Maldonboy38

Goodes is a massive in and has torn us to pieces in the past, but he will be as rusty as an old iron gate. But please no-one has ever effectively tagged him so don't waste a player on him this time. Great to see Salem in. You can't ignore genuine young talent when it shines in a quality game at VFL level. Not surprised to see Jamar come straight in. Roos' method in the past has been for an older, big bodied ruckman to hold the spot against all challengers. A bit surprised about Byrnes, even though I am not his biggest critic. It will be interesting to see how he goes with Dawes and Frawley doing the big man work. A bit surprised about Watts being kept in. Unfortunately their midfield will kill us.

Dunn and Pederson have surprised me a lot this year. Dawes impact on team play wa immediate and unexpected. I saw him as a forward companion for Clark, Hogan etc... but he has been pure gold in both games Tom MacDonald. He had a shocker for most of 2013, but is once again running, spoiling and playing on. His kicking is still a bit shaky but...

Things are much better, and I can go to the footy again knowing that we will be in most games with a chance to win. I am enjoying hope again. I am fairly disappointed with the injuries to our big men but it has allowed the thrill of seeing Frawley forward. I stated some time in January that I reckon we would only win 1 - 2 games in the first half of the season, and then win 4 - 6 in the second half. I am more convinced than ever that this is how 2014 will look.

OK, fellow wordsmiths and grammarians, I think we need to clear a few things up. I hate the misuse of words (spelling, grammar, apostrophes etc...) like many others, but words change their meaning through use; being applied to new circumstances so the meaning changes nuance by nuance. Words like huge, suffer, happy, specific, have had massive changes in meaning. Now, laconic is changing its meaning. Yes, the changes began with misuse, but the word is changing right now. It is being used to mean what lackadaisical also means. It is frustrating but happening. Deal with and move on. As for Jack Watts, I have had enough. He is exquisite with ball - I can hardly remember a player with such class and timing. I can even understand he is more of an outside player, and isn't king of grunt. But his lack of desire, his lack of going when it is his turn, his dreadful marking ability, now makes we want him out of the team. The modern game, as ugly and cramped as it can be, is all about the contest, and Jack either won't enter a contest, loses physical contests too easily, or goes in with chocolate and flowers.

For all those questioning my post about the possibility of dropping Tyson, I realise that he has been getting a bit of the ball etc... But two things are standing out each game and they are really big deficiencies: 1. His kicking is atrocious. It looks long and raking but rarely hits a target or goes into a space for players to run on to. Most of his kicks (most, not all) end up with an opposition rebound and he does not have the pace to immediately change to defence, 2. His defensive running is non-existent. Zero. None. Opposition players run past him or around him as they press forward and he does not go with them. Love his clean hands and vision but he is a momentum killer at the moment. I admit there are probably 4-5 others ahead of him in terms of getting dropped but his deficiencies are stark and clear.

I forgot about Georgiou. Had a bad one today and will probably be considered for replacement by Garland.

6. N. Jones (this has become a cut and paste each week now. I wish someone else would stand up) 5. Dawes 4. Viney 3. Frawley 2. Bail (his job on Harbrow was very effective) 1. Cross.

With so many players performing poorly or below acceptable standard against the Suns, it is difficult to know how to set up against the Swans. From today's game: DEFINITE OUT: Terlich and Watts. Howling shockers today from both. Neither added much the 22 over the past 3 weeks. POSSIBLE OUT: Tyson, McKenzie DEFINITE IN: Kent, Garland (if fit and available) POSSIBLE IN: Strauss - 2 good Casey games in a row, Clisby. Would love Kent, Jamar, Strauss and Garland to come in but I don't reckon there will be 4 changes.

