The heart beats true

You make very valid points Nev. For me if this thread has taught me anything it’s that it’s better to watch what’s happening on the ground, than assume we know more. I personally think it’s a lot to assume we’ve had injuries, and that the selection committee are aware of all of it - but just kept running players into the ground. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is true (because I’m critical of how our game plan relies very heavily on 5 players), but i can’t know it. I’m basing my opinion purely on what I can see on the ground, and what the scoreboard has told us since mid year. We looked absolutely out on our legs at 3/4 time last week (when we should be peaking). Very flat, no energy across the team. That tells me we haven’t got something right with our fitness. Interestingly no one’s really arguing we aren’t fit enough, instead they are just speculating on what’s responsible for it. I bet Greg Stafford wishes he got that much grace around here. 👍

My mail says the opposite is true. Mrs Grundy appreciates full disclosure.

If your job is to make sure we are running out games, particularly the games that matter most, and instead we are ranked 15th in the comp for it, then you have to be feeling heat. I find it really interesting how little criticism our fitness is getting.

This. I find it mesmerising that anyone wants to defend our fitness department given what we’ve dished up since Round 11. I honestly think Griffith will be under extreme pressure inside the club. We are nowhere near it.

Way ahead of you Layzie.

GWS going well.

My mail says this is a done deal. Club made the final presentation to Grundy’s mum this week to make sure she doesn’t change his mind. From all reports both Alan Richardson and Perty had training shorts on at the meeting to sweeten the deal for Mrs Grundy. She’s on board. Perty has lovely pins.

Those critical of the list not being turned over prior to the 22 season would be wise to remember that season 20 and 21 were effectively wiped out at a lot of levels. It was a much more considered decision to work with what you’ve got rather than bring in what hasn’t had consistent games for 2 years. Things return to normal this year, so we will see more informed decisions made.

I like that Collingwood have put their pre-Bali contract to De Goey back on the table - because men who treat women terribly are awful, but a lot less awful If they play well in finals. #dobetter

Boy oh boy wowee do I hope they use this time to invest in commentators that don’t want to be ‘personalities’.

Casboult is the one player in the entire competition that best suits our forward half game plan in my opinion. He was fantastic this year for the Suns. He would take 2-3 contested marks a game that cause teams to panic in the air, and therefore bring Koz into the game more. I’ve thought all season he’d make us a 2 goal a game better side.

Jackson to stay, Grundy to come over. We will be the kings of the long bomb to the forward pocket for the next decade!

Just saw this 🤣

I live in Yarraville. There was no trains going west for some reason so I had to call someone to come and collect me and my 70 year Mother from Richmond station. Richmond station after a game has been a disaster for 15 years.

Hopper and Taranto meeting with Richmond, and Bobby Hill off to Collingwood apparently. It’s quickly becoming evident that we are moving to a 2 stage competition. The big clubs top up when needed from the feeder clubs - and are constantly in contention as a result. It’s a shame really.

I heard we were really into Young, but we had concerns his mum wanted him to play somewhere else.

I got tickets in N11. Close enough for Zorko to hear me, but far enough way for him not to be sure who it was. 👍

I specifically said he’s looked ‘off his best’ for most of the second half of the season. It’s not a criticism of him, it’s an acknowledgment that he’s a great player that has been playing with obvious injuries. 👍

100%. I think this needs to be taken into consideration when accounting for crowd noise. Collingwood twice, Sydney now twice, Bulldogs and Freo were all loses in Melbourne that our supporters have seen that looked exactly like Friday night.

Tracc has looked off his best for most of the second half of the season. I think in general we are carrying too many niggles and injuries. Oliver, Gawn, Petracca, May and Lever are the pillars of our system, and I’d suggest since mid season 3 of those 5 have had injury issues in almost every game we’ve played. Our system works when we execute, but it’s weaknesses can be exposed when we aren’t fully firing.

I forwarded this thread onto Gary Pert. He responded and said he’s still getting back to all the emails from Glenn Bartlett but should get to this in early 2023.

I read that too. He was absolutely slaughtered on Friday night. He should be really disappointed in himself for not shaking May’s hand before the game. That was as low an act as you’ll see before a game. The media would go after anyone else hard for that.

Cmon Dees fans. This our chance to make the G as inhospitable as we can. Get there. Make a hell of a noise. Show the team how much we appreciate them.

From memory we’ve won 4 of our last 14 second halves. Port, Adelaide, Brisbane (after the bye), and Freo.

I dunno. 90% of the game is played between the ears. Steven May deliberately took 3-4 high risk kicks through the middle of the ground from defence. They come off and we are running through the middle and the Swans are panicking about our waves of players and speed. Sadly, he missed them, Swans goaled, and we all went into our shells and played too predictably again. This is where a fit and healthy Salem makes a huge difference. He can take that kick and make it and we do different things, and clubs set up differently around us. It’s hard to ask that of Bowey just yet, but he should be doing that too. We have to balance risk and reward better - especially at the G where we haven’t got it right and are far too predictable.