I think we've left our run too late for Finals personally. All the remaining games are season defining now and I feel we cannot keep winning week after week. If I have to pluck two games out it's Fremantle this week and Essendon as the games we must win if we're any chance. We have to beat Port over there as well although a win over Essendon and all our other games means we could drop it and still make it.
I ve done a conservative Ladder Predictor in which we lose to Freo and the Tigers, but can still sneak into 8th if we beat Port in Round 23. This is because Port will drop games against Geelong at Symonds, and Freo at Subi.
I have done the not so conservative one and have us winning every game and playing Sydney in the GF.
@GTC Agree, MM is shaking the complacency out of this group and saying that if they want a game in the navy blue they have to be good enough and demonstrate 100% commitment - no matter who you are. Nothing wrong with that.
Yeah exactly Cookie, thats been missing in our coaches of the past.
If Laidler is continually played as a forward and is denied the opportunity at senior level then I call MM a "C". Let's face facts. Most of Micks changes appear to be anti Ratts. Walker to the backline, No Laids or Duigs, Yazz the forward, disrespect of Eddie, love of Lucas. I actually expect to see Laids seek a trade back to Geelong and he will become a gun.
Sorry mate, couldn't disagree with you more on all of the above. You call MM a "C", do you expect him to pick players on name and reputation do you? Seen a few NB games have you? Duigan and Laidler have been putrid on a large number of games and hardly warrant selection. Robbo got a rocket last week and was sent back and responded, I suspect there will be more of that with others. When challenged, some blokes respond, some dont and/or sook it up. The two aforementioned appear to be in the second category at the moment. All is not lost though, they get a chance to prove themselves again today.
@Dave Agree, "intimidating" is not a word that springs to mind with our blokes, apart from maybe Robbo when he's fired up. I think there was some sort of conscious effort v. the Saints to change that but it sure don't come naturally.
Hopefully MM can inject more of this quality into the team, both with existing players and via the trade table.
Carrots can be intimidating and aggressive, problem is he is horribly out of form.
