The Lucas bashing on this site is mindless. I wonder if anyone watches the game live anymore - thank god the match committee does and doesnt make its decisions based on TC drivel.

Let me start by saying I agree that his kicking is average, his decision making is average and he is softer than we would like. And in hindsight not really worth a top 10 pick.

However, the reason he gets a game every week and will continue to get a game is that he plays a role in the team structure that no-one else does. He is the hard running outlet that the backline looks for, the link between the backs and forwards. What Simmo used to do before age started to catch up with him. And he does that role very well.

Watch a game and see the distance he covers at pace - who else has both the tank and speed? Walker, Jeffy and Armfield but they all have other roles.

So it would be better if his weaknesses weren't there, they probably wont improve much going forward either, but until we have an alternative who does what he does better, he stays in the team.

Still having trouble digesting what happened. This one hurts.

For me the turning point was Lucas missing from 10 metres in 3rd qtr. Would of buried them, they then went and kicked a goal. Major turn around.

Players are still learning what to do and are reactive at times but we lack some serious class and depth around the ball.

Curnow & Cachia did well but is it enough?

If we could somehow get Henderson up forward we would be more dangerous. Can Laidler come in and release him?

I like our defence, our forward line is getting better but IMO it's our midfield depth and class is a concern. Hopefully Carrazzo & Graham will help but it needs to be our recruiting target.

Another point is that Yarran is lazy for an AFL footballer. Not just last night but he goes missing too much and just doesnt gut run. Needs to improve that. If he can will help us dramatically.

We are improving and a lot of what we do is good but some flaws are showing.

BOG against Richmond at the G when they celebrated there 100th birthday and Judd missed. towelled up Adam Goodes a few times too.

we could bring in watto another first round carlton pick... and move henderson up the ground.

what do you think of my brilliant idea???

In hindsight the most telling stat for us last night was that only 1 goal came from a midfielder (Murphy).

Even when we were on top in the 3rd qtr I never felt comfortable knowing that eventually Essendon* would find a matchup for Waite and wondering where the goals would subsequently come from.

Walker played well
Murphy gets plenty of the ball evasive but lacks kicking skills and poor defensive skills. And should not be captain
Gibbs see above
Judd on the way out but atleast gives 100%
Simpson good done well in defense
Kreuzer Josh Fraser mark 2. Only can play as number one ruck. Tries hard but lacks any x factor
Lucas ditto Synbad's theories
Robinson tries but lacks class
Yarran so soft. yes Hendo's kick wasnt great but yarran squibed it like he has done on numerous occasions. Shit
McLean we know his deficincies but has a good footy decision. Ok
Betts So ordinary last night .should have played in the guts more
Hendo thought he was fantastic last night. Should be captain because he isnt a downhill skier
Armfield been great this year. Should have played in the middle more. Too many taggers last night
Scotland so underrated. thought he was really good again last night
Waite last nights game makes up to some degree the rubbish he has delivered. Fact is he is 30 and relies so much on his athleticism which will go sooner rather than later. Best game last night
Gartlett been good this year. Not too good last night. Suss in big games
Jamo has been brave this year. Good last night
Casboult best game last night. keep him in the team. Thought his ruckwork was great besides his marking
Tuohy want this guy in the guts because he is the best kick in the team. How ironic that the best kick in the team is an irishman. Says a lot for the rest
White did well on Crameri but wouldnt be in a top sides 22. has improved
Curnow improved out of sight as a tagger but too many taggers can spell danger as it showed last night
Cachia did really well on Watson . Shows more fight than the so called superstars

TOTALLY AGREE BUT WOULD NOT WASTE A BEER ON THAT


last nights result shouldnt suprise anyone
we simply arnt good enough
due to poor culture
recruitment
poor player development

we should do everything possible to trade the pretenders and simply clear our list.
and start rebuilding

put it simply guys
The Judd trade has been a failure
The club needs to except the failures of the past and start again.
We may still make the eight but we simply cant move forward with the same blokes failing in the same way in big games.


A few years ago I would have thrown my 6th stubby at the TV
Now I dont give a shit to some degree because I half expect us to do what we did last night
Micks seen half a year of footy from these soft cocks
that should be enough to act by the end of the year
because it would be a miracle if we win the next 2 games

NOT BAD CAUSE HE IS CRAP TO . SOONER HE PLAYS SOONER HE WILL GET DELISTED

you have no idea
Gibbs wasnt fine
he craps himself when he gets the ball consequently he turns it over too much
his kicking is shit for an AFL footballer
over rated
rather than give a response which involves some pathetic personal attack give all of us one game in Gibbs' long career where he has actually been influential in a big game. otherwise dont bother replying.

had a chance to discuss cuture with the ex north ceo from mid seveties during the week

he puts a footy clubs fortunes down to the administration of the club
good people... good results...wrong people wrong results

this cannot be down to a poor admin who accept mediocrity and dont know how to fix it can it???

sticks mate... you have to walk......

We blew another close game

Should have beaten Essendon* last night and Collingwood earlier this year. On both occasions we did not run hard enough when it really counted.

Our efforts this year have been good, however, we still have that losing mentality that we can't seem to shrug off.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves because we are still a middle of the road team. Frustrating as it is, hopefully these sort of losses lay the foundation for a serious tilt in a few years time.

Need to greatly improve our forward line efficiency as we don't get rewarded for our forward 50 entries. If only we had another Henderson. I still believe he needs to be forward in the long run as Waite won't be there for our next premiership tilt.

Eddie was awful last night. He should have been the sub. Our use of the sub this year has been ordinary.

More like made the wrong guy captain

From my usual tea sipping vantage point on level 2, this is my take...

- we lost this game when we didn't destroy them during the 2.5 or so quarters where we wet absolutely dominant. The amount of times we let Hibberd or someone else be third man in a marking contest and no Garett or Betts for the spill... We butchered our chances well before Lucas and Kreuzer missed goals. Should have been 30 points up at half time... Having said that:

- Lucas and Kreuzer in particular... Unforgivable misses. Absolutely bollocks. One puts you 39 points up. Game over. The other stops Essendons momentum. Put together with what we didn't do in the first half we should have been 8 goals up. Deplorable.

- Mistake by the choice of sub. Even if Yarran is the sub, he should have been on for Robbo if Robbo wasn't injured. Maybe Yarran for Betts. Robinson is who we needed when the heat was on.

- In the end, we lose we aren't good enough to be there. We lost.

Season isn't dead by any margin and we are due against Hawthorn and have the ability to beat Collingwood.



Now I know how Richmond felt last year when Brock sailed through the winner.