Game On! Pies v. Hawks - changes, score updates, comments

[silverphoenix]

Lack of midfield pressure is killing us, we seem to be winning taps but they arent going to black and white jumpers.

Was anyone playing on mitchell?
What happened to our defensive pressure in the forward 50 from last year, and the rock solid defence. Have we underestimated the importance of James Clement.

Where to from here?
Well, the question was asked on BigFooty, and im sure someone asked it on here too, do we need cousins? And the answer is yes, we need a grunt midfielder, we have turned our midfield inside out in 4 years, going from too inside, to too outside, but it doesnt have any dash.

To blood, or not to blood....

Well who do you drop to play the youngsters?

Personally i think Stanners needs to come in for 5-6 games straight, in the middle, lets see what he's got in the position he was apparently drafted for, remember the quote "he's a bull of a player in the burns mould" then why do we play him in the back pocket?

Iles, has been named in the best for the ressies nearly every week, we've seen him play well as an inside mid, surely he should get a chance.

Cox is another who has been knocking the door down, he brings 2 things that we lack to the table, and brings them in spades, pace and skill, put him on a wing ffs!

Improvement from within
The current midfield structure isnt working, obree, swan, BJ, clarke are just not cutting it.... what happened to the structure we employed last week that enabled pendles to play his best game for the club, why isnt thomas thrown in the middle to get touch.

Offseason targets and deadwood: Yes its negative to be thinking off season already, but we just arent up to scratch.

Deadwood:
Wakelin (finished)
Lonie (trade if possible, i cant think of anyone that would give up anything for him, fremantle if they thought they needed an outside player)
Holland (Finished)
Burns (retired, unfortunately)
Presti (see above)
BJ (sorry to him, but he has currancy and could do well with a change of scenery even though we know he loves the club, he plays the outside reciever role but has shocking disposal, two traits that just shouldnt go together, might be able to get a 2nd round pick from melbourne who need outside players who can run)

Who to approach:
Cousins - without a doubt exactly what we need, grunt and skill rolled into one and star quality to boot.
Prismall - Has to be feeling left out at the moment with Geelong, even with GAJ out injured today, rooke was still chosen before him, id take a swap of first rounders with Geelong to get him (assuming we have a pick between 6-11)

On the bright side:
We were expected to give it a shake this year, a few expected a year of growth from within, personally i didnt know what to expect, being the eternal optimist i put on some quinnellas for us to make the grand final, i dont hold much hope anymore. Over the last 2 years we've seen a couple of teams show massive improvements in one year, drop down the next only to hit some form and go on to look a threat, or take out a premiership (Geelong 07, Bulldogs 08) i really think that 09-11 is out premiership window.