Win or lose I'm already over 2014.
I spent six months thinking we had a reasonable list that could make the top eigh with a bit of luck with injuries and then we started with such a whimper I was deflated from the very beginning.
The Melbourne loss was a kick in the guts for me as it was for many of us. The players seemed to react OK for two weeks and then last week's debacle again.
Mathematically we can make the finals I suppose but based on current form and what seems from the other side of the world to be a lack of consistency of effort makes me think we should cut our losses and see what we've got.
Parko's comment about Armfield being a C grader who's busted his gut to become a b grader is telling. he comes in this week and we know he'll give 100% and maybe kick a few goals but he's still a fringe player in a team sitting 16th on the ladder.
Cripps and the others have to have a run.
Cachia maybe. Graham, Lucas and Watson. We already know Carazzo can play but he won't be around for long. Cut Juddy and offer Gibbs $500-600 take it or leave it. Tell Yarran he has to meet certain KPI regarding his defensive game or he's gone.
At the end of the year, we have to look at our ladder position and cut deep and ruthlessly and trade into the draft in the hopw we will have a decent team following behind GC and GWS. There's nothing more for it.
The result of this game means nothing other than someof the kids will play in a winning side. We can finish the season off strongly from here and finish maybe 11-13. For what? If we don't decide to play the kids a couple at a time consistently and see what we have available this season will just be another lost year.
I think we will win and I'll get up at 0430 to watch but only because I'm so rusted on I can't bring myself to sleep in and watch the replay.
I used to care. I used to get so angry after a weak loss that I'd take my frustration out on the lawn. We used to have such a nice lawn once. Mowed to within an inch of it's life, sometimes twice after a game in the fading light.
Now I have a gravel garden and just shrug off a loss.
After almost 60 years of being an active supporter and many of those as a member, especially through the post salary cap belting we took, that's what it's come down to for me.
We shouldn't have to get used to this shit.
Carlton by a few miserable points in a low scoring, lacklustre game. Armfield to give 100% and Gibbs 80.

for those of you always going on and on about playing the kids, how many do you want to see in the team at same time? at moment we have buckley , menzel and docherty . how many more do u want?

..feels like déjà vu..

There aren't any.

Win or lose I'm already over 2014.
I spent six months thinking we had a reasonable list that could make the top eigh with a bit of luck with injuries and then we started with such a whimper I was deflated from the very beginning.
The Melbourne loss was a kick in the guts for me as it was for many of us. The players seemed to react OK for two weeks and then last week's debacle again.
Mathematically we can make the finals I suppose but based on current form and what seems from the other side of the world to be a lack of consistency of effort makes me think we should cut our losses and see what we've got.
Parko's comment about Armfield being a C grader who's busted his gut to become a b grader is telling. he comes in this week and we know he'll give 100% and maybe kick a few goals but he's still a fringe player in a team sitting 16th on the ladder.
Cripps and the others have to have a run.
Cachia maybe. Graham, Lucas and Watson. We already know Carazzo can play but he won't be around for long. Cut Juddy and offer Gibbs $500-600 take it or leave it. Tell Yarran he has to meet certain KPI regarding his defensive game or he's gone.
At the end of the year, we have to look at our ladder position and cut deep and ruthlessly and trade into the draft in the hopw we will have a decent team following behind GC and GWS. There's nothing more for it.
The result of this game means nothing other than someof the kids will play in a winning side. We can finish the season off strongly from here and finish maybe 11-13. For what? If we don't decide to play the kids a couple at a time consistently and see what we have available this season will just be another lost year.
I think we will win and I'll get up at 0430 to watch but only because I'm so rusted on I can't bring myself to sleep in and watch the replay.
I used to care. I used to get so angry after a weak loss that I'd take my frustration out on the lawn. We used to have such a nice lawn once. Mowed to within an inch of it's life, sometimes twice after a game in the fading light.
Now I have a gravel garden and just shrug off a loss.
After almost 60 years of being an active supporter and many of those as a member, especially through the post salary cap belting we took, that's what it's come down to for me.
We shouldn't have to get used to this shit.
Carlton by a few miserable points in a low scoring, lacklustre game. Armfield to give 100% and Gibbs 80.

well we hear about graham and cripps , so if they come in we have 5 kids and levi, rowe and white with very little senior footy between em. not good i wouldnt think.

How are we going not playing kids?

The fact so many people still pick a side whose just been pumped by 145 points to beat us, shows just how little respect we've got in the footy world at the moment. Pretty sad...

while you cant gift games saints will field 8 or 9 guys 21 and under on Monday night.
it was a good chance for us to give some more of our younger guys a run.

for those of you always going on and on about playing the kids, how many do you want to see in the team at same time? at moment we have buckley , menzel and docherty . how many more do u want?

... all over again.

We know the current list won't win us a Premiership. We need to play the kids, either give them experience or really assess where they are at AFL Level by year's end to whether we keep them or not.

One reason we are in this mess as we have hung on to average players for too long.

This year needs to be about assessing and/or getting experience into:

Watson
Menzel
Giles
Holman
Bootsma
McInnes
Cripps
Temay
Graham
Lucas
Buckley
Casboult
Johnson
Reynolds
Cachia
Wood

Not a great list BUT the rest we know about. This list is what needs to be assessed for us to move forward. I don't care whether we win or lose for the rest of the season (although that generally changes when the game starts) I am about building our next great side.

Also, DO NOT play the kids as subs. Achieves nothing positive and is generally not good for confidence especially in a struggling side. Carrots & Scotland are the bets for subs as they can provide some leadership and poise when our kids need it most.

Maybe even try a few different things. Buckley to defence has worked and Rowe at FB has shown some positive signs. Maybe Watson forward or Bootsma on a wing, Temay in the BP Menzel on the ball, Graham getting a full game in the middle. You just never know and what have we got to lose?