PaulRB

Would love to see the Cats fail miserably in 2015. Used to like them as a club, but they've become a bunch of smug pr!cks over the last 5 years...

Not wanting to put a hoodoo on the boys, but you'd imagine after 7 players debuted and a solidly won in Round 1, the boys will be eager to continue it into Round 2 without the nerves and new season doubts.

Lamumba's interception and goal was huge, not only sealing the game, it broke the barrier and we then put them to the sword and enjoyed winning the game. Reckon plays like that, are what build belief and raises the bar for all. It was Wow! Wow! Wow! and made me think maybe we could compete against most teams this year...

Just in case

With this team (7 new players!), plus Dawes and Vince Roos has backed his recruitment and team building strategy, and has set the tone (and team) for the first month. We're backing speed, youth and more attack over dour defence. I hope it pays off, so we finally can build a footy brand that wins games and is enjoyable to watch. Big game! A win will set up our season and build confidence in this new team.

Even If Hogans drawing the best defender, he'll provide a target and pivot for other forwards to work with and off him. Especially with the hype the Suns will be very conscious off him, I'd expect this focus will create space for the small forwards to create, especially early on in the game, or if Hogan kicks a couple.

Given he's just completed his third pre-season, and been with the club for two years now, did well at Casey in his first year, is more physically ready, I'd suggest he be seen as a second year player. He should and will kick 25+ assumming a full 22 games. With another 25+ coming from players around him knowing if he doesn't mark it, it will hit the ground with Garlett JKH and Kent benefiting. Which would be a great result.

https://youtu.be/dsx2vdn7gpY

Part of me doesn't want this dreamily optimistic preseason to end and the cold reality to bite. Again. Knowing by half time of round 1 that you're in the lower half of the lower half... is wearing quite thin.

Given Bradshaw just extended and would be unlikely to play early in the season proper, if I were Roos I'd give him a run, just so he's more aware of the level he needs to hit and play at for 4 Q against real AFL opposition. Like blooding him, so when his debut rolls around he'll know what to expect. That said, I like the idea of honing in on our best 22 for rd 1. On Hogan, if he's recovered and unlikely to damage his foot by playing, I'd play him. We need to build fluency in the forward like and the more the forward 6+ play together, the better we'll be rd 1. I recall Jimmy managed to play despite some discomfort over his career...

I was toying with taking Matt Jones out, most clangers and most Frees Against... 11 in total, was probably the difference... But reckon Roos wants solid bodies, run all day players in for Rd 1 over kids. Make the kids learn to run like M Jones and Bail AND deliver silky skills and they'll get a game. Hence wanting to see how Brayshaw goes... although I doubt he has the engine for 4 quarters of AFL just yet.

Ins and Outs for the Doggies... Assuming Watts, Viney and Brayshaw are coming into the squad, and Hogan pulls up ok, who's up for omission? Hogan if rested, justify keeping both Dawes and Pedersen in. VandenBerg may be given another crack, but as sub may go out for Watts up forward. JKH was least of the new amigos (Garlett, Kent and JKH) so may go out for Viney/Brayshaw Ins: Watts, Viney, Brayshaw. Outs: JKH, McKenzie, Pedersen

Paul Roos excited about Hogan appearance Paul Roos is not Robinson Crusoe here...

Robbie YOU are a freak'n genius! I'll add that in addition to 50% wins, we need a percentage over 100%...

From the AFL site - Dees favour hard bodies for opener: Mahoney Looks like we're going to cement our best 22 and be competitive (for membership drive) during the NAB cup rather than trialing the new kids...

Love to reminisce. Days of betrayal and suffering... long past now.

When does it end? Soon? Please.

I like this, as Dawes while not the best mark, he is predictable as to where he'll drop the ball to (i.e. usually front of him), so having Garlett and JKH loitering and knowing this, negates this flaw to some extent.

Hogan and Garlett!... seven goals between them. Yay!

I guess I see Jack as developing into the role and player typified by Burgoyne at the Hawks, with the ability to also play up forward. Surround him with good inside mids, put him in space with a disciplined forward line moving for him and his smarts and delivery will hurt teams. The fact that he's working so hard on his engine will see him up in "red time" and pushing at the end. He will win games for us in 2015.

Love hearing the training reports, speculation about best 22 etc... I think Watts will thrive in a forward line of Gawn/Jamar, Dawes and Hogan, as he's a sweet kick and will love having genuine targets to nail. Sometimes the environment needs to be right for a player to shine, and I think Watts will thrive and deliver some career defining moments in 2015. The prospect of us adding Hogan, Gartlett, Lumuma and Petracca (even as a sub) for Rd1 has me salivating.

AFL won't act decisively until ASADA win their case. It is wise for them to keep their powder dry, and let the EFC dig their own hole deeper (and deeper). If/when the players get a year+ ban, plus further club sanctions, they will leave it to EFC to decide if they will field a team in 2015, if not, the AFL will act to rejig the fixture, and move on with the season, while the EFC appeals... and appeals... gets sued by players, etc. Gill will be standing well clear when this hits the fan, and wisely too.

Saty contributes interesting information with his first hand reports on training. Thats valuable data for those (like myself) who can't get to training and are interested to hear how we're travelling. I find the bickering, point scoring etc so tedious, that it gets questionable the value of scrolling (rapidly) through 2-3 pages of rubbish to read an interesting observation made by someone who's made the effort to be there. Saty may play along, but like an arrogant forward, he keeps producing the goods so his foibles are overlooked. Less so those who contribute nothing but foibles...

Liam used to kick goals over his head too...

Maybe, part of our challenge going forward is we have little "dead wood" now on our list, as we rise our top end picks dry up, and given the age and performance of our list we should have spare Money in the cap to pay a big fish. If not Dangerfield, I think that the top clubs (Geelong-Clarke, Hawks-Frawley, Syd-Buddy, Port-Ryder) are demonstrating how to use FA to stay in the top 4-6 and in contention. When we get close we too will need to pull those levers. Ablett a CG has demonstrated how effective one great player can be in lifting the fortunes of his club.