A couple of other observations following my prior contribution With Thomas, we would be easily beaten by certain game styles particularly the likes of Adelaide the response being we play our style (and, by extension, get beaten without learning) I had the feeling our injuries were a result of pushin...

A couple of other observations following my prior contribution With Thomas, we would be easily beaten by certain game styles particularly the likes of Adelaide the response being we play our style (and, by extension, get beaten without learning) I had the feeling our injuries were a result of pushin...

If I recall correctly, Ball missed his first year due to studies My thoughts thru his early career were that he played some very good football (one match at Geelong which an injury decimated side lost narrowly, hauled into the contest by Ball (Fisher and Ferguson were our key defenders on speculatio...

We last played them at Docklands late last season They looked all class and gave us a decent touch up We have a significantly different side this year so we will see the outcome next weekend The concern I have is that in the absence of Hannebery we are not capitalising on the excellent ruck work of ...

This is an 8 Point game for St Kilda The way we respond will be telling With Geary, in terms of being honourable in defeat last game (you can not say week any more) there was a double negative because Geary's abject ineffectiveness as a forward and a liability easily exploited saw him moved to defen...

And I left out Battle Can we turn him into a centre square mid? In this highly unusual season where we trust in science there is no repeat, my view is you will see results courtesy of key players not being 100% due to the schedule You need your best players “up” even off 4 day breaks and if they are...

What 2020 has delivered is a class defence for a number of years Carlisle is the only mature age member of our back 6 and we have the contingency of Austin and Claravino developing Roberton being included as an Emergency is a positive for the next couple of years Howard, Clark, Coffield and Long are...

We could not capitalise on the efforts of our rucks - just in the wrong spots to get first hands (and where we really missed Hannebery) This put the pressure on our defence, which responded - so Carlisle, Howard, Wilkie, Clark, Coffield, Paton and Long That said we gifted goals with poor ball handli...

Craig Devonport

MCG v Collingwood and Kenny nails him from over the fence to read the riot act, arms flailing and mouth going

Craig responded with a tough and telling tight goal and a very big night was had

There are some stories from that day!!

Clarkson tried to sneak in to get Jake to Hawthorn

Carlisle is at St Kilda and a required player

The experienced leader of our defence

Interesting that no Ross given it was a last minute decision to withdraw him last week The changes were as expected - Long is highly regarded and the Coach made reference to Kent missing a week as a precaution including “save him for next week” Hind has taken Lonie’s spot - so it is Hind’s to lose f...

We trust those losses have been a significant part of the ongoing development of this side More to the point however, which sides sitting outside the 8 would be in contention to play finals? And which sides currently in the 8 would make way? We can possibly put an end to Gold Coasts ambitions if we ...

Nothing in it Media hype Carlisle is a fierce competitor and was filthy at the 50, the mark he juggled over the boundary and one other contest where he was cranky with himself Big Jake not happy is a sight If you are on the ground you are fit and fair game Carlisle was actually scrapping to get the ...

And did I see Sinclair with 1 disposal?

I think we have got under their guard

Then Kent

Never give a chance to competition for your spot

The first to ever say that to me was Wally Grout when I was a kid - and it remains the case

The third quarter and the inability to really capitalise on the ruck dominance give Ratts something to work on - which is always giif to bring them back to earth Now for Long to return to our back 6 Hind was very useful last week, his possessions not reflective of his work but this week the spoils a...

When Kent came back on last week his knee was strapped The way games are shaping with Carlton, WB and Essendon dropping games and percentage so under pressure we need the win this week to put further distance between them and us As sides drop off the pace, such as Carlton, WB and Essendon, we need t...

I think you may find that Ratt’s analytical resource is top drawer - and it is a strength of the Coach hence the focus

Meetings upon meetings analysing and questioning from straight after the game and continuing the next day and the next et al

“But Christian said recent suspensions of Bomber Dylan Shiel and St Kilda utility Ben Long, along with the McStay ban, were a strong statement” “McStay made a clear election to bump from a front on position” On this basis you have to feel for Long and legal process, legal process being based on prec...

Should be produces its own problems

Watching on a screen does not give the full picture (excuse the pun) So I am unaware of the responsibility Ross is or has been charged with But in terms of winning the ball in a contest and in terms of usage, where he tends to have to stand still to think, then under pressure with the referred 50% d...

They were not the only ones

Look at Geelong with Ottens (whose father played at Sturt) - just for starters

You build Premiership sides from the back in my experience We are now playing the back 6 I have been promoting - albeit Patton has come from the clouds to join Coffield, Clark and Long I don’t know where Roberton is at this juncture but in the normal course Wilkie keeping Roberton out is its own sta...

No

It was merely our 5th win of the season

The more important game is the one that gives us our 6th win of the season - and so on and so on until we go all the way

We are now in a position we hoped to be in courtesy of our recruiting and the continuing development of our class youth - as a finals participant in 2020, and better, because the reason you play finals is to win So are we in advance of where Ratts and his team though we would be when he challenged o...