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Would be a massive achievement if Pickett made the team after only 36 games (assuming he plays every game this year) of football.

I hope that it is. I think we’re a massive chance to be 5 & 0 heading into Anzac Eve, that would be massive for us

My best mate is a Collingwood supporter , he once said to me that every game is a big game for them, I asked him what he meant by that, he went on to explain....We already have long standing rivalries against other big four Melbourne clubs like Richmond, Carlton and Essendon. Then every other Melbourne based club wants (lobbies the AFL) to play Collingwood as their home game, this as we know from our Queens Birthday clash brings a massive gate taking plus for perennial battlers ie us, North, Bulldogs (until late), Saints it’s generally our biggest game of the year. As one of the Richmond players said on the day of the opening game this season “I love playing in Carltons grand final every year”. Then when Port or the Eagles play Collingwood at the MCG is most likely only one of possibly two games they’ll play at the G so they almost treat it like a mini final. Then because they have such a big following Australia wide when they go to Sydney or Brisbane they either have large supporter base in that state plus a large number of fans that travel. I think (I’m sure someone will tell me if I’m wrong) one of Geelong premiership years they only lost one home and away match for the season. This season and last every team is priming themselves for the Tigers. So to answer your question “what aren’t the players getting”, it’s the need to come to play and be mentally switched on for every game. If we want the ultimate success and sustained success that’s what is required. Obviously only one team can win it so if we do that it doesn’t guarantee success but it gives us a much better chance of achieving it.

You along with a lot of other people disagree with my point, that doesn’t make it ridiculous. What ever has happened before hasn’t worked so I’m open to exploring all possible options. For me being a good team isn’t enough, I’m expecting great things from this list.

Retired? This is the same group that lost consecutive games to Freo and Sydney last season when finals were on the line. Yes we’ve had plenty of honesty sessions before but if there isn’t a noticeable shift maybe the club needs to explore different ways of getting the message across.

No not at all and that’s the problem, these conversations having been going on for years.

Thanks for that, that’s a big drop so early.

Don’t complain just get on.

Geelong is on record as having brutally honest conversations with each other, it was the catalyst for Gary Albett Jnr rise from being a good player to one of the greats. If we’re having/had similar type dialogue over the years and the players still aren’t getting it why not try something different. As for your second paragraph I think you’ve missed my point.

Exactly, could only be done once, for me not just in a season but once overall or obviously it would lose its effect. The concern for me is that it’s a reoccurring problem and the club has tried different things without results. Purely a suggestion to try something different. I’m hopeful that Choco Williams is addressing this issue, whilst Port only got the one flag, numerous times they won the minor premiership, they were a tough and skilful side.

No I didn’t listen to his press conference, I will later on today. As I said on the previous page, yes we fought back but with our possessions and entries inside fifty we couldn’t put them away due to the way we brought the ball in and numerous missed set shots. We only really kicked away in the last when we run over the top of them. When we did lower our highs and hit up players like Fritsch we hit the scoreboard. Put aside our forward fifty entries and some of our sets shots, the main concern for me was that we weren’t switched on early. The question I ask is why? Why weren’t we, as you’ve said we knew the Giants would come hard for us and they did. I believe had they not had their injuries we may have lost that game., we’ll never know. Early in the last it was back to under ten points. My suggestion was obviously shot down by the majority on here and that’s fine, I’m ok with that. But the question/s I put to you and everyone else who didn’t like my idea is, what’s the worst that could come out of the players not singing the club song after one game, instead going behind closed doors and speaking openly and honestly about why we weren’t switched and how if this doesn’t change there could well be a different result next time. Now compare that to what the positives could be if that was to happen. Someone has already suggested why does this have to be in place of the team song, why not after. Because I believe doing it then, while it’s fresh would have the greatest impact. I would also state that this should remain private, kick any non essential people out, close the doors and have a chat. When asked by the media what’s happening simply state the boy’s decided not to sing the instead they wanted to discuss key areas of the game in private. Also what other suggestions does anyone have as to why this keeps happening and how to fix it. Whatever we’ve been trying in recent years obviously hasn’t worked so why not try something different? I acknowledge we arrested momentum last night as we did against the Saints but another theme across the last three weeks has been our disposal/entries inside fifty and our inaccuracy. I did enjoy last nights win, I spent the majority of the game on the couch but as always when I’m watching from home I spend parts of the game standing. Like any win you take the points and move on, I acknowledge that the coaching staff are aware of the issue and that other areas of our game have dramatically improved but we can work on more than one part of our game at a time. I am like you and many others in that this team is a massive part of our lives during the footy season. I crave what we all do and that is sustained success, multiple premierships. And yes the players you mention are all very exciting to watch, Kozi by far the standout, for a kid who’s only played 17 games he will continue to excite us for years to come (I remember sitting level 2 Punt Rd End when Aaron Davey appeared on the scene).

I don’t know what’s being said, but if what I suggested was to be done it would send a powerful message. We have a colourful history of not coming switched on into games, have we really gotten to the bottom of this? Yes we turned the game around to a point, we still for the best part continued to bomb the ball inside fifty and continued to miss easy set shots, going into half time we were behind. We didn’t really get on top until the 2nd half of the third, then at the start of the last they kicked two quick goals bringing the lead back to under ten points before we ran over the top of them because of their depleted bench.

That’s twice now you’ve attacked the man and not the ball, that’s ok. Did you read my above coach comments regarding Wayne Bennett? What effect do you think it would have on the team if for one game we didn’t sing the song, but the players spoke openly and honestly with each about how easily tonight could of been a different result and about what it is we want to achieve. Do you think it would have a negative of positive effect? We all want one thing but when certain aspects of our game continue to remain the same what harm can come from mixing things up. We shouldn’t be afraid to try new things and to hold each other accountable.

It’s not about winning by 100 points, I would have taken a 1 point win if I saw improvement in some areas of our game that we have struggled with for years. Wayne Bennett currently coaching South’s NRL was head coach of the Brisbane Broncos for years. I think he’s won seven premierships as coach, six with the Broncos and one with St.George. When I lived in Qld I watched a little bit of league, I remember seeing him after some games interacting with the players and during his press conferences not wanting the players to get ahead of themselves. At times when the Broncos won against quality opposition he would be happy for the win but would go on to identify areas that needed to be worked on. When they had a win like we had tonight he would be scathing and at times take journalists to task who dare suggest they played well. When they lost he would highlight areas that the team did well sighting they had a lot to work with.

To do what I suggested would take real leadership and would make us a better team for it.

Sad?....more like realistic. Have you been following this team for long? After what transpired tonight the players would of been better off not singing the song and discussed what could of quite easily been a loss. We got lucky with so many injuries to the Giants, still some repetitive areas of concern for us at the moment. It’s a long season, they’ll be plenty of other opportunities to sing the song. As I said, many won’t agree.

I know many won’t agree but they shouldn’t be singing the song tonight. Stand in the circle, speak some truths and move on.

Still 10 minutes left, time for 4 more.

Waiting for someone to say that’s a handy point....

Lost for words.

Just get the win and move on.

Daniels Ward Cognilio All off injured, there are no excuses.

Game on

We are still In this, what are we made off!

2 goal turnaround because Oliver can’t kick.