Pates

This is where the MRP points system fails badly. I understand the AFL wanting to stamp out the sling tackle, as it can cause serious injury however had this incident been look at in isolation rather than with the points system they would've assessed it as something that requires a warning of "if you continue this behaviour we'll come down on you like tone of bricks", but instead with the ridiculous points system he is given 3 effing weeks with a challenge?! Every match he has played has been fair and in the spirit of the game, he has never gone the man and acquits himself exactly how an AFL player should. What a joke.

It's an interesting perspective from Ricky. I couldn't work out why he wasn't being played in the firsts, still don't really agree with him having that long at Casey but it lifts my heart to hear his attitude towards it isn't one of arrogance and "I belong in the seniors" sort of thing. Really enjoy watching him play.

I definitely reckon Bate should get another go and the match committee has actually been give most players a couple of weeks rather than one go to make an impact. And i actually think the intent was there he just didn't have much luck going for him. As for Dunn, I'm not 100% on what his role is in the side. I'm assuming he's a defensive forward that is meant to prevent run from the opposition running defenders. I think at some stage he will be pushed out of the side, possibly for Ricky P (who I can't work out why he's been out of the side for so long!).

Agreed, it will happen on it's own accord. And if anything him getting dropped from the leadership group has driven him to be more of a leader. The Jamar-Moloney combo is one of the most prolific ruck-rover duos in the AFL at the moment.

Those first two wins were fairly nothing victories, they were against average opposition and we didn't look particularly convincing. Adelaide was different, we were all over them and we played with passion. We deserve to be in the 8 now.

I agree it would be nice if we could play it against another Victorian side, and with a bit of clever marketing it could be turned into a annual match. What if they offered freebies for female fans, or as Caro said, make it the womans round and link it to breast cancer (as they did last year!). It's most likely a fixture that will never endear itself to footy fans, but playing it against an interstate side and adding in the weight of the abysmal weather, it's a result that's not unexpected.

Great stuff guys! Shattered I'm missing this game, but very happy to hear the boys clicking again. I hope they understand this is the standard now!

Aussie's the sub, missed who the crows sub is.

Its very simple, if the midfield do their job, win the ball and work hard all day then we will win. I'm expecting a much better performance this week, because the boys simply show they still want it and still have Deans back. There was a lot of talk this week, it's time to back it up.

Watts spoke well, Green towed the company line (even when being heavily pushed into cracking a joke about Gary coaching the club). Basically said everything we've already heard, just live.

Both good points, and FWIW i think Trengove will be a Dee for a very long time.

So did Brock McLean. Not saying this to disparage Trenners, but young players say it a lot, perhaps at that young age they haven't been tainted by the club's lack of loyalty.

The have two bites at the cherry though, any of those players out of contract next year?

I am, because rnd 6 is way too early to be officially meeting on this. For Christ give the guy a crack at turning it around before acting on a knee-jerk reaction to a poor start to the season, you think Geelong would won the premiership with bomber if their board had had the same patience as you? Don't get me wrong I'm not letting Bailey off the hook, but to do what you're asking will only lead to destablisation at the club. And a fair proportion of the blame should be going on the players. I'm sick of hearing words like "shattered" and"disappointed", I want them to get [censored] off and angry! I still think they can turn this around, but it'll required the players getting their heads the right place, beacue we've seen they can ccompete, it's all there, they just seem so down on confidence.

Would go if I wasn't working, but always go if available. Having said that, if we hadn't played such insipid football so far this year I might've looked into swapping so I could go.

I'm sure everyone who knows me thinks i'm a broken record, but I can handle losses if the team has a good HARD crack. That means being relentless and ruthless with tackling and pressure, we were excellent at it for much of last year and it looks like we are starting to see one of the major losses from taking Junior off our list. Without Jordie Mac those are our two highest tacklers from last year gone. The offshoot of being relentless with pressure is that it creates mistakes from the other team and inevitably brings us back into the game, that was what allowed us to compete with the likes of Collingwood, Bulldogs, and Fremantle @ Subi. It breads confidence through the playing list to take risks and back each other in, right now i see zero confidence from EVERYONE bar Jamar and Moloney.

