Jaded No More

He will definitely fly to Perth with the team for the West Coast game, so it could be a good opportunity for him to return then. If not, I agree Sydney game looks pretty promising.

The most pleasing aspect of the year for me is our percentage. It's very healthy and we have not had any really big losses this year. The biggest loss came against the Cats, where we lost Gawn. Not a bad effort considering they are in the top 4! Also pleasing that unlike in previous years, we don't give up when we are behind. We fight back really well. It would be better of course not to get ourselves into those holes to begin with, but it's a good skill to develop!

I have no issue getting rid of Collingwood, and sharing the home game on an alternating basis, the way we do the Anzac Eve clash. Just as long as we don't lose this game, as it is one of only 2 marquee games we get now, and given how often we are shoved to a Sunday afternoon, and how few Friday night games we have, I think it's well deserved! To think our one and only Friday game this year is coming off a 6 day back from Perth, against Sydney, is seriously laughable!

Firstly we did not play Spencer this weekend because we obviously felt he wasn't ready in terms of fitness. In my opinion that was almost a very costly mistake, as we got smashed in the ruck and at the contest in the first half. It was something like 11 clearances to 2 in the first quarter alone! Secondly we played Oscar and Weids at the start of the year which was obviously a tactic to give them some development time and a taste of AFL but both were subsequently dropped. They were only recalled out of necessity, and I feel the one tall who will make way for the two talls returning, will be Oscar. You wouldn't drop Tom or Frost, and it would be stupid and unfair to drop Pedo, as he gives us a lot up forward and allows Watts to not be the backup ruck to Gawn. Unless we are playing a team with 3 genuine tall forwards, you wouldn't want to carry Tom, Oscar and Frost in the backline. I'd rather an extra runner.

Watching the last 15 minutes this morning in Foxtel while having breakfast. That goal and his reaction actually brought a tear to my eye. He was so calm, so poised. He knew exactly what he was doing, and when he kicked that goal that pure relief was incredible. He is much maligned, and I find myself getting annoyed with him, despite being a big supporter for all those years, because sometimes his intensity isn't good enough. But sh*t he is a smart player, and he knows how to find space and time and his kicking is superb. He brings something to the team that we desperately need, which is class. Now that he is finally surrounded by grunt, this has become more obvious and more important to our fortunes. I thought McDonald in the ruck in the second half changed the game. He became an extra mid, and it gave us the opportunity to play two proper forwards in Watts and Pedo up forward. Pedo is great, he has the brain of a forward and he competes above his weight and height. He doesn't need to set the world on fire, but gees him and Watts plus Trac permanent forwards in the second half made the Collingwood defenders accountable, and we know how bad Howe and Dunn are at accountability. Well done to Goodwin for exposing that. As for the umps, yes Hunt should have been paid holding the ball against him, but minutes earlier Vince tackles a Collingwood player who dropped it like a hot potato and it was called played on. So everyone sooking about the umps or saying we won because of them, are taking the [censored]! For a team on the bottom of the ladder for frees for, I will take every free coming our way. Lord knows we've been stuffed the other way so many more times!

After a facepalm worthy first half, he really lifted his intensity and played a lot better in the second and was instrumental in not just stopping goals but actually creating some forward drive from the back half. We forget how young he is, and realistically he would not be playing AFL if we did not need Tom to ruck and play forward in the absence of both a ruckman and our key forward. Good for him for sticking to the task, despite always being weaker and less experienced than his opponent. Playing in the backline is a tough gig, and he never drops his head, which is a credit to him and our coaching staff. I still think he needs to go back to the VFL when Max and Hogan are back, but this game would give him a lot of confidence. I strongly believe both he and Weids will make it, but they need time and experience and many burgers!

Jack Watts, take a damn bow!

Vince to Trelor in the last. He is keeping them in it. Come the [censored] on!!!!!!

And to not be able to win at the G is inexcusable!!!! Is anyone else as concerned about this as me? 1 game this year. Not good enough and our game plan is clearly not holding up on this big ground. God help us when we go to Subi!

Agreed! Even if underdone it would allow Tom to go back, and Pedo to play forward and straighten us up. We have zero players up forward to provide a target and we are getting smashed in the clearances. Spencer is no risk. At worst we break even in the ruck, at best we have a normal structure to play with. Super disappointing!

[censored] garbage! 3 times you kick high to Howe. [censored] dumb footballers!!! Getting smashed all over the ground. Why the [censored] did we not play Spencer? We are getting destroyed in the clearances and contested marking. Dumb dumb dumb!

Jayden Hunt, be still my beating heart! ?

Oh Oscar ?‍♀️

What's JHK doing training on the field?

I know. I'm just sad about it!

Quality all the way.... WHERE. IS. STRETCH?!

I'd love Brayshaw in for Bugg right now... getting this kid fit and healthy is super important to our future success.

I like what ANB brings, he is very good as an inside mid, which releases Jones and Lewis and he can also kick goals. He isn't the fastest, or cleanest, or most spectacular player, but I think he does his job really well, and certainly has been a solid contributor. I wrote him off last year as a bit of a nothing half forward, but have been very impressed with his inside work this year, which has given him a whole other dimension.

I wish someone had the time to bring up the posts from Frawley's early days... some absolute pearlers in there!

Don't think that'll be a problem. About 10 players who are behind those two on a bad day! I hope Hogan is ready, but I wouldn't be pressuring him, same with Gawn. No way do we risk him. I reckon he'll play against Sydney and not before. They won't risk him on that awful Etihad ground, nor will they take him to Perth. I reckon Friday night against Swans, and Spencer will fit in until then. If Spencer is somewhat fit, he is definitely worth risking against the Pies. We need our structure back! Spencer in, Tom Mac to the backline, OMac out, Pedo backup/third forward, midfield feasting on the work of an actual ruckman. Happy days! In: Spencer, Salem, Hogan (?) Out: OMac, Bugg, Wagner If no Hogan, then Wager stays, ANB to take over from Bugg and Salem into the middle!

This! So many plodders with average disposal are getting games, but Stretch is being wasted in the VFL. I'm sure they sent him there to work on some particular aspects of his game, but who here can honestly say that even on a bad day, his kicking isn't 200 times better than Bugg, Harmes, ANB etc... hell his kicking is better than 95% of the players in our team. Without Salem in the team, I was so sure they'd recall Stretch. I'm bemused. Can't handle Bugg anymore, he has the arrogance of a Brownlow Medallist, and the skills of an under 10's. Back to the VFL!

We weren't tho, and I hope they don't believe that behind closed doors.

Thomas Bugg needs to bugger off. Pretty nice to win a game of footy when about half the team deserves to be left in Alice never to be seen again. Pathetic lackluster garbage effort for 2.5 quarters. Distinct lack of effort and some woeful kicks and decision making. Incredibly frustrating. We are a long long way off being good enough to make, let alone win finals. If we played a good team today, we would have been 20 goals down at half time.

That's a handball?!?! Wtf?!

Oh to have 22 good players play good footy for 120 minutes...