Changes for Rnd 4 V Adelaide.

[Plugger46]

To be fair to the press, I think most of us were unsure on how we'd go this year. I didn't see too many on here declaring us a top 4 team during the pre-season. Most were off the bandwagon after a few meaningless practice matches.

[stevoswan]

To be fair to the press, I think most of us were unsure on how we'd go this year. I didn't see too many on here declaring us a top 4 team during the pre-season. Most were off the bandwagon after a few meaningless practice matches.

I always had us making the finals, but it's still nice to 'shove it' up the doubters/haters south of the border!!

[liz]

And there's still a long way to go. We've not yet beaten anyone highly likely to make the finals. GWS are a chance but they'll be battling for the last spot, I suspect. The Pies were media darlings at the start of the season, based on pre-season form, but would take a major form reversal to be a contender now. They do have injuries to important players and might improve if they get some back. But Swan and Elliott are longish term outs, so Sidebottom and Varcoe are really the only two missing players who might help them pick up their form in the near future.

We'll have a much better idea of where we sit in a fortnight's time, with two tough games coming up. We need to win at least one to show we are credible top 4 contenders.

[Ludwig]

To be fair to the press, I think most of us were unsure on how we'd go this year. I didn't see too many on here declaring us a top 4 team during the pre-season. Most were off the bandwagon after a few meaningless practice matches.

There was a lot of uncertainty covering many areas coming into this season. I wasn't expecting much and saw this as a development year. But Buddy, KJ and Ted seem back to their usual form and most of the other regulars are playing around their best footy. Parker has taken his game to a new level. So has Tom Mitchell.

But the biggest surprise has been just how well all the younger players have done. Who would have thought Papley would be a star in the senior side? There was some shock at Dan Robinson's inclusion in the side after an ordinary NAB Challenge, but he's been playing great, shows plenty of skill and quick thinking. And when you see the progress of player like Jake Lloyd, we shouldn't be surprised if Robbo finds a regular place in the seniors as well. Hard to see how they all fit in, but it's a good problem to have.

Credit should be given to those working behind the scenes drafting and developing these young players. Clubs like Collingwood get raves about all the stars they've recruited and the Swans get talked about all the stars they've lost, but the proof takes place on the footy field.

The Western Bulldogs rapid rise to be among the best teams breaks the conventional wisdom about the making of a good team. You never know where a player will show up during the progress of play. Positions don't seem to mean all that much. They repair their structure on the go. They also have a lot of little guys running around, but they all go in hard. Every player attacks the ball like a Luke Parker. I'm sure this hasn't been lost on Longmire.

If our Fab Five midfield stays on top we should get the win in Adelaide. We seem to play well against them. I think they have a very good side, even without Dangerfield. Their forward line is particularly dangerous and you don't want the ball getting down there too often. Eddie Betts has a poor record against the Swans. I know who we can thank for that. We also should match up well against Walker, Jenkins and Lynch, but all are in good touch and will be difficult assignments. Team defence will be a key. I think we will be looking to get Macca into the defensive mix if he's ready to go.

[Doctor J.]

There's a whole thread on the Crows BF page dedicated to how they're going to boo Tippett and Dangerfield. They can't wait!

If Tippett has a game like he did last year against them at the SCG, I'm going to enjoy the constant din of boos at a Sydney game for once.

[barry]

We've only won two home games (which ww should win anyway) and one away against carlton.
Even adelaide is not a real test yet. Weve had a soft draw.

[Ludwig]

We've only won two home games (which ww should win anyway) and one away against carlton.
Even adelaide is not a real test yet. Weve had a soft draw.

We've indeed had a soft draw so far and the next 2 games should give us a true test of where we are. GWS are a good side, but were missing Cameron and didn't provide a real big forward challenge. We won't have that luxury with our next 2 opponents. It's less about who we've beaten than how we've played. The quality of our football has been quite good this year and there's a discernible improvement in our skill level compared to last year.

[Doctor]

No we wouldn't - well some of us wouldn't. We don't boo Malceski and I don't think we will boo Jetta (certainly I hope not).

