We played a practice match at Leederville a few years back and was surprised at the amount of flower bagging players. .

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Just got back from that shithole
I should be locked up for paying good money to watch that crap

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

Trust me, it happens in Melbourne every week. They say that Richmond are the worst when it comes to "eating their own", but I reckon we've got them covered!

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Formerly Blues-Back2003.

Woeful games from Waite (again) and Bell. Hard to believe how badly Bell went to be honest - looked like a hack. Cachia and Curnow lack class and real speed (Curnow runs all day but at one pace).

When Ellard is our best it speaks volumes for the team. Surely Mick is foxing by playing last year's game plan in the NAB ?? I'm expecting the new look Blues to emerge round 1

Cripps looks exciting. 6'4" mid and growing ?? That's a monster

Yazz worries me. Not just the NAB but last year too. The mojo has gone.

Pros:

Lot of game time and responsibility is being given to young players.
Was particularly pleased with the game of Watson. Looking much more competitive in the body contests this year.
Buckley again showed some nice signs. Looks like he could get fitter though.
Cripps looks like he could become a player. His size provides interesting versatility.
Bell's kicking wasn't great. But at least he showed again some appetite to win the ball.
Thomas' was classy.
Ellard used the ball well.

Cons:

Interesting what a difference it makes when Warnock isn't in the side. From dominating out of the middle and the clearances, we were dominated.
Going to be a really interesting year for Kreuzer. Clearly he's going to be forward/ruck, with Warnock the main guy. I think it's right for the MC to try and make it work. But I have my doubts. Doesn't really mark the ball. Gets outbodied in aerial contests by players like Rory Sloane. Should draw more frees than he does. But simply has to apply the fierce competitive instinct we see in ground level contests to marking contests as well.
Waite hasn't looked particularly interested the last 2 weeks.
Yarran was disappointing. Defended okay. But where's the rebounding flair gone?
Can't see Rowe or Cachia playing many games. Not exactly a dynamic running skilful midfield, when you've got Cachia, Cripps, Robbo, Bell, Curnow, McLean and Ellard all in the same team.
Didn't get a great run with the umps.

Adelaide had 6 on their bench to our 1 in the last quarter. We rested the other 5. Menz came to the bench cursing saying 'I can't effing run' but he couldn't go off because everyone was rested. Tells me everything I need to know. Cue went into rack halfway through the 3rd. If Mick was fair dinkum he wouldn't have had Brock (slow as a snail) on Paddy.

God, imagine how Freo supporters reacted last week. Or Collingwood supporters after both their losses. Or North.

King is a flog. If we're in rebuild mode after 1 NAB loss, then I can't imagine what he thinks of North or Freo.

I'm starting to lose hope as well. Good to see the MC giving him game time and responsibility though.

We didn't waste a pick. We downgraded a pick a few spots. If you can't see the difference his height, running ability, decision making and skill make to our team, then maybe you're not really watching ...

The game might well be unimportant for some supporters but it is very important for some of the players who are vying for spots in the lineup.
Bell, Buckley tried because they have to earn their spots. Cripps, Menzell the same. Watson, Everitt and Ellard.

The senior players just ran around like headless chooks. Murphy had a lazy 30 apparently but they weren't damaging.

Contrast that with the attitude of the opposition, who were on a mission to play well and win. Dangerfield was kept quiet for most of the first half but came out and won the game for them by setting up the early lead. Rutten ran the length of the ground to kick a goal, something he apparently rarely does.

Read Murphy's thread from last year and see how many people think he is lazy and a shite captain. He was a better player years ago than he is now. That shouldn't be the case.
Gibbs is going to have a breakout year every year but never does and last night just swanned around the park like the prima donna he is. He should be able to take the comp by the balls but he is disinterested, doesn't want to get injured or dirty and goes home to count the money. I couldn't care less if he leaves at the end of the year. He shows nothing to the kids coming through.

It's about attitude and those on here who are happy to accept a crap attitude in February just because it's February surprise me. Would your boss be happy with you to go back to work after Christmas with the lack of output exhibited last night?

Don't worry, boss, it's only February.

Don't think so.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Oh @#$%&! me. Its not even March and I am already reminded why I prefer to avoid the main forum.

Watching from home - the period leading up to Bootsma's mark, we hadn't touched the ball for about 5 minutes - I thought the cheers might have been more to acknowledge our first clean possession in that time.

I suspect if we had managed to win a centre clearance in the last quarter, that might have got a cheer as well.

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Get comfortable being uncomfortable

Malthouses presser was actually reassuring

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

I don't care about the loss, but it was very sloppy footy from all involved.

Do we have the worst supporters in the league? Maybe but it's hard to watch our scrappy style without frustration. Hopefully when we have our best 22 on the park the skill level increases and we start hitting targets.

You could see that we weren't fully switched on and Adelaide were. Not a big deal. Have a feeling we are in a different workload phase to Adelaide.

Hopefully no injuries. Yarran?

A few small positives. Buckley improving, Cripps, Watson okay at CHB, Yarran in defence, Thomas & Scotland look fit. We were better than Adelaide in first half without Warnock, Tuohy, Walker, Judd, Carrazzo, Henderson, Lucas & Docherty.

I actually think we are looking okay for this time of year.

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#NewBlues beginning 25th August 2015

not enough hard runners and clean disposers
juddy and carrazzo should fix that

u can see why i think daisy will be our BnF winner this year

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Any news on Yaz? Looked sore in the rooms at 3/4 time. I'm assuming that Gibbs & Waite were just being rested in the last quarter? Hopefully no injuries there.

I only saw bits and pieces on TV but it looked like the cue went in the rack at 3/4 time. Before that, I saw some good signs from Thomas, Watson, Wood, Cachia, Ellard. I also saw some worrying signs of 'more of the same' in regards to our forward entries and midfield accountability.

But now is not the time to panic..........


(the time to panic was 2 years ago!)

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It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

You mean "Wayne Hughes' parting gift".

The most annoying thing for me last night was those dumb flower commentators blowing sunshine up Adelaide's arse while saying we're finished. WTF? It's a practice match with 0 to play for!!!

My concerns are with Waite. If he had half a brain........ . The bloke will forever be remembered as the star that wasn't. Play him in the backline or wide on a wing. Forget about FF or CHF.

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end of message

Waite will be Ok when he isn't the focal point. He isn't good enough to take the best defender plus the
loose guy sitting in front of him. If Hendo can get up that end of the park Waite will shine.
Midfield was shown up at the clearances last night. Some work to be done there. Warnock at the centre bounce will help in that regard.
Watson again showed some good signs. Buckley did some good things and showed enough to suggest he is improving. His execution was a little off but
that's why we play practice matches.
Ellard on form is in our best 22 and deserves a spot in round 1.
Young Cripps knows how to find the ball. I like what I see early. Hopefully he is given a year or so in the VFL to develop
as he looks a likely type.
I prefer Everett as the third tall in defence. Daisy will be a very good signing.