Pates

Fitzy is my 2014 disappointment, I honestly don't know where his career is heading. With the lack of forward options available I would've expect him to be bashing down the door, but he's been mostly unsighted for the entire year. His recent form at Casey has been solid though so perhaps he'll get a game or two in before the end. It sounds like whereas last year he was predominantly a forward they've been focusing on getting him ruckwork better.

Will never forget chatting with him after the Brisbane win in 2002 at the German club, I'd imagine that's got to be one of his best wins. Really nice bloke, very sad that he's got such a terrible disease.

Happy to see Salem back in, you'd have to think he'll be the sub and Riley will be given a full game. Just my two bob on draft ideas, I would make pick 1 a 50/50 coin toss between the two clubs. That way there is absolutely no advantage with finishing last and hopefully would lead to a situation where clubs actually care whether they get the wooden spoon or not. Generally bottom two teams are as bad as each other, so you won't be disadvantaging a certain team.

Pedo didn't get dropped last week, he was injured, Gawn played a great game last week and with team balance it's hard to fit Pederson in. Good chance for Hogan and Pederson to work on forward line structure.

So many times people on the forum have said we'd lose to a VFL side, this is about as close as we're going to come to finding out. God damn it's good to see Hogan named.

Certainly not set in stone, he hasn't played competitive footy since in the NAB and I'd expect him to just play a half and if he doesn't do much I'd imagine they'll give him another week.

I think the potential for having him debut far away from hype would be a great idea, even so there will probably be a bit of hype around him returning this week in the VFL.

There's something to be said about having him debut interstate to avoid any circus with him coming onto the park in front of lots of Dees fans with expectation in their eyes. I have a feeling that an AFL debut is unlikely this year though.

Very well deserved, I doubt many people could've predicted his re-emergence, just been watching a bit of the Hawthorne game and he was excellent. He's a great example of persistence and I hope he's able to build on it into 2015. He and Pederson are two of the most improved players in the competition. Who would've guessed?

Would be a hell of an effort to nudge out Jonesy but I have him finishing a close second. He's got to be one of the recruits of the year for the competition, in terms of value I'd have him no 1.

Who's to say Rockliff would've turned out as he is now? It's the sliding doors principle, player development has been highlighted as a failing for a long time. For all we know he would've languished at Casey if we'd taken him. I don't think Jurrah was a bad pick up, things changed dramatically for him back home and he made some bad choices. A lot of boxes would need to be ticked before this would happen but I'd consider a rookie pick on him.

Was sad with the way he left the club, but ultimately he was never going to get much more out of his career at the Lions. I hope he remains a Melbourne man now and into the future.

My brother and I were talking about this not too long ago, maybe they should be looking at wiring the umpires with noise cancelation earphones that they can talk to each other and hear the siren but cuts out any possible influence the crowd can have. Extreme but I reckon it's the only way to ensure fair and balanced umpiring that is based solely on what they see.

I must admit I didn't watch much of the game but the emphasis of this discussion being on an 18yo getting 4 possessions is misplaced. It's the whole thing that Roos was saying at the start of the year that we expect too much of our younger players every week. He's young, he's going to have a bad game, I couldn't give a stuff because I know that if Roos feels that the best learning curve is for him to go back to the VFL then so be it but given his track record it wouldn't surprise me if JKH fronts up next week vs GWS and is given a chance to make amends. The Watts bashing is predictable, and in some instances not wrong, but the school of thought that I subscribe to is as frustrating as he is he is still the best person we have at the releasing kick from half back to half forward. His inability to tackle likely won't improve a whole lot, someone suggested he needs to get to the gym and work on his upper body, honestly I reckon we've got as much muscle we can get on him. The difference between him and say Pederson is the desire to tackle, I can't see that being altered a whole lot. What little I saw wasn't horrific, last week was. Even that chain of handballs that gave me multiple heart attacks was at least a sign that they can on occasion take the game on. Dawes is still a problem, but at least he got more of the ball. My B&F tip has changed with Tyson to finish runner up to Jones, and honestly I think it could be closer than some would expect given his last month. Please god let us have this one turn into a star!