I was at the game, and it was a frustrating day. Although the Suns missed goals kept us in it during the first half, we were the better side for most of the 2nd half. Those 4 behinds in a row during the last half of the 3rd quarter were demoralising. This was the patch where we should have won the game. Positive. We lost by 8 points. That would have been 80 last year. Defended inside the Suns attacking 50m OK for most of the game. Dawes, Frawley continue to improve together. Viney and Jones were great. Howe's 2nd half. JKH sontinues to show he is a great draft choice, even with his limited chances today. Negatives. Movement at stoppages. This was horrible today. The Suns kept moving every time there was a stoppage. We stood still and reacted to the play. They annihilated us at ground level every time there was a ball-up or boundary throw-in. Only changed in the last 10 minutes. Our half back line, or whatever it is called in today's game. Terlich, Grimes, McDonald had no run, no oopmh, and missed good leads 25m away in space all day. Instead they chose to wait until that side of the ground filled up and kick long to a boundary contest. Watts was embarrassing today. Tackles, contested marking, body pressure, stoppages he was lifeless, physically weak, and mentally absent. The amount of times he was the right man in the right place (good on him for getting there) and he chose...chose... not to go. Pace. The Suns sprinted past us all day.

Disagree about the tackle count = a win. Tackling is important and is an important stat, especially considering how weak we have been with tackling for 4-5 years. But it is not the difference in winning/losing. We will win or lose the game via turnovers. Each loss this year our turnovers have led to immediate and multiple goals. Disposal efficiency wins the game for us today. After half time last week, even Grimes and Tom McDonald diminished the turnovers and we were able to keep possession and score using tall forwards. Dom Tyson and Jack Viney are the vital cogs today. Dawes and Frawley almost as important. Their ruck stocks are really poor so expect a great game from Spencer.

1st quarter: Brisbane were fumbly, with horrible kicking skills and unbelievable handball choices. Like watching us in 2012 and 2013. 2nd quarter: Brisbane sharpen up and immediately start to run. Instant outcome:- Richmond fold like bad origami. Tiges could get done here. They can be such carp at times.

How does Barrett keep his job, and his self-inflated reputation, as a "leading news breaker" by getting up on national TV and sprouting this stuff? A list of 6. Oh, really! Are you sure it isn't 5 or 7?This is so much like the Holy Hand Grenade from Monty Python's The Holy Grail it's not funny. I hope Kirk is on our radar, along with about 20 others, and through this year the short-list will be formed. But the Holy 6 is absolute bull.

What's with all the people wanting to drop Evans. Were people watching when he came on? He was hard, fast and played with an aggressive intent. No way drop him for mine.

The Suns are very quick. Under normal conditions I would be looking at Clisby but because of the Suns pace the only change I would make is Blease for Terlich. But this depends if Blease shows any defensive improvement for Casey.

I know that at the moment Hawthorn are making everyone else look rubbish, but on tonight's Hawks v GC game we are a real chance next week. They have the Ablett factor but Jordie can take care of him. Apart from the Ablett factor, I reckon our in and under players of Cross, Viney, Jordie, N Jones we can match them at the stoppages. The Suns are super quick so we can't play Toumpas or Trengove. Evans, Watts and Bail are vital in this game. Do we consider bringing in Blease for Terlich to get the extra pace? Do we risk Jamar like we did Dawes? Gold Coast ruck division is really weak at present and this could give us a clear stoppage advantage. Or will Spencer dominate? The confidence will kick in and we will be very much in this game.

Yep, Saturday afternoon footy is the best by a mile, even if I couldn't get there today.

As I think about the win more and more, it was a genuine 22 player team win, and it is a long time we have seen that. Most of our wins in the last 5 years or so have been in the wet, on the back of one or two individual performances. But a team win was great to witness. At the same time, how bad are Carlton?!?! Our disposal efficiency was really high but I put most of that down to a constant lack of pressure from the Blues. They lost so many one-on-ones or two-on-twos by almost expecting to win contests against us. They were terrible. Next week against the Gold Coast we need to be better by hand under pressure by hand and foot. But let me type this one more time... how bad are Carlton?

Yes, he did lay some great tackles, a couple of them strong and brutal in the second half. But there were major passages of play where he sauntered around waiting for the play to be made by others when he was the man in position number 1. We are not "on Jack's back": we are making game observations. We want him to succeed like everyone else but his lack of grunt in a contest remains a huge hole in his game.

