It's been a slog with key players missing in the first 8 rounds. That adds a lot more responsibility on the senior players left to carry the load, especially when very green youngsters were added to the team, making that load even greater. Anyone who thinks that doesn't effect performance and energy...

What I learnt Dow is a good addition Clark is better than most people on here think Bonner is hanging on to his spot by his fingernails Sinclair off half back is the key Wilson and Wanganeen-Milera are best two players we've drafted for years. Henry is a smart footballer Marshall is seriously tough ...

I find it hard to see Heath transitioning successfully to the AFL at this stage. At 204cm he has the height but he still lacks the physical strength required given that he's not the high leaping athletic type. He moves like an old fashion ruckman. If he came up against a talented, agile ruckman in t...

5 Sinclair
4 Wilkie
3 Wood
2 Wanganeen-Milera
1 Battle

Dumb football in the first quarter. Just so so in the second, but I thought we looked like we had more cohesion in that second half.

Dow and Clark were solid. Excellent job Windhager

Overall, a small step in the right direction

Prediction Our key forwards will struggle against the two elite key defenders in Barrass and McGovern. Most of our goals will come from small forwards and midfielders, which won't amount too many. Higgins to be our major goal kicker Our midfield will do a little bit better but will still be beaten. ...

Lyon wants to play Crouch ( see his press conference). He just wants to make sure he can comfortably run out a game.

What this year has shown is we're a better team when Crouch is playing.

The ultimate attention seeker. Deliberately throws bombs to get a reaction. It'll be someone else's turn next week.

Ignore and move on

No, but right now we need any midfield help we can get. Let's no write the guy off before he plays a game.

His highlights reel is promising. Looks like he has an ability to extract himself from tight stoppage situations. Decent evasive skills which is something that is in short supply at our club

Sinclair. Interrupted pre-season. Missed last 5 weeks of the preseason. Came in underdone. Missed game one Crouch. Two surgeries in the off season. Played sore round one. Has not played since. Should return soon Clark. His best preseason until he ripped a calf on week from round 1. Has not played AF...

In the end, it may be a blessing. We will not get better until we secure some high end midfield talent. The best way to do that is to get a pick in the top 5 in the draft and hopefully grab a free agent. Without that, we will continue to be on the back foot in games. If you can't at least break even...

I think we need to calm down. We all know our midfield is second rate at best, and this is primarily the fault of Tony Elshaug, not Ross Lyon This club has not drafted a single A grade midfielder in 15 years. Lyon is acutely aware of the impotence of our midfield. He has been dealt the additional bl...

Good post. Couldn't agree more.

Sinclair to half back, Bonner out

Crouch and Clark in to play midfield

He may not live up to initial expectations. He wouldn't be the first. However, he's still very young. He's closer in style to Brendan Goddard rather than a true inside midfielder. The troubling part is that he's not getting to where the ball is and seems to be way off the pace in reading the game. I...

Wow, Ryan Byrnes back on the wing. How does that happen?

In the past six weeks he's been terrible at AFL and VFL level

Surely it would have been better to put Henry on the wing and played Clark as a sub.

Webster Howard Wilkie
Sinclair Battle Wanganeen-Milera
Hill Crouch Henry
Owens Hayes Butler
Higgins King Membrey

Marshall Steele Dow


Wood Clark Windhager Ross

Sub Stocker

Out: Sharman (too passive), Collard (too green), Jones (too erratic), Paton (too limited), Howard (too loose)

In: Clark Higgins Membrey Ross Cordy

Pity Crouch isn't quite ready yet

It may we'll go down as the c**k up of all c**k ups. Reid is Judd, Bontompelli, and Dusty all wrapped up in the one package. Destined for greatness

Then imagine how Alistair Clarkson is feeling watching Harley Reid thrilling the crowd In Perth. He must be kicking himself and if he's not, he has a queue of Noth Melbourne officials and supporters behind him, happy to do the the job for him.

He's had his Petracca/Bontompelli moment

Has come back from a 7 week hamstring. Once Higgins and Butler are back, he'll move up the ground. I think they're still managing him to make sure he doesn't re-injure that hamstring

Yep, his approach is different this time around. He's well aware of the mediocrity of the senior talent on our list

We need a complete rebuild of the midfield. We are the only team in the league that has no A grade midfielders and no obvious developing A grade midfielders. Most teams have 3 more in that category. I think that'll be the main focus for Simon Dalrymple. In 20 years we have failed to draft a single A...

Paton had a stinker. No awareness. Tunnel vision.

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.
Close your eyes and let it go. I know I have.

For the rest of 2024, sit on the couch and have a glass of red....or even a weak cup of tea.