts started to season well, we all got excited at the thought of it finally clicking with him. No such luck. He needs a run in the VFL if nothing else to show the rest of the squad what happens when you don't play your part in the side. OP had it in one as long as Salem, Dawes, and Jetta get up for next round. Jordie Mac, sorry to say you just aren't up to it anymore. I will say this though, Roos rarely brings a player in for one game. Wouldn't shock me if he gets another week, I just don't know who else would go out.

This is a simple situation for me. I don't expect us to win, 99% of the competition doesn't expect us to win, 95% of the competition probably doesn't expect us to get within 5 goals. Play with freedom, play with hardness, and play with desperation. Win or lose the fans will be proud.

If Jesse scores the first goal he should celebrate something like this.

Agreed. We were all very disturbed to hear Daniel Bell after he left the game was experiencing headache's and symptoms consistent multiple concussions over the years. Bail has had a fair amount of history with concussions, I hope he and the club are very wary of this for the rest of his time with us.

He was always going to be sink or swim at Freo. He had such an easier ride at Melbourne where he was considered a gun but going to a team where he was expected to perform to a higher standard obviously was too much for him. It's a shame, I have heard his TAC u18 coach say he is one of the most talented player he's seen through the years. It was clearly there but something else was lacking.