Roger Mellie

I didn't see Bedford in your list. Any thoughts?

The TMac injury is IMO common knowledge and don't know why it was missed. If you're less lazy than me you can trawl back through preseason training reports for the other two where they both spent a chunk of time in the rehab group. ANB's was brief but I recall Hibberd being longer and before Christmas. Neither had surgery AFAIK.

After the first quarter, I thought - we're back! The intensity was up and we looked like we meant business. 2nd quarter - yep, we can still do it. Players are up for this...lots of mistakes, stupid frees...toigs seem to be at the ready for every spill. If Vlastuin played for us we might have won - we seemed to pick him out every time. Last quarter we threw in the towel Kent Kingsley award to Ellis. Opp players I'd like to punch award - Costanza In spite of all the wrist slashing I foresee, we would have won more games than we lost at this point in the season if we played with this intensity from round 1. But yeah - we're slow. Much as I love him, Jones gave the Toigs a lot of opportunities with his turnovers.

The MFC website. And when they say 4, they might've meant 6 or 8

ANB - knee Hore - ankle surgery TMac - Ankle surgery, both ankles Hibberd - He missed a chunk but cant remember - quad or calf maybe? I think the latter two, particularly TMac have been affected. On top of a shortened preseason, I expect it would be quite telling. For Hore, he missed a bit pre-Christmas but was also learning our system / game plan (such that it is) as well as getting back to fitness.

Just on a technical note, I've crossed out those that didn't have a full preseason and or had surgery. (* ANB Minor setback IIRC)

Wing is his spot IMO

In - Stretch, Lockhart, Garlett - runners, some even with speed. I haven't been overly enamoured with Kielty but he cant be worse than TMac, or for that matter, Weideman - equally horrible and cant mark the footy to save himself at the moment. Don't really care who goes out - we stink

FMD what a come down on last year. We're not functioning as a team and the coaching staff is putting blind faith into half fit players, retirees and plodders. While other teams were loading up on speed in the draft (and last year's) we're loading the team with slow inside mids. It's all well and good to start at the contest and work your way out, but the said 'out' are vfl standard, plodders and/or retirees. We've been well and truly found out and it's time to stop trotting out the same set-up. Hibberd was just horrible for the fifth week in a row but we're not blessed with too many options. It's not fair to single him out but FFS, get him out of the team or try him somewhere else. Lewis.... good grief. What little buy-in we had is likely gone after that showing. I have absolutely no answers (with the options available) but I can see clearly that we rely heavily on last year's game plan and the unflinching belief that strength at the contest will conquer all. It's not and we cant keep hoping it will. We have no out from the contest at this time.

AFL were falling all over themselves to reward Essendon in this year's fixture for finishing 11th last year.

No James McDonald? I went to a house viewing a few years ago and he was there. He seemed to have a few rug rats. A good turnout nonetheless.

Change ya manager Sam!

The biggest problem this week is going to be the ground itself. We need fit runners for the MCG or St Kilda will have a field day. Having Preuss in the forward line makes it easier for the ball to come straight back out again so hopefully he's giving the Saints too much grief for them to capitalise on his slow defensive pressure. Stretch didn't have a huge impact on the game but I was heartened to see him sprint off to spread and present after a free kick was awarded, when other players stood there or jogged away. I'm inclined to keep him in for just that reason and hope for some incremental improvement and impact. The Wagners are similar in that they offer good run and pressure at a time when we most need it. J Wagner was the better of the two this week. If Lewis comes in Josh will go out. Spargo, while not troubling the statistician too often, uses the ball very well often resulting in goals at a time when we're struggling. I think he's got a fair way to go with his tank. Oscar was fine at least in the first quarter. Not sure when his concussion occurred but I'm happy for him to stay if it was before those appalling attempts to spoil. Hibberd isn't offering much at the moment but I doubt he'll be dropped. They'll continue to attempt to play him into form. Happy for Lockhart to come back in. Keen for Garlett to get back in if his pressure is on. I'd like Lewis back in as we need his leadership but we already know he's slow and he's probably not going to cover as much ground as we need him to, until he's match conditioned. I want him to play at least one of the two (Richmond may be the better option) Jetta if his knee is recovered, but against Essendon he was struggling to move.

Agreed. I cant for the life of me think why C Wagner couldn't play his pressure role. He has endurance, speed and his disposal is infinitely better. Not sure about his decision making, but it cant be as bad as ANB's at the moment. Make it happen!

Yes I wrote that when I thought we were playing today not tomorrow

I think I'll spew if Stretch plays inside mid at Casey tomorrow. He may not be the answer but at least he finds space and offers outside run when we desperately need it in the ones. Look for the players who play only a half or 3 quarters max for our replacements next week.

ANB will have a good game in Round 15 thereby justifying the 14 putrid games before then. So, we are stuck with him

Out - ANB, Omac, TMac, any other plodder In - Stretch, Petty, Garlett, Kielty Frost but needed for Buddy.

Lol. So the problem with Tom Mac's game is his head is in front of a camera too much and his body language is worse than Hogan's. Good one pal

Impeccable timing. I'm jealous

1. TMac doesn't love media attention 2. No player's body language is worse than Hogan's 3. The problem with Tom MacDonald is form, injury issues, football IQ and talent (or the lack thereof)

3. We don't seem to understand structure

It's like we haven't been told about the new kick in rules and are waiting for a signal from Essendon that they are all in position before we take our kick. Then, you guessed it, kick it down the line to no-one.

You think we could beat GC? Lol

[censored] this team is hard work.