Older demon

The AFL has now declared that players must pull out of a contest rather than risk contact that may hurt someone. Now officially the Australian Basketball League and you are encouraged to shirk a contest. This strikes at the very heart of our game. RIP Aussie rules

I think Georgiou's close proximity to Lynch forces him into Viney and leave son room for escape or to protect himself. It is a different scenario to every other jump bump hit head so far. Maybe going direct to tribunal is in Viney's favour as the Adrian Anderson points system would severely prejudice Viney with the points allocation

David's version of the club theme song also on U-tube is IMO the best version I have heard. He performed it pre game a few years ago and on Marngrook. Well worth the look

The third player was Brian (the Whale) Roberts who was a great servant of the Swans.

Rather than ins and outs I think another reset of positions is needed. It is generally agreed that neither Tom McDonald or Dean Terlich should deliver the ball out of the back line. Find a better flanker who can run and deliver the ball out of the back line. The Swans did it beautifully thru Shaw and Malceski. Move Terlich to midfield as opposition seem content to let ball go to him and let him turn it over, he is also a bit loose minding the small forwards. Next find mids who kick goals. Swans showed us the way when it is a rolling maul, and key forwards are blanketed. They have mids who move forward and kick goals. We don't have goal kicking mids and the emphasis needs to be on this. I would avoid the temptation for another tall and go with run and speed.

For a little perspective here is an excerpt from an article about Nick Riewoldt who was drafted in 2000. "Riewoldt injured his knee in the 2001 pre-season and after playing two VFL games he made his AFL debut in Round 15 against the Adelaide Crows. St Kilda lost by 97 points at Colonial Stadium in what turned out to be Malcolm Blight’s final game as coach. After player four consecutive AFL matches Riewoldt missed Round 19 and 20 with a shoulder injury, he played six of St Kilda’s last eight matches predominantly at half forward but was also given stints on the wing." In 2002 Nick won the Rising Star but his breakout year wasn't until 2004 when he took an AFL record 256 marks. He has been constantly linked with a return home to his native state Qld but that has never eventuated and now he is almost their longest serving captain and likened to the greats Baldock and Stewart. Give Jesse a chance and let the club look after him till he is right to play, I am sure the saints probably wondered about their investment in St Nick at a similar stage of his career.

The question was asked re Tyson not getting a game at GWS. He injured his PCL pre 2013 season and only returned for the last 2 games. Was always going to be a gun and brilliant to pick him and Salem up for pick 2. JKH demanded to be picked with pre season form and pleasantly surprised that he has come on so quickly. Georgiou has surprised me as well. Came into footy late played SANFL and is holding down a key defensive post on much bigger apponents. His cover for Garland while injured cannot be understated. Dawes, in 2 games he has shown form not seen in the last 3 seasons. I didn't think he was capable of contributing as much as he has shown and thought he may be past his best hope but he is a leader and I hope he can stay on the park. Cross, the tackling machine. My Dog's supporter friends told me he was past it and cannot kick. Well he has been a fantastic acquisition, a leader and inside ball getter and exceeded what I had hoped for

Salem BOG at Casey with 37 touches will he force them to play him. I thought we lacked pace compared to the Suns and were a bit short in the back line. Geez they have some guns thanks Mr Demtriou

As they reach the twilight of their careers we should reflect on the 3 guys who have spoilt it for everyone since their super draft of 2001. Hodge, Ball & Judd set an expectation that has not been matched since and that is that a top ten draft pick guarantees a champion. It just doesn't happen anymore. Of that draft top 20 only Hale (7) Bartel (8) Dal Santo (13) and Kelly (17) are still running around and have made a name for themselves, didn't Geelong do well out of it. Subsequent drafts maybe produce one of this calibre in the top 10 and it is just that 2001 has created a false expectation. Oh and Dane Swan went at pick 59

Kent - Hit Ellard hard ! Kent's attack on the ball is ferocious and the way he collected Ellard wow I felt it in the members

Yes there will be a tent at gate 3 for the Carlton game

Strauss playing. No Gawn or Garland in any Casey team

The HUN starts writing about priority picks I wish they would curl up and disappear. Robbo go away it is rubbish journalism. I want to see the club compete and win some games and have a better 2nd half of the season and take some momentum into next year. This is the same press that mercilessly accused us of tanking have they now decided that we haven't nada good list for a while and maybe we weren't tanking as badly as they thought.

Never thought I would say this but "Thank GOD for Carlton" they will cop all the press this week which may mean we face a fired up lot next week. But for now there is minimal press on us. Yesterday will be considered a slog in tough conditions where 1 team with a dominant ruckman broke away in the last quarter to win. Carlton on the other hand were diabolical and Mick will cop lots of heat this week. Alos consider that unlike last year when I doubt there were any games we thought that we were in a winnable position in we now have 2 out of the first 3 where we were in a winnable position and that has contributed to some of our negativity. The team has improved, just not enough yet to register a win.

