Earl Hood

Just watching the Hawks v Swans, late third quarter in the goal square Hill takes them on is tackled and ball in his hands hits the ground but he is able to hand off to Roughie for a goal. Blatant mistake results in goal yet a minute earlier everyone is in a tiss if a kick for goal was touched or not and bemoaning the lack of goal camera technology.

DC good analysis of the Cardinals coaching squad but who is on second? It might be il Pappa!

Yes rjay but it was all legit surely as the Chemist would have known if certain substances were being taken by his players. Apparently he had suspicions about Cousins and Kerr and Flatline but that was all. Whoosher always played to win so it was odd that the WC could bottom out only two years or so after a premiership but that was just bad luck for them.

The Cardinals?

I think he claims to be infallible, BB and by the way he apparently does a mean exorcism, so watch out!

DC what about the Pope?

Another form of tanking? Anyway I can't get to training to check I am enjoying the sun in 1770 at the moment.

Where is Butcher at? Haven't of him all season. Injured again?

Had a good look and I say he is gone but oh hold on it is Hawthorn and it has gone to the tribunal, get set for a farcical outcome!

Exactly! Why the current obsession with goal decisions? Close games won by a goal or less have been decided by 40 or so field umpiring decisions and probably 50 or so non decisions,not given in the previous 120'minutes, why the obsession when a goal umpire may give a questionable call on a ball that may have hit the post or not. There are so many variables in the field umpiring over 120 minutes of footy that can determine an outcome that I believe it is ridiculous to look at spending a couple of million to do the goal technology properly.

The reoccurring theme seems to be that MFC players are being asked to play a variety of roles often outside their preferred role. It doesn't seem to be helping the side but is there some longer term strategy at play because I am sure PR is dictating these moves and a reason R Welsh is peeved? I trust in Roos but it is high risk as players need to build confidence, best done playing to your strengths and then trying to work on weaknesses. We may as well give Blease, Tappy and co a go at the next level to see for sure if they have anything to offer before we have to cut. I still hold some hopes for Blease as he actually has some X factor (and a lot of faults) as compared to our often "vanilla" list of triers in the firsts Mitchie and JKH can take this treatment this year as it is early days for those two.

Keep a close eye on West Coke as well. They are masters at the art.

Yes tanking is when Brock McLean blows the whistle, not when an assistant coach like Libba calls it on Carlton or their former way word full forward, the Fev writes about it in his book. But then we were not done for tanking, just that we were thinking about it or something. At the end of the day Bailey apparently didn't pick some players on game day that he should have. Of course all the top clubs are able to do that with impunity but not us. Best you talk to Caroline Wilson.

Reporting in from Dubbo. It is fricking freezing as we head to Carnavon Gorge and some camping. Had a good coffee in West Wyalong can recommend Thom, Dick and Harry's if you want to drop in there. It is a long drive though.

457? I get your point but DL you see the 457's are lifters not leaners so they are not on the radar.

Robbie I agree. My thoughts are that a number 3 or 4 or any pick under top 10 should not be needing too much time. If you have picked right, the body is fit, the mind wants success, the ambition is there, as is the leadership potential and agression and the talent is there at under 18 level. I am tired of these discussions, why are we always having them about our top 10 or 20 picks? Other clubs are able to rejoice in their new top end talent but never us. For us it is either they don't have it or are one game from injury

I say we go hard for James Rodriguez, pronounced yames. He is only 20, has poise, skill and can kick a goal from any position. It's a no brainier in my mind except I am not sure our salary cap could accommodate him?

You are making assumptions here. We have been one or two drafts from redemption for the last 8 years?

SEN commentators gave Frawley the 3 votes? I didn't see the game and only listened to the last half but all agreed Chip was the most influential player.

KC your review highlights the lack of depth in the talls department up forward anyway. If Chip goes at end of the year and we bring more midfielders we could be in trouble down the track. Reading Dawes in the Age article the other week he didn't instill confidence that his body will see out another 2 years. We will need to draft in another ruck forward very late in the draft at the very least.

I think no surely you have the right to protect yourself from an on coming charge but then again we have the MRP.

Yes good question that!

Didn't buy into the Neeld philosophy of football but then he was a very smart dude as I remember.

The lions get up by 5 points and Rotcliff' has said something to Harvey after the siren that has Boomer going ape Shyte! I reckon Stef Martin put in good one as well. Played like I thought he should have for us and did at times but would then get injured at the wrong time. Good luck to him he has been dogged by injury up there as well.

Should not be an issue of pressure if we did some more homework for our early picks and if we had had any idea of the type of player we needed and that would succeed. We seemed to just have a scatter gun approach to first round selections. Of 11 first round picks since we bottomed out in 2007, I think 3 are playing tomorrow, Watts, Grimes and Salem. The rest are either injured, stuck in the magoos or retired. Clark was a tragedy for one reason, Gysbert, Cook, Morton for other reasons and then their was He who shall not be named. A poor return so far but maybe we can turn the corner and get Hogan fit, a revitalised Trengove and Toumpas next year.