manny100

We have a team that is physically tough at it - no doubt. No short steps at the contest. At least we can be happy with that. Emotional timidness is the inability to stick with the game plan under all manner of pressure and stress. It was evident for large periods of time against Collingwood. Late in the game against the Lions we had them on toast and should have put then away by 40/50 points. Its responsible for those dammed costly momentum swings and failure to put the opposition to the sword when on top. How many times did we hear Roos say the consistently top teams performance does not vary much. They just keep doing the same things every minute of the game. The good news is emotional strength mostly comes with age and games under the belt and an inbuilt competitive spirit - coaches need to nurture it, recruiters need to find kids who are strong in that area. It also develops quicker in young players when they have leaders who are mentally very strong and keep it together under all manner of duress. That is why we recruited Lewis. There are plenty of players just as good. But he can hold it together 'up top' better than most. Can't underestimate how much we miss Viney in that area when he is out or not at his best. More good news is that it is contagious if the teams leaders display it over and over and over again. If the teams leaders cannot do this???. The hardest skill in football to learn is total 100% adherence to the game plan under all sorts of adversity. Even harder than that is the Coaching teams task of getting 22 players doing it at the same time. As I said the good news is that it will come in time - hopefully not to far away.

I think Tyson is underrated as a player.

Keilty must have played very well and showed some promise. Got a mention in Goodies after game presser. Very unusual to mention players untried at the AFL level. So looks like he has a 'sniff at it' if he goes hell for leather over the pre season and of course the remaining VFL games this year.

Yes I think the tigers are one of them. Wonder who the others are. Thanks for the thread QD. Very interesting summary of Brendan Mc key points. Cheers,

Thanks rusty nails, seems like he has what it takes, hope he goes ok. I will be at the game tomorrow and hope he goes ok. No walking on water required. Just ok will do.

Not having seen Casey for some time what are Tim's strengths. Can he mark overhead in the pack or on the lead? Can he play KFP at 192cm. Has he got any pace at all? Is he hard at the ball. Have not yet seen a description of his abilities.

The 3rd tall will need to assist in the ruck when Gawn is resting. So its likely Pedo who lacks consistency. So he will likely spend some time at Casey as usual. Watts did provide some relief last year. Maybe Keilty will get to show what he can do in the pre season.

The dogs are a hard at it contested ball and spread system based team and it is working at both AFL and VFL level. No coincidence that Macca was at the Cats and the Bullies while they were developing. We have the hard at it contested ball winners and he (and other coaches) are teaching the insiders to spread, run and give off. Most insiders come out of TAC cup with little spread skills. We are likely at least a couple of seasons behind the dogs.

The AFL has a potential serious O H & S problem looming. With the bottom teams loaded with young 18, 19 year olds and injuries playing kids week in/week sometimes when they are not ready physically or mentally for the regular rigors sooner or later it may well come back to bite the AFL on the bottom. We were regularly resting tired players this season but we had the luxury of a reasonable year with injuries - the Lions, GC and Freo were crushed with injuries. The AFL has an obligation to ensure the kids are not pushed beyond their limits and may have to allow bottom clubs (who should have salary CAP room) an extra couple or more of spots on their lists to be filled by older players. Alternatively shorten the time games are played for, reduce the arena size and number of players etc, etc. So perhaps a few picks of players of players 21 or older before the National draft for the bottom teams already loaded with kids would be a better option. Maybe lucky to get a VB, Saad, Barlow or Adams etc.

For the sake of Queensland football the AFL should pull one out of left field - give the Lions a PP before the commencement of the pre season. This will prevent shad dealings to get O'Meara through to the Dons via the pre season draft or force the GC to take an inferior value pick. At the same time the Lions may be able to pick up an ok player.

Cam McCarthy will take a little bit off their CAP. Guess it means Freo will get him for a song. But in general other clubs will be feasting on GWS leftovers. Tomlinson will be highly sought after. Picking up 40 possessions in the 2's as a mid and he is a big body.

I think you have to delist/trade 5 players out and use a minimum 3 picks in the National draft. A club can redraft or rookie a delisted player. Dawes is reputedly on $500k a year. If he stays it will be reduced a fair bit. If he can get fit and injury free there would be some other clubs interested - so he will have some currency. Pederson will likely stay on a slightly reduced contract as well. Cannot see both staying as we have Frost and a couple of developing KFP's.

It was obvious in the first quarter we were very sloppy with the ball even though we were in front. I was worried at quarter time and completely over it by the end of the game. Just no fight in the team.

In an unusual step the AFL drug testers are testing the entire team. Evidently they are looking for balls. The coaching panel is confident there will be an all clear and no balls will be detected.

Do members just present/scan their card at the turnstyle to go through or do we have to line up at the ticket office show our card and get a paper ticket and then go to the turnstyle?????

Hunt deserves another game next week but Vince has been used through the midfield and half back so it is going to be a tough call.

Brayshaw passed the concussion test but he had a serious concussion pre season and his fitness suffered. He may miss/be managed to play at Casey where its less intense and he can build fitness and form. He was ok today.

Yes, but they already have quality tall forwards, would struggle to fit him in the CAP and would need to trade good players away to get picks to trade for Hogan. Cannot see WCE interested unless they are prepared to give up Kennedy which will not happen.

Hoges is contracted until end of season 2017. Would want Neale plus a top 5 pick plus a first rounder the next year - so good is Hoges. Freo is ageing and could be on the decline. Why would he leave a club on the rise if his pay is ok. Plus Freo have to fit McCarthy and Hooker if they go there in the CAP. Cannot see it happening.

We lost so it was crap. The positives were we showed a little heart, we matched North whose hard at it big bodied mids used to scare the crap out of ours - no longer, there are several players to fight there way into the team over the next week - 2 months - Trengove, Petracca (can take in turns with Hoges for the decoy role - only half joking), O Mac, Garlett, Dawes. Pederson is stuck in the revolving door with Frost and look to be joined by Dawes soon. ANB will surely eventually get back in if he keeps his form up.

The article was spot on. But it only takes a couple of 'special' players to change it. Players who demand nothing but 100% + from the group and peers gravitate to them. When Hodge, Lewis and Mitchel retire the Hawks will lose a lot more than talent and its hard to get those sorts of players, especially by trade as you just do no let them go!!! Who are our potential Hodges/Mitchell/Lewis/Selwood etc coming through???? Maybe Hogan, Petracca, Brayshaw, Oliver?????? Of course it also depends on getting and keeping off field top notch.

Hogan has a big tank and some times gets a run in the midfield. He is clearly capable of playing a high half forward role if he is required to. Watts has been used as the quicker leading 3rd tall this season so far. We have some speed in Garlett, Kent, Lumamba and Kennedy is pretty fast. Also coming through the ranks are Hunt and Stretch who are both fairly quick. When we are playing well we move the ball quickly in any case. So I think Lethal probably did not do his home work before making those comments.

I guess he will be told not to put any weight on his knee until the scan results are in and they know the extent of the injury. It may not be as bad as we may think.

If we can keep the contested ball win rate up then Watts should be very dangerous up forward as a tall leading mobile forward. Cheers,M

Roos will get a great chance to look at the players in action without the distraction of coaching. Giving Goodey the job during the NAB should prove great for the team, Roos and Goodey. Cheers,M