Macca

I'm with you on the Suns as of the 8 players I listed that are virtually walk-up starts when fit, only 2 umprovens in Langford & Johnson might be available So the team would still have too many weak links Langford could end up being a good player (at least) whilst Johnson would at least add a bit of vigour and presence up forward I just don't see it with Turner & Jefferson But we are weeks away from having a decent list of good players available for selection

Yep, that could happen too Just to break even, we'll need all our better players available Today, we had weak points all over the field ... probably fielded 10 VFL standard players if we're being honest But the real issue is our style of play and the players look exhausted. Constantly working for stoppages whilst hugging the boundary line has taken it's toll Right now, I can't see us winning any more than 8 games for the season None of our forwards can impact the game so how can you win with that sort of obstacle? Chandler did well today but is he going to be able to maintain that standard looking ahead? As for the rest of our forward options...

Realistically, we are not going to sack Goodwin in season. But if we fall right away, the end of the season could see the end for Simon But we'd have to fall right away (7 wins or less) Right now, we don't have the players with the skills to play the new type of offense that we are seeing from a number of clubs However, if we add May, Melk, Kozzie, Kolt, Windsor, McVee, Johnson & Langford (he should have played today) we'll be a lot more competitive at least Add those 8 and take out Spargo, Woey, Turner, Jefferson, Sharp, Howes and take your pick on 2 more and we're a much better team But back to our offense ... it stinks And Goodwin & Chaplin are responsible Our method of advancing the ball is treacle-slow and we avoid the corridor like the plague. And our skills on offense are bog-average Then there's the actual forward line which is right now, bereft of talent But all of the above can improve with an injection of talent (especially up forward) The other thing that stood out today is our lack of teamwork and the lack of selfless acts Early doors but it's going to take a big turnaround. It's just as well we've got 5 winnable games in our next 6 games (Suns, Bombers, Freo, Tigers & Eagles) Hard to see us beating Geelong at Geelong in round 4 but we're going to have to win at least 3 of the other 5 to keep the wolves at bay After round 8, as you would all be aware, our fixture gets tough

Lobby knew what he was doing. And the Fox crew reckon it was just an accident!! But because it was a filth player who has done his fair share of sniping himself, he got his right whack

Good game but the Saints stopped to a walk. Did well to hang on in the end

You Beauty!!!!

I'd go next year in the AFL (new boundary line rule and 16 a side) There would be less congestion and let's not forget that a ground like the MCG is 149 metres wide I much prefer corridor footy, it's just way more exciting. As for turnovers in the middle? That won't happen if a team is highly skilled We are already seeing a trend that way anyway. So if we make the boundary line the enemy, we'll see a better game Not necessarily looking for higher scores either ... one of my all-time favourites games was the 1990 Elimination final (Melb vd Hawks) End to end stuff but only 18 goals scored for the match

I reckon we'd all wear a boundary throw in if there was enough doubt about how the ball went out of bounds Otherwise, it's a turnover And your point about a 20 team comp not being watered down if we went to 16 a side is a very good one And good luck with the shopping (isn't Saturday arvo blokes time? Huh?)

Yes, it's cut and dried. But let's not forget that the league likes to remain in the news so they love a grey area (in my opinion) The 16 a side idea would almost certainly mean we'd have less congestion and therefore, less contentious free kicks There was a time (especially in the 70's & 80's) when the sport was quite open and free flowing But again, a debate for another day

Agree with all except I'd adopt the rule the league once had (1926-1939) ... last player to kick or handpass the ball is penalised if the ball goes out of bounds When the ball is rushed over the boundary line or if there is some doubt, a boundary throw in to result The above rule is apparently in operation in the SANFL and by all reports, it works quite well It's a debate for another thread, but I'd definitely go to 16 a side as I much prefer a more open game

Beveridge just made mention that his team didn't have enough forward 50 entries (43) It always felt like the Pies had their measure (albeit narrowly) I was shocked at the one-sided adjudication though More so the frees that the Bulldogs didn't get. Daicos walked the ball out and another Bulldog has his legs taken out. Both blatant and not paid. And both late in the game

I reckon it did cost us Kozzie needs to change the way he attacks the contest. He isn't in the protected species category (like some players from certain clubs are) Players need to be aware of how to tackle properly and bumping anytime (or even side on bracing for contact) is fraught with danger I understand that Moore went to ground when Kozzie contacted him but you just can't lead with the shoulder these days (unless you are Maynard or Cripps)

Got a bit of mongrel too. Cleaned up Maynard last year (Can he do it again? Tonight?)

Yep, that's a good point too, BoBo I loved the hands in the back rule and it should still be in operation. I like it mostly because it's a cut and dried rule. Use your hands and you get pinged Use of the body or the forearm to hold your ground was how it used to be (back in my day) But you are right, Hawkins just pushed his opponents in the back and because of the shoddy rules, got away with it The AFL are great at making money and marketing the sport but as custodians, they often fail

James Brayshaw blames the kicker for poor delivery when the target lost front position and played from behind!! Brayshaw has no idea. Did he ever play footy?

I'd only pay blatant high contact ... otherwise play on for incidental contact But I'd retrospectivilly rub players out for flopping Which means that Joel Selwood would have barely played a game (haha) Selwood received about 500 soft, high contact free kicks. Flopped for his whole career and cheated the game

Soft high contact frees are a blight on the game ... and so many players play for it these days. So much flopping AFL rules of the game issue, not an umpires issue Nick Daicos just got one and it's bs

I'd be rushing Melk back into the forward line as soon as he is fit ... if we can get him into 1 on 1's he adds much needed class and goalkicking power. He's a fitness freak so the age factor isn't as pronounced Some players can defy the age barrier and he seems like one of those types

The make-up of the forward line can only get better ... this is what it could look like for the Geelong game HF: Kozzie/Tracca JVR Fritsch F Hendo/Chin Jeffo or AJ Melksham That's a lot better than what we'll see on Sunday So it's not all doom & gloom. We can get better (personnel-wise)

North aren't good defensively and their better players don't track back ... they will battle to get the ball through our overall defence But you may be right, it could be close

I reckon it's more about personnel... Fritsch is still our best forward yet he is out of form and many here want him dropped! I wouldn't drop him as we need to allow him to be the opportunist that he is and also, get him into 1 on 1 situations (where he also can excel) After Fritsch? There's not much talent there, certainly not proven talent We'll almost certainly beat North but it's how our forward line matches up against the good sides which is the question And of course, Kozzie, Melk & Tholstrup will return soon enough And I'd definitely play Petracca forward on Sunday

Petracca could destroy a team like North up forward

Reckon this is a real possibility. It would be a different story if all of our 3 KPF types could be relied upon but that is not the case And it's a midfielders game these days with up to 12-14 players playing some sort of role between half back & half forward (that includes the 4 on the bench being part of the rotations) I'd much prefer if we went with just the 2 KPF's and another runner How many KPF's did the Hawks go with last night?

Schwarz is a good chance (and good odds) in the G1 William Reid Stakes tomorrow (1200m) Should lead from a nice gate and it might be a leaders track at the Valley Moonee Valley (Saturday) R9 #4 9.50/2.60 Schwarz

I agree I do not have an issue with the subject matter as the topic is well worthy of discussion But the thread name?? How about 'How can we get more people to attend our games'