Jaded No More

I don't remember the last time that I felt this angry or frustrated watching us play, and that says something. Woeful, seriously pathetic. How the f%#* can so many players stand around and watch the Lions win contested ball after contested ball? I know rebuilding is a slow, painful process, but how much longer do we have to put up with this [censored]! And you can blame the coach all you like, but if players can't hit targets, and refuse to run hard and win the contested ball, no coach in the world can do anything positive with that. We have completely lost the plot now!

Exactly. I have no issue playing a rolling zone type set-up and having numbers pushing behind the ball to help out our poor defenders, and stop us from losing by 300 points, at this stage of our development. Our problem, players who either physically can't, or mentally refuse to push hard the other way when we win the ball. Nobody gives those playing behind the ball any option to kick to. Robbo can stay in the square all game, but when we win possession you watch how fast the Brisbane defenders push back to protect the zone. Why the hell can't we do the same thing? You see the ball, and you run in whichever the direction it is moving. I guess such complex instructions might be too difficult to follow The one decent passage of play today came when Morton streamed down forward, marked and goaled. That's how you are meant to play this style of game!

If I was playing for Melbourne then I'd be our best midfielder this year. Last time I checked, I can only kick a footy 10 meters... inaccurately. The midfield set-up seems really [censored] today as well. For one, PJ can't get an effective hitout to save himself, but we always seem to be lining up on the wrong side. The worst thing about that second quarter was the pure and utter laziness of our players to push up the ground. It was free-Brisbane-players galore! Again though, Grimes is simply a superb player (despite a couple of shitty kicks). Works so hard, courageous, very smart user of the ball. Love him.

Our midfield is a disgrace. I know Brisbane's midfield is brilliant, but we are hopeless. Absolutely hopeless. Scully cannot come quickly enough. Lazy, slow and completely unable to man-up and be accountable. Whoever was on Rich (Morton?) needs to go back to Casey next week. Glad Bruce is now tagging him, because he tore us a new one. A kid in his first year. FFS! Grimes and that great mark from Watts, the only two highlights thus far. Our famous third quarter still to come. Dear god please help us! P.S.- STOP GIVING IT TO DAVEY!!!

A key forward who refuses to kick goals, and misses ones from 10m out directly in front, should not be ever entertaining the thought of playing AFL.

Not that I should be happy that anyone is unwell, but I'm very pleased that Bate is out and Jack gets another chance. Hopefully Bate goes on to infect the rest of the group and we can lose to West Coast next week on grounds of not being able to field a team

So he's resting, he's sore, they took him up for the experience (why name him then drop him, when he could have just been the traveling emergency instead?), but he could play because of the flu <_< That is not at all silly or confusing.

On a slightly separate topic, Essendon have their third Friday night match in a row next week. Talk about an uneven competition! :angry:

Did this official explain what the hell was the brilliant plan/ reasoning behind naming then dropping him? Is he injured?

Source?

Half back flanker I thought? Either way, his disposal is pretty terrible.

Well, in the end Casey, much like Melbourne, rolled over and died and lost the match within the space of a quarter. Silvagni will be feeling right at home at Melbourne, given he basically cost Casey the game by turning it over right in front of goal twice.

Disappointing game from him today. Some shite kicking, and poor defensive game. He really struggles when the ball comes in high. Bail, who is another small defensive option for us, has been largely disappointing in his first year. Kicking is pretty poor.

He's been OK (how good is his tackling!), but you can really tell that many of the experienced Melbourne players with Casey today, are there because they have disposal issues. Dunn is so frustrating. Absolutely brilliant at this level, but cannot transfer that to AFL. Maric has had a hand in plenty of goals. He is a very smart player, and never should have been dropped when we desperately lack small forwards. Edit: great goal from Straussy. He is such a good user of the ball, but doesn't seem to get a lot of it. Another Edit: Cloke has certainly been enjoying his burgers since his early demise.

Newton and Zomer, a forward combo for the ages!

A better option than watching us play against Geelong at Kardinia Park?!

I'm broke, but that post brought a tear to my eye, so $20 from me too (would love to contribute more if I could!). I hope Jurrah knows how special we all think he is and what high hopes we have for him! Edit: well done Fork, a great idea well executed.

Yeah, shame about the forward and back line. Carlton's top 6 are as good as any, the remaining 16 are rubbish. They will never win a premiership with an attack that revolves entirely around Fevola, and an average defense. And to be honest, yes Essendon have been impressive all year, but is that a premiership side out there? Who will fill the gaps left behind by Lloyd and Fletcher?

Agreed. Maric, Strauss (who better get a game and get used properly this week :angry: ) and Bail is why I'll be watching.

If there was someone under an injury cloud, they would take two emergencies, one for the player in question, and one as backup in case someone is unwell or injuries themselves before the match. That they are only taking Jonesy suggests to me no late changes.

Just because he isn't playing for Casey, doesn't mean they'll be a late change. He is probably the emergency that is traveling with the side, hence Dunn and Valenti both named for Casey. A day long of football watching on Saturday (with the possibility of actually seeing a win), excellent! :D Hope Strauss gets a game, because him and Maric will definitely be my two to watch.

Cheney is stiff, and I don't get why he isn't being played ahead of Whelan. Dropping him after one game is rough. I also don't know why we dropped Bartram for Petterd, and not for Jonesy. Very very happy and excited to watch Watts and Jurrah go around again!

Excellent news. If there was video footage he would have got 4, dirty dog. Learn to hit a target, instead of hitting players behind play. Idiot! <_<

Cheney isn't slow, he is no Bennell, but his speed is adequate. We will always have Garland and Frawley as an option for the super quick smaller guys anyway. And with experience, Cheney can learn to play in front, which is his big strength.

Nothing special, but is good on the lead (less so in the air). We need small defenders, and even if he isn't the creative type, if he can shut down an opponent then his place in the team is secure (for now at least). Not every player in your side is going to be a star, and your lesser lights are equally as important if they can do a job consistently. I like that Cheney is hard at it, and his marking skills are pretty good for someone his size. Kicking is passable. Good replacement for Wheels, and a good return for our investment.