Went to the game - lots of positives - some thoughts ...

1.What happened to Pav? - never saw him go off but it happened around quarter time and he didn't come back - not just back on but back to the bench - not anywhere - I hope he's not injured.

2. Haselby got ironed out by Pickett along with a few other guys. I think it was his nose. Couldn't see a cut on his face. He was out at 3/4 time in his casual gear looking OK. Port played VERY dirty and as one other posting mentioned it was hard to work out why. LOts of other dirt in the packs including fists to the face etc.

3. Medhurst will have a great year - he is just a highly skilled guy with heaps of footy nous and either won or broke even in every contest.

4. Sandilands was really good tonight - did enough to play each week - his height really troubled POrt both in the ruck and when playing at Full Forward where he knocked one onto Brownes boot that went straight through the goals.

5. AJ got through the game OK.

6. Farmer look as fired up as I've seen for a long time.

7. Connolly was, I think, furious at the umpires failure to pick up the dirt in packs. I thought at one point te game was getting out of control with nearly every contest ending up in someone being whacked and 'brawling' ensuing. A bit pointless for a scratch match.

8. As much as I have enjoyed Luke Toia's footy over the years, especially V Melbourne at the WACA one night, and as much as his task last night was tough - our team has reached a higher level that he is playing at. Surprisingly, the same may be true for Ritchie Cunningham. Guys like Browne, Haines and I guess soon Schammer will make it hard for him to get a game.

9. Croad played well, very well. Not as a star but as a strong and capable part of a functioning forward line.

10. Tackling was great - lots of POrt players stopped in their tracks then dumped - nly a few missed tackles.

11. Skills were better than usual - say 90% rather than our usual 70%.

12. One difference from previous years which I also noticed in the Wet Toast game was our ability, at times, to move the ball very quickly over long distances and through a few hands. Due mostly to an improvement in skills.

13. Woods played the best I have seen him and was able to pinpoint guys on the run over about 50m with his incredible kicking on about 4 occasions.

14. All up we played with the quality I expect for this year but managed to stitch up POrt easily which I didn't expect. Last game V Port at Subi we were massacred and they have had it over us.

15. THis was done minus: Parker, McPharlin, Headland, and Clive PLUS virtually without Pavlich (3/4) and Haselby (1/2).

From FootyGoss - which has a good report of the game - it seems Pav has just a minor Calf injury. Strange how he disappeared, I guess it was full on treatment time.

Footy Goss has a very enjoyable report on the Slime game as well which we enjoyed watching the last quarter of (where they failed to score!).

Yoda, agree with all of the above.
Additions for me, TLo, loved his tenacity, especially the hand ball to himself right in front of us, he looked like he really enjoyed his footie last night.Andrew Browne, very sharp, very keen,great goal, loved his work.
Pav got 'kicked ?' in the calf, I am just hoping it isn't a fracture, he came out with Hase is his casual gear after half time sporting a beautiful below the knee pressure stocking, but limping quite badly.The kids said it was Pickett, but not too sure if they were blaming him for everything!I think he needs a serious look at, it isn't on that he can take people out of every game he plays and get away with it.He is dangerous and could end up killing someone.

By the way, anyone else spot the nifty little anchors on the side of the socks? Brings back the socks up or down debate,anchors away!

While not a fan of those sniper bumps you see Pickett do every now and then, and without the benefit of a replay, I think there's very little anyone can do about those Pickett bumps except try not to get hit. While most definitely a free kick, in the rules of the game, it was a "fair" bump, high, but fair...

As Yoda mentioned, the other dirt in the packs was more worrying. They got away with all of it. The only thing that got pulled up was the late charge on Haddrill, but they'll just do a Wilson and say "I had to turn my body to protect myself, coz I'm to big and dumb to veer off my line by a metre..."

Dermie wrote an article a few years ago about Pickett which hit the nail on the head.Basically he said that while Pickett may be within the rules with most of his hits on players ,the sad part about the man is when it comes to his turn to wear one back he chickens out of the contest.

If you live by the sword you must die by the sword.

As an example we only need to look at Woosha . While he dished them out ,he also wore them .I will allways remember the time Plugger cleaned him up at Subi .

Pickett is a mouse and the crowds around the country should be giving it to the gutless thug !

[Edited by Dutchey on 09-Mar-03 09:35]

If tonka tuff wilsons case sets a precedent then watch out all fowards this season. But knowing how consistant the AFL tribunal is the next case will probably get 5 weeks.

Fair call Dutchey. While he is within the rules, he does seem to cop people in the head a fair bit too. Just a good aim, I guess.

Someone will line him up one day, Belly tried to last night but the timing was off a bit.

Thanks Supermum, I did see Pavlich with the bandage from knee to ankle but assumed it was JLo.

As for Pickett, Simmonds tried as well straight after Belly but of course the umpires jumped on him.

Out of Picketts 6 or 8 hits I'm not sure 1 free was given.

