Pennant St Dee

6. May 5. Salem 4. Trac 3. Brayshaw 2. Sparrow 1. Bowey

I know Tomlinson was dropped after the Collingwood game but he was also dropped earlier in the season when he was poor against Brisbane and whilst we won the following 2 weeks against those sides (Swans and Eagles) it was nothing to do with Tomo being dropped. Smith was poor with his positioning against Stewart 4th quarter and last week, whilst Smith was poor, the method of entry was the major factor which enabled Haynes to intercept. We need a total reset with regard to our forward entries and structure. Tomlinson won’t change that, and I prefer our defence to remain strong with Petty back. We need to pause our entries or at least our mids need to drive out of the clearances with their legs and hit a lead or space for our forwards to lead into not just bomb it. Our forwards need some separation or else there is no point playing Ben Brown. Melksham for all his faults is smart enough to play the negating forward and Spargo is very good with his decision making and poise in and around the F50

We have not won since he was dropped- Whilst factual, that is way off the mark and a shocking case of trying to justify an argument whilst also highlighting your total lack of footy knowledge. Tomlinson was dropped after our poor effort at the Gabba and we won our next two, which by the way had little to do with him being dropped. Tomlinson missing in no way effected our inside 50 deliveries, it did not effect our forwards ability to get separation(note Petty is a contested mark, not a leading hit up potential forward) and it certainly did nothing to prevent us from being able to give a Sparrow or Petracca more time forward. We lost against Geelong because we were poor with our conversion and inside 50 deliveries when we were well on top. In the 4th we were poor because we were beaten at the clearances and failed in our ability to be able to lock the ball inside our forward 50. We lost last week because again our conversion and delivery was beyond poor. BB and Melksham over Tomlinson are you seriously asking that question, because at no stage ever in team selection would their magnets have been beside each other for consideration. If we lose tomorrow it will be because we either don’t win the clearances and fail to make the most of our opportunities with our forward entries or because we fail with our forward press to stifle St Kilda’s ability to run in waves and expose us out the back

Congratulations Taj, well earned and I know your parents will be bursting with pride

I think he was guilty of poor delivery like the rest and may benefit from being closer to goal

And just let Kossie play, yes provide tackling pressure but let him play with some freedom and he is one who will benefit from a less congested f50

Time for selection committee to review and change, stability needed after the next fortnight. Really not sure about the two rucks, worked well on KB, but decision to be made with them and or 3rd tall forward JVR, Oliver and one of Woey or Howes to come in. Forward entries and lack of separation with our forwards a clear problem so look for some change. Consider playing Hunter and/or Bowey more in the forward line Play Trac forward more, match up issue for opposition and consider rotating him with Pickett 3 talls JVR, Smith/Petty and either Brown or a resting ruck can never play all of this 4 combo inside forward 50 at the same time. Pickett and ANB or Spargo are you other small rotations B. Lever May Salem HB. Mcvee Tomo Rivers C. Langdon Viney Hunter HF. Pickett JVR Bowey F. Trac Petty Smith R. Grundy, Oliver, Sparrow I/C. Woey/Howes, Brayshaw, Gawn, ANB Sub:Melksham Brayshaw is part of the back rotation Woey/Howes rotate with Langdon, Hunter, Bowey Grundy, rests forward for a tall when Gawn comes on and Gawn plays a kick behind the play and then Grundy has a spell on the bench ANB plays as a defensive forward while Trac, Pickett do stints on ball with Viney, Oliver, Sparrow rest

Collard doesn’t handle close attention well, which I think may effect him at AFL level, but he has superb skills, lateral movement and is very quick

Just okay, kicked 1 and presented well but runs under the ball a little. He’s one of those players who is so close to just grabbing a game by the scruff of the neck, but it’s just not clicking for him

Couldn’t go as I’m currently in regional WA but watched it on the AFL app, reckon Curtin’s performance gives West Coast further food for thought. Reid was super clean and showed how good he is but trading for 2 first rounders if they can guarantee getting Curtin is tempting. For those who watched it, a late call up under ager who only showed a few snippets is Austin Van Der Struyf, he is one to watch for next year. Smooth mover off half back/wing with elite foot skills and fantastic vision. Captain of Christchurch First XVIII, where he plays as an inside midfielder

