Wells 11

Im not sure if Im for it or against. Depends what his long term intentions are. ie will he choose to stay if Kennedy cant get fit and finishes up for example. Or he gets a monster offer from Freo. But its HIGHLY unlikely we will get to hang on to Wiedeman much longer if he isnt getting a game. So...perhaps its going to have to be a choice. Would suck to lose both of them in the next few years. Im not yet quite a Weid believer but for those that are...this has to be a part of the conversation. Lets see how weid goes in this next chapter ...of how ever many weeks. If he kicks 4 in a winning grand final the answer might be clearer ?

18.40 into the podcast on the 20th. I can’t post it as it’s protected. Pretty low I thought. To be clear What she said re statue was “ he deserves it as a player but not as a president” after saying what we did was as bad comparable to EFC.

Really sad. Was such an inspirational player. A living testimony to the culture of the eagles at the time. Yes Ben is responsible for his own life but so many people in power over there also have a hand in his current state. He was Captain of an AFL premiership side FFS. So sad. In a related topic..Caro ( dont we love her) in the age podcast yesterday said that what Melb did re tanking was " as bad as what EFC did" and it bothered her to see Jimmys statue outside the G. I wanted to explode. When I heard the cousins story today and thought about drugs in sport in general I couldnt help but reflect on the stupidty of her comments,. Why am I even surprised though?!

As good as 87 was, Robbie was past his best by then but, even so, still outstanding. No point comparing apples and oranges though. Robbie was imo peerless as a wingman...the best player Ive ever seen play the game. Still annoyed that the kangas Keith Greig won his two brownlows from the wing in Robbies era. The advantages of being in a winning team I guess. Oliver is something super special. I dont know if we've ever really had a player like him at the Dees in my time. I do know, and this is similar to Robbie , watching him play I constantly wonder " what happened?" or " how did he DO that?" When I watch replays I slow down some of his bits to try to understand. So that bit at the moment is def the same. Sometimes its just hard to believe what he does.

Agreed. It’s a big statement fr someone so early in his career but I reckon He is to clearance players what flower was to wingmen or Schwartz was to centre half forwards. Different level to mere mortals.

Lol... fair enough. Happy to eat a little crow but not the whole bird. Yet. def saw some really good signs, especially in the first half. To be clear . I’d love him to be the gun so many think he will be...but Sunday’s game didn’t quite have me fully changing camps. Yet.

Yep agreed. I think we got lucky a cpl of times and they got lucky a couple times. Feel the umps, all in all, we’re pretty good and did well to resist the crowd.

87 all over again! Think we may be about to find a whole new gear.

I want to agree with you but I dont think so. Playing finals is a massive tick for the club and winning a final even better. the only way we ( or anyone imo) get close is if the Tiges get some injuries to key players. I just Dont think we're in the tigers class or even the pies tbh. Need a big recruit over the summer and a fit Viney, lever and Hogan back in the side. .

A bit bleak but its how Im feeling! Leonard cohen. the future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFjVWYgSFcQ

Its the truth. Probably an uncomfortable one but imo its accurate. Yes, we've improved and yes, we could/ should also have had about 4 more wins this year and be comfortably in the top 4 and eyeing off a flag. But.... we're not. if it happens, missing the finals WILL add enormous pressure to the group and onto Goodwin...and it should. Near enough, almost, unlucky, young or "still developing" have no currency from here on in. Its time our boys were men.

I hope you're right...about it all. I really do. Especially the Kennedy comparison. FWIW, I dont need to see "the 2nd coming of Carey" but I do want to see someone who isnt just a young rookie being "blooded" on Sunday. He's got to contribute something that makes him worth picking on his merits.

Thats the whole problem with the discussion on Weid. We're not playing him looking for potential on Sunday he's got a mans job to fill and we need him to fill it. I dont care what he's going to be like in one or two years time we need what he's got NOW....and is he big enough to bring it like there's no tomorrow. . I think I have too many memories of Morton, Gysberts, Cook and Watts and waiting for the day they fill out and step up. We all know now, with the exception of a game here or there, they never really did. None seemed to have the mongrel required at this level. Weid reminds me of them. I SO want to be wrong about the weid...and will happily eat crow if I am. But I will judge him on what he brings on Sunday not who he might become.

Hibbo in the fwd line? possibly nullifying Mcgovern? or just team sheets not really reflecting positions.

I tend to agree. It’s been stated already but if we don’t counter McGovern we’re going to get done. The big marking babkmen are killing us as opp sides drop numbers bk to counter our clearance rates. They then attack us from half back. All potential aside...Is weird the right guy to bring in FOR THIS GAME is my question.

really interesting stats. I just wonder though if Hogan doesnt assist Tom in those figures by drawing a key defender away. As much as Jesse does seem to have become a bit of a down hill skier this year. I cant remember it being like this in previous years. Looking at him move makes me wonder if he's just too injured to excel at the top of the top level. I dont mean his foot I mean his back etc etc. Anyone that watches him run would be wondering just how long a career someone with his body can last in the game.

really disturbing. Is there ANY other club having the same type of foot issues? It does seems like its particular to us and, if so, must in some way to the way we prepare/ train...or the surface itself. Unless its just horrible luck. I hope they're investigating, because if Oliver, Gawn, or Brayshaw go down with something similar there could be riot ...and I'll be at the front of it.

Beat me to it Beelzebub. I also think having picked Pedo last week we should let him a crack at it. Whenever I see Weid play I cant get past the feeling that he doesnt seem ready. No physical precense......yet. I dont think we can take him into a game like we're gonna have on sunday. Weid needs a real run at it and I just dont think these two rounds and possibly more are the time.

Tyson and frost have stepped up... fr Viney and lever. which at least mitigates the losses a little. More trust in frost from the outset and we beat the saints and cats. But Hibberd and now Smith is leaving a hole and Melksham is big loss. Gawn... I can’t even think about that.

...and if they're not.. then we most certainly are ?

Maybe its because the weather is getting warmer , or maybe Im just getting lost in the hype, but this game feels just like a final. Way more so than the game vs the pies in round 23 last year...even though that was too. Im never one to be too optimistic pre game but I reckon we might just play out of our skins and smash them on Sunday. This will both keep us in the top 4 and demonstrate to the team how far we can go this year. Setting us up for a massive 6 weeks or so. Dees by 40+

One day in not so distant future we are going to be going through something like this ourselves. When a Brayshaw or Oliver or Hogan or someone of that ilk wants to go $ chasing or move back home. Id love it not to be so but its the way of the current game. I think come that time, we're all going to be hoping the players put at least a BIT of pressure for who ever it may be to stay. But in agreement with what you written...putting too much on can be the worse possible thing.

is that an, off the top of the head statement... or something youve heard?

Love vanders and what he can offer the team, but not convinced about him fr this year. He looked slow to me... think he would b found out against better opposition. Get him right fr next year but I think Kent is a better option this year.

He's from Carlton .... so maybe. Impossible if it were a demon.