Pennant St Dee

Lets not rewrite history or twist the truth, he forced their hand in regard to changing coach "I'm burnt out and need a break" Thompson's words forced the change

My sincere apologies Hardnut in regard to the Cats remark then, the work Brian Cook and Frank Costa put in to change the culture and show faith in Bomber set them on the right track. Comparing their kids to ours is a bit rich, apples and oranges IMO. No kid could get better leadership or advice then playing in the Cats or Hawks sides. Rioli, Mitchell, Hodge & Guera, 4 players, take them out of the Hawks side and put them into ours, see the massive change, we sort out a lot of problem overnight and see what damage it would do to the Hawks side From the Cats Mackie, Selwood, Motlop & Kelly again only four players massive change. I could go through all lists and show you how just a few changes change the make up of a side immensely.

I've been watching a bit of WAFL and have seen SHEED but not yet seen ROBERTSON. SHEED disposes of the ball well but is not the type IMO to find his own footy, although he seems to have a natural understanding of running & spreading when his side is in possession. Not really a stand out to me but then again an u/18 playing against men, He's a country boy and does not allow himself to be pushed around. Of all the WA kids I have seen this year Blake Acres playing for West Perth colts has impressed me the most. Plays across half back and runs through the middle, knows how to find his own ball and at AFL level will be a rebound defender who is hard at it. Late player to pick up Tom Shanahan from East Perth, good solid midfielder who just does the easy thing, had heard a bit about him and went to watch him. First time nothing he did stood out, but then nothing he did resulted in turnover. He is playing in a very ordinary colts side but gets plenty of the ball through the middle very clean with his hands and IMO could be a Sammy Mitchell type. Has not made the cut for WA U/18's so could go under the radar later pick similar to Dean Kent. I saw a mature age CHB on the weekend playing for the Perth Demons who really impressed me, attacked the contest with confidence and did not give his man any room. Set up attacks off half back in a similar mould to Chip playing rebound defender in 2010. When I checked up when I came home I found he was a Victorian boy recruited from Werribee, Jared RISOL, 22 year old who I will take another look at to make sure it is no flash in the pan. Of the list provided above only seen video footage and last years TAC Grand Final and like the look of Billings

Yes they did and they did it properly between 1999 and 2001/2. It's just that long ago everyone choses to forget, they changed from the Top down, Club and Footy Dept

So what Freo are also keen on him just remember everybody has a price and we hold the aces if he wishes to leave and these clubs all over him really want him. HTFU and don't be swayed by everything you here, it's part of footy! Not much of a dig in and fight type against all odds are you!

Agree Robbie but think all of these things can be worked on and will improve with greater exposure at the higher level. Hardnut who I swear is a Cats fan who just comes on here to beat his chest speaks of how great the Cats are along with other deelanders. Well it took a lot of their list to reach 80/100 games before the composure, trust in each other and confidence in their ability saw them become the players and team they are. As I said before a lot of positives on the weekend (and negatives) but we need to continue with the positives week by week.

In: Jetta, Dawes, Magner Out: Nicho, Mckenzie, Grimes Lti, Trenners if carrying something needs a rest not sure who to bring in Fitzy may be to tall for balance so do you go Blease or Taggert, Just not sure on Rory being ready Originally typed TMac out for Pedersen at CHB but probably do Tom good to play this week

Use your eyes and what you see Stuie forget about quoting stats, the intensity, intent and desire was there today, not much but a positive none the less

All the experts who have been slating Neeld when comparisons come in with Clarko & Bomber say their sides struggled for a while but you could see glimpses of what they were trying to achieve. Not fully sold but seen a fair few positives on that side today. Need to see continued positives

There always has and always will be blowouts in VFL/AFL footy! Nothing new here

It's something the Cats do really well draw a man and either ride the bump or stand up in the tackle before feeding off to a free team mate. They have confidence they can ride the tackle and confidence in their team mate being able to do the same before feeding them a pass while they wait outside the contest

