Macca

With our current forward line woes I can't see us being a threat for the flag. We might make the finals Yesterday we had a chance to beat a good team but once again, the lack of marking power and quality up forward cost us Our midfield strength and backline will always make us competitive but we keep losing games because of a dysfunctional forward line 3 tall forwards not impacting is a recipe for disaster

Billings is not vanilla at all. He's not great in front of goal but as another mid/runner he is quite capable of accumulating around 20 possessions. Our 3 tall forwards accumulated 10 kicks & 3 marks for the day And Langford is another who could have been used instead (not necessarily up forward, more so as a mid) We lost the game at selection as we picked the wrong sort of team. It had to be AJ or Jeffo, not both Do we play all 3 unproven tall forwards together again? Ongoing? Is that what you are advocating?

Fritsch at least got involved and picked up a dozen touches. Right now, Fritsch is way ahead of the 3 tall forwards JVR, Jeffo & AJ (as a collective) did very little ... a combined 10 kicks & 3 marks is low impact On a damp day you play 2 of the 3 only (remembering that all 3 are unproven forwards) and play another runner

Ah yes, but when you factor in a damp day, would the masses gave gone into the match with 3 rookie tall forwards? I don't think so We were effectively a man (or 2) down yesterday and were far too top heavy up forward on a damp day. The selectors got it wrong AJ, Jeffo & JVR had 10 kicks & 3 marks between them. On top of that JVR is attempting marks with one arm only (Watts-like) So JVR is still unproven and we add 2 rookie tall forwards against a good side? On a damp day? Makes no sense Billings and/or Langford should have been in the 22 as on a damp day, medium/tall up forward would have been the smarter play By the way, I was saying the above before the game, so it's not a hindsight comment.

I'd have had Billings in today ... he has an innate ability to find space for himself and is usually quite good in finding a teammate with good disposal That same innate ability often sees him bob up in the forward line with an easy mark. And we know what happens from there!! It's such a shame he's such a lousy shot for goal So on wing but as a link from half-back and then connecting to the half forwards is an ideal role. In other words, just get him to stay on the wing and let Langdon & Windsor drift forward

I reckon the whole thing is completely overplayed and I'm not sure we should care about crowd numbers at all. I know I don't care and any Demon friend or acquaintance I have doesn't care either It never gets brought up in conversation. Ever Yeah sure, from the outside we are often the focus but the whole thing started out as a joke related to the snow and then just grew legs. It's a perception much like Richmond are known as ferels and the Pies as the filth Fact is Gonzo is that we are not a big club. And until we are a big club (if that ever happens?) we're going to continue to draw low crowds against low drawing opposition You won't guilt people into going to games either. I'm not an MCC member but I have family who are and I'm forever amazed how quiet our fans are in the MCC as compared to the outer where I usually watch games It is what it is So we're not going to be shipped off to Siberia for being quiet and reserved or if the numbers aren't great Also, footy fans do gave an obsession with crowd numbers which I've always thought was quite odd. I mean, why sweat the small stuff? To me it's a non story

10 kicks (not bad) 4 Goals (good) 9 Tackles (good) 3 Marks (below par) Not a bad day out for a forward (one forward) But combined numbers for 3 different tall forwards? I doubt we'll be going in with that combo again. Turner for Jeffo or AJ or maybe Turner & Jeffo (or AJ) misses out

Swapping Jeffo for a slow player? I didn't say that and besides which, who is slower than Jeffo anyway? Jeffo is not exactly Gout Gout We could have played Langford or Billings as another runner (or both if we wanted to match GWS' running ability) Prior to the season there was hardly anyone here advocating playing Jeffo, JVR & AJ in the one team so I'm not sure why suddenly that can be a workable plan Maybe down the track where the actual output from all 3 is more than adequate but right now? It's like we're playing 1 or 2 short

The issue surrounding Jeffo's selection is the 2nd ruck duties If AJ is needed in the ruck (if we don't want to use JVR) then can we play JVR, AJ & Jeffo every week? None of the 3 are proven forwards (although, JVR can make it to that level)

We were at least one runner short and the match was lost at the selection table. JVR, AJ, Jeffo & Fritsch in the one forward line on a day where rain was forecast? Being top heavy allowed the opposition to run the ball out of our forward line far too easily. Our defensive forward line pressure just wasn't up to it If you are going to go that tall in the forward line then fast corridor entries are needed so as to catch the opposition out. But instead of kicking to 1 on 1's in the hot spot, the ball (once again) ends up being kicked to packs near the boundary line

