Striker475

We will have far more back by then. This was the injury list before the Carlton game (from the Injury List Rd10 thread on here if you're wondering source), plus Davey tacked on - removed a week from each. Clint Bartram (knee) - unknown? Rohan Bail (knee) - 4 weeks Colin Garland (ankle) - 4-5 weeks Jack Grimes (foot) - season Jack Fitzpatrick (ankle) - 5-7 weeks Mark Jamar (knee) - 2-4 weeks Tom Scully (knee) - test (played VFL) Jake Spencer (knee) - season Luke Tapscott (hamstring) - 2 weeks Austin Woneaemirri (personal leave) - indefinite Aaron Davey (knee) - 6-8 weeks plus... Trengove back from suspension Dunn back from suspension Couple of points. First, I think a lot of us have seriously underestimated how much Trenners gives us. He's quietly becoming a superstar. Martin's getting all the plaudits, but he thumps in and picks up huge touches and helps out Beamer and Sylvia heaps, not just through his own efforts but by simply being there because opponents recognise how dangerous he is. Instead of what is going on right now, where Beamer is getting double-teamed out of the game, we have a straight shot at it. Add Scully in there too and it adds up big-time. Secondly, I think it's more because of the latter two games of that run-in. Freo are exposed as much as we are without their ruckman, and over here I don't doubt my chances no matter where we are on the ladder. Richmond are up and about, yes, but by that time we have Tapscott, probably Rush and certainly Scully back as well as Trenners. Frawley matches up well on Riewoldt, Bartram against Jake King and Tapscott running through Richmond forwards. Should be a ripper of a game, but I think it's still winnable. Haven't found a weeks number for Bartram?

Round 20 he's going to cop it. Get JT to lay the perfect tackle on him, see how he likes it.

Why we might win: - Trengove - Possibly Scully - Howe - Possibly Gawn Why we won't: - No Russian - Down on confidence - Juice

- Watts. Bloody hell he's barely the same player. - Stef Martin. He's become superb and an integral part of the side, can't wait til the Rush is back. - Bull. Can we clone him? - Gysberts. Getting better and better, hard to believe he's only played like 12 games

This Friday *should* be different - Trenners, possibly Scull, possibly Dunn all back and hopefully Juice banished forever.

Been specifically avoiding commenting, but now I think I will. - Many of you recall I was calling for Bailey's head after the West Coast game. Last night was still better than that pile of dross. Yes, it was still poor football. Yes, it left a lot to be desired. But, and here's the thing, you can't deny that injury/suspension list. Injuries can be an excuse after a point. Yes, everyone comes out and says 'hurr everyone has injuries durr' but let's take the Blues - remove from that lineup (along with their already-removed rucks and Curnow) Gibbs, Murphy, Yarran, Waite, Betts, Walker and Carrazzo, plus a number of their backups (such as Hampson). No side can cop that sort of injury/suspension list and not struggle. We are actually at a point where it is an excuse unfortunately. In 3-4 weeks time it won't be, but right now it is. - Injuries also have their toll on the rest of the side. For example, Moloney functions much better with Trengove, Scully et al around him because the opposition is forced to worry about them. There's only an absolute elite few who can have astounding games at the centre of a terrible midfield, and Beamer isn't one of them. He's copping their best tags for the length of the game and while he's still certainly giving it a crack it's a hell of a task he's been facing. - That said, there were a lot of passengers Friday night. In particular, Morton, Newton, Petterd and Bate all should be looked at being dropped. While I'm aware Juice will probably stay (and possibly Bate too), Morton needs a long spell at Casey and Petterd just didn't offer a thing. - The games Bailey will be judged on will be the Collingwood, Fremantle and Richmond games. If we go into the bye having won two of those, he'll see the season out. If we don't have another win I'll be shocked if we come back from the bye with him as coach.

Morton for a pack of peanuts and a half a can of Carlton Draught? Think we'll be the winner in that trade.

lot of people think he was stiffed by the Geelong board

Goddard, he who was convulsing after copping a knock in the first quarter you mean?

I'd take McCarthy/Eade or Sanderson/Eade.

Underdone Scull is still better than the dross Morton offered up. Thank god Trenners is back.

Joel Macdonald having the best game I've seen him put in in the Red & Blue

All AFL teams with an average across the list of how many games each player has played, if you wouldn't mind. Thanks Rusty

Our forward entries... *beats head against wall* current form, we're only going to win 3 more games this year. hopefully Rush/Trenners/Skull back next week

it could have been much worse, was great to know Jimma was at the game, he got a huge cheer from Dees & Blues fans alike

Mate of mine made the comment at halftime 'are they zoning or manning up?' and it occurred to us that they were doing NEITHER. Now, we all know how difficult it is to drill a zone which is why most teams spend most of the off-season doing so. As such, why not simply instruct our players to play man-on-man defensively for the rest of the season? Yes, it is not as good as a zone, but a half-hearted zone is far worse than simply manning up at the first opportunity.

Green - had a go Warnock - cannot decide anything Jones - better and better Watts - oh god kicking Gysberts - only ten games Bate - he was there? Bennell - lots of flair Frawley - good game really Morton - back to Casey Sylvia - really quite anonymous McKenzie - adds to fitness Petterd - only noticed once Maric - noticed maybe twice Moloney - suffering without Rush Jurrah - clearly carrying something Rivers - best for awhile MacDonald - rather good 100th Martin - outmuscled constantly unfortunately Jetta - played fairly well Newton - brilliant yet terrible Nicholson - needs more 2nds Evans - will get better

Our decision-making was rubbish all night, regardless of whether it was Warnock down back, Green kicking into fwd50 or Jones around the ground. Just how it was.

Out: Morton, Newton, Bate In: Trengove, Dunn, Howe

I notice what I notice. Col Sylvia seemed to be totally anonymous for the bulk of the game. Rivers was admittedly good, not as good as Frawley who pushed super-hard and played a tough role on the small forwards for a long time. Bennell was sensational every time he got the pill, Jetta kept getting involved, Watts would be higher bar his awful kicking and Green had a really good solid game.

He kept popping up. When the chips are down, Nate stands up time and time again, goes for the contested ball, puts in hard effort. Yes his disposal was poor, but he was clearly in the best few.

Green had his best game (bar Adelaide where it took Matty Bate to judge a bad game) this season. Jones pushed at every contest. Yes, he got smothered a coupla times, but he was always the first to pop up with the pill.

6 Jones 5 Bennell 4 Green 3 Jetta 2 Watts 1 Frawley

The Good Bennell Jones Green Early defensive work Jetta Rivers The Bad Watts' kicking efficiency Clearances Contested ball in defensive 50 Whoever was on Yarran Petterd The Ugly Morton Entries into forward 50 Second-string side vs top 4 side Frawley on Gartlett/Betts (wtf)

Doggies seem to be in serious strife here. Lake, Gilbee, Vez having problems, Higgins looking more and more like a bust, Cooney in terrible form...