You know nothing Jimmae ? Reckon you summed up our day pretty well.More or less thought the same as your good self Jim.Reckon Smith looked ok .

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All my dangerous friends

Our delivery into the forward line was woeful.No system.ANd turnovers again.Other than the first quarter and a cameo 6 minutes in the third a very disappointing result.We seemed to get thrashed in the clearances as well.No doubt we tried are backsides off today but simply played dumb football.With only 2 games left would love to see more guys given a go from the ants.Do the ants get the week off in the first week in the finals.If so a chance to give some young blood a crack.

My positives are:

- picks #1, #17 & #18 in the bag
- Bannister was good and has improved a lot
- Ditto Wiggins
- Thornton was good on Richo
- O'Hailpin shows promise.
- Betts provides a spark when he is near the footy. Needs to find it more however
- Walker showing leadership and gradually improving. Still needs to improve his kicking however.
- Ditto Fisher
- Murphy coming back into the side next year will make a big difference.

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There is no footy god

Agree with everything except Wiggo.Has got better but ordinary today

Why are a few people saying Wiggins was great today? He was nothing short of crap.

The only positive I can think of was Setanta O'Hailpin's game. Some of his runs were just beautiful to watch. He is a very exciting prospect and the experiment may just work.

Thought Bannister saved his career today officially.

The fact that he wasn't dropping into Fev's space or running around with the ball through heavy traffic like a goose is a start.

We must have seen the same game because for me Wiggins didn't play well and Setanta was a highlight. Simmo and Walker for me were good contributors.

Fisher did pretty well after getting a knock in the 1st

I love it when Setanta gets the ball...it's heart in the mouth stuff at times but very exciting.

Big wraps to Walker for playing a number of different roles today, and being good in them all. A positive sign for the future.

so true......

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"Dont count the games, make the games count"

I'm positive i was watching a different 'Smith' ...

I personally loved the way the crowd started making noise as Setanta rebounded up the guts during the second quarter. I reckon half the people were shouting "Go you good thing" whilst the rest (incl. Richmond people) shouting "Who the hell is that guy?"

It was a pity that nothing else stood out. Fev kicked some good long goals - whatever problems he's had with his groin look well and truly gone.

No youngster stood out as having a great day.

Kouta got a few touches, so did Banno. Nobody really whipped their opponent.

I'm positive I want more out of you than that showbag.

Smith, Bentick and Blackwell lack pace....I dont see room for all of them in the senior team. Smith is a good goer like Jon McCormack was..but IMHO I think McCormack was better...
I think Jessie is playing for his spot even at this early stage..Richmond are very quick...no names like Foley and White left our blokes standing flat footed....Deledio was Judd like.....we lack pure leg speed..I mean players who can switch on the after burners and kick clear of other players from a standing start.
I think this is a important issue when looking at Bryce Gibbs, I'm not suggesting you wouldnt take him but i think if you did you would have to compliment him with some speedsters with our other picks.......with either our PP pick or 2nd rnder we need a genuine speedster who has has skill....

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

I was seated next to a Rich supporter (in the carl soc club) & thought about it

Should've done it CK! At least we would have had something to gloat about in this thread.

Offload a midfielder? Are you joking? Our midfield is the poorest in the competition and you're saying we can offload a midfielder!?

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"A good composer does not initiate. He steals."

- Igor Stravinsky

In a couple of years we should have good pace in the midfield with Murphy, Simpson, Russell, Walker and Betts who all have good speed off the mark. My main concern at the moment is our poor disposal.

I think Blackwell is definitely the best option of our "slow" brigade due his superior skills and footy smarts.

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There is no footy god

As in trade, you know, for a draft pick.

So no, I'm not joking.

Yep, fair call mate...it's just it's the positives thread so i don't want to bog it down too much...

I just feel that Smith doesn't offer us anything that we don't already have. I think that Blackwell is a better option at this stage and will only get better. For all the talk of Smith's hardness at the ball and bit of 'mongrel', i thought he gave the ball up pretty meekly in the centre at times - against a Richmond team that are hardly 'hard bodies' themselves.

I know he is far from blessed with leg speed but a couple of times he looked to be too busy cursing himself to actually get on with it and chase. Richmond waltzed the ball out of the middle at times when Jesse was in there...sure it wasn't all his doing, but i wasn't instilled with confidence that he would in any way stop the bleeding...there were times when i was thinking the only way he would find himself at the bottom of the pack would surely be by accident.

look ... reading back that sounds pretty harsh on a young first gamer, so to sum it up although he didn't get a lot of game time, i was pretty underwhelmed, and aren't sure where his presence is adding value to our best 22.