Yep, GWS outskilled us But we probably all knew that going into the game But the script wasn't much different ... we kick into a crowded forward line and the opposition move the ball rapidly into an open forward line It's why teams like the Pies have our measure

Well, I'm not convinced Jeffo is our future and I'm not convinced that AJ is either. But AJ can ruck JVR a future topline Key forward? That's not a given either But whilst our list is what it is, I'm happy to give plenty of opportunities to Jeffo, AJ & Turner. Maybe one of them will turn out to be very good (or better) I'm not sacking anyone here. You can't do that in our sport. Unless they allow clubs to trade in season (which should be a thing)

The ease that GWS moved the ball out of our forward line was at times, startling. On a drier day, they might have really cleaned us up (there again, we might have clunked a few more marks on a dry day ... with our oversized forward line) And GWS are not the only team that can move the ball quickly on the counter-attack. Whilst we're trying to lock the ball in our forward line by employing the press, the good teams only need one accurate, quick disposal and they are off to the races It's not a new thing either We need to back ourselves into using the corridor more with faster ball movement so as we can advance the ball into a more open forward line Our style is gritty and we are hard at the contest. Our strength is winning contested ball but we seem to have to work too hard in order to score By contrast (today at least) GWS' method of scoring was highly efficient. Helps that they are highly skilled but that's what we have to beat

We were too top heavy up forward especially on a day not suited for high marking. We should have had another late withdrawal and given Langford a full game (take your pick on a sub) If AJ stays in as the 2nd ruck I can't see a spot for Jefferson. Nor did I think that Jefferson was particularly hard at the contest or chased with intent Kicked a couple of handy goals but apart from that, he did very little And JVR is not a proven KPF (yet) so to be effectively playing 3 rookie talls up forward is at least 1 too many. Poor selections We probably need to recruit in a KPF from elsewhere if we are looking for B+ or A grade In the meantime, one of AJ or Jeffo plays but not both. We could get away with it against teams like North but against the Pies, Lions, Sydney or GWS and the like? I don't think so It's JVR & AJ for mine with Fritsch as the 3rd tall ... Turner or Jeffo as replacements if AJ doesn't fire (JVR can ruck for 5 minutes per quarter) Petracca & Kozzy up forward so we end up medium/tall. Melksham?

AJ competes hard but is not highly skilled. Needs to keep working at it and stop giving away soft free kicks. He might make it Jefferson lacks intensity and needs to go harder at the contest. Again, with a lot of training, he might make it Playing AJ, Jeffo & JVR in the same forward line is asking for trouble especially when considering that Fritsch is not great defensively Just my view but I'd play AJ or Jeffo, not both

If that's the case then why were our other players chasing hard? Watch it again, Jefferson couldn't be bothered and gave up As it was, either Jefferson or AJ shouldn't have both been in the team, given the conditions. We badly lacked at least 1 more runner and GWS exploited that weakness An argument could be made that we lost the game at the selection table (A 1 kick game)

Jefferson jogged after an opponent late in the game on the centre/wing That alone could bring an exclusion for our next game. Given the circumstances, it was an ordinary effort

They smashed us on the counter-attack. Where as we had to work hard for scores A runner or 2 short in the conditions (it had to be AJ or Jeffo, not both) Other than that, we played quite well but just came up short

Lyon's big bomb at Waverley stands out. Big goal in a big game

150! Well done Bayley! Fritsch's great strength is he's a very good opportunist and excellent in 1 on 1 situations (so slow ball movement forward and long bombs aren't going to suit) His weakness is that he is not great defensively but there's always room for a Fritsch type as players like that can kick 2 or 3 quick goals and set up a win from nowhere

Lynch was very important for the Tiges last night. Played his role like a proper forward (in front, competed hard, made position and led well) Didn't star but he played a very important role So if AJ gets the nod on Sunday we'll need him to play a similar role (as well as doing the 2nd ruck duties) I've got JVR up at CHF as he's got untapped ability with regards to creativity. Turner as the possible 3rd forward with Fritsch as the opportunist (that's what he is good at)

The Pies getting smashed in opening round* *Why not play a full round and utilise the holiday Monday? 4 games is half-baked Give the clubs/players another bye during the season (it's needed)

Oh, ok. Take the money and retire! He's had a great career and was formerly box office. 4 MVP's is phenomenal If he'd had a decent coach then more SB appearances would have followed. Still, 1 is better than none haha Gee the footy is full-on considering it's just a praccy match

Not if he is given $$$$$Millions to play I always follow the money, Gorg, as that normally will give you the answer

Aaron Rodgers linked with the Giants