Where to from here?

[Cheer Squad]

We were travelling so well before Hall's misdemeanour. I can't help but think that might have derailed our season. We probably would have won today and last week if Hall had played, and maybe put up a better show against Geelong.

Provided he recovers from his injury, we aren't due to get Hall back until Round 12 at the SCG against St.Kilda. Can we survive against Essendon (h), Port (a), Richmond (h) and West Coast (a) until then?

[hammo]

I'm not sure what we're going to do with our forward line. Dropping a true and usually reliable goalkicker like Davis just seems more bizarre and unnecessary when you witness rubbish like that today.

[Margie]

I agree with the comment on Hall. His brainsnap has effectively ruined our forward structure and derailed a season that was off to a pretty good start.

[2005]

I'm not sure what we're going to do with our forward line. Dropping a true and usually reliable goalkicker like Davis just seems more bizarre and unnecessary when you witness rubbish like that today.

Davo couldnt even get a kick and his kicking at goal has been as bad as todays performance. It aint bizarre , just fact.

[TheGrimReaper]

We could be the Fremantle Dockers.

[Big Al]

We could be the Fremantle Dockers.

That makes me feel a whole lot better. Imagine supporting that rabble at the moment.

[Mogg0]

You guys seem to have forgotten pre 1995

[liz]

I think today showed that we are some way off the top handful of teams in terms of ball usage. There's not much wrong with the ball-winning ability, even allowing for the second quarter when we were beaten in clearances quite comprehensively. But regardless of the forward structure, the ball use all around the ground was poor.

I suspect we'll still win more games for the season than we lose and finish in the lower reaches of the bottom 8. Closing the gap, skillwise, on Geelong, the Hawks and Dogs (not to mention Adelaide) is very unlikely to happen this season but so long as they keep getting quality game time into the likes of Jack, Moore, Barlow, Bird - and hopefully more chances some time in the year to White, Smith, Laidlaw (if he gets himself in one piece) and maybe even Vez then it won't have been a wasted year.

We can console ourselves with the fact that the younger players are amongst the better ball users in the side and in time will start winning more of it too.

[NMWBloods]

I really don't think we were travelling so fantastically before, but I don't think we are so horrible now. The coaches need to do something about our forward line and our rebound. Both are hopeless for most of the game and we are far too slow and indecisive. Worse than last year, more like 2004.

On the upside, we have won 17 quarter this year, which is fourth best. We are staying competitive for most of each game, but having a few flat spots, mainly when we can't kick goals. Older and slower players combined with young and inexperienced ones can do that, combined with the above comment on forward line.

[annew]

After being in 2 Grand Finals only a couple of years ago and without a couple of our key players we are not doing too bad but we can improve and are not getting thrashed at least we are still competitive unlike the Eagles.

[barry]

Before we all start slitting our wrists, in the 2 post-hall matches we have both had more scoring shots, most stats in our favour, and yet could only manage a draw.

Thank god we are playing Essendon next because I think the absense of hall has made us loose a bit of self-belief, and a good solid win will do us wonders.

[DST]

Firstly it's probably time to give Bird a rest for a couple of weeks. Hopefully Schmidt will be ready so we can keep the balance of youth we currently have in the team.

Would love to have seen both Laidlaw and Thornton both playing now to give us some further pace but unfortunately Thornton is gone for the year and Laidlaw just does not seem able at this stage to get his body right for extended run the reserves to push for senior selection.

It'a a shame but most of our younsters who are not playing senior football at present just seem to be copping small injuries which stops their opportunity to string 5 or 6 games together to push for senior selection.

DST

[ScottH]

Before we all start slitting our wrists, in the 2 post-hall matches we have both had more scoring shots, most stats in our favour, and yet could only manage a draw.

Thank god we are playing Essendon next because I think the absense of hall has made us loose a bit of self-belief, and a good solid win will do us wonders.

And the 2 losses were against 2 of the 3 best teams this year.

[NMWBloods]

The corollary is that we still can't beat sides in the 8.

We are 0-1-3 against teams in the 8 and 3-0 against teams outside the 8. Suggests that we are in the third group of teams.

I currently divide the competition into five groups. The third group will fight out for the 5th-8th spots and one could slip into the top 4 if one of the group two teams slip back.

Top teams - Geel, Haw
Just behind - WB, Adel
Thereabouts - StK, Swans, NM, Coll, Bris, Port
Not there - Rich, Carl
Struggling - Melb, WC, Freo, Ess

[TheGrimReaper]

The corollary is that we still can't beat sides in the 8.

We are 0-1-3 against teams in the 8 and 3-0 against teams outside the 8. Suggests that we are in the third group of teams.

I currently divide the competition into five groups. The third group will fight out for the 5th-8th spots and one could slip into the top 4 if one of the group two teams slip back.

Top teams - Geel, Haw
Just behind - WB, Adel
Thereabouts - StK, Swans, NM, Coll, Bris, Port
Not there - Rich, Carl
Struggling - Melb, WC, Freo, Ess

I like seeing WCE in the last line.