rjay

The whole team is off a long break 'kieranbj'...

Haven't forgotten him '58'...he will be a big plus in the forward half. Knows how to kick a goal.

Great news, we have no choice but to develop Rivers, Jackson and Kosi on the run with no VFL team playing. They are all great prospects. Remember when Port played 3 debs against us first game last year...it gave them a real boost. The inclusion of Bennell & Rivers with Salem (I'm guessing) improves are foot skills, which is another huge positive.

The NRL have gone back to one ref...we've added an ump? Go figure.....

Fritsch is the wild card....the opposition will know this, but if the forwards work as a team then it will create headaches for the oppo... We sure don't need statues down there, spread and give options. Footy hasn't changed that much 'Macca'. Gus, Trac, Salem, Ollie are the class with a bit of grunt from Viney and run from Langdon. Maybe some added class with Bennell if luck goes our way. A fit Bennell and a young Kosi will be a handful. ...but Goodwin has to show he can coach, the apprenticeship has run long enough now.

Agree with all that 'Macca'. I will give them a let off for the WC game but was bitterly disappointed on the day. We made the same mistakes, nothing had changed since the prelim...but it was a difficult situation, a very difficult situation. Made even harder by poor selection. So...we front up again on Saturday against a team on the improve but one we need to beat. We don't win it and win it well then we have big issues, such as the ones you point out. A functioning forward line is the biggie as you point out. Can Tommy Mac hold down a key post? who is the other tall option? will we persist with this stupid bomb the ball game? it must be part of the game plan no matter what Goodie says, either that or can't get his message across. The defence should be a key for us now with May and Lever fit, but I would pull the trigger on Rivers ...we need kicking power. Smith and Hibberd don't bring it. We will go in with the coaches favourite though. Salem, May and Rivers give some decent disposal from the back half. Oscar is a decent kick but doesn't get much of it...I worry about Nev's lack of pace, he's getting caught out of position. Imagine going in with Smith, Hibberd and Lever...heaven help the forwards. Harmes in defence is another who bites off too much and is hit or miss with disposal.

I don't 'Rodney'...he had that purple patch in the practice match but when tried previously in the real games he was a lost sheep and kept spoiling teammates, running into their space and was an all-round pest. I'm not as convinced as others that he's anything more than an athlete who can compete. As a defender, he's a poor kick and decision maker...in some regards similar to Frost. I hope I'm wrong as we could do with his athletic traits. This year is make or break for him.

Logic says we won't be in the WA hub but they will still find a way... Eddie's precious boys couldn't go, could they?

Nah...the season was called off and no one knew whether another game was going to be played let alone finals. One team had the comfort of home the other was stuck across the other side of the country when everything was turning to s.... I'm not overly concerned with that performance. This week is a whole different story.

The old Tom's track record hasn't been great but to his credit he will keep pitching them up....

I don't think we did either...it was essentially a dead rubber as 'Moon' said above.

Hard to pick up all but he out smarted Motlop...burned off Duncan a couple of times then outsmarted Enright. When he played us at the 'G', he took us to pieces...didn't matter who we tried on him. Then ask Bob Murphy how he cut them up one day.

Obviously not correct...

Yep, I get the logic. So far he hasn't really stepped up in the role but it's very early days. Let's see how he reads the play, he's good around the ball & in the contest when taken to it. ...but does he have the footy smarts to make the play off half back. Limited viewing in preseason & the WC game throw some doubt but time will tell.

I really hope it is Rivers... Smith has average disposal and decision making. We need to get another good kick from defence and that is Rivers, he's already one of the best kicks on the list. Smith footy ability seems to have skyrocketed in his absence. He's an athlete who plays footy, needs to develop footy smarts and put that athleticism to use.

Yes, I would think Frank 'Bluey' Adams would be one. I'm not sure how many 6 time premiership players there are in the hall of fame.

...and??? Why would there be. Has there been a history of cop's murdering or victimising attractive blond women. If there has I'm not aware.

Even All Australian careers come to an end. Hibberd had an average season in 2019 and his first game this year wasn't good. As for Rivers, well we can only go on training reports as there will be no VFL this year...but his last game against North in pre season was very good. He may not get up for the first game back but he is at least putting the pressure on a few of the senior players and should be ahead of Wagner and Hore for a call up.

Expect this to be cleaned up soon but util then... @hardtack @drysdale demon Believe that if you wish. General Mattis has a good take on this. For the Trumpet supporters, they could do with listening to the good general and many other thinking conservatives (not democrats or left wingers) who can see the damage being done by this President. The sensationalist headlines unfortunately don't look deep into the issues. Trouble is we will get caught up in it, we are not immune. General James Mattis was one of Donald Trump's most high-profile appointments. Mattis resigned as Trump's secretary of defence in December of 2018, but has largely kept quiet about his former boss … until today. Mattis has issued a pretty extraordinary statement just now, saying Mr Trump makes a "mockery of the Constitution": Mr Mattis said he was "angry and appalled" by what he had watched this week, and threw his support behind those at peaceful protests:

Rivers is really pushing his name up for selection with his training form. Hibberd and a few others will be on notice. Personally on form and potential I would make the change now but I don't think Goody will do it.

The NRL have led the way with their changes to the game. It's made a pedestrian game at club level suddenly more attractive. A few simple changes the AFL could make in a heartbeat but Gill unfortunately needs to consult everyman and his dog. We all know the rotations are a problem, cut them. We all know the umpire takes too long to get the ball back in play asking who the nominated ruck is , telling them which way he is going to go after throwing the ball up (I've never seen an ump go forward). Simple, cut interchange to say 4 or 5 a Q, bounce the ball up straight away( bounce not throw, it brings the unpredictability in and is hard to defend, no call back for poor bounce, play on...it's part of playing a game with an oval ball bad luck), pay free kicks that are there, don't let a scrum develop. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-02/nrl-shows-afl-tired-players-make-for-a-less-tiresome-game/12308318

Checker Hughes?

I know the good news story of divesting the club of poker machines is what was being sold. The moral imperative. ...but PJ is/was a very pragmatic businessman. I think the decision would have had a solid business case backing it.

Not likely, particularly with games at docklands... ...and do you have to keep the roof open, even on wet days. ...and if so, how will it's surface cope being played on in conditions it wasn't built for.

It's a good question... Without wanting to get to far into this discussion it wouldn't have been coming from pokies if we had them either. It's all closed up. ...but will be interested to see what happened with the sale of the asset. That money will be eaten up quickly with no revenues coming in...unless it is producing some revenue elsewhere.