Yes I was probaby a bit harsh there Humpers, but I think Murph and Gibss and Big K have been great - but that is to be expected. Of the rest Bower and Grigg have been great and Russell has made slow improvement. Browne and Armfield have had good first seasons but hard to rate improvement on one season. But I can't see much or any improvement in Harts, Edwards, Benjie, Blackers, Aisake, others like Ando, Austin and Hammo have made marginal improvement.
This might be due to slow development, poor draft choices, luck with injury or a totally inexperienced development set up. I guess I expect #1 draft choices to be as good as they are. I want to get some real quality further down the draft. Also a number of Ants players seem to have gone backwards this year -Edwards; Benji; Aisake;

I guess it highlights that we still lack depth and at this stage shouldn't be trading pick 6 away for players like Kerr. Keep drafting talented youngsters.

We were two years behind Hawthorn in our development at the start of 08 and last night showed the difference 2 more years of development will do for us.

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

Apart from Gibbs, Judd and Murphy there was no Pros to take out of this game.
Leaving Hodge loose in defence with no opponent was a mystery.

Our blokes need to get a tape of some of the Hawthworn players to see how hard you have to run to be a top class side.

what would you expect from the swine who king hit ian aitken FROM BEHIND and virtually ended his career

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one you knock back is one you never have

agree re edwards and harts unfortunately, but i didn't see enough in the bullants on TV to convince me they will make it (and i have been a fan of both). not enough intensity from edwards and hartlet's option choices were poor yesterday

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one you knock back is one you never have

Pros:

Good team spirit that they wanted to get Fev to the ton.
Bower and Anderson of the younger players.
Looked like they tried something new to counter the Hawthorn gamestyle (at least I assume that's why we seemed more interested in coralling their players than tackling them).
Ratten having a go at Clarkson in his press conference after the game.

Cons:

Playing 4 tall forwards is a last quarter desperation strategy (as in the Brisbane game). It's not a good starting strategy. Most teams only play 2 tall forwards now. Some teams only play 1. We were predictably killed by Hawthorn's rebound and ball movement from defence.
The game style that was attempted clearly didn't work. One of the most unaccountable games I've seen. Given the difference in skill level between the teams, it was fairly unlikely to be successful.
Clarkson excusing himself and blaming Fev for not kicking 8 and getting the ton in his press conference today.

Pro's:

Young kids trying their guts out and for the most part doing well.

Judd. 'Nuf said. Bring out the gimp!


Con's:

Ratten's inability to coach against the opposition, especially the well-drilled ones. Very few examples of a plan B this year. Throw Waite forward and pray doesn't really count.

Still a few too many passengers, and the last chance to have a proper clean-out for a couple of years. And a lot of teams are in the same boat, so not much help there. At least we're a more attractive destination than we have been in a while.

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Gaga and The Hoff party hard in London