Meggs

Further thoughts from an astute Cats supporter mate: His view is that Burbury won't be up for trade. And he thinks they are mad if they let Schroder go. Taylor Hunt - tagger, nothing more. Poor foot skills. Would trade for a Big Mac. Mitch Brown - Works hard. Was in the best 22 at the start of the year. Good half forward (Geelong have chopped him from back to front so he hasn't really had a chance to settle) Jesse Stringer - Inside midfielder. Ok pace, question marks on engine size. Has had off field issues. Burbury - thinks he stays. Good mid sized forward. Nice kick, attacks the ball hard. Schroder - Inside midfielder, good size. Won Liston Medal so can play. Doesn't think he is on the chopping block either. Josh Cowan - Been injured long term. Gets body right, he is a jet. Very quick. Jackson Sheringham - Another mid that is outside our best 22 and really dropped back a few pegs as some of the younger blokes went past him. Goes alright without being a superstar.

I wish we could trade him for Carlisle

Treloar and Shiel looking good!

The Watts apologists...oh pleeeeeeeease

This game always brings out my hatred for North. Still annoyed they didn't take the bait to go to Gold Coast. That smug James Brayshaw rejecting that massive offer. The AFL then decides to create not one but 2 teams! Compromised drafts and draws. North are an irrelevancy to me. At lease we appear to be in the game. I really enjoyed being at the G last week. Fingers are crossed but at home with the kids this week.

Actually on Sunday I was told (confidentially) that the Cats had pencilled in the 3 lossed before the season had started. The Swans loss was simply an abberation that happened. He conceded that Sydney do look like they are building a strong team. This 'insider' confidently predicted that the draw now opens up for the Cats and he figures on only 2 more losses between now and the end of the home and away. A Swans Cats grand final beckons apparently. No other team has the credentials I'm told. Hawks are done, Pies are not ready and Freo is too inconsistent away from Perth. Apart from Season 2014 being just a 2 horse race the other key message for the football public is that Geelong will never bottom out, they will continue to be top 4 team for the foreseeable future as lifestyle (there's not much else to do down at sleepy hollow) and the plethora of outstanding local talent continues ad infinitum. Anyway I thanked this Cats supporters for his pearls of wisdom and wondered what it would like to talk to a Dees support in 1963.....

I am glad I am not the only one questioning him. Every time he has the ball I tense up not knowing where its going - I imagine he feels the same way. He's ok at the defensive stuff but his offensive work is not good enough if we want to climb the ladder. But who replaces him ? My guess is he's on the cusp and there maybe better options come trade time. But it was a great effort today from the group and we continue to build respect in this cut throat competition.

Gee I don't think I've seen a Dees half like that for many moons. I am reminded of last year when we unexpectedly played really well against WCE for a half at home but then completely blew it. I am more hopeful this game but cautiously optimistic in the manner of downtrodden Dees supporters. Just loved some of the spark we have Viney, Dawes, JKH and Salem. Watts seems much more intent today, hopefully just a spasm and he keeps going. Jones with only five disposals hope he's saving his bedt for the second half. Dangerfield with 14 disposals and a goal. Think he is their best player so far. Reckon Crows will come back at us really hard so its whether we can hang tough. Fingers crossed.

Goals or points ?

I was just discussing the margin with a fellow Dees supporter. You are right that most outside people will pick a 60 - 70 point margin as that has been our standard effort. I am looking forward to seeing a better performance but equally I won't be surprised if we play like we did in Round 2 unfortunately.

I usually attend Dees matches where I have mates who follow the opposition (no Dees mates unfortunately). Inevitably there will be some average opposition player out of form who lights up against us. Quite annoying and its been going on for years. Remember Abbott (not Tony) kicked 6 in 1988 GF. God its tough loving the Dees. Reckon Goodesy will quickly find touch and light up the G. I am planning for the worst but I always hope for the best. Go Dees!

