Round 14 - Blues v Western Bulldogs (Aftermatch Aftermath)

[rocky]

Boekhurst - Am willing to give the kid a break as it's his first year but geez he made some howlers
Holman - Christ, can't understand the critics of this guy. I thought he did OK
Jamison - Good first up after so many weeks off. Did better in one game than Rowe  has in three.
Touhy - Thought he played his best game for the year.
Tutt - See Holman.
Cripps - Good until injured as was Everitt. In fact pretty sure Everitt's departure cost us the game. Hope the injury isn't too severe.
Graham - Fair, with a couple of costly errors, but we're still better with him in the side than not.
Henderson - Just not quite good enough at the moment. Goes missing for long periods I can see him trying his guts out but just misses too many half chances to have an impact.
Wood - Terrible. Played so well last week but he was putrid last night.
Murphy - Just stop trying to drill blokes with precision passes. They seem to end up in the hands of opposition players more often than not, AND at crucial times.
Simmo - Was  a bit "Murph" like with some of his decisions and disposal, but SO many credits in the bank we can forgive.
Bell/Curnow - What could these guys be if THEY COULD JUST KICK.
Kreuzer - Battled hard, as he always does, but not a good game.
Armfield - Playing reasonably well BUT apart from the missed chances, last quarter, 11 point down, ball kicked to the top of the square, Henderson backing back, STAY DOWN you idiot! That one really p!55ed me off.

So frustrating when you see the same old skill erors costing you a game. Sure the doggies were  bad but our stuff-ups were far worse than theirs (see the Casboult & Wood comedy routine)
Do we really have to play Hawthorn this year?

And finally, Caleb Daniel may have had a decent first up but I can't believe a guy that tiny will ever make it in the AFL. Watch this space.

[DJC]

And finally, Caleb Daniel may have had a decent first up but I can't believe a guy that tiny will ever make it in the AFL. Watch this space.

Boomer Harvey hasn't had a bad career 

[rocky]

Boomer Harvey hasn't had a bad career 

Yes, but I think Boomer's got about 10 kg's in weight on him. Best he start hitting the carbs!

[ItsOurTime]

. I have to say that Graham was ordinary tonight, and a major weakness in his game was on display. he can't think quickly enough, and at this point in time, he doesn't have the gift of a football brain. In other words, he aint good enough and it remains to be seen if he ever will be.

Try catch a replay. Some of his in close work required a loosening of the pants. The kid has his strengths, we need to make use of them - something we've been awful at.

[Juddkreuzer]

Holman - Christ, can't understand the critics of this guy. I thought he did OK

Agree. 11 possies and 7 tackles in his first full hitout after only 3 games will be a pass mark under Barker.

[Baggers]

Bit confused with the criticisms of Graham and Holman. The difference between how Graham is playing now and the bloke who was taking the field for the NBs last year is quite significant. Remember he's only played about 16 senior games and keeps getting better, and it was Holman's first proper hit out...

[northernblue]

I think many of us thought that NB.  Isn't there a thread about what spuds our assistants are?

My point was about the fact that assistant coaches are closer to the players than the senior coach and that may have enabled Barker to see something in Graham that Malthouse missed.

I wasn't having a crack at you DJC, rather at the group think that inhabits this place at times.
We all have opinions, some have several, but we actually know 1/5 of diddly squat, the rest is just chest thumping.

I think there must be a couple of dozen threads bagging our assistants

[PaulP]

I wasn't having a crack at you DJC, rather at the group think that inhabits this place at times.
We all have opinions, some have several, but we actually know 1/5 of diddly squat, the rest is just chest thumping.

I think there must be a couple of dozen threads bagging our assistants

Totally agree. I'm as guilty as others on this point. I'm sure I've had a go at Barks somewhere along the line.

[laj]

My biggest concern with Kreuzer is that he isn't getting to marking contests, I don't know whether it's fitness, confidence or just a lack of football but it has always been one of his strengths.

I'm thinking all of the above. Hit the spot on that one.

[DJC]

I wasn't having a crack at you DJC, rather at the group think that inhabits this place at times.
We all have opinions, some have several, but we actually know 1/5 of diddly squat, the rest is just chest thumping.

I think there must be a couple of dozen threads bagging our assistants

I didn't think you were NB 

I must admit that I was surprised to see how well Barker has fitted in to the senior coach role.  I probably shouldn't have been so surprised as the players talked him up for his defensive line coaching and he has had assistant coaching experience with a couple of the AFL's leading lights.

As to your comment about us all having opinions, I'm reminded of PI2C's signature line and how it could easily be used by most of us