Wells 11

spencers arm in a sling. Gone for the night.

any news on Spencer?

shattered to read about Gus. So disappointing for him and the club. Hit behind the play?? what kind of moron does that to someone with known concussion injuries. If its true take the year off. And think about retiring.

Gawn is match winner and I don't think we can get around the fact that he was possibly our most important player. But we're lucky to have a player like Spencer to replace him. I believe he will suprise a lot of people here and will hold his own in the ruck duels as well as be a real presence when the ball hits the deck. Gawn isnt dead either... hopefully he will be back later in the year if we were contenders. So its winning enough games in his absence to get us into the 8 that matters. Its the first test of a Gawnless team on Saturday. One thing Im starting to feel we can count on with this team is that they will come out aggressive , in the physical stuff as well as the way they take on the game. IF they kick straight dees by 40 after a close first half. If they dont...and lose, then I might end up a padded cell somewhere.

It poses the question of how hard do we try to keep spencer at the end of the year doesnt it. We'd in BIG trouble without him on our list,

Ok. probably a good attitude...but can I at least extend out the vowel in that as in fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu%$. Then I can move on

salt on the wound of a truly shite afternoon. I still feel angry. Lets hope its not career threatening and we dont talk of max like we speak of shwartz, Tingay, Charles and Jakovich. I hate barracking for Melbourne sometimes

it really showed didnt it. We should have won anyway...but those two would surely have steered us there. Feel so disappointed tonight. Hope the team hasn't annoounced its character ie close but no cigar

Im quietly amazed at all the confidence. Geelong at etihad is a super big ask. Im hopeful....as I always am, and ( stupidly) was even in 2013. But confident definitely not. Cant wait to see how they go.

I reckon he's better than that....and close to goals could be a real match winner.

oops brain fade... It was Frost and Wagner that played.

fully agree. Absolutely worth every cent for whoever gets him. Hope its us.

From the AFL site . "However, there is better news for key recruit Michael Hibberd who is slated to return from an Achilles complaint via the VFL against Williamstown on Easter Monday" Didnt Hibbard play a half last weekend?? Obviously something flared up...which is not a good sign. Weird though to talk about his return game after he already played it.

As much Salems game may have been his turning point. Olivers first game was his break out game lol...but its good to see him up the top end of votes so early in his career. As much as I celebrated these two I was concerned in equal measure by Brayshaw and Hogan. They both looked awful. Low energy, simple mistakes. I think Hogan well might have been carrying an injury, He went n for scans and was on crutches early in the week. So perhaps a couple of weeks off isnt the worst thing in the bigger picture for him. Its Brayshaw Im most concerned about. I used to have him as a critical member of our strongest team. Im not sure anymore.

think you're right. Both low / medium impact to the head. Hogans looked like an open hand, couldnt see clearly but looked like Lewis had a closed fist. Both seemed almost incidental but both were effectively punches to the head.

something just not right with Brayshaw. He looks like a different player than when he first arrived. I hope he gets his mojo back

Hope you're right Abe. If he is, we could be really be something special as a team.

Was trying to compare them to their first years Saty. Both were match winners on occaisons before they became who they are now. Granted its tricky with Trac missing a year. Dont get me wrong Im a trac fan...I just remember waiting around for Morton, Cook, Gysberts, Trengove ( heartbreaking) etc to be "stars" so Im sceptical now when we're claiming one. I just want to see him really express what it looks like he has to express a few times before I get too excited or smug re Mc Cartin.

A question about Petracca. Super talented yes and I def look forward to his progress. He was described at the time of being drafted as being something like a Dusty or a Wines. I cant quite see the explosive pace in him of Dusty or the mongrel of Wines. Remember BOTH of those players were making marks in their first season. I think trac is coming on nicely without taking anything by storm ( practice match v the blues excluded) Before I start bragging re not choosing Mc Cartin I want to see him really bust a few games open this year. I also think we lucked out ( or in) with this one...just want to really see the proof.

Further encouraged by Frost and Wagner playing a half yesterday. Frost in particular I think we need back. Honestly Id be shocked if we lost today. As mentioned above I also thought that last year etc etc

Im glad we didnt bite on this one. WIsh we were playing port or the suns the week after they get back.

Good news but hmmm....precautionary scans a week or so ago, now precautionary crutches, let hope it doesnt lead to a precautionary operation.

He reminds me of a young Jack Watts to be honest. Not re the decision making ( which Watts always excelled in) but more so the sense of physical uncertainty he projects on the field Yet he also does do a lot of things well. The trouble with replacing him is that Frost, Garland and Smith are all now unavailable so I don't see we have a great deal of choice. My heart went into my mouth every time I saw him in a one on one......and, as others have said, for now at least he is definitely one of our weak links. Its the simple errors that he makes ...dropped chest marks, kicks under no pressure that go over the head of someone 20 meters away... that make him an occasional liability. But he IS young and developing and I just think we have to bite the bullet, keep putting time into him and maybe I'll try to remember to take deep breaths when he has the ball!

Funny that this is the LEAST talked about point in all of this. Robbo and his puppy Ralphy are constantly drawing threads to Essendon re WC. Its just another way of airing more pro Essendon complaints imo. I can hear the not so subtle sub text How come despite "the lack of proof" Essendon got hammered where WC got off. Or its clear now that this has obviously all been a conspiracy against Essendon. The only reason EFC got hammered is that ASADA got involved or it would have been swept under the carpet like everything else. Even then they tipped them off and organised a trial that would find them innocent. Everything gets swept under the carpet except the tanking saga...because hey, that was really serious! Or so said the betting agencies that was paying big bucks. I still feel angry about the public shaming the dees got in that period of time. For doing something that probably half the comp had done. Despite enjoying much of her work since....I also can never fully forgive Caro for going so hard. For questioning our right to exist as a club and Stynes' legacy.

It does feel big doesn't it. Round one always feels that way, but we're also playing another side who may be battling for the same ladder spot. Huge 14 game hoodoo to break, Goodys first regular season game a the helm with us and Vineys first as co captain. So...re season defining.... If we win I agree, if not I'll scoff at it.