Undeeterred

I think the early season method of 3-5 changes every week are probably over, and that the team is looking more and more settled. Therefore, unless someone really forces their way in, I think changes from here on will be fairly minimal and, probably for some of them, their chances have almost disappeared (Bennell, Petterd etc). Of course, where there is a like for like (Martin) or someone like Gysberts or Strauss, they will come through, but I don't think there will be heaps of churn for the rest of the year. I could be wrong, but I reckon Neeld has picked most of the top, say, 30 blokes he wants going forwards.

Apart from missing half the season with a dodgy hammy. NOT that I'm saying Junior should have been shafted, but he was 34(?). Moloney might not be giving us much, but he is significantly younger than that, has plenty of footy left, and I think he will recover that form eventually. It is just too early in this phase of rebuild to turf big bodies out on their ear, especially given previous experience getting rid of players and especially given that we'd only be doing it to bring in a Couch or similar type who, let's face it, aren't exactly Chris Judd either. He is a shoe in for a new contract, and, even if he isn't getting 30 touches a game, I think he brings something to the table.

That is seriously blue sky thinking...

Think Gys needs another few runs in the Magoos. Don't think Joel Mac did enough wrong to get bumped by a debutant. If Clark doesn't play, I think Martin is a better answer than Cook, given his versatility, but neither really appeals at this point. Maybe Couch in for Magner if he needs a rest. Would love Bail to get a run, but heard he can't pass post-concussion tests. That's a worry, one month down the track.

Totally agree. Watts never reacts and, now, he is starting to just spank the idiot who is niggling him instead. It's fantastic and it would give that guy the abolsute s%^ts.

Fair call - I obviously wasn't watching that closely. I thought he was in space and had a ping. Hahaha - I'd be saying 'meant it'

There are times when it's needed though. Sylvia would never have pinged that goal on his left, and the banana was just the ticket.

Why has more not been made of this? That goal was an absolute screamer!

Tim Watson made that point on the TV coverage - he times his leap so well, that he takes the ball right at its peak. Impossible to deal with given his height. On another note, I worry that what makes him such a fantastic player is what eventually will be his downfall. Because he smashes packs and breaks heads a bit, I kind of get the feeling he might be the type who is done by the time he is 27 or 28, just because he is so physical and gets knocked around so much. I really hope that's not the case, because he has totally bought in, and he is in for the long haul with us.

That mark where he just watched the ball and completely wrongfooted Mohr was fantastic. His best asset has always been his ability to read the play. Surprisingly, he is actually a much better kick for goal than he is a field kick. A fantastic move and I think, in the end, I prefer him up forward to Garland.

Sellar has a hand too - we don't need Rivers as third up as much any more.

My two cents on today... Anybody who thinks they were going to play Cook or Davis today is dreaming. There are plenty of other opporunities later in the season, like North or Richmond etc, not the one game we absolutely had to win. Let's be honest, if we didn't win today, the whole club would probably have imploded. So, we brought back in our bigger bodies, and experience. And it worked a treat. Can anybody tell me the last time Dunn, Sylvia and Bate had 70-odd touches between them? Some random thoughts: Mitch Clark would have kicked 10 today. He was jumping out of his skin to absolutely monster those puny defenders. That injury was such a shame. He is a double edged sword though, because the way he gets his goals is the same way he constantly gets himself banged up. Forward defensive pressure was outstanding. Maybe having defenders up there helped, but on numerous occassions Davey, Rivers and Garland pinned the ball in our forward 50. Howe is eventually going to be a great midfielder. His hands (once he actually picks it up) are incredibly sharp. Tom Mac - 6 kicks and 20 handballs! I reckon 4 of those kicks were clangers and once he irons this out, he will be huge back there. Loved his forearm to the back of Patton's head, putting his face in the dirt after bringing him to ground. Sylvia pulled his finger out. I think his busted back was a lot more damaging than people give him credit for, and I genuinely think he has bought in to Neeld's system. He was busting his guts today. Sellar has come into his own down back and actually looks ok at this level now. Neeld has obviously decided that they have the 'defensive' bit down, because they are obviously being instructed to go up the guts more. Looks wonderful. Dunn kicked it to, yes, the centre circle. That's one way we haven't yet tried to beat those annoying presses. We should give it a bash against Collingwood next time out... Watts using his body to bump out the other guy, bolting off the wing, and putting it down Trengove's throat was poetry in motion. Stuff the KPF stuff, he is much more valuable to us in what he is doing now and, if either Rivers or Garland bed down that role, he is freed up anyway. All Beamer did all day was smash James McDonald (accidentally, of course). Davey haters, I think its time to get off his back. He was solid today. We're on track, finally.

He was on track to kick about 15 today. Shame!

The Age consistently has online stories where paragraphs are repeated in two different spots etc. Their pre-publication editing for online pieces is utterly shocking.

I think he is probably worried about the up and coming stars in our backline (quite seriously). He is having a cracking season, and has responded brilliantly to Neeld in my view. He obviously realised early on that this was the only way... I mean, Frawley is set, and if Tom Mac, Davis, Watts and Garland all keep progressing as they are, it starts to look awfully crowded down there.

If I were a betting man, I'd think $3.55 for GWS this week was Christmas.

Doesn't sound good at all...

Might not be hopeless, but he sure is old and busted.

Reckon we are better off going for players who are a touch older and more established (like 23-25 year old types, Beams etc)

Chapman almost retired last year, and Bartel ain't going anywhere.

I don't bother with the player threads - locker room or not. Who can be bothered reading 500 previous posts, or trying to work out where the recent ones start??

I just go back to that kick from about 35m out earlier in the season, which didn't make the distance. A lack of confidence or form? I don't think so.

Yep, fair enough. I think at least he looked like he was having a go yesterday, which is more than I could say in other weeks.

I think Sylvia had a crack today, and that we forget he is only a few games back from a busted back. He could well come home with a wet sail in the second half of the season.

That's just silly. Hit at least two targets (Clark and Green) inside 50 with really smart kicks to advantage. And his run was great.