No we don’t have to many small forwards, one of Grundy/Gawn will be in the forward 50 with Brown as the side currently stands , so Smith and Fritta as medium talls means you need 3 smaller players rotating through our forward line to prevent us getting burned on the rebound and we can try and win some ground balls inside 50

It’s a bit like that, I never thought I’d see us win one. Yet whilst I understand they are had to win and a lot of luck is involved I do think this group we have with its age profile and potential growth of some of our young group I know by 2026/7 I will think we’ve underachieved if we haven’t won two flags on gone deep in at least 2 finals campaigns

Look up Lenny McLean

I only watched this on TV, thought Curtin and Hall won the battle in the midfield and Curtin showed his versatility being able to play as a big inside mid. Friday was very impressive with his running power, which is certainly off the charts

He’s a lot less limited as a footballer then you are as an observer. He’s proved you wrong numerous times before and will do so again. Some never learn

Why do we have to have Hyperbole after every loss Review Petty in possibly a blunder, but he was selected to go with Cameron Failing to do better with forward 50 entries and all I can say is that especially in the 4th is a failure to be desperate at ground level, their second rebound goal in the 4th Fritta has an opportunity to attack the ground ball, doesn’t Geelong defender soccer’s it outside 50 and they slingshot forward. Kozzie toepokes a ball on the edge of our F50, when he could have attacked the ground ball to draw high contact or at worst create a stoppage. They exit easily again. Smith giving up front position to Stewart allows easy intercept marks. Not moving Petty forward when Stewart is controlling the rebound and the mids getting beaten at the stoppages early in the fourth Theres the game we set ourselves up to win it but failed but no someone comes up with us being banged up. FCS watch the game

He’s dropped off of late after a good start to the season. Like most of the WA boys was very poor against the Allies, don’t expect he’ll be named for WA’s second game

Correct his sister lives there

Hope it ends like Corey Enright 300th, if I recall correctly that was the game where Big Gawny announced himself

I have mates who are struggling to deal with their current plight and they say you must be loving this, maybe I’m just older, but in early 2021 I made a decision to not worry about other teams and not to bath in their misery. I thought let’s just focus on the Dees and we all know how that ended. I have commented to them that they need a reality check, they have missed finals for 2 going on 3 seasons, 5 years since they were premiers and have played finals for 26 of their 33years of existence. I explain what it was like following the Dees from 1980 to 2020

It’s only 4 weeks ago Cornes was saying how Larkey, Sheezel, Wardlaw may not want to stay at North if they didn’t show improvement. Wardlaw signed an extension later that week. Things are never as bad as they seem and never as good as they seem. I hate West Coast but they are a proud club with a lot to offer in terms of facilities and off field benefits. They are rock bottom now and will be down for another year or two, but they will bounce back and be pushing for finals in 2026ish. Ginbey is a Luke Hodge type leader, Allen is similar and now they have fully committed to the rebuild they will unfortunately work their way back

Yep I hear you, different for all kids and families. Been good for both of them, they haven’t gone right through the oldest will have done Yr 10-12 and the youngest commenced half way through Yr 9. Whilst the sport is great, it’s the academic side where I have seen the benefits although my oldest had academic drive and would have done well at most schools. All I will say mate as some advice is enjoy the journey of fatherhood and the time together. I have a day off today and dropped my two boys to school this morning and just talked about life on the journey in, which is not something we do a lot of with the busy lives we have. I had one of those life flashbacks watching the oldest walking off towards school and my mind went back to dropping the same boy off for his first day at kindy. I thought it would be great to do it all again with both of them

I’m putting 2 through PSA in Perth, it’s killing the social life and upgrading the house (1980s ensuite is in need of being demolished) but it’s what you do for your kids. This is my last year paying 2 school fees thank god. Each to their own but I recommend it if you can make it work the benefits have been fantastic for my boys

Edwards is really good but West Coast picked up a ruckman in last years draft Harry Barnett. They need mids and some real hard nut competitors. They will look at Curtin as he can play both ends and through the middle. If that were to come to fruition it would be a good draft with Curtin and Hall, although really liked the look of Mckercher and Sanders from the allies. One who is attracting some attention is an unknown bolter just been pulled into the WA squad, Joe Fonti who is a very fast running half back who can take a contested mark. Foot skills are okay but improving, his line breaking running is what’s attracting recruiters and I reckon he’ll be picked up as a rookie by someone

There is no way Koen Sanchez goes to 36, be lucky to go at all