manny100

10 tackles by Riley!!!!! Great effort.

I would not rush Salem in. Let him feel develop his confidence and master team requirements that Roos always talks about first. Better not to see him in and out like a yo yo. Likewise I would like to see the Toump play a decent stint in the VFL for confidence etc. Garland will probably need another week. He can play on small, tall and medium so he will be a great addition to the MFC when finally ready. Its only a matter of time before Riley gets promoted (if he keeps building his form), maybe 2 more VFL games. It was evident yesterday we do not win enough inside contested ball and we need to be cleaner around the ground. When Garland comes in Frawley can stay forward - can't wait for Hogan to debut. It will be interesting to see how Harmes develops. Considering his age he is winning a lot of ball. Thanks for your update WJ.

If you perform the role the coach gives you then you have done your job. Cheney could not get a game at then D's and gets games at the Hawks because he performs his role. Perhaps he will struggle to get a game as we improve but at the moment at least he is a hard body with a few games under his belt - so I am prepared to cut him some slack. Every team has its McKenzie types playing somewhere, yes even the Hawks.

We have a few to work there way into the firsts: Jamar Garland (when he is ready to play) Trenners Toumpass ( although I would prefer to see him play 10 or so games in succession in the VFL to get some confidence0 Hogan when he is ready to play VFL. Mitchie when fit needs to find form in the VFL. Riley to play a few more VFL games to get some match fitness. We could with some real hardness at clearances. Salem maybe a couple of games late in the season. So we can expect to see some improvement at the D's.

That was bloody funny!!!!!!!! Loved it!!!!!!

We will not know the worth of the Tyson trade until we see how Salem stacks up. In the meantime at least we know Tyson will be a very good footballer for the Dees. If Trenners wants out (I hope its not true) we will likely be screwed on any trade. We have to hope he comes in and stars to boost his value.

Pederson is likely to relieve Spencer - has done it before. Not the best option but all we have. Dawes does not have the conditioning.

If we win 3 or less then we will get a PP. 4 or more and we show some improvement in the 2nd half of the season - probably no PP. Improvement is possible with Hogan, Gawn, Garland and Jamar to come in - plus some improvement by the younger players. The Clark retirement further weakens our list which strengthens our case. We are likely to finish bottom 2 or three with bottom a possibility

In the absence of wins drafting possibilities at least provides us with a much needed distraction. Looks like bottom 1-3 for us even with Dawes, Jamar, Garland and Gawn in. Best available for me whether its a tall or mid. I think we will get a priority which most likley will be mid first round or end of second round. If Frawley goes then a pick after our first as compo. If Carlton finish in the bottom 3 watch them heave Gibbs out the door to get an early compo pick. The other clubs will not be happy if both us and Carlton get an extra pick early as compo - compromises the draft again - one reason which will push any priority pick we get closer to the end of the first round. If Frawley does go we would not recruit a free agent as we would lose our early compo pick. Last year some other clubs wrote to the AFL demanding that no priority be given last season due to us having a good list but not developing it properly, ie we already have the cattle. I do not think the AFL can ignore a poor finish again.

I would also like to know how Salem is progressing. Tyson looks good, accumulates and will get better. Kelly looks like being a star for GWS. If Salem comes up trumps we will/should be in front on that deal.

No brainer.......we need another couple of mid type hard nosed big time accumulators who hit the ball and man hard. I know its all hindsight but we fluffed couple of chances in recruiting, eg Wines and McRea - spilt milk now!!. Hopefully Viney and Salem will develop in this mould. Tyson already looks good and should further improve. Lets hope Mitchie and/or Riley can be mid stars!! I would have thought the recruiting priority process would be: 1. Talls when available 2. Inside accumulation tough mids most who can play other flank positions 3. Outside types. No point in recruiting outside types until the insides are in place. Its the insides who get the ball to the outsides. I like the way JKH despite his small size hits the ball and man!!!!

Its not the talent as its what's between the ears that counts. We do not seem to have enough players who can remain calm under pressure (hence fumbles, miskicks and handballs, hesitancy, panic etc) and run and run when others cannot go on. N Jones (ok he made a few blues last week - he is a hard nut and got a lot of the ball) generally has these characteristics and reputably so does Viney and Hogan. Clark was pretty hard at it as well. If you have enough of these types on the field they can lift and inspire others and set high standards. This ability is from within it can't be taught but can be enhanced by being in the right environment under the right training. Players with these characteristics quickly become leaders and lift team standards and expectations, ie they do not accept crap from teammates. WCE clearly (yes I was there on Sunday) have a number of these types. Its very hard when recruiting to assess this area with the kids - we seem to have duded out here - bad luck????? Probably not!! Can't wait to get a few games into Viney and Hogan. Will not hold my breath waiting for Clark to come back into the team. When Northey resurrected the team he was lucky - team shortish on talent but big time big on players with grunt. That is the difference. I suspect that is why we got Riley and Mitchie - both inexperienced and yet to prove they can play AFL but hard nuts at the lower level. I suspect we may turn a few over at seasons end trying to unearth a few (even one!!! )of this ilk. Again I can't wait to get a few games into Viney and Hogan!! Oh and for all his talents Slyvia was not of this ilk.

I think the Toump has come on in leaps and bounds this year. He runs hard to present and will only improve when we get Dawes and Hogan back.

