rjay

Viney?

As most will know I haven't been a Frost fan but I acknowledge what he brings to the team and he's been a real plus. Something that I also noticed was how teammates are using/not using him. He's obviously been instructed to play to his abilities and I think his teammates have also been instructed not to call him to switch. Either that or they know not it's not a good percentage play. One in particular against WC I noticed Tyson almost start to call for a ball in the corridor then decided against it. He's still going to make mistakes and be caught out in the wrong positions but they can be limited if he sticks to basics and teammates understand his limitations.

Time for a new board 'fence'...

No, if it's the 7 feed unfortunately you always get the 7 commentary...like yesterday's game. Can't remember going back to the early days of Fox but that's what happens now. Fox don't overlay their commentary the only thing they will do is on Friday night run their analysis pre game, post game and at half time.

With that massive home crowd they will draw...only joking 'Red'.. It would be justice to knock the Cats out of the finals.

Viney if fit will come in for Spargo...

He's nothing like Sylvia. Some of his field kicking is sublime...Col wouldn't have even seen the teammate let alone hit him up. The kid is 22yo, missed a full season with a knee & is playing a position that by it's nature means he's going to have quiet patches. He had a significant impact on the result today.

Last play of the day Nev buried LeCras & I think he had a good sook about it & tried it on with Nev. Picked the wrong man...

Trouble is even if you have Foxtel you are still watching the 7 feed with the 7 commentary team. I agree with 'DV8', it is so annoying to watch the live centre bounce in a little square when they're featuring a replay.

That's the only change I see 'titan'...get him right for the first final.

Lockhart is a very good footballer.

No 'Lucifer', you changed the goal posts. Lets not quibble about a year or so...we don't have the quality of other clubs in that age bracket, the prime years for an AFL footballer. Only a fan with rose coloured glasses would say different. ...and that added to games played (lack of experience) is the major reason we struggle to put away quality opposition.

Ok, we're talking about 25 to 29 yo. Teams around our mark or higher. Tiges, Cotchin 28, Martin 27, Rance 28, Riewoldt 29 EFC, Hurley 28, Hooker 29, Heppell 26, Zahar 28 WC, Gaff 26, McGovern 26, NikNat 28, Shuey 28, Darling 26 GWS, Davis 27, Cameron 25, Ward, 28, Scully 27 Sydney, Hana 27, Parker 25, Rampe 28 Kennedy 30 during the season... Cats, on the way out but a couple who turned 30 recently Hawkins and Selwood. Danger 28, Duncan 27 Port have a few around 30/31 (Ryder, Gray, Boak, the Hoff) interesting looking at their list but I think they are gone if they don't make it this year... Point proven...these teams have players streets ahead of our list in this age group. We have been playing catch up since the disaster of the CS administration. Once the likes of Oliver, Trac and Brashaw get up around the 24/25yo 100 game mark we will be a very consistently good team and the talk of mental fragility will be put to bed. Edit: forgot the Hawks Smith 26, Gunston 26, Mitchell 25, McEvoy 29, Bruest 27, Stratton 29, Frawley 29

If it's a team rule not to then they can take all the responsibility they like but will find themselves at Casey. Don't shoot the messenger...I don't necessarily agree with this but it's what's happening.

It's most definitely not...if you're talking quality we're way off.

It's not the age of the list so much as the age of the potential match winners/champions. Out of that list Gawn is probably the only one that could take the team with him. Our other A graders to potential champions are all under 25, most on the 22 and under list. That's the important thing for all to understand...it's not about average age it's about where players sit on the age scale.

Honestly.... If we don't make finals this year then we should be the first club in line to get a priority pick as we've been the longest without a finals appearance. Many of the so called experts seem to be wanting to base the pick on this criteria. I mean Carlton should get one because they haven't played finals for 5 years, or so they say. Boomer Harvey reckons a club should get one if they have been out of finals for 4 years. We're owed 2 and make that 3 if we miss this year...for those struggling with the maths (me included) I think that works out at 12 years /4 Or maybe it should be an extra pick for each year past the 4. Not sure of my sums here but in that case would we be owed 7 priority picks + another one if we miss this year.

Let me go with this on Friday rather than Sunday night. Spargo can't stick a tackle and that concerns me with the size of some of the Eagles defenders...their skipper in particular. But I think Melk will probably take him in a defensive forward role similar to what he did with Rance...

They both had a solid core of experienced players though. We didn't... I can understand why we added Lewis and think it was a good move. Having said that I think the end is pretty much near for him now, can't see much value in him playing on past this season.

Not really 'TGR'... Succesful club, probably the greatest coach in modern times. Nothing ironic. As for moving players on and us taking Lewis. He didn't empty them all out, they still have plenty of experience to draw on. We had no Premiership experience on our list, adding one was a good move I would have thought. How long he holds his spot and the length of his contract is another matter but I don't think you could argue the merits of bringing him into the club.

At least we don't have Nichols...

That's the point... Well said 'bing'...

83 games and 5 years...yep, they look close. Still don't get the Tarzan reference????

When we get all this noise from the experts and the experts on here I always remember what Blight said at the start of the season. Looks like he was pretty right to me. It's relevant to the discussion on Goody, the players and their mental weaknesses as some like to call. It's all "fugazi"... Too many pushed expectations too soon, we are so close but not quite there. We may well make finals but we're a way off yet and despite wanting us to be contenders we're just not ready. I'm comfortable with where we're at, yes I would like to see us in the top 4 giving it a shake but key injuries along with the list profile made it highly unlikely. This is why we're not quite there yet...I know many won't want to hear it. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/03/06/dees-will-struggle-to-make-the-eight-again-blight/

He lays a strong tackle for a start. He's nothing like the others you've mentioned. He hits the pack hard and is not afraid of getting his hands dirty. As for stepping up now, he's the best option we've got. He will give it his best shot and that's all we can ask even though you would like to seem him morph into the 2nd coming of Carey overnight. I see similarities with Kennedy of the Eagle variety, I think he could get there. Again, unrealistic to expect that level yet.