We simply came up against a much better side today. As it stands right now, they’re one of the three best sides in it. They’re going well from an injury perspective too (we’re not unfortunately).

Pros:
Walsh again.
Newman’s goalkicking.
Simmo was rock solid.
I thought Harry was good today. Led hard and made contests when outnumbered to give us a chance at ground level.
If this was 10 weeks ago, we lose by 10 goals plus. We fought this one out until the end.

Cons:
A few too many passengers today. Our depth is being stretched to its absolute limit.
We blazed away about too much, which played into the hands of McGovern and Barrass.
I was disappointed with Phillips. He was beaten by Hickey (which couldn’t happen if we were going to win) and he let Darling have his way twice in ruck contests in the Eagles forward 50 resulting directly in 1.1

After beating them at the contest for a quarter and a half, the WCE start putting more numbers forward, but then of course are susceptible out back...
We get them twice out back, Gibbons is pulled off the ball first time, McGovern is paid a blocking free the second... Both time (IINM) it goes back for a WCE goal...
The umps have NFI what is happening in the game and NFI what to pay.....
Both cares were clear...
Third goal was a clear throw...
Second quarter ends up 7 to them 2 to us, should have been about 5 and 3or 4....different game...

Their ball use was cleaner, that's why we lost.... But after that second quarter disgrace, as I said, it's a different game because we have to chase it (and take risks) whereas they defend it and capitalise on our turnovers

Go Blues

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“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

I think they kicked 9 goals straight after qtr time- didn't look like missing

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

I did say middle of last week that we should not have rushed Fish back, and I stand by that.

My words were that he relies on repeat efforts to spread and close, and having just been sick his top end speed and ability to go again and again would have been compromised.

I also wonder if living with Crippa (and their two partners) might be getting to his head a bit. Needs to get back to basics... hasn't had his head right all year.

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Orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano. Fortem posce animum mortis terrore carentem, qui spatium vitae extremum inter munera ponat naturae, qui ferre queat quoscumque labores.

Goddard -yep (add Lang in there; has the skill but lacks intensity0
O'Brien - partially agree; I reckon he's made strides this year...was looking like a bust 10 weeks ago but is getting involved more. Does need some hardening up but is tracking north
Setterfield - I know everyone uses the ACL caveat. I actually will as well. I didn't think he was going to play much seniors this year. Big pre season and belief in his ability and in his body
Fisher - absolutely agree. He's my biggest concern. Has plateaued or even regressed a bit this year. Finds himself receiving handballs with opponebts too close to him. Rushes, tries to baulk and then kicks under pressure

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Wouldve thought that was instruction 101 all week...it was doing my head in all day

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Our depth was tested today
Schumacher struggled but did a few good things
Lang, Goddard, Deluca,Kennedy are average
Kennedy has done alright as a small forward but to me isn’t fast enough
When your that slow you need some tricks up your sleeve to be a consistently good AFL player

O’Brien is way too soft in close
Setterfield likewise
Both these blokes don’t get their own ball enough

Phillips isn’t up to it
Lacks the physical presence a ruck needs

The team did well today
WC were so much bigger in a physical sense
To lose by 4 goals was a good effort

Walsh is amazing
Weitering our most improved player this year
Gibbons is a smart footballer more midfield time next year
Silvagni was terrific today

Whilst I disagreed with our trade philosophy at last years draft
Newman has been a good pick up
Certainly the best of the players from other clubs in the 2018 draft

I would appoint Teague as our coach tomorrow

Kennedy was held Darling was ok. Liam Ryan. McKay was better but still not there.
Cripps needs to take the rest of the year off. How many times did we kick it to their backs!.
Forward entries were woeful. We had a purple patch. Don’t mention the #yellowflogs

Too big and strong.Tells us where we have to get to................thought they ran through the guts far too easily.We are crying out for another ball winning midfielder or two big time...........bit more run and ball winning ability between the arcs is what we need..............but credit to the Eagles particularly McGovern,Yeo,and Barass.There strength made the difference,shit those three are bloody good players (strength and controlled power )......................despit going down today i firmly believe we can knock off the Tigers.I reckon we match 'em up well.

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All my dangerous friends

I watched Simpson's as well, something I usually don't do and I thought he was respectful too.

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

amazing that we'd get within 4 goals of the reigning premier with only 14 of afl standard. Still not convinced on Setterfield

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"I had to eat"

The scoreboard board flattererd us IMO
They had a crack.
We need more runners.
Less plodders.
It stands out like dogs balls to me
Setterfield is a plodder regardless that he did his ACL

He is an outside player at the minute.
He needs to get his own ball.
So I’m not convinced particularly when he cost us pick 43 and a second rounder
this year.
And once again I will say SOS s list management strategy in the 2018 draft was perplexing
With the performance of the team in 2018 plus the performance of Dow, O’Brien and Kennedy
I wouldn’t have traded away picks for “senior talent”

I would have revised that strategy.
Ironically the guy that cost us the least(I don’t mention Fasolo because that pick up was plain stupid)
Newman has been the best of the three
Setterfield needs to work on aspects of his game but he ain’t going to win a Stawell gift
We desperately need guys that can gain meterage quickly
At least Setters keeps himself fit unlike Money bags
Good to see the club take its stance on players regardless of pay packets and reputation

Harry clunked a few, which was good. But most of them were 100 metres from goal.

WC backs had a picnic in the air.
Mitch might have been handy, fat or not.

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The problem with Socialism is, you eventually run out of other people's money.

A little harsh on O’Brien. Maybe I need to watch it again as I don’t remember him shitting himself at all yesterday?

Otherwise agree. We played a grand final tram today.

His brother’s skin folds don’t look great either

A little bemused by the Schumacher comments too. Apart from being caught by Yeo (Any talk going on?), he adjusted quite well, won a couple of contests, good spoils and great foot skills.

What bar are you setting a first game kid against the best forward line in the league?

Yep, agree. He got outmarked early doors but recovered from that. And he got run down by Yeo (if it happens again next week then maybe there is an issue) and maybe another time or so he was a little slow adjusting to the pace of the game. But he has a nice kick - without looking at stats he would have hit 90% of his targets, seemed to know where to run and his teammates didn't seem shy in kicking him the footy. I'd like to see him get a run at it for the rest of the year.

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The only way for some people to understand is for them to be on the receiving end

Left wing moralists
In self serving denial
They shit me no end

Still no MVP open.

Yep ! agree boys.............plenty have had far worse debut's.Could have dropped his bundle but toughed it out.A bit of ticker.

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All my dangerous friends

There was one in particular where he took an obvious step to the side to avoid contact. That's the only one I recall.

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Orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano. Fortem posce animum mortis terrore carentem, qui spatium vitae extremum inter munera ponat naturae, qui ferre queat quoscumque labores.