I rhink you might be forgetting Ro Bail's amazing game against Sydney in 2010 or 2011, but it was a very good game.

N.Jones- leadership, grunt, skill Grimes - poise, leadership, efficiency Watts - skill but soft Dawes - a huge presence Viney- natural aggressive footballer Frawley - wow, absolutely wow. Tyson - was played close McKenzie - welcome back grunt Dunn - another great game Kent - some important plays Cross - example setting leader Pederson - works very hard Vince - poor game really Kennedy - Harris - quality small forward McDonald - confident and efficient Evans - love his attack Howe - quality team game Bail - run, grunt, skill M.Jones -keeps on improving Terlich - not great game Georgiou - reliable and composed Spencer - duracell, aggro, unco.

6. N Jones. I am beginning to think he might be our best since Flower. 5. Frawley. 4. Spencer. He is a big doofuss, but his aggression and second efforts are inspiring. 3. Bail. I am a huge fan, but posted about 10 days ago that I didn't think he would make it. 10 tackles, 2 goals and ran all day. Wow. 2. Grimes. Poise, grunt and balance, and limited the turnovers. 1. Cross. Having Dawes changed our playing shape and his work off the ball was amazing. T Mac was back to his best today, and like Grimes, limited his turnovers. Love the way Viney, Bail and Evans attack a contest - run in and cause havoc.

Astrology is a huge load of carp, but I reckon a few stars are aligning today: Malthouse under the pump for a whole range of reasons. The whole Blues camp whinging and moaning because of their pathetic "entitlement" mentality. The Blues playing worse footy than any other team - even us. We get Dawes in which dramatically alters the way forward. Viney and McKenzie to join Cross and Jones - this allows the outside runners to get up and running. At some stage, the Dees game plan and personnel will click for 4 quarters, probably against a team like the Blues This is very even game. Midfields evenly matched but ours in slightly better form. A lot of turnovers from both teams. This will determine today's result. We have to stop Lachie Henderson - his swing game could be the difference. And I am going for the big one - this is Watt's break out game. If he gets running, they do not have someone who can go with him. JKH to play 4 quarters and burn it up. Dees by 10 points.

Hands are tied regarding who can come in, so there will not be too many changes. Grimes, Fitzy, Watts deserve a spell for various reasons. They won't be dropped yet but if the footy they are playing continues, I reckon Roos will drop them. As soon as there are some big forward options and we don't need so many mid-sized players, these 3 will be under a very big microscope. So far, Roos has stayed true to his word, and I reckon he will continue. OUT: Fitz, Byrnes, Bail, Terlich (slim chance), IN: Clisby, Jetta, McKenzie, Blease (slim chance)

I agree with most of what is written and have the same sense of boredom and apathy generally about the game: 36 players chasing the ball around on perfect green carpet Running their guts out for 15kms to the point of exhaustion so they cannot kick goals. Huge injury lists caused mainly at training, not in actual game play. 60% of media coverage and commentary is about everything else apart from game play. (I am so fed up with stats and "breaking news"!!!) High marking disappearing, with the occasional screamer from Howe and the worst of all, the great full forwards are gone. Not going, gone. But I have solved my problem. I am back watching local footy. My eldest son plays U14, but after his game I like to watch the seniors,even though I have no family of friends involved at the club or playing. A pie from the canteen Toothless uninformed nuff-nuffs abusing everything and everyone The smell of jock straps and linament, (my dad's favourite quote about footy) 36 blokes semi-fit, having a decent crack at a game for the love of it, for the jumper, and for a beer afterwards with mates. Being able to sound the car horn after a goal. Real footy lives!

I reckon we will only have 2 wins by round 11, but will win 5-6 in the second half of the year. Rounds 8 - 11 we will see Jamar, Gawn, Dawes, Hogan, Viney all fit and finding game form, leading into a strong and consistent second half of the year.