We could win this game, weird as that sounds. GWS have dropped their bundle over the last few weeks and are playing insipid footall.
We will be without Murphy, who has a dislocated shoulder. We may be missing Jamo and Kreuzer. We have very little left to bring up, but funnier things have happened.



The game is in Sydney on Saturday at 1345. I am pretty sure the game will not be on free to air TV.

I won't be at the game, nor the next one: I am having surgery on Thursday. Barrack hard for me please!

I have never felt so ambivalent about a win before, but it just didn't feel like a normal win today.
In some ways it was: we lost 3 players to injury, 3 of our most important in Murphy, Kreuzer and Jamison, yet we won.
Give the guys what they deserve. It looks like we have avoided the wooden spoon, though I have no idea how we could have won.

Remember:
[1] At least 3 players need to get a mention.
[2] No more than 10 votes for any one player.
[3] Give a rating of team performance. It can be anywhere from A+ to F.
[4] Votes must add up to 15.

BOOM!! The sky isn't falling after all. After losing Murph and jamo in the third term that was a great win.

You just need to see the thrilled look on Cripps' face after the win to realise how important it is to win instead of tanking. Speaking of which what a superstar he is. With players like him to build around we certainly have a future.

Glad Simon White got injured so Jaksch has gotten a run, he shows real potential as does Boekhorst who is coming along nicely. I think we all agreed we wanted Boeky as a regular by season's end and I think we now have that.

Watto showed he still has plenty to offer, hopefully plays out the season.

Northern Blues vs. Box Hill Hawks         
Saturday, Aug 22
Preston City Oval at 2pm

Northern Blues

B: Smith Fields McDonagh
HB: Kilpatrick Jaksch Johnston
C: Viojo Walsh Tutt
HF: Ellard Jones Murray
F: Yarran Watson Johnson
R: Wood Whiley Holman
Int: Wilson Ballard J. Gleeson Perry Armitage Strachan Bolger J. Roberts Walton Cattapan Aurrichio McCabe* Haynes
   
Box Hill Hawks
B: Duryea Mirra Collins
HB: Whitecross Litherland Miles
C: Willsmore Howe Simpkin
HF: Anderson Iles Sicily
F: Grimley Tatupu O'Brien
R: Pittonet W. Langford O'Rourke
Int: Jones* O'Donnell Exon Lock Fisher Lawlor Williams Gordon Switkowski

If we actually lined up as named, we might be almost OK. However, subtract the 3 interchange guys for Sundays game for starters.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/subscribe/ne...=anonymous

Can't read the link but this is bizarre as Robbo said we're not tanking only 2 hrs ago on 360 and now he's questioning if we are?

Over in Melbs this weekend and will be going.

Hoping for some good footy viewing and to see some of our kids showing some talent and heart.

Have not seen any Blues matches on the tv for a month or so being here in SA.

This is probably something that's not surprising given our ladder position... but I wasn't aware of how badly, in comparison to other sides, we're going in the defensive stakes.

We keep lamenting our lack of goal kicking ability but looking at the ladder this morning one of the things that stands out is the number of points scored against us this year.

While our "Points for" are not radically different to the other teams around us at the bottom of the ladder our "Points against" are more than 100 points behind the next highest

Gold Coast 1930
Brisbane 1919
Carlton 2054

We're looking at our worst result since 2007 when we had  a mind numbing 2911 points against.

That rather pathetic result was counter-balanced by the fact we did have some semblance of an attack back then and managed to score 2167 pts leaving us with a percentage of 74.44%

In fact our percentage at the moment is lower than at any time during the dark years.

If we maintain our current percentage, 65.2%, it will be the lowest since 1901

So while there's a bit of work to be done to fix up the attack, our defensive efforts across the ground also need to be addressed.

inspired by a pessimist But a good question to see whether we have a base of quality to form the nucleus of the next flag shot - which will determine how long we will need to spend at the wrong end of the ladder  :-\

I cut the age off at 24 (okay, I let Tom Bell slip in)

Try keep it to genuine 200 game players rather than guys who aren't total rubbish (you can vote for as many as you like, ordered by age to help ruthlessness)

There may be a few moments to go, but we are being pounded again. This time, it is by the bottom team. Former bottom team. We are a disaster.

Do your worst, people. After all, the players have already done their worst.

I have no idea if I will be voting this week: I won't be seeing anything of the game. However, those lucky enough to see it, please put in your 2 cents worth.

Remember:
[1] At least 3 players need to get a mention.
[2] No more than 10 votes for any one player.
[3] Give a rating of team performance. It can be anywhere from A+ to F.
[4] Votes must add up to 15.