General Thoughts

[Karlostj]

I agree with Hille. We win if he plays (or if Lovett/McPhee kick straight for that matter).

I think Winderlich was pick 11 and I guess in the end the Victorian/Essendon supporter factor won over the likes of Schammer and Faulkner. He certainly showed enough in what I saw him at U18 level to suggest he'd be a good player and at the time pace was a requirement in what was a pretty slim draft. I really don't think he did too much wrong on Sunday, he ran hard and was often unrewarded. He chased and tackled, he found a bit of the footy. He made one poor decision when he should have kicked at goal, but he wasn't alone there. More ground time, greater confidence and I reckon he'll be alright.

Bolton won't play.

Jolley must be close, but reports are that Firman will get first crack. Don't think it will be this week though.

Yeah word on Bolton was correct. He is listed as being out for two weeks due to a groin injury.
With Lloyd, we also managed to have Cole do his calf 4-6 weeks and Dempsey his ankle TBA.

The injury list isn't looking good.

Based on that:

Outs: Lloyd, Bolton
IN: Hille, Dyson/Nash.

It would be nice if we could have brought in another tall, but Lee/Johns will need to have some time at VFL assuming they are even able to play this weekend....

 

[foj1]

Thanks for the info on Bolton.

 

[blumfieldisback]

i dont understand why dyson gets dropped to the vfl, all he needs is game time and sooner rather then later he will find the form we need. IMO he is so much better then nathan lovett murry, for goodness sakes the NLM puts on what nearly 10kgs and isnt anymore physical then last year, he is a flop, a girls blouse and i guarantee would not have a future if k.sheedy left.

Ryder should be dropped too, yeah he may well be a great tap ruckman in years to come but the occasion looks to big for him at the moment, make him earn his spot, maybe then he will start to want the ball to come to him. Just doesnt look interested. Bradley in the ruck, hille forward and rotate.

slattery has taken peverills spot imo, a good negator and maybe in years to come will be like gary o'donell and will get plenty of his own ball and do damage with it.

Mark Johnson, Fletcher or even Soloman as captain.

and why did we get rid of jacobs instead of bolton, idiots!!!!

 

[Longy413]

We wouldn't have got the Bradley deal if we got rid of Bolton instead of Jacobs.

 

[DaSawx]

NLM has started '06 quite well IMO

 

[keepzitreal]

NLM has started '06 quite well IMO

I agree

 

[Pevers-Legend]

My thoughts on the season so far (haven't seen the Doggies game yet, but have it on tape) :

Monfires and Watson - the stand outs so far. Have taken a step up. Watson is finally starting to deliver what he always promised - a new Misiti. Gus has suprised me, thought being a tad too small would just make an impact without being one of the best in the team. Both he and Watson will get tagged quite heavily soon if they keeps this up. Will be a good learning curve for them.

The Johnsons and Peverill - not fit, no confidence, not doing enough. We have carried these guys and either they are not fit and need a full run in the twos, or they need to start contributing more. They are why we got belted against the Lions in the middle.

Heff and Campo - ok so far without doing enough. Have been pleased with Heffs workrate and he looks re-invigorated. Campo is going through the motions. I saw him during the pre-season and he looked so excited. What has happened to that?

Solomon - looks short of a gallop but is looking more like his old self. Why he would ever be put on Murphy is beyond me. Do we have coaches that can think? Solomon is at best - a loose checking, attacking backman. Murphy needed to be tagged.

Keps - learning to be a CHB, its not natural to him. He needs a big apprenticeship if he is to make that his spot. Why can't we recruit a big strong CHB like Egan for Geelong?

Injuries - have to say while they haven't been to all key players, they are restricting what we can do. Will Laycock ever be fit, what is happening to Cartledge? Cole and Rioli? Where are they? Johns and Lee? The list is too short to have these guys injured.

Hilles suspension did cost us the game - his presence up forward would have netted 2 goals minimum. Plus the hit on Clark stopped any chance we had of sneaking a win against Brisbane. He si too important to us now to be doing DUMB things like that.

Our bench - not getting enough out of it - the Johnsons and Dyson and Winderdud are not providing enough support to the middle and we are really starting to rely on Watson to get us going in the middle. With the inclusion of Hird this will change, but a general problem we have is not enough natural midfield players. Guys who know where to stand.