I'm not defending it, I am providing a reason for the indifference, why does any person who provides a differing view have to be accepting mediocrity or happy with losing in other supporters eyes not having a go with the next statement but not sure if or what level you played Robbie but think back to playing with confidence down and you just want to get the ball away so you don't get caught you just hack it as far away as possible. It's sad but you are selfish and would rather not be the one who lets the team down, I've been there and it is only experience that helps you develop the temperament. Although some boys just step in from day 1 with a cool head Carlton may have looked half paced today but we brought some intensity today and in my eyes showed there is something to work with

No I don't like losing, but seen a few decent things today, Tappy is developing well gives us some hardness we desperately need, Garland has had a good season and is playing well, Sylvia looks like HGAF, Jones is a champ, Trenners seriously not right brave but needs to get himself right, Dean Kent is a good kid honest footballer, Evans, Matty Jones & Terlich all showing positive signs and will develop further IMO with further exposure at this level. Lynden Dunn kudos to you for your job on Juddy today, you were a quality tagger around 2010/11 & we need you to do that again. Dawes, Clark and/or Watts needed just for forward structure to make opposition defenders accountable and bring the ball to ground Greater effort brought today and intensity, just not up to it but something to work on. Need to go out next week and destroy Suns not on the scoreboard but physically make them hurt the way we have been hurt for several years by sides

6. Garland 5. N.Jones 4. Tapscott 3. Dunn 2.M.Jones 1. Evans

Did you see the Blues spending a fair amount of time chipping it around cheap possessions, St Kilda really took it up to the Pies the other night and were well down on possessions 70-80 odd. Meth Coast and Doggies are even possession wise at the moment but Eagles are making them look like boys.

Grimes does not play tight enough on opponents and takes a safe approach when the ball is coming towards his area and Jones well it's rare but I agree with you. I think we are talking about different things, my view is we targeted the wrong player types and it's not about hindsight, look back at the players available when we took players over the years. A lot of the players we overlooked were not standouts but have the right attitude, mongrel & work ethic to play at this level. Amongst these players are Sloan, Hurley, Rockliff, Zaharakis, Shuey, Scott Selwood and I could go on. Darling was the one who surprised me and I watched him closely and was not surprised when he was overlooked by so many clubs, he really dropped off from age 16 to 17 Yes our development has had a bit to do with it but very little, which is why those we moved on have not set the world on fire with their new sides

I beg to differ on this Nasher, Morton & Watts are two examples, it is something in their make up. I am not a Watts basher but he is not one who gives the impression of dying for his team mates. They are both naturally gifted and IMO never really had to work that hard at Junior level

Agree + Hurley for mine

That's right Stuie the super troll is back, purporting to be a life long demon, FMD some people must have a boring life. Look forward to Demonland being inundated with his pathetic polls next week, different titles but the same meaning

Your first post about him for the day showed your bias and true colours thanks for the updates though, but FFS try and cheer yourself up a bit, you come across like your avatar fookin miserable

I watched him closely last week and when he was chasingback through the centre twice taling Ash Mcgrath he was blowing very hard and struggling, that is what it takes to make it at this level, having speed is one thing but digging deep and gut running when your tired is what makes players

Can't argue with most of that Stuie and means a lot more than stats, coaches attend Press conferences and reel off stats and talk about KPI'S. I also hear a lot of that KPI BS at work and it drives me crazy I will however agree with others there is some light at the end of the tunnel, my take so far this year is not sure we have gone backwards more some have improved and others have gone backwards. Overall we are not were I expected or where we shoud be

Stuie without using stats tell me how we are worse than last year, I'm not saying we are or are not just want to see the argument provided either way without using stats. As I said before stats can work any way you wish. I heard ealrier today only 4 teams have improved defensivley this season Port, Dogs, Essendon & can't recall the other of the top of my head may have been North but it was not one of the top sides. Just putting it out there

very good post unlike many on here able to provide opinion on players without sticking the knife in or being downright ridiculous

Well if 2014 turns out like 1998 and we turn around as quickly I will be very happy