Back on topic, todays game was lost in the middle. -25 clearances and 60 hit outs to Mummy. The last goal they got was Mumford palming with his left hand over the back to the rover. We need a real ruck man and with all due respect to Spencer he isn't going to make it. I watched Carlisle compete tonight as Essendon's ruck man against a much bigger opponent. He was an asset, taking marks, and getting kicks around the ground and making a contest so the other ruck man didn't get his hands on the ball. Spencer has no idea of how to compete at this level. When he gets hit outs they are often to the opposition and so far this year the saints ruck monstered us, West Coast obliterated us and Mummy was 3 short of the record. It all begins in the middle so start planning now to poach a ruck man from somewhere.

You forgot Spencer - waste of space

Did you see the spray Roos gave Terlich at 3/4 time? I reckon every single disposal he made went to the opposition. I know he looks balanced and poised but he is the turn over king and has no awareness. Surely there is a better back flanker than him in the club. Murdered in the ruck again, Sydney should be flogged for giving Mummy away. The clearance count and tap downs highlighted just how DESPERATE we are for a ruck man. Sorry Spencer you just aren't good enough and sometimes you need to do more than just be there to contest the stoppage, you need to hit it to our advantage. Could not fault the effort and noted we took a long time to adapt to the conditions and continued to over handle the ball. I will give credit where credit is due and Pederson proved beyond shadow of doubt that he will never be a forward. He is at best a backman.

I checked the Casey team and while all the emergencies have been named in their line up there is NO Gawn or Garland that I could see. The development side i.e. Casey ends are not playing this week. So what has happened to Col and Max?? Notable that Riley is playing, must be off the LTI

Roos denied baking the players on AFL 360 tonight. Stated post match with players went about 4 minutes and he wasn't angry. Even better at the review today he handed over to the players to analyse. Roos and Bomber discussing post match and moving forward possibly some of the best T.V. I have seen for a while. I hope this is the building of that culture we so admire at other clubs. It starts with Jones and the leadership group and so fresh faces next week

Roo's will manage the players but I suspect he will put the responsibility for what the team thinks is acceptable back on the players and the leadership group. Our team leaders need to make it clear what they think is acceptable and what isn't. I like it that Dunne acknowledged how upset the supporters are and Jones has said tonight he wasn't happy with the effort. Roos as stated will sort out what part having no forward line had on yesterdays result and what part was due to players who just lack, skill, desire and are happy to make the same errors week in week out. I want the Team Leaders to make a statement this week on the field and show what they are made off this is where the club culture starts.

A quote from the captain on 10 News!! Nathan Jones stated that he didn't think that everyone was trying. No one can question his endeavour and in an era of spin and lets not say what we are l thinking, I am surprised but pleased to hear the captain state what many of us feel. So who wasn't trying yesterday? I thought Jeremy Howe's body language was disappointing and am not sure Fitzy was on the same wavelength as the rest and maybe still feeling the effects of the previous week.

Note yesterday Wayne Carey when giving best players gave Cross 2 votes but awarded the worst player on the ground to the whole team. Re ins next game I understand MFC is very cautious with its players but Gilbert returned against Melbourne after a 6 week layoff for foot surgery for a broken bone and after no prep played well and buttered up again this week against GWS. Are we being a bit precious and maybe Garlo should be bought in.

Post match thoughts as I watched the replay at the gym this morning. It all starts in the midfield and we got smashed with the hitouts to advantage. Pencil needs to do something else around the ground to be of value if he isn't getting tap outs and Fitz had little or no impact at all, I hope he wasn't still foggy from last week. His stats of no kicks no marks means compared to Cox, Naitanui and the third tall we were 1 man down. The ability to get the ball maintain possession is something I didn't see last year but until we get some forward targets we will continue to turn the ball over because our run and spread and ability to hit targets isn't up to scratch. I was horrified at the number of dropped chest marks and broken tackles which apart from the obvious ones of Fitz and Jack I hadn't noticed. I will be interested to see who is the first to go back to Casey. maybe Michie, Trengove and Matt Jones as all fumbled, missed targets by hand and foot and Of for a Ruckman who contributes around the ground

If you want to see niggle as it is called look at the treatment dished out to Dangerfield against the Cats. I bet he was stiff and sore the next day. Buffeted, pushed and crashed into at every opportunity. There were accusations years ago of a particular footballer who had a reputation for keeping his knees up and corking opponents (cannot remember his name). I just put Saturday down a very aggressive approach by the Saints.

I respect the club giving Mitch a time out and it is none of our business what is going on in his private life, BUT I am a little upset that Mitch is actively posting just how good he feels with his photography right now. He posts pretty good black & white photos almost daily, many of which have his beloved as the subject. Can he really be in that dark a place? Maybe he does want out of footy so he can concentrate on his true passion and footy is gone. Maybe he should lighten up or lessen the Facebook posts ???????