Kento80

I see your point there RR. Thankfully it was all above board though as the club would be in for a fair amount of criticism if there appeared to be any murkiness there.

Just came across this, $140,000 loan for Schwab on The Age website. I don't have a problem with it, just interested to hear others thoughts on it, and presumed it may be of interest.

Couldn't agree more. I personally don't have any soft spot for either of the Crows or Hawks, but watching that really infuriated me, because it just shows how glaringly inept the umps are.

I reckon Tappy deserves it, however it seems to me the media is grooming Heppell to be the next 'Golden Boy' after god Hird, especially given the divine intervention from the god himself.

I like this thread, as I've been surprised lately the criticism levelled at Beamer. I for one have always loved the bloke, he may not be the most skilled, but effort and physicality in this instance far outweigh small skill deficiencies. Just to remind everyone the Jamar/Moloney combo was the most effective in the league last year up until Beamer got injured.

I think that it is brilliant having Bails on the bench. Correct me if I'm wrong (and I'm sure ya'll will ), but I believe our change of fortunes last season pretty much directly correllate with the time Bails started coaching from the bench. For my money I think that there has to be some good in talking to the players face to face.

I just can't see the confusion. Rivers infuriates the s@$* out of me. Gotta go, permanently would be nice. But the FD seem to love him and it's just not gonna happen for some reason. He just has such suspect intent in a contest, can't kick to save himself and makes dodgy decisions. Joely Mac may not be the best out there but does some good stuff (mixed with some rubbish) but he has a mongrel our team needs. I want Maric to get a chance as I loved his preseason and I'd like to see him have a little time to settle. That said I don't believe we can afford to hold back Petterd. Not certain how to solve that conundrum, but they need to work it out. Just as a joyful aside, how good was Tappy? What a debut that was, something we can all really get excited about I reckon.

For me I'd prefer Petterd to play from the outset, just too valuable. Stef Martin is quite versatile for mine as sub. Fringe 22, but can play back forward or ruck if required. Can't escape the thought that had Ricky played, the outcome could have been quite different as he possesses such poise under pressure great hands and a deadeye kick for goal.

Don't think you're the only one TU. You're in good company ATM.

Exactly WYL. Well done to leadership group on pre-emptive strike. And well done to CS today, played as if to make amends.

Absolutely agree DD. Love the bloke, but he was very costly, especially early on. We can see the potential, just want to see it come to fruition.

And I think final signs are that Roost Its hunches are shite too! What a gun!

Forgive my ignorance, but why didn't Petterd start. And Tappy, will there be any doubters now, I can't imagine so. So Hollow

Only early days, but first signs from Tappy are that Roost Its hunches are Shite! Been impressive so far.

I thought he made a good account of himself, and I say good on him. Kicked an absolutely cracking goal. I won't judge his personality as I know nothing of it, but we let him go so good luck to him. Plus I have him in my DT so hopefully he ramps it up and earns me some coin

Small "curfew" misdemeanor = non event! Who was it that wrote an article the other week saying that they should play 6 days a week to ease the need for the media to fill their papers with "fluff"? Well here we have an example of the argument in that article. Sometimes I think these reporters need to get a life.

Totally agree Dappa, all one needs to do is watch Brissy last night, Adelaide last night, Port at times yesterday and even Richmond in the third to see that the window is not all it is about. The effort and intent shown by an injury ravaged team, and a bunch of debutants last night in Brisbane goes to show that a desire to win at all costs goes a long way to success. I am well aware that we aren't yet as far advanced as maybe some think we are, however there comes a time where a team needs to stand up and say that they are overachievers, and show it for all the world to see. Make no mistake, I really don't like Brisbane at all as a footy team, but I've never been so impressed as I was last night. The fact that they had six first gamers also become first goalers says enough. There is absolutely no reason we should "lower our eyes a bit", because we have the talent, that when matched with effort, should give us hope and a reason to raise our heads up high.

Dees by 19, Petterd 4, Jurrah 4, Grimes BOG, Tapscott to impress

Well I live in Sydney and am praying for another win. Comprehensive would be perfect, however I will settle for anything +1 pt or more. I get so sick of these bloody sydneysiders overrating their side. Yes A. Goodes is an absolute gun, but come on Sydney, LRT is not a gun, Bradshaw can't stay on the park, Keneally never returned to form and after that, the rest are just another footy club. I do think we will win, and I hope I am right because we don't get to go around again with them this year and I'm not sure I can take all the crowing.

For what it's worth, I used to work as a ski instructor. I remember my boss telling us all upon hiring us that it didn't matter how well we skiied, because they could teach us that. What really mattered is how well we related to others and how well we taught others. "We can teach you to ski, but not to teach. That is something in you". The same goes here IMO

Absolutely loved this post 45. Good work. It shows a clear improvement and that is marvelous. The other thing it does is create a blueprint as to how this year should go. If those stats had wavered a bit more, it would give more leeway as it would have been more understandable given the kids were younger. Now they are a little older, wiser and more experienced which leaves no excuses, because they were the ones that set the trajectory. I can't wait to see the 2011 added onto this post at the end of the season. I reckon we'll all be stoked with another year of improvement.

Soooo glad to read this news today. Jimmy deserves it for all he has done. What a deadset legend!

I was pretty well convinced after last season. The teams we beat weren't the best out there, but there were a number of close results that could have easily gone the other way, making for an even more successful year. And I don't place faith in the preseason. As you said, who knows what the FD has in mind. That said, it has still planted a seed of doubt in my mind. I am not sitting on the fence, and I do have my doubts, but I feel he has done enough for me to reserve my judgement. Regardless of whether I think he has it or not, the other issue is that I believe the club will extend his contract anyway, except in the case of the season becoming an absolute disaster. That is actually the reason for me writing in the first place, because I think they will be looking to give him another chance, where they need to make sure they have the man they need to take our boys, and us, to a flag.

Good call on Maric, so far, fantastic improvement. Otherwise Watts, Jurrah, Trengove, Tapscott

In my reply to you, I said "should all hell break loose" (we take a backward step not forwards). In my original post I said that I believe Dean himself would not accept a lack of improvement, much less a backwards slide, before moving into talk of other coaches. I mentioned those coaches, because they are widely regarded as three of the premier coaches in the league, and would give us an extremely viable alternative "should all hell break loose" this year. I think that makes it pretty clear as to how it fits in with improvement or dreaded lack thereof this year.