Agreed RE: MlG Dukes, he hasn't had a pretty start. But lets put Sunday into perspective: Essendon**** had considerable (ex)AFL talent out there, we rested our entire AFL midfield, played most of our other senior players for a half only, blooded all our draftees and played mostly rookies and transfers, and had intentionally limited rotations.

Essendon**** should have won by more and it will be a completely different story when we play them during the season.

Perhaps in years past, we would have deviated from the plan and played a stronger side to try and notch up a win - in a meaningless match in February. Now, under Bolton, we're sticking to the program with a single minded focus on the bigger picture. In the face of all the hype and innuendo about our list vs theirs, etc. it takes guts to do this as a coach (and as the administration behind him) and I'm wrapt this is where we're at.

I really really enjoyed the second half of this game when Harry and Jack got their turn. I loved Harry's argy bargy after the tackle that sparked the little melee and my heart fluttered when Jack had that shot on goal. I loved that all of the supporters made an effort to return to PP and Weiterings first game was ever so pleasing.

NAB means nothing to me as far as the sport of it and the win loss....it's just an appetizer and I saw enough to make me smile against Essendon*** and let me tell you...Essendon*** is going to have a very very long year.

To be honest I am less concerned with beating Essendon*** or Collingwood or winning games that we 'think' we should win ....this is not where we are at. My main interest this year and in the short term is to continue to bring in elite talent through good list management, I want us to continue to change this list over through good trades and inspired drafting and gradually we will have more Weiterings and Cripps and Murphies and Gibbs on our list at which time we can expect to be competitive again. We need to get this right this time, I think the foundations are in place and I am hopeful.

I agree that Sunday was not the be all and end all but you can't help but feel that it signifies exactly where we are at. We've gone from the fringes of the finals to the bottom in the blink of an eye and it's just bloody frustrating having to smile through another season of mediocrity.

Thats where i disagree with your appraisal. We have gone from fringes of finals (with no hope of a flag) to bottom of the ladder following a list rebuild and complete makeover, with hope for the future.