The Reverend

That's me out. Despite all my optimism, it's time to concede. We are way below AFL standard. I can't keep doing this to myself. I need a break.

Yeah, sort of with you on this but geez Freo looked several times better than anything we have to offer at this stage. We needed some more size to counter their giants but it would have affected our running ability. In the end Roos made the wrong call but I can see his reasoning. Freo were too big, too fast, too smart. I thought we tried hard for three quarters and were killed by some umpiring decisions but overall we were simply beaten by a much more accomplished team.

We will win!

Easy. Relax, we've got this!

A pox on your negativity! we will win and win well.

Ah Nirvana- where there's nothing at the top but a bucket and a mop, and an illustrated book about birds.

I cannot see us losing this game. We will win by 23 points after leading all day. Watts will kick four, Hogan 3, Garlett 6 and Dawes two. Singles to a shipload of others. The tide has turned. The seas have parted. We are back in town. I've got a brand new bottle of single malt and all is well with the world. Optimism is a wonderful thing. I can deal with disappointment but negativity is just plan depressing. Come on, who's going to trot out the delusional claim or mention the reality bus? I bet it doesn't take long. A pox on your negativity.

Some of it is quite complimentary - not a lot, but some.

Take your pick: "A rabbit cannot ride a horse. You can't always get what you want, but you can get what you need. And once you've got what you need, you can swap it for what you want." "If you fall off the donkey 7 times, you must bounce back up 8 times. BUT - if you fall off the donkey 10 times, you're not cut out for riding donkeys..." I asked the Supreme Master: "Supreme Master, why does Collingwood have any fans at all? He replied: "Guru Bob. Why does an ugly child, have a mother who loves it? Think about that. "when it's all said and done, when it comes to the end of the day the night comes, and then a new day begins..." After the famous Bible story of David and Goliath, it is reported that the newspapers said the following day: "He didn't need many possessions, but gee, his efficiency percentage was good". It was 7th century Chinese thinker Yang Tang who said: "you know the expression 'you can't have your cake and eat it too'? Well, what is the point of having your cake if you can't eat it?" The Supreme Master reminds us: "Certain players never know when they're beaten. Some players don't know when they're winning either. 'Cos some players have no idea of what's going on at all" "As Agamemnon said when the Achaians drafted Achilles for the Trojan war... 'He can run around and jump up and down, but can he get the ball?'. He turned out to be a handy player who could be used in a variety of positions."

I don't want to see him do well at another club. I want him to be a productive contributor to the MFC. It may come to a point where he is dropped but that will be the decision of Roos and Co and I will support that. Until that time I'm happy to support the selection committee in their decision making. I'm just an ageing supporter hoping to see some improvement. I have faith in the direction we're heading under Roos and PJ. I certainly don't have the experience or expertise of our coaching panel or our selectors. As far as I'm concerned if he's getting a game it's because they think it's in the best interests of the club. And that's all I've got to say about that!

Nice to see a rational, considered response. I agree that four weeks is not long enough to be making judgements but some on here are ready to hang JW after that amount of time. I think we all need to take a deep breath and wait a while before we start calling for him to dropped. My point is simply that he is contributing more than some others at this point. Just because he is the subject of great expectations doesn't mean he should be singled out. Surely we have high expectations of every player in red and blue.

I'm not sure that's a stat they make public.Not sure where you've gotten that one from but you're entitled to your opinion. It would be nice if you could argue with some facts though.

Jack Watts is not playing as a key forward. Spends a lot of time up the ground creating space and opportunities. Watch the game.

He did it under Neeld. I'd be backing Paul Roos's judgement over yours my friend. Facts: Top 10 in disposals Top 10 in effective disposals 3rd in marks 1st in goal assists. And he's not playing at his best! Who are you going to replace him with to give the same output? Pedersen? Fitzpatrick? I'm running out of options.

Dunno, can't seem to find that stuff. It's pretty clear though that he covers a lot of ground. I'm sure that once his team mates have a little more faith in him he will become a really damaging player. I used to focus on his insipid tackling and seeming reluctance to engage in the rough stuff but now I watch his running and positioning. He is working as hard as he can to present options for his team. This is what he does well. He just needs his mates to understand and perhaps make better decisions. He is not going to be the player that crashes packs and flattens opposition players but he is going to be someone opposition backs will hate playing on because he will work them so hard. He will win us some games along the way I'm sure.

Top 10 for disposals. Top 10 for effective disposal. 3rd for marks. 12th for one per-centers. No 1 for goal assists. There are a lot of others behind JW, it would seem.

So they've been nicely softened up for us! Bring it on. I'm planning to buy myself a nice bottle of single malt holy water on Saturday in preparation for the celebrations on Sunday.

I'm with you. i think we are a chance. If we can take some belief into the game and reproduce some of tonight's intensity we will go close. I'm starting to believe that every game is winnable. really looking forward to Queen's Birthday!

Praise the lord! Is this the start of something big? I'm just a little bit excited. Go Dees!

Hell yes!

So good to see us showing some real fight. Best effort in a long long time.

Done.

I'm with you GoaG. No need for despair just yet. I can see an upset looming. Viney to smash Dangerfield early and Hogan to kick ten. Now that's dreaming!

I'm still explaining it to myself. It's a slightly uncomfortable feeling in a way. Despite my eternal optimism I'm nervous that we will slip back. I guess we have to expect to lose more than we win but the enjoyment after the siren on Saturday was sensational. Uplifting, seductive and addictive. I want more!

I was there yesterday. I've only just got my voice back. I don't want to go too early, but I think my faith is about to be rewarded.