Jaded No More

According to Ch. 7, Wheatley should be fine this week, but Jones and Brown are going to miss a couple, and we know that Whelan will miss 3-4 with a hamstring tear (is it just me, or does he ALWAYS injure himself when playing in the midfield?). Jones was on crutches when going for scans. God help our midfield!

Here is what I don't get... Last year people were accusing Miller of not kicking enough goals, and over-using handballs and getting suspended for ridiculous brain fades. This year, he has done more than his fair share of goal and field kicking, and is yet to lay a finger on an opponent illegally. Given that he is now double, even triple- teamed with the absence of Neita and Robbo, I think he has been more than admirable. He works hard all game long, but he also produces results and has an impact on the side. He was unlucky not to finish the game with 5 goals. That's a damn good outcome for an apperantly below-average forward. And the fact that at no point did Daniher attempt to throw him into the backline, goes to show that Miller is vitally important to our forward structure at this point in time. As for Carroll, I don't know many defenders who can shut down Pavlich, especially given the lack of midfield pressure.

You don't see the passion?? He's been one of our most consistent players this season along with Bell. Just because he's decided to stop belting people stupidly, doesn't mean he's lost the passion. The weight loss is probably due to his OP trouble last year. Losing weight means that the load on the legs is lighter.

Injuries are not entirely to blame, of course not. Adelaide are a far more disciplined outfit, tactically they are superior and they also have a number of star players who perform each and every week. We don't. But I think that we underestimate the affects of the injuries sometimes. For example, yesterday we had 30 less interchanges than Freo (3 times less in the third quarter alone!). We also had a few players running around in the last quarter who were not fit to play. How can any side, in a competition that is so even, except to be their opponents when they are this depleted? I think the injuries are exposing all the cracks in the walls, the ones we've covered up over the past 3 seasons by winning games and playing finals. But I also believe that we would have beaten Hawthorn and Freo with a full bench and a couple less injuries. Speaking of stats, I was shocked to read that we finished the game with 74% effective disposal, exactly the same as Freo!

The bigger issue is that the injured and wounded are always our top players. As if we weren't depleted enough, we had our best in-form defender in Bell coming off, followed by our best clearance player in Jones. I can't decide which part of the ground is suffering more right now.... middle, backline or up forward?

I actually thought Miller's kicking was good yesterday, not just for goals, but his field kicking too. For starters, he doesn't seem so keen to hand the ball off at every opportunity, and his delivery into the forward line is much improved. His marking wasn't great, but a lot of that has to do with our players constantly kicking over his head, or kicking to him when he has 2 opponents on him. BTW, he should have finished the game with 4 or 5. The umpires stupidly robbed him of 2 goals, one when they paid in the back, and one where they didn't.

Is Bruce McAveny his doctor? Is he aware of how bad his groins are? He wasn't at top speed, which really doesn't surprise me given he had no pre-season, didn't play at Sandy last week, and hasn't played senior footy for months. But at least he was chasing, and running and making position. It was an encouraging sign from him, and I just hope he doesn't pull up sore today. FFS, people's expectations of some players are just far too high. Did supporters really think he'd come out and dominate and kick 10? He got through a full match, which is victory in itself.

Yeah, it's a love that cannot be spoken hey? God he's a gun and his disposal under pressure is excellent now. He feels like he belongs, and he's playing like it. Go Belly!!!

Yes, he was very good today. Credit where credit is due.

Nothing to do with the fact that it was Sylvia at FF, just that we can't move the ball forward with any real purpose.

Y_M, he is coming back from OP and is not 100% fit. What did you expect? I'm just happy they played him personally, but I would hate for him to over-do it (like Moloney) and aggravate the injury yet again. Besides, wasn't it you who suggested we play him at FF? For what it's worth, I thought he did well and his work-rate was excellent.