Went to the game and had a good look - my thoughts were:

1. On Port - they come accross as a team chock full of flankers - Primus, Cornes, Josh Carr, Byron etc. They seem to have taken some anger pills before the game, given to them by that whinger of a coach. Head high tackes, high bumps, late bumps etc etc

What a bunch of whingers! Cornes looks like he is constantly about to burst into tears. Thought our guys handled themselves pretty well - certainly Belly and Snake tried to get Byron pickett after half time, but poor timing and poor umpiring saw Byron end up with the free kick! Go figure.

2. Liked the Medhurst / Croad combo up forward. GHD on the occassions he decides to pass the ball is a fantastic kick and gives it lace out to his teammates.

Haddrill is really coming on - pity he's not a few cm's taller but he has good hands.

Woods is starting to convince me - seems a bit more confident about his body.

3. Query - what happended to Matthew Carr last night? Injured or rested? Probably embarrassed to be seen with his brother.

Thanks for the report Yoda.

Browne and Sandilands were great for us last night. I reckon Browne has a touch of class about him. He buzzes around the packs and even had the capacity to go back and kick truly for his goal. I really liked his game. He reminds me of Noel Carter in his prime.

Sandilands is going to dominate. He just doesn't get any shorter and
when spelling in the forward line I thought his defensive work from there was great. I was thoroughly enjoying seeing Sandilands make the contest and bringing the ball to the ground where the likes of Bell, Wiz and Medhurst were feeding.

Woods stood up and I reckon he was B.O.G.

Medhurst is the smartest footballer going around. The way he uses his body in the contest is pure class.

Great to see the Wiz all fired up and keeping it under control.

Practice match my arse. We are definitely going places.

Toia's underdone.

I reckon most of these match reports are underwriting the skills improvement. Some of the ball movement was lightening quick. Particularly in getting it out of packs. We won a lot more contested ball than I can remember. The passing was also very accurate, as was the goal kicking. At one point we reflected on when did the Dockers have a 8 goal 2 pt scoreline.

I so enjoyed telling the WCE supporter sitting next to me that it miust be a good sign when the Dockers quick more in a quarter than WCE in a whole match.

Agree with comments about Woods, Hadrill. I thought Browne, A. showed quite a bit as well. I thought James Walker showed a big improvement in skill level. And TLo surely must get a place in the first 2 rounds.

I also agree with the comment that Sideshow Bob and Toia are not at the same level as the rest of the team. Cunningham has been there four years and doesn't appear to have improved as much as everyone else. Will be hard to keep his place in comparison to Daniel Haines and Andrew Browne.

Are you ALL psychic? You've all read my mind. I thought Med & Croad combo worked well. Meds' quick kicks AROUND the man on the mark straight to a leading player were phenominal. AND they both kicked straight, straight, straight. Woods & TLo answered their critics the best way possible. Luke & Ben are a notch below the rest. Port were DIRTY (hope you could hear us singing "dirty old port" to the tune of "Dirty old Town").The tackling was good, hard, and fair (by us, that is. Would have loved to watch the replay of this on the telly! I'M EXCITED!

Echo dutchey's remarks about Pickett. He is a deadset gutless sniper who'll play the man over the ball every time and I can't wait for the day he gets his comeuppance.

Enormous amount of positives to come out of the game considering Des was missing & Pav and Hase hardly played at all. Our tackling was brilliant, the best I've seen and the skill level has risen also - this hockey guy is obviously doing something right!

I thought Robbie Haddrill's demolition of that curly headed twat Chad Cornes was an absolute delight and makes our defence an even stronger unit. Splinter's form has been just terrfic, not a bad pickup at 49. Medhurst, what can you say. He is such a clever & skillful player...his pass to TLo in the 3rd quarter was class. The Ogre seems to improve with each game and the young midfielders Haines & Browne showed plenty as well.

Looking forward to March 30.

Two great games! I went along with a mate of mine who is a fowl supporter...he had a shocking time. (incidently every game I have ever watched with him, derbies, fowl v others and Freo v others my team has one and his team has lost....but thats another story, back to the game)
Milkman - Matty Carr was sitting just behind with a few others including Colreavy, he looked fit the way he bounded over the seats at half time to get to the change rooms, I think he was just rested.
Supermum - Tlo's hand pass to himself just a touch to my left was a ripper, even my scum mate commented on it. Think I saw ya.
I was surprised to see Sandilands play after his Jenny Craig effort in Geraldton. And I was glad he did too. He's gonna be a real asset.
I agree with most people that Toia is too slow, he did a couple of good things but I think he'll just be a fill in player until next year when he is delisted.
Cunningham still can't kick. He kicked a shocked that reminded me of the last shocker that he grubbered.
Dion Woods. Or should I call him 'Neon' Dion? Man has he lit up this year. I must admit to being rather concerned about his desire in the past but jeees I like this guy.
Medders - My scum mate commented, I think I hate Medhurst like you hate Phil Matera." Me, "Naah, you couldn't hate him that much, but I know what you mean."
During the fowl game we had 5 of their followers behind us, I had to laugh when they finally kicked a goal they were clapping and cheering like they had just won lotto. Jako this, Macca that....what idiots! Unfortunately the older players are the only ones they knew as they continually were calling Hunter, Haynes, there was even a Williams running around out there according to them, sheesh!!