Ted Lasso

Bloke seems to be flying under the radar a little, goal kicking midfielder, loves the hard stuff and has slotted into the best 22 nicely, uses the ball very well, runs hard offensively and defensively not hard to see why port didn't want to let him go.

Jack is absolutely accountable but because he was a number one draft pick the execrations of him compared to any other half back flank are magnified, he was good on the weekend because he hit the score board and the half backs of the Tigers which is a strength of theirs had no impact on he game, jack played his role.

Tipping stretch to be a surprise inclusion

Why are we comparing a half forward to a key forward and wondering why he can't do the same things? Watts role is to lead hard, use the ball well going inside 50, keep his opponent accountable and if he is able to gain a mismatch take advantage and impact the scoreboard, He's dropped a couple of marks due to technique, that is being addressed. If Nathan jones did the same thing and a ball slipped through his hands no one would say a word, courage doesn't make a ball less slippery when it's pissing down rain, if he does that consistently on dry days it's a worry

Mo64 the ability to tackle well is close to the most important attribute a kid can have, when ken Hinkley took over at port is mantra was if you can't tackle you won't play. Defensive pressure acts win premierships because it stands up in any conditions against any opposition

I wonder if there is a temptation to play stretch to cover the speed we lose with Kent?

Strange that his manager would say he's open to a move and Jeremy would say he 100% wants to stay, mixed messages make them both look a bit silly to me, especially if Jeremy ends up leaving.

I wonder if the club might be reluctant to offer a new deal in case they have the opportunity to use Howe to land Shiel or Treloar in a trade?

Pretty scary to think that Petracca is a nice little bonus we get to unwrap next year along with hopefully another good recruiting period, he would have been the number one pick by a stretch of not for the saints need for a key forward.

Personally I think tommy Mac or jack Viney will be our next captain but I really think gus will be a beauty!

I doubt anyone at the mfc would be overvaluing Howe, may be that his manager is trying to scare them into making a better offer

I feel like we need to push freo, Hawks and the swans hard, and that we can. There is no reason we can't surprise one of those teams nut an attitude that we can't win because of ladder position would most likely result in a smashing that undoes all the confidence we have gained

Tyson jarred his knee, but played the game out as a forward with strapping, I think it's very much a case of wait and see but will probably be conservative because it's the same knee he's had issues with previously In other news jimmy had 28 touches and 7 tackles, it's a shame he hasn't used those as well as we know he can, id love to see him run and take it on himself to set up a play rather than looking to give it to The closest person

I reckon we are a 6-8 win team next year maybe 9-11

Hogan #1 for contested marks Brayshaw#5 for tackles Who says young players can't make an impact right away?

Haven't heard much about col garland, would be a significant loss anyone know where that's at?

Neeld raised our training standards significantly, I truely believe for all he got wrong in that regard he really did lay a platform for roosy.

I'm a watts fan but his confidence is shot at the moment, roosy and bmac would be working really hard with him I'm sure, it may be that he needs a stint at casey so he can dominate and get that confidence back

Cross was recruited with the plan our young blokes would overtake him but he'd provide leadership and an example and play a role on field. Wouldn't be surprised to see him retained in a role similar to Byrnes next year. I don't think he will play on.

Giants look amazing, so much depth of quality in their midfield and Patton to come back into the side. If we are off our game freo are going to destroy us.

Educated guess is if we continue to improve Jesse will stay if we are still bottom 4 he will rightly consider his options. Our young core group is really close, roosy is really driving that core to achieve something special together, and by 2017 freo will be without mcpharlane, pav, Sandilands, maybe Mundy, Barlow. Get the sense Ross isn't too worried about the future so I think hogan would be leaving a finals team for a team facing a serious rebuild.

Ports best is hands down the best in the comp, so slick and fast

Fantastic half of footy from Viv, would be pretty surprised if he doesn't play a full game next week against his old mob.

Agree on the umpiring, it was horrible, obviously inconsistent and I was watching with a tiger supporting mate and even he said, when his side has a rub of the green like that and can't win the game, serious issues down at tigerland, having said that we also gave away some absolutely stupid free kicks through trying to be aggressive. the other thing I hate is high contact when a bloke drops his knees, as far as I am concerned that should be no different to staging, they are magnifying an action to draw a free kick, how is joel selwood ducking his head any different from a bloke taking a dive, the end result is a bloke doing something to draw a soft free, if they duck their head and get hit high, too bad, unless they are legitimately head over the ball attacking it, no free should be rewarded for a bloke buckling at the knees to draw high contact

I'd say Out Jetta, Kent In: Toumpas, Grimes there may be a temptation to play Gawn or an extra ruckman to combat Sandilands/Clarke but to be totally honest I think that regardless of who we play freo will get the better of that area, I think the best bet is hoping that Dawes and Jamar can compete strongly enough against them that they can't totally kill us and try and read off their ruckman a little bit,