Correct. The fact that we have so many players on our list who can't kick a damn football, is a disgrace. And when the side completely ignores the biggest man to ever walk the MCG, you know you're in trouble. It's not as if he's hard to spot! Daniel Ward, while obviously not the only one at fault here, is a great representation of what we're like at the moment.... unaccountable and unable to kick. Sylvia was the player I saw who kicked the pill, then ran FORWARD every time to try and present an option. And this is from someone who is struggling with injuries and fitness. Why the rest of the side can't do the same, I don't know.

Injuries definitely played a major part in the loss today, especially the further loss of Jones, Bell and Whelan. Still no excuse for playing such unaccountable footy, and having 19 players in the side who can't dispose of a football.

Yeah it was better than last week, but that's not exactly hard. Thought Dunn, Pickett and Sylvia all made pretty successful returns to senior footy. Clearly Sylvia and Pickett are not 100% fit, but god Pickett is all class and Sylvia was just out there running his guts out. He would kick the ball, and then run down to present. He wasn't standing around with his hands on his hips like most of his teammates. His hunger is brilliant and so is his kicking, I just hope he can stay injury free and get himself going this season. Dunn was excellent, Miller made the most of his opportunities, and Yze was very very good. A huge improvement on the last year or so. Ward, PJ, Bizzell and Wheatley are surely the worst defensive combination going around. Disgraceful! Yet again Daniel Bell showed them all up, until he got knocked out (third week running!). That kid is something special.

Petterd will surely play against Sydney, especially with Jones, Whelan, Wheatley and Moloney added to the injury list.

I thought he was much better this week, but that's just me. Yes, he made skill errors, but god he is hardly alone. Did some clever things, and took them on with a bit of confidence. I really liked seeing him and Sylvia combine through the middle. If you want to talk about clangers-galore, how about Daniel Ward? Not only can he not kick, he has no idea where his opponent is either.

Currently the skies are clearing up in Bayside, let's hope the trend continues. Moloney will most definitely not play. I'm not sure why they named him to begin with. At least we have some exciting emergencies. Who knows, this could be Sylvia's or Petterd's day.

Well he played last week didn't he? Or was that the week before? I'm losing track of all the injuries! They may have trained him during the week, and he came up. I wouldn't object to playing him out of the square alongside Greeny, which means he won't have to run around all day. As long as playing him doesn't further aggrevate the groin injury, I'd be thrilled to see him out there finally. Whatever happens, at least we have 3 exciting emergencies, and I wouldn't be upset to see either of them playing.

Indeed. All of his courage and hard-work to get back onto the field is really inspirational. Despite all the negative publicity footballers have been receiving lately, Rama is certainly a good role-model for not only aspiring footballers, but anyone who is going through adversity. Hopefully he makes it back into the Essendon side very soon and plays the rest of his career without any more health dramas. Looking forward to hearing about Weetra's game.

Ah, the Sylvia mystery continues. Maybe Moloney is expected to be a late withdrawal, which means Sylvia might possibly play?? Our backline looks horribly depleted yet again without Rivers. They'll kick over 100 point before three-quarter time, I can just see it now.

It would definitely bring a smile to my face seeing Byron and Carroll rough up the Carr sisters. They are both dirty players, and they both deserve to get some of their own medicine back. Having said that, beating Freo this week will be the best way to make not only the two Carrs, but the whole purple and white circus suffer.

I don't expect either Rivers or Moloney to line up on Sunday, and I'll be thankful to see TJ out there. But at least we've got some decent ins with Pickett and Dunn making their return. Hopefully we'll get to see Petterd debut as well!

I get it Dan, and it sounds like a good system. Some F/S picks, like say CJ, are not worth more than a 3rd round pick, but to think that Geelong got 2 Abletts, Scarlett and Hawkins for third round picks, is really just... well it's unfair.

I'd feel sorry for him if I thought he was innocent, but I don't... and clearly neither does the AFL because they let Headland off. It's all very confusing

Anybody else not surprised that both players play in the West? It seems Freo, and especially West Coast, have the AFL over a barrel. They can do as they please and the AFL just stands and watches.