dpositive

Well I don't know sure as hell hope that Goodwin and the coaching team know what they ate doing Watts is an effective player even on his worst day. He plays a laconic but sometimes (rarely) dominant style He is still among the best statistical performers in the current game He my be surplus to our winning requirements against Saints. I hope so.

Was Salem playing as desired by the coach with more intensity? Perhaps out to show these lesser players at reserves level that he is tougher than them? Perhaps he merely applied AFL intensity to this game? Was this merely a tragic error of time space location?

Fine as long as he is correctly introduced as previous winner, Brownlow medalist, premiership player , coach of the team that kept no records of a drug regime. its a good thing others are keeping records.

Unfortunately we can never know if he was or if the drugs made him do it

We can and should win all three and hit the finals series with confidence that we can beat all teams above us. North and GWS we did not adjust our structures and style to use the wind. This was disturbing as with little effort we could have won both and not have the current pressure. To be in a situation where a final round of us or pies to get in would be the worst outcome as AFL, umpires and crowds would conspire to get them up at our expense. The Adelaide match showed what is possible, just need to get the players heads right. I reject any issues of a young side being tired at the end of season. I'm old and tired but can still put in for one game of squash a week. I get over it by managing activity, these guys are full time professionals with masses of support. Select the players who understand what success will do for club and them personally and are desperate for success. If they don't know tell them. I have said it before and in past seasons players should be exhausted at the end of this game having put every ounce of energy into a win. If they don't recover we have a replacement in the squad. Our injuries during the year showed we were able to win without Max Hogan Lewis vince. No one single player is indispensable, they all need each other. I can only hope that that was the structure and method that led to North and GWS losses. GO DEES

Plenty of Snow could affect crowd Saints supporters love the stuff.

I also watch Watts when at the game and disagree. He always runs to a somewhere and usually this is a space where he then has time and most importantly balance to distribute the ball. He often does this at pace and does not avoid a contact if an opponent also gets to that space. He perhaps does not run to contests but rather runs to where the action will be. That he is often ignored by his teammates or that they do not have the skill or often time to deliver it to him is a significant factor in his performance. I don't bElieve he ever plays without intent. But perhaps some with less ability do not know what that intention is or was. I used to see Watts get the ball and instinctively go to give it off but in that time their was never any teammate with the ability to be where he thought they should be. I see that improving and the structures and playing complement has improved. We still have some way to go but there have been matches this year when Watts has been sublime, not due to his efforts but due to those around him using him or the space he created. Watts is often maligned as being non competitive but you do not create as many goals as he does without being at the contest. He cannot be at every contest but the more his teammates put him in the better he and the team go.

I would agree but being at the game can only say his was not the only very poor performance in such an apparently important match. Trengove also contributed some useful moments as did others. What he lacked was the "impact" play but again he was not the only one who failed in that. There were a number of players who cost us goals and every player would be dropped if the criteria applied to JT was universal. JT should not be the scapegoat nor should his career be defined on this game. But he may miss this game due to structures and the roles that are needed for this weeks competitors

What are the bookmakers saying about him being rubbed out. Its their money on the line and that will influence the AFL

Give him the best medical,surgical and rehab treatment. Let him go home or be where he wants. Keep himself fit and trim to go but with no requirement or demand. When we make the finals see if he is ready to go and match him up against Pedersen or alternatives. Jesse is a class player who can dominate an opponent and a game but he must be ready to go. The coaches will know.

Already touring Tassie Ticets arranged by Pete and club for group arriving for weekend including club pre game. independant Accomodation and Friday night with MONA visit on Sunday We will be noticeable by wearing the red and blue. (Not the away strip) although may be covered by layers coz its bloody cold down here.

I think tHere are a Number of levels of leadership. Overall directional strategic leadership, Functional skill leadership and inspirational leadership amongst them. overall direction is usually assigned or authorised. Functional is based on participatory contribution while inspirational arises in situation. I was against the co captain as it dilutes the strategic and directional communication. A vice captain appointment can reinforce that role. Functional skill allows distributive recognition eg forwards, mids etcand can be assigned or recognised as required. Perhaps a gym leader emerges. JW and NJ probably display this category best but GG and CO also fall into the group. inspirational leaders will emerge and may even be contrary to or beyond the above assigned. They may be temporary or more prolonged depending on circumstance and may even be recognised by exception. Bernie and Jordan may have contradicted the strategic goal but can be seen to lead the relegation of bruise free status and fall into this category. Functional and Inspirational can also combine for temporary or prolonged period within the reference of Overall, thus Jones spoke of JW need to go back to Casey, JL and BV need to review action etc. JV performs at each level and I believe could do so as Vice captain rather than co captain so I am still against co captain appointment

Exactly right br Whilst it is good to see ash contrition and recognise the innocence of the latest crop, the absolute denialists and the victim protesters amongst their supporters tarnishes any prospect of sympathy.

I was in Tassie doing some pre match training. if you think it was cold there it was snowing in cradle mountain on route to Strahan where caught the match huddled in the car listening on radio. It was all good and there seems to be quite a few members down here maximising the visit so could be a good crowd. We have a group coming down and a good win will enhance the visit to MONA. We could create an art installation in red and blue

Oops of course. Bit rattled acclimatising in Tassie

The club should come out and say as I said in a comment on the Schofield decision, that while disappointed the club supports the fact that the head must be sacrosanct and any contact must be penalised. While continuing to play hard we will be concentrating on playing fair(let's not talk about within the rules) and will coach our players to not attack the head. With Petraca coming back we should lead the way and reinforce that we will attack the body and lose our bruise free reputation

Down in Tassie acclimatising for next week. Hoping I can find some coverage of the game but not confident n the wilderness beyond Strahan. GO DEES

Then why can't the club state this and congratulate Jack on the attitude and endeavour he has displayed. They could note that he continues to perform at a high level at VFL level despite no longer being part of our future

We must beat Norf, saints, lions, Collingwood, beat or be competitive against port, giants and Crows . we can experiment against the last three. Our best can beat them as defeat of Crows showed. But we do not need our best team on the park to beat the first four. Just hope we have the right combinations available. if we can't do that we are not likely to trouble em in any finals campaign.

With almost nothing to lose would be good to see Trenners have a run. He could be just the unknown that they don't know how to handle.

Thanks to all those offering advice. Have several things to try now . Not sure of my ability to fix and don't want to bugger up my enjoyment

I find a "yeah we had a bit of luck" "we could be anywhere from 4 to 9" "your mob are doing ok but a bit unlucky, poor umpiring, injuries, bad draw, unwarranted reports you know the sort of thing we have had as well?""good luck with your finals see you there" is suitably received as most people are not good with irony.

I wondered why it was not paid as a trip

I noticed he went to ground a lot with a number of other players in his back also. He does go to ground as a lunge or desperate act often as well. His experience means that he understands when to stay out and receive the loose ball and when to throw himself into the action. A lot of his real value is like Watts bing in the right place when needed. His teammates are starting to learn that from him. I'm starting to really like him.

I reckon many comments are a bit harsh. Lewis has added an on field presence that distracts opposition teams from their own game. This gives us an edge. His on field positioning and direction are always valuable and never better evidenced than the last few minutes this week. No one else in the squad brings what he does to the game. I'm happy that the coach recognises contribution value over the statistical count.