Diamond_Jim

The rate of change in this team is high to say the least. It seems to always be in three in and three out. TBH there is no one at Casey knocking the door down and hasn't been for weeks. JKH out on the theory that almost anyone could be better but for the rest no change unless Stretch has rectified whatever he was dropped for in the first instance. In which case Stretch for Bugg. Hard to get any enthusiasm up although I will accept that occasionally seeming miracles do happen. One good thing about the weekend was that although we lost the hitouts by total we won the clearance numbers. Will not help the longer term next week that we will have to take two emergencies ... (when is our VFL game? )

Good article from the Guardian on Buckley's woes at Collingwood and as usual the comments make a great read https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/may/08/discontent-grows-as-listless-collingwood-defeat-heaps-pressure-on-nathan-buckley What I find interesting are two things: 1. Why were Collingwood confident of making finals. Their list last year was not brimming with youth on its way up. I suppose they added Wells and was Treloar this year or last. 2. The article ties Buckley's future into that of McGuire. Call him what you will Eddie has been great for Collingwood. It seems that it is payback for the Malthouse/Buckley deal but from where I sit they would be mad to push Eddie.

Two weeks or so ago (Freo match) we were criticizing Vince (?) for bombing in during the last minute. Ok this was closer to the end but I am not sure that the players knew the time left down to the seconds.

That's our game plan... when it comes off it looks good... sometimes even great but when it doesn't In his defence he is taught to look for the spare player.. there was one... Rioli closed down the space and in spoiling pushed over the receiver. Moreover Lewis could not impact the play. Their ability to take marks allowed them to slow down the game and stop us from getting the ball into space. It also seemed to me that we got a few unlucky bounces. Hell I don' think this season is going to be much fun

we were outscored in all quarters except the third... simple mathematics as to why we lost. As to teams being on song ... we must be selling the hymn sheets !!!

Ah.. but unicorn food is the latest trend http://www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out/news/unicorn-food-has-gone-too-far-20170317-gv0pu4

I am afraid we are not better. Our game plan is high risk and when it comes off it's great. The reality is that in modern football the consecutive handballs and get it to the running player will be easily closed down by a close checking team. Plan B requires more traditional down the line marking (we don't do it ) or the rolling scrum like the Bulldogs play (we are not strong enough). For our game plan to work you need to dominate the midfield and have three outside runners together with swooping forwards. We have some of those components but not the lot and until then we will continue to be one quarter wonders. On the upside get the game plan right (may need different players) and we will be millionaires. Hope I live to see it.

But what did the entrails say ???

this thread is starting to sound like the pre- Freo thread and we all know how that went

Dogs v Tigers last night Hit outs: 50-27 in favour of the Tigers Clearances: 40-32 in favour of the Dogs Tigers were not playing their number one ruckman so that could be a factor Oliver will probably be tagged today Welcome any comments on strategies to look out for at the match today

Any news as to whether Brayshaw is playing would be appreciated together with a good analysis of our ruck strength. Will be very interesting to see how the "no specialist ruckman" goes against a recognised ruckman at the MCG today.

winning each quarter by a couple of goals would be a pleasant change............ have we done it during the last ten years?

Was away last year so did not hear the bells until the Freo game. Very good sound... liked the drum lead up could be louder

If you played each Sunday you would have 3 games in 14 days so I don't think we have much to worry about on that score

Now for Gold Coast v Geelong after today... who knows

seriously good win by the Eagles. (helped by bad kicking by Port) Heard on the radio that Natanui is likely out for the season... if true that is a shame... he provides something special to that team and is great to watch

somewhat disappointing that the Pies won last week .... the irate supporters calling into 3AW are not at their best yet ...

that's some serious demolition going on in the Apple Isle

North not having the accuracy on goal they enjoyed for most of the fist quarter could be an interesting last quarter

those odds are weird... at one stage around $7 and now $2.90 Must be a very thin market

you can get $4.00 now 56 points down.... it's the straight kicking that will probably win it for them Make that 62 to zero now and $5.30

First three goals to North Strong winds and rain on the way.... perfect day for an upset

wonderful news ... hope he plays a blinder !!

Would be interesting to know what real attempts are made to co-ordinate the AFL/VFL schedules. Not sure what the clubs prefer and putting aside interstate games and short breaks it would be good from a supporter viewpoint if there was no clash between the competitions at club level. Harder I know but it would be good for the schedules to be synched occasionally from an opponent aspect. Would be great to head out today for example to Box Hill Oval to see the Demons play the Hawks. Not whinging but the VFL has to work harder at its competition. What about a free youtube channel with all the non televised games. Sure there is a cost but you are not talking sheep stations especially if you used two or three automated camera positions for each match.

St Kilda remind me a little of North.... never the perpetual basket case like a team we all know Imagine having three or four (now only two) senior players that are automatic selections for 15 odd years thus allowing the luxury of building the team around them. Wins against Hawthorn and GWS in consecutive weeks is not bad..... Hopefully the MFC can show us similar strengths over the next six weeks. On the game Mumford was not dominant in the ruck and GWS just didn't take those key marks like they did against the Bulldogs.