deeko

Handy game last night. Showed to me that any team, in form on the day and willing to go 100% can win against any opposition. Its how the Dogs did it two years back and the Tigs last year. I feel the flag this year is again anyone’s to win. People were silly to write off the crows after last week and people will be sillier again to write off an aging (or slow) swans for this year as well. Both teams have significantly more firepower than us at the moment.

He was better on the weekend but still not anything better than average. He put his body on the line a few times and got crunched. I’ll always support someone who does that for our club. Just hoping his skill gets back up to what made him so desirable at trade week. During his draft year, wasn’t there talk of him playing as a midfielder? I’m pretty sure there was a rage with tall mids (Cripps, Fyfe etc) and I thought we were going to grab him as P3 (after Brayshaw if Trac went to the Saints) but we would pick him as a mid. If so, just may be another string to his bow if Weed comes on and TMac goes back with his bro. Does anyone else recall this? Or did I read this here and taking it as fact.....

In: Tyson, Hunt, Hannan Out: Harmes, Lewis, Bugg Harmes is hard but plays like a headless chook. Continually smashes into team mates trying to win the ball and negatively impacts us. Tyson is a clear upgrade with his clean hands in close and a lot better footballer. Bugg is similar and continually hurts with a poor conversion. Hannan adds as much with pressure but is more accurate. I think the spell in the twos might be good for Hannan so he knows the 100% commitment he has to give for the 4 quarters. Lewis was awful again. Slow, unskilled and provided minimal rebound and no defensive efforts. Hunt to come in and will stay in. We will need his pace and his energy. Lewis needs to earn his super payments. No one deserves a free ride

He took a couple grabs today, put his body on the line and showed a couple nice moves but he still had some absolute howlers. He was better however. He and all our defenders (bar OMac) look continually confused. I think they are having to work overtime as the ball keeps coming in quickly over our putrid press and they keep getting beaten one on one. Omac seems to have a nice easy “punch and defend or mark if you can” strategy and doesn’t worry about rebound or intercepting. He did this role really well. Jake, along with Hibberd and Jetta, are looking lost and have all gone backwards from last year.

Please release Jones off the tag. We need to role the dice and get arguably our best mid and captain to lift us

Yes JJ has been very very poor as well. I forgot he was playing till he took a couple grabs that quarter. There whole forward line is in shambles. Last year it seemed so potent. Tonight we have 1 goal kicked and less than a handful of effective touches from Betts, JJ, Walker (just shanked a kick whilst I wrote this) and Lynch..... it’s beautiful ?

Well done Tex. Pump the fist like the great leader you are after getting a free kick from your team mate putting there head over the pill. He is just a moron and is so over rated imo. Does nothing when the game is hot

I flicked over at half time for a quick look at the Power vs Lions game. Watts had two contests I saw. First was a smaller player bodied him off a high ball, Jack gives a half attempt and the ball bounces to him. He sends off a lazy handball toward goal to a player in the clear that falls short of his target by metres. Lions rebound the ball. A minute or so later he is in a high ball one on one and Harris-Andrews outmarks him easily and rebounds. Both reminded me why we made the decision to let him go.

I was thinking of Weid on Friday night watching Essendon as I was focused on James Stewart up forward. Is big, presents well and has some good hands. He didn’t show any more than Weid other than some flashes last year as a 23 year old. He is finally starting to make an impact but it’s taken a long time. He’s playing in a role which is exactly what we want from Sam imo. I still have faith but it’s going to take another two years and then he will be a goer!!

Lots of players have issues being tagged in the past, he isn’t the first and won’t be the last. I just struggle to fathom why we wouldn’t have a serious crack. He’s in the top 5 mids in the comp playing at a level we can only hope our young mids can get too. Over paying for a B grader might cause conflict amongst the group. However I think our boys are cluey enough to realise Sloane is a gun. Two B and F’s, all-Aus v/c, the players MVP for the first month last year ending fourth. Polled over 20 votes in the Brownlow for the last two years. Get him

I’d rather keep the second rounder and maybe throw in Dom Barry as the sweetener.

