rjay

Whilst on that, why wasn't it a 50 metre penalty when Lynch obstructed the ball going back to Max? ...and the ump even said it was ok. Maybe Clarko needs to talk about umpires following the rule book this week.

Whilst he is our best player at the moment, he is dropping marks he should take and still adjusting to the Captaincy...trying to do too much.

Pickett - Settle around goals He's raw but gives us a bit, just rushes his shots.

I haven't watched the game yet but will flick through later tonight. Made the decision not to watch them live anymore so I don't have to waste my time...I can fast forward through adds and breaks and get it over with. Also know the result so don't need to waste any nervous energy. I just don't have it in me to watch live any longer. In some ways life would be easier if the club just disappeared all together. Currently it's a slow lingering death with the occasional flicker of hope.

I posted something on this last year...it was frustrating looking at our forward set up. We had a great ruck, midfield combination but set up as though we would lose every contest. The only time we took the game on was the last centre bounce against GC when we had to score to win. Suddenly the forwards spread & gave themselves some space. The ball came quickly from the middle, the defence couldn't set up properly, we scored and won. ...lesson learned? no, we went back to the same old boring set up for the rest of the season and have started this one the same way.

If allowed they use it better into the forward half than us but as Daisy (the only special comments person that makes special comments and doesn't state the obvious) noted early EFC were determined not to give them an easy path out of the back half. Like us they don't have an effective forward line...their back half has been weakened with the loss of Howe and no Sidebottom means more pressure to Pendles. All that adds up to poor ball use going forward. Plus a couple of short steps tonight that Bucks wouldn't have missed.

Couple of interesting things. Stephenson is a bit of a seagull...picks up the scraps real quick if you give him some space but pretty poor in tight. Crisp must have been out on the turps with Sidebottom...must have had the DT's tonight, fumbled everything that came at him.

I think Tommy is the luckiest to get a game at the moment...Melk close behind him. I'm not sure why AVB was selected last week, he's strong at the player but offers nothing else.

I would like him to select the best 22 before he tries to stabilise it...

...and that goes to Wallace's point that we have players not at AFL standard.

They do it well, how he can change up a totally different game plan is testament to that. ...but we did nothing to put doubt in their mind, we watched it unfold. Goody seems to have a problem getting his message across to the players. Can he communicate. If he knows we should have been pushing up to take space and not allow them to chip the ball around so easily then surely he expressed this. What aren't the players understanding? Why aren't they understanding? or did Goody just figure this out after the game was finished? There is a problem...

Scott is a poor example...he's shown he can change their game around. His game against Hawthorn was polar opposite to the one he played against us...he's a smart coach. Their list is ageing and on the wane but they are well drilled and we didn't take it to them. ...and whilst I agree that you have a basic plan, brand or whatever, having a plan B is a bit simplistic. However you must have contingencies. We don't seem to have them, we hit up more of the same more often than not.

They might be on the list to do the same thing (I doubt it) but they are in no way similar. Sorry but you are both wrong. Go and look at what Spargo did in 2018 when he came in. He worked up the ground and linked up then took the last kick to hit up the leading forward. That's what he does. He doesn't crumb the ball, I reckon it's an innate skill that some have but can't be taught. Kossie has it, spargo doesn't...that's one reason he plays deeper and it's why we targeted him as after Garlett was moved on we had no one that could play the role. The only similarity is they are both small.

I'll trust my footy knowledge on picking a player ahead of yours any day of the week. I flagged Tommy would have these problems at the start of 2019 and nothing has changed. He's is struggling and hasn't played at the level for nearly 2 seasons with the exception of maybe one game. Whether it's injury or that opposition coaches have worked him out the fact is he's played a lot of poor footy and would struggle for a game in any other team. Tommy is looking a lot like Dawes mark 2 unfortunately. I hope Spargo plays 2's but he is in the squad this week. AVB is hard as a cats head but is a very limited player, without injury he may have made it but the injuries have taken their toll. Hannan was a VFL player before we grabbed him and does the odd good thing but not enough to be a consistent level AFL player. Smith was poor in his first game, was ok last week but certainly far from a proven player. Brown was let go by EFC, now clubs make mistakes but his first game was hardly reassuring. He's depth, not an AFL player. Should only play when the cupboard is bare. Melk might be past it...Ronald Dale was a pretty decent player but time takes it's toll. We're not running him out any more. Melk really needs to lift, he has been at the level but this year has given zilch...is it over for him. He should be out of the team to work on some things. Hunt is borderline, but really if we were any good he would be fringe. Unfortunately we need to play him. The bloke who has played 3 games in 3 years is a much better prospect than the other bloke who has played a similar amount of football in 3 year that can tackle but can't kick and is a poor decision maker.

He shouldn't, but like the others he should be doing this in the senior team where he is needed. Wallace mentioned we had players not up to AFL level, he didn't name them so let me have a go. From this weeks squad....Spargo, Smith, AVB, Hannan, Tommy Mac, Melk (on current form), Hunt, Brown Young players still learning the game...Rivers, Lockhart, Jackson

One of the greatest myths in AFL...the role. Blight laughed at this one the other day and I agree. The player has to be good enough... Spargo isn't a drop of the ball player, he's a good little player at VFL/local league level...not AFL. He's a small link up player and doesn't hit the packs.

They're nothing alike 'Bob'... Spargo doesn't have the leg speed for that role, can't hit front and square...Kossie can also take a grab (Spargo can't get off the ground) and he creates defensive pressure. If Goodwin is serious about defence, Spargo struggles to hold a tackle and opponents know it. They run over him like he's not there. He's a total defensive liability.

Yep, as Carlton found out with Bolton. If Goodwin is moved on then we don't have time to train another who may or may not make it as a coach. Lyon, Scott....

So, what's a valid reason...and who decides? One persons valid reason is another persons excuse. Ed really does make himself a target...Dermott has always had a bit of the buffoon about him, entertaining at times but not the smartest tool.

Been drinking tonight 'bin'????

Privatisation across the board has caused a lot of issues. This is just another. The buck does stop at the top.

Fffffffff... So you reckon we're tracking well? ...and selection is just "tickety boo". Enjoy...

Don't confuse issues 'bing'...a few of us have seen the selection telegraphed. No surprises as you say, except for Spargo..didn't see that one coming. ...but it doesn't make it any better. Selection has been a dogs breakfast for a few years now. It's getting worse.

It's not complicated at all. Bennell is a far better player half fit than those you've mentioned. Pickett I would keep in, forget the others... We're crying out for class and someone who can kick the ball and this is what we come up with...

I don't watch the games live any longer. I record and flick though...selections like these are part of the reason. I just can't justify taking time out to watch them live when the FD make the whole thing a farce at the selection table. The team can't be trusted but it's no wonder when the FD can't be to start with. The rot starts at the top...