TGR

Freo bluffing? This has a long way to go till Wednesday.

About time we stood strong. For Lever we blinked before we sighted the other car, and paid overs. Graeme Wright and Clarko lead the industry by a country mile. We need West Coast in a bidding war in 12-24 months anyway. Roos sees Hogan as a CHB possibility to allow Weed and McDonald stay forward in the same team. Might happen in 2019....who knows.

As long as we get Bomber Thompson to provide a bit more experience to our coaching panel.

You would be saying that if he was still at Hawthorn getting a game.

Financially prudent of Liam Pickering and Lewis. After all the club and most supporters sanctioned the 3 year deal, to a guy that Clarkson knew had little left. You reap what you sew in life, and the club and it’s supporters deserve what is coming in his 3rd year. Even after the importance versus impotence debate, the fact is that he has robbed gametime from a few that are/will rightfully look elsewhere. Experience? Priceless Steak absolutely cooked? Year 1 - Well done Year 2 - Nailed to a tree in a bushfire Year 3 - Cremated

Sorry, FWIW I would have felt more comfortable as Watts playing the easy +1 role in the back half. Might not have the tough intense reputation of JL, but the difference is actually mythical in the past 3 years. Lewis is a protected species in many parts of the media. Dermott Brereton highlighted Frost and OMac as those that made almost career-ending errors in the first quarter. Roos turned around and raised Lewis’ undiscipline and handball. Dermie turns around and blames Jones for handballing to Lewis in the first place!!! This is a so-called expert who is ultra-conflicted with his old mate Jordie. The single most inaccurate assessment by a footy expert in my memory? “Absolutely” to use a tired old Dermottism.

Experience should get you a steady hand, cool head, decent decision-making, good execution, discipline and leadership. In that first quarter we got anything but. We hardly had a winner on the day, but he set the tone and was WOG for mine, when the game was there to be lost. If he plays next year, we might as well rebuild.

Matthew Lloyd recounted on 3aw, that Viney was amongst a youth touring team (I think). Players were soft and coaches (Kirk, Lloyd, O'Loughlin) gave the group a spray and got out the bump bags. Kirk held the bump bag and Viney apparently just hit it with all of his might. Kirk had his head split open, but didn't cry.

If I was Frost and Weed, I would look at least look at offers elsewhere for guaranteed game time. If it wasn't for Lever going down and Hogan's foot, both would be playing at Casey.

How many games has Weed played in succession? I recall him getting picked then dropped...then picked and dropped and so forth. One thing that Goodwin and Co have done poorly IMO is not giving guys at least 2 games to shine. Yes his marking looked great today and will probably play next week. But young guys coming in, shouldn't have the shadow of the axe over them constantly. Most guys with reputation are given a licence to have a poor game or two. Yet young kids aren't given a licence for at least one. Many a great coach has picked a kid and guaranteed him two or three to remove focus from the axe above.

This possibility is why I think Melbourne is a potential suitor for Tom Lynch. Trading Hogan secures us picks to trade, and frees up salary space. If I was Tom Lynch, Melbourne would virtually guarantee him ulitmate supply. We get the ball I50 more than any other team.

Amount of times Lewis goes for the kick of the ground when the ball is even off the ground, is quite alarming. If Melbourne are after another cooked player to bolster our 'experience' on field, we should also go for Harry Taylor. At least we would show some consistency.

Gaff is vanilla squared. He and Shuey are front-runners. Surprised we didn't go for Saad last year. We have paid 800k for Lever. That makes TMac worth 900k in my book, which would be a bargain. Do we have the luxury to keep purchasing, or do we try to keep our talent that will get offers in the next few years. Lets go for outside speed in the super-draft. Hang on, we have hand-delivered Adelaide our picks in the super-draft. Sometimes, when you pee in the bed, you have to lay in it.

Gaff is vanilla squared. He and Shuey are front-runners. Surprised we didn't go for Saad last year. We have paid 800k for Lever. That makes TMac worth 900k in my book, which would be a bargain. Do we have the luxury to keep purchasing, or do we try to keep our talent that will get offers in the next few years. Lets go for outside speed in the super-draft. Hang on, we have hand-delivered Adelaide our picks in the super-draft. Sometimes, when you pee in the bed, you have to lay in it.

If the club was hell-bent on paying superannuation 18 months ago, invest in a Boomer Harvey, who would have taken a 2 year deal, instead of treacle Lewis on a 3 year deal. Would have added to us, and might have been the difference in 2017 and 2018.

Thank god there is another who thinks Gaff and to a greater extent Shuey, are the most overrated front-running players in the comp.

Agree. At the end of the day, Lewis won’t have been the difference between us making finals and not. Listen to Roos last night, and he can’t believe we leave speed in the seconds (Garlett and Hunt (pre-injury)). Lewis wasn’t our worst. “Give it to me Harmes” and “Body language Hogan” could take claim to that last night. But the Lewis experiment has failed, delayed development, and slowed an already one-paced side. All for ‘leadership’. This recruitment personified the veil of negativity and lack of trust in our own leaders and their capacity to write their own history. Opposition coaches now are instructing players to take Lewis and Vince on, and disregard their perceived pressure. You can carry one; not two.

Paul Roos is a decent judge of character Andy has known him since their U19 days. History was no doubt ratified by Roos. As for Malthouse, the last bit of advice he gave the MFC was about Neeld ticking all the boxes.

Quote of the year. Our biggest weakness is foot speed entering our D50 from a quick play. The club either has the balls now to get games into Frost and Hunt, or go down in flames in finals with Lewis and Vince plodding.

1 year off

Gus is more tilted, like Rod Carter.

Oliver. Don't forget this club could have and should have picked you. We even had more intel on you than any other club. If I were you, I wouldn't give a sucker and even break.

When I think of Trac over McCartin, that makes one forget in some ways the fact that the MFC has passed on Nic Nat, Wines and Co. Thank god the Saints listened to their dietitian over common sense. The MFC has always defaulted to the nice guy you would want your daughter to marry. I am surprised we don't have 21 young-liberals representing us. As for Martin, there is no way in the world the MFC would have retained him during his wayward years. Just my view.

When all is said and done, Lehmann is my bet as the mastermind. Where is he? This will not only end careers, it has the potential to end a life. A few will be in a dark place for a long long time.

Can't believe the test is still going. Australia has lectured the world in playing proper cricket. Remember Murali and the no-ball saga? Darrel Hair? Hair wanted to make a name for himself. Remember Stuart Broad? Just stood his ground like a lot of Aussie cricketers (bar Gilly) has in the past. David Warner and Australia have been pushing boundaries for years. There comes a time when the bully meets a bigger bully. South Africa 2018 has rattled them.. A leopard rarely changes his spots. Just feel sorry for Bancroft who has been thrown under a bus. Darren Lemon - should be his last national coaching gig this test match. In it to his eyeballs. Murali and Broad must feel 50 feet tall today. And Darrel Hair? Is he a free man or in the slammer at the moment?