I don't expect us to win, hell I don't expect a whole lot of good to happen tomorrow, but I want the Hawks to be forced to grind out a win against us. I want the hawks players to come off the ground and know that they've had to work for the victory for 4 quarters. My checklist of desires for tomorrow: - attack the footy hard with relentless pressure - execute basic skills, kick goals when they are on a platter - be in the game a 3qtr time - Dawes to kick 2+ goals and have an impact

For me, the injury to Mitch and his subsequent battle with depression is the biggest example of us copping the worst luck in the AFL. Even clubs like St Kilda, Bulldogs, and Port (who until recently were really struggling) have had stars in their line ups to at least give the supporters something to hang their hats on. North haven't had one for a while but prior to that had arguably one of the greatest to ever take the field in Carey. Jeff Farmer is the closest we've had to genuine game-changing star and he was only in that class for 2 seasons with us before he left (and that feels like a lifetime ago!). Mitch Clark had all the trademarks of being a team-lifting star player, hell the game he injured himself I reckon he was on track for 10+ goals! When it was revealed the extent of his injury I said to myself, "we can't have nice things, they just get ruined". We've brought a lot of things onto ourselves; tanking, Neeld, poor drafting mixed with woeful player development. But lady luck has not shone down on us for a LONG time. I'm hoping the trading of Tyson to the club, and perhaps Hogan being able to get out onto the park is the beginning of the upward trend.

It's a shame that the GWS game is next week and not in a few weeks, they would've been the perfect opposition to roll him out to for the first game. Perhaps the last round, bring him in similar fashion to what we did with Grimes a few years back. Just give him (and the supporters) a taste of what's to come. Sounds like he's raring to go, not surprising, must feel like a caged animal! Glad to hear Toumpas is back healthy again, I really want him to do well, and he's shown glimpses but nothing concrete yet. Thanks for the report Saty.

I don't know if anyone is watching the Fox8 show "The Recruit" but it's interesting to see how much they keep going on about skills and attitude being able to hold up under pressure. There aren't a whole lot of guys at the club that I'd feel confident about being able to kick a simple 25-30m directly in front goal, something the show keeps harping on about. Is there anyone on the list you'd have confidence in nailing a shot like that every time? Maybe Salem but he's still just a kid. As someone said above, I think most of it is a mental barrier when they get into that position.

Before we play the Lions again next year I want them to replay the incedent over and over to the players. I want them to be angry that they (MRP and the players) let Merrett get away with it.

Roos brought it up, it's still an issue at the club. Those responsible at the top have a lot to answer for.

I have a feeling Jordie will survive the cull at the end of the year, the way he spoke about him post match being a role player leads me to feel that. But jeez that miss was a disgrace, we kicked ourselves out of the game in that 3rd quarter and deserved to lose it after such disgraceful kicking. On topic, Dutchy always had myself and my dad worried 5m directly in front. Boy he missed some bad ones!

Just saw the Stevie J one, how the hell did he get one week? Woeful week from the MRP.

Jeez not impressed with the MRP this week, Merritt was late and had high impact. It was a poor "legitimate" attempt to spoil, he knew he was going to make impact with Pederson the moment he left the ground. I could cop him getting a week, a reprimand would've at least recognised he was in the wrong, but to be totally cleared is BS. Makes the response from the players even more pathetic, he literally got away with it in every respect. Conca's one I'm not overly surprised with but the fact it was such a weak act, and behind play I hope was taken into account.

I hate to say it but he's starting to remind me of the bloke we essentially traded for him. He's looking lazy, and undisciplined. He wasn't alone but jeez he torched some golden chances for us to score. His second half of the year has been mostly average.

So we are now at 10 games leading during the last quarter with only 4 wins. The players also seem to be afraid of believing they can win, Roos said it best where we get into a winning position but expect to lose, self fulfilling prophecy. How the hell do we break that mindset? For some reason, today I feel was the best example of us being beaten mentally. We had every reason to be up and about after the Bail goal, then that dog Merritt hit Pederson and the response was pitiful, Merritt kicked the next goal and we capitulated. So much of footy seems to be above the shoulders and our heads ain't right.