Looks like a young boy in a mans XXL jumper. The crouching over part makes it look even odder. No one is beefing up anymore in the AFL. Everywhere I read people are discussing slimming down and focusing on the aerobic side. Will be interesting to watch how Watts reacts this year to change. I honestly don't think much will change. Will be some polished moments followed by lots of time going missing and minimal second efforts

Jordan was fantastic against Hawthorn. Played a big last quarter, had 30 odd touches and kicked a couple including a tight last quarter goal keeping us in it. Didn't think he could do much more. Pretty sure both games vs the Roos he was in our best also. He cost us big time missing the Freo game with suspension. I have no doubt he would have been worth at least a goal. I don't think his role this year was to be the number one midfielder preferring to leave this to the Olivers/Jones/Viney/Tyson. He rarely went in there that I can recall. I think he's been a fantastic recruit and would still have him in the team ahead of half a dozen. I'm looking forward to the day our "depth" rises above him and pushes him out the door but until then I'm comfortable with him being in

I think you are dreaming a little bit as Lever is definitely a lot better player than Frost. Still, Frost did show a bit early this year. Would be wonderful if we could keep our first rounder somehow and maybe Frost out could assist here

I find myself always wanting him to go well. He has always been a whipping boy (maybe deservedly so) and a bit of an underachiever. Copped it massively over the years from bombers supporters and ours and we were laughed at giving up a second rounder. After all that it's nice to see a bit of an underdog get there time in the sun. Keep it up Jake

Not sure why Adelaide would be interest in either Watts or the Weid noting they already have Walker, JJ, Lynch and McGovern (maybe short term) loitering around in there forward line and Otten who swings around there. There backline would need more support which increases the value on Oscar/Frost but I still think there priorities would be for high quality mids. I still think a local like an ANB might be used along with a first round pick in exchange for Lever and some pick in change. You have to spend big to get the talent and personally I think the kids going to be a star. Would be massive for us to get this done

Admittedly I haven't seen any footy the last month as on a honeymoon still so just pop in for a peek when there's wifi. From what I have seen of Lever, he is worth every cent. He's skilled, he's quick and importantly he's agressive at the pill. He's all the good parts of the Macs and Frost together with none of the occasional turn overs I haven't seen any of Oscars rise (which is great to hear) but when opportunities like a gun CHB come your way i struggle to see how anyone could say no. 800k I think is pocket change to bring him home to be part of something special

Brilliant if true! I struggle to believe it but very excited to see. First game I have missed in years flying to LA for the honeymoon. Sure the darl won't mind day 1 flying solo while I catch the replay

He might end up a decent player, might. Jake is already playing great football. I fail to understand why we wouldn't chase someone who's already playing at a level that we can only dream of Oscar reaching. Especially someone who is young enough to improve even further who has a big carrot in the home factor being dangled in front of him. I have nothing against Oscar but this kids a jet

My god it looks delicious: Frost. TMac. Jetta Hibberd. Lever. Hunt Great defensive presence, a lot of aggression at the pill and at the man and excellent rebound as well. Hunt could go to the wings if need be with your older mid back there but to me, that's a delightful back six

Worth every cent. He's not playing the midfield minutes anymore and is in a new role so can't expect him to rack up 30 plus and a sausage roll a game. I like the fact he's floating back in the backline backing up players and I'm sure the kids have some confidence knowing he's behind the pill. Was very good against the Saints and Bombers, games in years by we wouldn't have held on to. He also nearly got us over the line against Hawks.

I feel for Oscar. He did well today in the second half but he's still not ready (imo) and he cops bulk grief from supporters because of it. I wasn't as wowed today with his game as others but was pleasantly surprised. Was he that good or have we set our expectations so low? At half time today I was getting grumpy at him but there is no point in doing so I realise. He isn't picking himself each week and there is absolutely zero in reserve at present to see him come out. Good to see him up and about in the second half. I think Gawn or Spence in next week will see big bro go back and the Oscar relegated but at least he will go back with some confidence. Excited to see how he and the weid look in a coupla years time

It was a tongue in cheek comment made by his dad. I remember the article headline thinking how crazy this story is but in reading it in full his dad was having a laugh. Typical wannabe headline grabbing propaganda

I just saw a highlights package on Facebook of Pendles game on the weekend. Now I can't stand the pies but I find myself man crushing on Pendles every time I watch him play. The way he handballs in traffic is exactly the same as a Pendles. Both handball more than kick being extractors but both are great kicks of the pill when need be. Hopefully he will reach the highs or go further than Scott which is about as good as praise as I can give. Even though he buggered off to Shepp when he was young I'm still claiming him as a local Echuca lad. luvya Clarry you magnificent looking bastard xo

This is what excites me the most with the inclusions so far. Another mature and classy player comes in further increasing the standards. If we have another season like this one with minimal injuries I'd be worried if I was a Ben K, Bugg, JKH or Nibbler (and obviously a couple others) who really should be looking at cementing there place.