No, but we booed Anthony Rocca and the Tippett case is probably more like that from their perspective.

[wolftone57]

Rose deserves a game and Towers was good in the ressies. Will Macca be ready this week? I'm not sure I want to drop anyone though.....maybe Jones.

Hate to say it but George Hewett did nothing last week. Time to give Georgie boy a rest. jones was also very undisciplined. Needs a lesson.

Macca for Jones. Rose for Hewett.

[Triple B]

I'm looking forward to showing my support for Tippo on Sat night, although I purchased tickets online so will likely be sitting among a murder of crows which will make it interesting.

That said, I'd say Adelaide fans have a fair case to be bitter so unless it gets particularly personal and over the top, good luck to them I say...

[Meg]

I'm looking forward to showing my support for Tippo on Sat night, although I purchased tickets online so will likely be sitting among a murder of crows which will make it interesting.

That said, I'd say Adelaide fans have a fair case to be bitter so unless it gets particularly personal and over the top, good luck to them I say...

I too bought tickets online and had to buy as three singles for my little group - so while not far apart we are not sitting together. So each of us will be in a "murder of crows" (great description). So I have yet another reason to hope we do well - those Crows fans will be unbearable if they win.

As I've said above, I don't agree that there is a "fair" case for the Crows fans to be bitter about Tippett's departure. Kurt played for them for six years (the first year in the twos I think) - the same as Jetta played for us. So it's not as if Tippett left as soon as his draft period was complete. It's pretty clear he was not happy living in Adelaide, which I can understand for a young man of his age, who loves surfing and who didn't grow up there.

But I've just read an article from the Adelaide Advertiser saying the fans are lining up to boo Tippett Saturday night. As the best remark from the comments section said "Crows would boo there (sic) own mothers!"

[Crusty]

We've indeed had a soft draw so far and the next 2 games should give us a true test of where we are. GWS are a good side, but were missing Cameron and didn't provide a real big forward challenge. We won't have that luxury with our next 2 opponents. It's less about who we've beaten than how we've played. The quality of our football has been quite good this year and there's a discernible improvement in our skill level compared to last year.

I agree. I tipped us at 6-8. Collingwood was tipped by some to be a top 4 side, Buckley's now got his team etc.etc. When we beat, I mean, smashed them, I was very pleasantly surprised. But results have since shown that Collingwood has, officially, a sh@@ team. (I really enjoyed writing that) Therefore that win has to have some perspective. We thumped, and should have thumped, Carlton. GWS is definitely on the improve. We have not been tested, but we can only beat the teams before us.

I see the Dogs (sad about Bob Murphy) and Hawks as the pinnacle - they have both played electrifying footy. Dunno about West Coast. I really don't know how we stack up to them, but our footy this year, to me, is light years ahead of our footy last year.

Hard to tell with Adelaide. They had the season from hell, but despite that, made the finals. Lost a gun. Lost to Norf, thumped Port, but Port, too, are sh@@. Beat Tigers, who also are ordinary.
We are undefeated at Adelaide Oval - we should win.
A long winded introduction to:
Hewitt - rested.
Macca in, on the half back line. (If fit).
Jones on the ball. I liked his work in the mids last few games.
If Macca isn't fit, Towers in at half forward, Benny rotating through the mids.

[barry]

The loss of Swan has hurt the pies badly. And Clokes form is horrible. They rely on these older style players more than any other club.

I think WC will improve, and I think Jetta will be a boon for them. Hawthorn I cant see them getting back to a grand final, and the dogs are pretenders.

WC v Sydney grand final.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Agree with the sentiment that whilst we haven't beaten much, we've played some really good footy and look to have made significant improvements in key areas. Pretty excited about the year ahead, look forward to a cracking game Saturday night, followed by my first visit to the SCG in 6 years against West coast! Macca in for Hewett.

[Beerman]

I think WC will improve, and I think Jetta will be a boon for them.

I hope so, but I hear Jetta's out of shape after a pre-season injury. Someone needs to pull him aside and flog him on the training track. - his best year for us was after he did all that off season work.