Jaded No More

Exactly right. I also think that Gysberts has, from all reports, been playing exceptionally well for a number of weeks with Casey now, and hence deserves a reward for form. Ideally, I'd love him and Watts to come in this week, but the omissions will be difficult. I'd drop Dunn because his goal kicking was very costly on Friday but to make room for Gysberts we'd have to either drop PJ and let Jamar ruck alone, which I think is very unlikely (especially since Bailey rarely brings a player in for one game then drops them again), or perhaps drop someone who is slightly sore. The weather might end up dictating selection.

In regards to Morton, has he lost any pace or lateral movement as a result of his knee injury? I ask because my knee is completely stuffed now after a fracture and after 6 months or so I still can't walk properly or run. I know I ain't no footballer, but if Morton is running as normal then that's the main thing. Fitness and ball handling will come with a bit more time and getting used to the pace of the game again. Knees are a complete nightmare. I have no idea how footballers recover from reconstructions!

I said we should drop him He has played 19 games FFS. What is wrong with Melbourne supporters?

Said Blease is out for the rest of the season with injury. Later said it wasn't true. Complete and utter unsubstantiated garbage.

I'm calling it now to avoid multiple threads during the week. In: WATTS

I know Coburg are terrible, I mean a side full of Richmond rejects can't be any good, but I think that this shows that with good delivery (and I assume that less pressure on Casey from Coburg means more time to dispose of the ball and better forward delivery), Watts can play very well. He'll enjoy having Trengove/Grimes/Scully/Sylvia/Moloney kicking it to him on a lead at the MCG.

But why does someone 30m away get to have more of say in this situation than the man who is paid to stand right there and call the shots? The goal umpire thought it was a goal and he was closest to the action by an absolute mile. Words really do fail me in regards to this game.

I'd put Grimes in that category too, you can already tell he'll be a great player, although I suppose he might be half a step below Scullgove. I used to say that Grimes was the best 18-gamer I've even seen, but now Scullgove are the best 7-gamers I've ever seen. Oh the problems I have

Only 20 disposals but he had 7 clearances, so he did his main job well. He and Scully both had game high 7 clearances. Scully was OK I suppose

Led the team in marks last night. Good debut in terrible conditions.

Geelong shouldn't play at Skilled unless they are playing an interstate team. Simple, it's too small a ground to support an all-Victorian game. Nobody plays on suburban grounds anymore, and Geelong shouldn't be any different. It is a ridiculous home ground advantage they hold over the rest of us Victorians who play in one of two grounds. And yep, another Friday night game or two wouldn't hurt. We certainly put on a better showing last night than the rubbish St Kilda and the Bulldogs put on the week before.

He was OK last night given the conditions, but he only had 62% game time which to me indicates that he wasn't required, especially when Hudson dominated around the ground while PJ and Jamar watched on. We should have gone another runner in those conditions, and to be honest PJ is still very much killing time until his contract is up for mine. Not going to make it long term given he is only an average ruckman and extremely poor physically and above his head. Those conditions were actually working to his advantage, because he was able to use his agility in a scrappy game. It's when the ground is dry that we see how glaringly obvious his failures are for a big guy. He'll play next week because we need to keep supporting Jamar in the ruck, but to me experimenting with Martin has more long-term merit.

It's frustrating as a supporter who wants to see him play, not frustrating from a physical point of view where I think he should be further advanced than he is. Sheesh, take a chill pill everyone.

Did he clarify whether we asked the AFL mid-week to change the uniform and had our request denied? Or perhaps why a multimillion dollar national organisation is capable of making such glaring mistakes? No, I'm still not over it!

After retirement. Scully was so fatigued in the last he got 18 disposals. Seriously, unless they are physically hurting and showing real signs of injury, they stay in the team. They need all the experience and game time they can get, not to mention we actually need them playing. They make us a better team. If Trengove is tiring he can easily play as a forward for half a game.

Barts has been phenomenal. He has literally resurrected himself from the dead. The conditions suited him no doubt, but he is very accountable and much smarter with his decision making and disposal these days. Deserves his spot in the side from now until he unequivocally proves otherwise. We lacked run IMO and it was a poor tactical error to leave PJ in the team given the conditions on the night. If the same weather is forecasted I'd leave PJ out next week and put in Jetta or Maric or someone with a bit of leg speed who can carry the footy. Let Jamar rip NicNat a new one again all on his own.

He lives! Btw, Dunn missing two critical and fairly gettable shots on goal tonight means I am rightfully shitty with him. Probably harsh on him because he isn't great and can't do a whole lot more than he already does, but he is a poor footballer.

Out: PJ In: GAWN Make it happen.

Out: Scully In: Newton Also, Dunn to the tip and Bail straight in if he's fit. Other changes pending Casey result. And if it's going to pour can we please pull the plug on PJ, who at the best of times struggles to have aerial impact on contests, let alone when it's bucketing down? Thanks.

I'm waiting for some mid-week "drop Scully" brilliance B)

Why don't we deserve the credit? Dogs and Pies weren't flat, they were pressured into making mistakes because we hunted them. Just like last week North hunted us and won. We are actually not a bad team. I know it's hard to comprehend and I forget that sometimes, but we are in a much better position than a large majority of clubs because we have a lot of uncapped potential and talent. When we can play on our terms, we are right up with in terms of ball movement. Imagine what a forwardline could do for us...

But he had no problems paying the [censored] deliberate against poor Frawley in the most difficult of conditions. Don't get me started on McBurney. I'd punch his face in if I could. Please, let's not make excuses for these people. It is THEIR JOB for which they get paid to make decisions based on clearly set out rules. Nobody will complain about missed head high tackles or throws, but blatant frees which they miss or worse of all, decisions they pay which are soft and have huge consequences on the game, are unacceptable. They deserve to be named and shamed and I hope the boundary umpire who overruled those goals never umpires again. Somebody has to make these people accountable, because I'm starting to think that umpiring is the only profession in Australia that lets you get away with terrible performances.

We have guys in the team who have played over 200 games and make worse turnovers by foot. If Scully never improves beyond this point (which he obviously will, especially in terms of body strength), he will still become an elite midfielder.

Spectacular goal from Bennell. Oh for Jurrah and Aussie instead of slow spuds who can't pick the ball up off the deck and kick... not mentioning any names

As someone who plans things for a living, I am utterly shocked that people can be this [censored] at their job and still get paid. Why not dress the umpires in Melbourne jumpers next week... maybe it'll help them pay a decision in our favour for once!