Earl Hood

TGR I agree the lack of leg speed on Sunday compared to the Saints was so obvious and I worry that our game plan, such as it was, doesn't suit our playing stocks. Too much handball and to players not in the clear. The one or two times we went coast to coast for a score was all by foot. The Saints did it time and time again and it was mostly by foot. They spread well but often this was not based on speed, if they got possession in their backline they often had two free players already wide on the opposite boundary waiting for the switch. It looked like a set play to me and we never woke up to it but worse we don't have the equivalent that I can see. If we switch play the receiver will usually find he has no one free and will kick to a contest up the line or kick in board which is a high risk, medium reward tactic for us anyway. The Saints, Blues and Dogs all developed coherent, free flowing game plans inside 6 months with their new coaches. Their ability to execute varies but you can see where they are headed. We have been at this for 3 years and still it seems players don't automatically know where to go; we don't have any set plays for kick outs, if TMac intercepts at half back and decides to switch play our guys don't immediately take off to provide the next target in the chain, they will mostly be on the other side watching. Oh can we leave someone forward at all times? There were a number of times we got a turnover in our back half but then had no where to go as no one was forward of center. The discussion last week on why Hawthorn is 18th on the contested possession differential was interesting. Scott Lucas put forward the theory that the Dorks are happy to have less people at the contest and have more loose on the outside and maintain people both back and forward no matter where the contested ball is. This configuration allows them to score easily when they do get a turnover.

Or me running into my Triad money lenders who I knew nothing about until your recent trip to Asia! But however I have been agile enough to avoid because I am in the FNQ tropics!

Adam after watching today's match at Etihad I admit I am not sure what the plan is. Plan A works at training but maybe not game day, if the opposition is serious. Plan B doesn't exist. And what worries me more is that we gave up next year's first rounder to get Clarrie and Weeds, thinking we now had enough elite young talent for now, we just need to now develop it. Well games like today are worrying because we have FA leg speed, except for Hunt, we have very few really smart footy players, just athletes who make errors. The Saints made us look second rate for much of the match, so where does that leave us with all our early draft picks? Have we improved, yes I think we have but I cannot quantify it. there is no guarantee we have until we get another 2 to 3 wins and play finals. But Don't hold your breath.

We have a plan? Not sure what it looks like myself On match day. Yes if there is zero pressure you can see one in action occassionally, like the one at training where there are witches hats and some assistant coaches with padding. The plan does look good in those conditions I admit.

We have a game plan? After quarter time I looked everywhere but couldn't find it.

Great to see Scott Thompson get chaired off after 300 games. Injury riddled at Melbourne for 39 games in 4 years and then has played 261 out of a possible 270 games since! We all knew he was a gun but couldn't get a run at it at MFC, then decided to go home for a new start and the rest is history as they say! Another miss for us.

Pies are a chance but please no, we need a real competitor like Adelaide to keep the Dorks honest, there are few other contenders, they seem to be faltering by the week.

Re point 9 do you mean Shane Zantuck? Won a couple of B&Fs I think.

I have done the only thing I can to stay sane through this Dork dominance I opened a Sportsbet account yesterday and put a heap on the Dorks to win the Cup at $4.50. First time I have bet on anything for 20 years.

Might as well engrave the cup now.

Gee the Dorks are great at inflicting damage, buddy has a corky, Jones stuffed, Hodge has already slammed was it Mills into the deck? Why can't teams give some back?

Is there a special Hawthorn holding rule?

Dennis Jones!

BB don't you live bayside? If it goes in the drain it is coming your way! Better off being processed and pre-treated by Moons prior to entering the sewer system to be fully treated at Werribee!

Can he be our back pocket Brent Guerra?

Uncle as you know I am waiting for your paperwork. You know some receipts to verify your excessive expenses in China for a start! Any receipts for expenses We incurred from your Malaysian venture would be a bonus as we never knew you were going there!!!

Yep let's ignore the federal, national umpire, Fairwork Australia; it is compromised, it is all a conspiracy. The CFMEU is a dire threat to us all! We'll all be rooned said Hanrahan!

Yes Dante maybe your point is lost on me. I was talking about the CFMEU, your reply talks about "they" controlling the state then you bring in Transurban? Are the CFMEU and Transurban working together? As to your second point I totally agree. State infrastructure planning is a shambles and is largely driven by the latest business opportunity thought up by one the State's infrastructure private sector operators, e.g. Metro Rail, Transurban. If we want to reduce the costs of public infrastructure construction we need to ban Public Private Partnerships such as that used for the Desal plant and proposed for East West. Private sector financing at 12% versus government finance available for 4% cannot compete yet Governments keep using them just to keep their balance sheets looking better and the long term costs are greater than any CFMEU wage claim. At least the wage rises given to local workers will get recycled through the State economy as opposed to millions in interest going off shore to international bankers.

I agree!

Gee I would not have picked that one.

Dante what is your point? Do you want to abide by the Fairwork umpire decision or do you have some other system you work to? But obviously you have an issue with workers getting ahead! My point is the Union at this point in time has market power and is exercising it to get pay increases for their members above the norm that the rest of us endure. But to you that is a big problem because it will increase the cost of future community works. Well let's face it we taxpayers will be playing top dollar for construction projects like the Western Distributor because they have a large private sector input for finance and construction and they take their profit.

No I am not kidding. Gee if we are talking lies and over blown, exaggerated claims on a party's policies I think you are splitting hairs. I lie for 3 years about the effects of the Carbon tax versus I lie about what the LNP might do to Medicare, based on their recent behaviour of requiring co payments, freezes to hospital grants etc. give me a break. The Private health insurance rebate brought in by Howard is designed to undermine Medicare in the long run.

Yes neither can I and I certainly would not pay a cent to read the Hun on line. But I gather the problem is the pay deal the CFMEU thugs have negotiated with Construction companies and that has been ratified by Fairwork Australia. Yes it is generous by recent standards but much less than deals done during the mining boom era up to 2007. Of course the good deal is possible because Melbourne in particular is experiencing a CBD apartment tower building boom that has been underway for the last 5 years. It is usually called supply and demand forces effecting outcomes, that is market forces at work. That is OK for companies to price gouge when there is a boom in the market place , but for workers to exercise their market power is Union thuggery? And for the record if construction costs go up that is a good thing if it discourages the construction of yet more Residential towers in the CBD because this glut of construction is going to end in tears for many private, largely overseas Asian investors and for the State economy. We went through this in the late 80's and ended in recession.

Huh? CFMEU millions? Anyway was Mediscare any different to the Carbon Tax wrecking ball, the Whyalla wipeout, tje $100 lamb roast and on and on. I think Tony set the bar at a new low for totally irrational, non factual, scare tactics. For some reason it is unacceptable if Labour comes up with their version.

Yes looking at it again it seems the sniper has been at it again but too subtle to cite him but a helping hand like that can be the difference between a soft and hard landing. I am surprised Sam didn't accidentally cork him as well on the way down. When will the football gods finally even things up?