Little Richard

Garlett in for Vince is a lock - expecting Vince to cop one week. Oscar McDonald could be another in if they decide to drop Frost, but the constant chopping and changing helps no one. I think Frost will get another week and he's good to have there as an option if Cloke gets away from TMac. That might leave us a bit exposed up forward though. ANB is deserving of a look in, but not quite sure who for. Perhaps Bugg? Stiff to drop Wagner after an okay debut and would do nothing for his confidence.

Hard at it and very composed in traffic. Was a solid game from Jack but I can't believe he didn't have a shot. Best shot at goal in the side by a fair way - should be lining up for those.

We 'wasn't' robbed, we handed the game to them with our errors in the last quarter and they capitalised on those. The umpires didn't help but it was there to be won and we couldn't do it.

We will beat the pies, and I will laugh when Eddie McGuire weeps again.

To a point, they can't police it. The congestion is probably just too much for them these days but today was worse than usual IMO. Plenty of horrible calls.

Special mention to Max Gawn who was exceptional today. Let Goldstein off the leash early but with a whopping 63 hitouts, towelled him up at the stoppages. Max is well on the way to establishing himself as one of the best ruck men in the game and I bloody love him.

Ridiculous. When the best kick in the side has the ball 40 out from goal, you'd hope he would have a shot. Unfortunately not.

I saw three instances where North players blatantly threw the ball to their team mates, and two of those resulted directly in goals. Funnily enough the umpires called them out too. The whole throwing business is becoming a farce and the umpires seem as though either don't care, or can't keep up with it. North are the biggest culprits in the league, along with Hawthorn.

Whist we are rubbish, we're going to have articles written to that effect. It's that simple and FWIW, I don't think Lloyd's article is too bad. It's just going to take time and the continual removal of damaged goods from the club. Garland is a prime example.

We all say we won't watch tomorrow, but most of us will. That's how it works, and why we're so mentally damaged. Tbh after last week and the selection, I have no idea what to expect tomorrow. I'll temper my expectations and preempt a 40 point loss.

Wagner in! Congratulations to the young fella.

Hopefully Kent and Brayshaw bounce back too, if selected. They both looked very lethargic, though Brayshaw was clearly brought back too early.

Huge week for Viney, and I expect him to bounce back. We won't see another performance like last week from him. Similar Vanders and Tyson (who wasn't too bad, but can be better).

Thanks, good to hear it is getting some attention.

Good to hear, but hasn't this already happened before? Or maybe it was just a coffee/lunch once.

It's effing fantastic reading such good things about Trengove's progress. Cannot wait to see him run out onto the G. How were Tyson's foot skills at training?

Those match ups give me very little confidence. We need McDonald down back, at least to start.

Dunn is needed down back this week, and that's where he's been playing for the better part of two years. If he comes back in, I think his penetrating kick ins (with the odd torp) will also help us clear the ball quicker. If we are struggling, the change up I'd like to see is Hogan behind the ball and McDonald up forward.

Seems ridiculous, and definitely hasn't been working for us if that is indeed the set up. For this week, Dunn must come in to help blanket the talls, along with ANB. Kent may be saved by Garlett's injury, unless ANB is seen as a replacement and Kent is dropped for Dunn. Brayshaw to remain - he'll be much better off after the run on Saturday.

Jetta on Petrie and McDonald on Thomas? I hope you accidentally have that the wrong way around.

I'm more inclined to think he'll stay but not totally sold either way at this stage. But facts are facts, and he is signed on with us for another 2 years and Freo will gain McCarthy at the end of this season. We will be able to pay him a hefty wage and he up until the last couple of match days, his body language has been very positive.

Already devising trade scenarios. Wow.

We don't exactly have a plethora of tall backs, fence. McDonald is still one of the best young defenders in the league and he'll bounce back, I have faith.

Surely McCarthy is basically a lock to go to Fremantle at the end of this season. That makes it harder for them to sign Hogan too, doesn't it?

I really don't know what to think just yet, and will try and hold off on speculating if only to keep myself sane for the next two years. However if Hogan leaves, that would be so Melbourne. Our first potential superstar in decades gone, just like that. I will not hesitate to leave a paper bag of [censored] on the doorstep of AFL house. They have created this self-righteousness that so many young players have when it comes to their contracts and dictating where they want to play.