Cale is a very tough player for me to read, there are times where he does brilliant clever work but then 2 minutes later he does a complete shank or gets caught with the ball. I know he's been injury riddled, and i was extremely surprised when they brought him straight in (albeit as a sub), but much like we were done waiting with Sylvia last year it is time Morton showed what he's got or we drop him.

What's great about him, from what I've heard from him, is that he understands the VC is just a title. True leadership comes from actions, he is the classic "lead by example" sort of a bloke and the way he carried himself on Sunday was exemplary.

I was talking about this with my brother, I think the sub should be an avenue for someone who performed at VFL level and deserves a call up, and we should flat out drop someone who didn't play well and give him a FULL game at VFL to get some form. I would rather Watts play at Casey last week than have him as a sub. I'll go with Petterd to be the sub, Dunn dropped and Watts to play a lead up forward role.

Might seem strange to say this, but it was a fairly lackluster 90 point win. We absolutely killed them in the last, but i think it might've had a lot to do with fitness and endurance from the season players we have. Positives: Moloney - Without a doubt BOG, and a fantastic way to answer for his lapse in judgement last week. If he keeps going like this and keeps his nose clean he could be reinstated in the leadership group later in the year. Trengove - Excellent skill and poise for the whole game, love this kid. Tapscott - Continues to show he belongs at AFL level. Davey - Although quiet for much of the game, it was just great to see him dangerous around the goals again. Morton - Wasn't sure about his selection (I'm a confessed Petterd lover!), but he showed why he was so highly touted, albeit against easier opposition. Wonna - Starting to look like he belongs again, did some very clever things today. Negatives: - Yet ANOTHER slow start, the first team to have the first goal kicked against the Gold Coast is something we will live. We looked casual and uninterested for much of the first quarter and was in front because GC are easy to score against once you get inside 50. - Pressure on the opposition ball-carrier is still not up to scratch, better in the last, but I want us to hunt the ball and strike fear into the opposition. - Goal kicking, there were 6 or 7 posters so there is some leeway, but how many times were we in a point blank position and just stuffed it up. We won't get that many chances against the top sides so we must make them count. Overall, if you'd asked me at the start of the day if i'd taken a 90pt demolition i'd say, "hell yeah!". So well done to the boys, but there is definitely work to do over the break.

No change to the side that monstered such a powerful lions outfit last week, personally I would've brought Petterd in for Morton, give him a full run at Casey to get some match fitness before he's a regular for the seniors again.

Absolutely, this interpretation change is no doubt a failure. I too can't understand why they don't do the exact same thing as is rugby and soccer, by putting it all on the players you are potentially disadvantaging the team for got fouled against! What was wrong with the old method?! I get that we had occasions where the play had be brought back despite an opportunity being presented, but at least they were able to get their proper shot in the first place, plus the adjudication of a teammate taking advantage seems extremely harsh!

It doesn't how good a game plan is, if the players aren't willing to chase and put pressure on the opposition the team is most likely going to lose. Take a look at the first half of last year, ever player took it apon themselves to keep us alive in every contest. We were good (not great) at this against Sydney, good for the second quarter v Hawks, and good in spurts v Lions. There is just seems to be a lack of urgency at the moment.

Technically we were in the 8 after round, alphabetically! But yes this week, should we win as expected, will be an important step forward.

Yeah the Brisbane game was the first i saw of the flag raising, and to be honest i thought it was only going to occur at the first round, can't say i liked it at the Brissy game. I get what the club is trying to do, but i think it's going a bit far now. Raise the flag at the first home game to signify it's the start of a new year and have it flying above the scoreboard, any more than that is overkill. Trumpeter is OK in doses, but again i think they should have him play once, just before the game.