We need a little more 'see ball get ball' at all costs ala N Jones. They just do not seem to get the real hard ball often enough and when they do they tend to cough it up to often. Viney in form will add a bit more of this. Dawes and Hogan will give confidence to those with ball in hand. When Garland, Dawes and Hogan are back I would even look at running Dunn through the midfield as a big bodied mid. I wonder whether those bad habits that Roos talked about are ingrained - if so some of the earlier posters are pretty well on the ball with their assessments!!!!! If there is no form reversal this year then we will likely get a priority pick.

I agree with positive sentiments expressed. We definitely have a better set up than previous seasons. The midfield has much more potential. Added quality, Tyson is playing well and is a future gun, Vince is a proven excellent player, Watts may well turn out to be a mid field star. Also there is a chance Mitchie and or Riley will be good. Throw in Viney who should be a gun. There is plenty to work with. Just have to get those talls fit. I still think we will finish bottom 3 or 4 with a good chance of getting another gun tall in the draft. After Saturdays game I now know why they say you cannot have enough quality talls!! I remember when the hawks were putting their list together they were getting regular floggings until the penny dropped. So hang in there.

I'm not happy about the resulr grrrr..... but at the same time I can see some good signs for the future. I think the injury to Tommy Mac and Fitzy basically cost us the game so cannot do much about that. I thought that Tyson looks like he will be a star. Vince is a way better mid than Sylvia (so we are a mile in front there) and Toump finally looks as he may well develop into a good highly skilled half forward/mid. Can't wait for Dawes and Hogan to force their way into the team - surely they will at the very least straighten us up and provide targets. Vinry to come in and Gawn. Not to mention Garland.

One thing for sure is that GWS will trade off quality kids for at least another 2 or three years - maybe more. There will be quality kids not getting a go and at the same time they will want to keep bringing in new early picks (eg Boyd and Kelly) to maintain list quality and spread the age out profile out. They could be the proverbial juggernaut!!!! They had 3 first rounders last draft including pick 1 & 2. Bringing in Shaw, Mumford etc keeps some kids out. I would not be surprised if we traded our 1st rounder for a GWS player who??? Wait and see. The player will not be established but like Tyson will have a couple of preseasons under the belt and silky skills.

This year will be very interesting. Plenty of talls and we will likely get a top 3 or 4 pick. I do not see a problem picking up a young tall at our first pick. We do not know the long term prognosis for Clark, whether Fitzy will develop into a good player. What if Frawley goes. Hogan has to resign. If you later trade talls get you get more - one reason I suspect GWS has loaded up on them. Plus this is a rare draft - loaded early with talls. GWS will be looking to trade again into another early pick. It helps balance their list age profile with quality as a bonus (from a very early pick). So we have options with our first pick. Plus Stretch as a bonus 2nd rounder as a mid/forward.

The AFL website summary says the difference was the efficiency of the Hawks forwards. Any comments from those who attended??? Did not mention inability to get the ball etc. Dunn, Vince, Cross, Howe and Spencer named as our best players.

And the Hawk's supporters/members were filthy they did not get no. 1 pick for Franklyn. Just as well they didn't!!!!!

They tweet more because they are excited. If Roughy passes wind it'd be worth a couple of paragraphs.

The reality is the hawks are fielding a strong side. We most likely would not get that close even if Clark and Dawes - and Hogan were playing. We are very much a WIP. Today just reinforces we still have a long way to go. But at least we are taking what I regard is the right path. Anyway who knows we may pick up a bit in the last half. Roos made it quite clear its about %%%%%%.

No tweet for a while I guess its no tweet is good tweet!!

After watching Tysons' video highlights clip he can really play. Its plays Vs AFL players not TAC so the deal we did looks worth it considering we landed Salem as well.

2014 draft power rankings: 1. Peter Wright (VIC - KPF/Ruck) 2. Patrick McCartin (VIC - KPF) 3. Jarrod Pickett (WA - Fwd) 4. Alec Waterman (WCE WA - Mid - F/S) 5. Jake Lever (VIC - Def) 6. Hugh Goddard (VIC - KPF) 7. Clem Smith (WA - Util) 8. Christian Petracca (VIC - Fwd) 9. Billy Stretch (Melb SA - F/S) 10. Dylan Winton (WA - Mid) 11. Liam Duggan (VIC Mid) 12. Bradley Walsh (WA Mid) 13. Ryan Lim (WA Mid/Fwd) 14. Jesse Watchman (SA - KPF) 15. Sam Durdin (SA - KPP) 16. Sam Bevan (WA KPF) 17. Lachlan Weller (QLD Mid) 18. Liam Dawson (QLD Util) 19. Matthew Hammelmann (QLD KPF) 20. Angus Brayshaw (VIC Mid) 21. Tyler Keitel (WA - KPF) 22. Jackson Nelson (VIC - Mid) 23. Tom Lamb (VIC - KPF) 24. Jack Cripps (WA KPF/Ruck) 25. Matthew Ah Siu (WA KPF) 26. Mac Bower (SA Fwd) 27. Alex Harnett (VIC - Mid) 28. Darcy Moore (Coll - F/S VIC KPF/Ruck) 29. Peter Spurling (SA Ruck) 30. Sean McLaren (VIC Ruck) 31. Daniel Capiron (VIC - Mid) 32. Jordan Cunico (VIC Fwd/Mid) 33. Joe Maishman (VIC Mid) 34. Jack Donkersley (SA Fwd) 35. Jake Johansen (SA Fwd) 36. Touk Miller (VIC Mid) 37. Jaden McGrath (VIC Mid) 38. Bohdi Walker (VIC Mid) 39. Peter Bampton (SA Mid) 40. Duom Dawam (VIC Ruck)