I switched off at quarter time last week quite dispirited and then spent time with my kids, stated reading Catcher in the Rye and didn't log on to Demonland all week. Gotta say switching off improved my well being. I have no idea how those in charge will be able to turn this juggernaut around. I voted on the Blease, Tapscott, Strauss thread that none of them would be on our list at year's end and now I unfortunately think that JT will join them. And if its true that Neeld overruled TV on selecting Wines then I am sadder still as you can see that Jimmy has changed his running style since the hip operations (& not for the speedier!). My 8 yo boy loved Mitch Clark but is just not interested in going to or watching the Demons, loves soccer and cricket. He asked me this yesterday whether we could start barracking for Hawthorn. Hmmm

I believe if they had taken the carrot and moved, the idea for the expansion teams may not have proceeded.A 16 team comp without compromised drafts etc would be preferable. Hence my reason for a dislike for NM and especially its Chairman.

If they had relocated to GC when it was offered, would we have had the expansion teams ?

I loved Laurie Fowler

While I am not particularly proud of my personal footballing achievements (I played 1 game for Camberwell Under 19s at the Sandringham Oval, 1 season in EDFL and then 2 years in E or F Grade Amateurs - mostly in the seconds!) I have played in 2 memorable finals games... A long time ago on a footy field far, far away our local team (under 11s it was) made the finals. In the First Semi final I was playing at CHF and a young 9 year old (future champion) was filling in at CHB. We won that day by a couple of goals, I even jagged one myself! We were very excited to progress to the Prelim. It was the Page-McIntyre Finals 4 system in those days. Anyway the weather for the Prelim was cold, raining and windy. The other team (eventual premiers) seemed bigger and stronger (peptides in their oranges?) and we got close, so very close. Our CHB, just a youngster, was easily best on ground and I know I tried because I cried hard after the siren sounded as we'd lost by a point. Sadly no Grand Final and that was my last game for this local team. However for the young 9 year old he would go on to become club champion for Beverley Hills and of course find his was to VFL / AFL stardom, first as a player and then as a premiership coach. Now he's with us, let's hope he repeats his coaching successes!

So sick of Geelong and Chris Scotts' arrogance. Love it if were transferred to Melbourne. Go Port!

I was at a CFC function on Saturday night and asked RE about the Melbourne coaching role. He didn't give much away really. He said he has had one meeting with Melbourne and is impressed with PJ and says he knows GB. He thinks we have a number of highly talented youngsters, something to work with. We talked about the unhappy supporter base but he feels we will find a good coach for next year. He smiled, shook my hand and that was it. I would be happy with Rocket.

A pity there is not an option for 'undecided' for us fence sitters

There are a few passengers out there today. I'd like to see more desperation and a greater sense of urgency.

Andrew has been very successful at improving financial outcomes for players (and for himself too). He has very strong convictions and has demonstrated leadership during his CEO tenure. His is one of the most scrutinised positions going around. Not only does he have a board to review his performance, he has the media & the football public making daily comments. I am not sure that many on here would enjoy or be able to stand the scrutiny and maintain focus. Andrew does. I believe players, their managers and club officials would likely have different views to that expressed in the OP.

Please lets give Jack Trengove a rest next week

What I'd be interested to learn is whether Nathan Jones prefers the current situation to having Beamer around helping out at stoppages and through the rotations.

Did anyone see the second quarter of the Casey v Box Hill game? The Hawks have an entire seconds team of goers with excellent foot skills, super impressive. Whereas we have Jordie and Nicho plus Bail God love him. We must address this at the drafting table - players that can hit targets under pressure.

A better effort today but it continues to highlight the number of players on our list who are not AFL standard: Jordie McKenzie (non standard ability with respect to marking, kicking or thinking quickly plus he is slow - my 6 year old thinks he can handpass) Daniel Nicholson (non standard everything except fitness) James Sellar (not sure why he is on our list) and Rohan Bail (God love and protect him but he does not have enough skills under pressure or even without pressure). Unfortunately having watched Casey v Box Hill yesterday, the Hawks have at least 18 fellas with AFL standard kicking skills to bring into a strong squad and we have maybe one or two. Our recruiting has been awful...