Little Richard

But we're all perfect! We never complain, we consider all the facts when presenting an argument and we never let emotion get the better of us, particularly in the post match discussion threads.

Didn't get to watch the game until Sunday morning, but I was far from enraged with the first half. We were doing so much right but just failing in the execution in our forward fifty. The run on we got in the third and fourth reminded me a lot of our big win over them last year. This game was far less frustrating than the Essendon win. Maybe that was because I already knew the result though. Plenty of positives to take out of the game, the main one for me being our spread of scores through our forwards and midfielders. We have so many avenues to goal now.

I agree that they're better defenders than the guys we have, no issues there. But at this stage I think it's more important to look and recruit elsewhere - some more midfield pace and a back up ruckman. Our defence will get better with development. Another issue with recruiting May is how to integrate him into the zone defence that we play.

The irony is that posters keep saying they want May because he is a bigger type of defender than the ones we have. He's not. Personally I don't think recruiting May would solve many problems.

Fellow alumnus Biff?

Makes an impact on the contest that belies his status as a mid-sized forward. He's effectively had to play as a key forward and has done very, very well. We have the makings of a very dangerous forward six now with versatility in spades. With Max and Hogan back, I'd love to see something like this, with Trac rotating through the middle and the forward line: Garlett Hogan Pedersen Hannan Watts Harmes

Classic half back flanker He's never averaged more than about 1.5 tackles a game throughout his career, so we knew what we were getting. And that's fine because what he does at the moment, no one else in the back line can do.

He did say Watts set shot routine is in the top 3 in the league though. Hard to argue with that!

Can you drill a hole in the wall for Saty?

Nice little exercise! Best game so far: Adelaide win, hands down. Worst game so far: Hard to split Hawthorn and Richmond games, because I hate them both so much. Probably Hawthorn because we lost with a fit 22, whereas the effort against Richmond was pretty good the whole way through. Most improved player: Oliver. He's a freakish talent, and even more so because of his consistency. A player who needs to lift: Would have been Viney a few weeks ago, but now I'd probably have to say Billy Stretch. Not exactly sure what he's doing wrong for the coaches but he needs to hit whatever KPI's they're giving him so he can return to the firsts, which is where he should be. Who is currently leading the Bluey?: Has to be Oliver. Best recruit: Easily Hibberd. Love that left boot and his versatility in that he can play tall or small. Was hoping for more from Melksham, but his game yesterday was a step forward. Will we make the finals?: Yes. We'll kick on in the back half of the season with Max and Hoges back, and win some of the games that we're not expected to. That'll make up for going down in the matches we should have won.

Has to come in soon, surely. He's one of those players that is better at AFL level than VFL IMO. We miss his run at times and his disposal is usually pretty safe.

Copy and paste this every time we win.

Yep fair enough. Just surprising to see that jump I guess. 100 games average often correlates to a premiership window, or so they say. We're still a long, long way off... call us an anomaly.

Is that games average correct? I thought it wasn't long ago at all that we were sitting at about 55.

He's 21 years old bub. Oscar is well ahead of the curve for a player of his size and age.

LOL at Carlton with Kreuzer - 13 wins, 29 losses. Fantastic.

If King had a couple more games under his belt, I don't think it would be such a bad idea to bring him in for Weid and have him rotate through the forward fifty and the ruck. Playing him about 40 to 50% in the ruck would protect him from being damaged by a much bigger body and would allow Pedo more time up forward as a genuine target. As it is though he probably still isn't ready, so Smith in for Weideman this week could be the go. Harmes in for Salem, Stretch/Melksham for Kent.

Watts' output has lowered the last couple of weeks. Can you argue against that? He started the year very well and received the plaudits he well and truly deserved, but will come under scrutiny if he doesn't return to that form. That's how it works.

Trengove would be a great pick up. Would almost prefer him to May for his versatility. Side note, the surname Trengove looks weirder every time I look at it.

He's in career best form and offers far more than Weed at the moment, who is just a developing kid. Pedo must stay in the side when Maxy is back.

That's the essence of it I think. I had high hopes for Dean a couple of years ago, as he has a combination of skills that could be very damaging - pace, booming left boot, solid body and (occasional these days) hardness at the contest. Just never seems to put it together. He'll be eclipsed unless he can find some kind of consistency.

Salem receiving a week is fair enough. But the MRP is so far off consistent it is appalling. What a joke.

How do you figure? May is listed as 193cm and 102kg. Tom McDonald is listed as 194cm and 101kg. Oscar is 196cm and 97kg, Frost a little smaller at 194cm and 94kg. May looks to have a different kind of body shape but I don't think it's about size, it's about the way they use their height and weight. May is better at that and would be a great addition, but these guys can learn IMO.

A mature back up ruck would be nice. At least we have our tall defence 'covered', they just need to improve a bit.

Great stuff Little Goffy, thanks for that. You've restored my optimism which is no mean feat.