Positives:

1) Flogging the Eagles - I know it was a preseason game and all, but any opportunity to flog those wankers is an opportunity to be taken with relish! The Eagles looked totally disinterested and gave the Dockers a wonderful confidence boost to kick off the season.

2) Beating the Pies - Another team I like to see us beat (especially after those dark days at Victoria Park and lets not mention the 2004 game at Subiaco). The Pies put in a spirited performance to push the Dockers all the way. Freo always looked in control but it was nice to have a genuine hit out after such a limp display by the Eagles the previous week.

--any opportunity to flog those wankers is an opportunity to be taken with relish!--

3) The Youngsters - I was impressed with the improvement shown in a number of our lesser lights. Robert Murphy, sporting a terrible new hairdo seems to hold himself with greater confidence which is great to see because he is a talented player. Brett Peake is a star in the making and his pace is truly astonishing for someone of his stock, watch him in 2006. Paul Duffield is on our rookie list and he seems capable of taking the next step up to the AFL, solidly built and a good user of the ball, expect him to be first in line if we have a long term injury. Daniel "Happy" Gilmore also looks to be given an opportunity up forward this year and seems to add another dimension up there.

4) Paul Haselby - He looks set for a big year, he has looked as good as I've ever seen him at the pre-season stage, although there are reports he hurt himself during the Geelong game. Hopefully it is not serious.

5) Aaron Sandilands - Watching this guy develop is literally thrilling. His taps are getting cleverer and they are more frequently going to our advantage. Once he improves his off the cuff stuff, he'll be the dominant ruckman for 6 years.

Negatives:

1) Not taking their opportunities - Once again, when something worthwhile was up for grabs the Dockers as a team looked like boys grabbing for guiltily grabbing for the cookie jar but not believing they deserved it. Geelong put in a vigorous last quarter and it was all that was required to blow our too often timid side out of the water.

2) Inconsistency from key players - If we are to be a legitimate threat this year Luke McPharlin needs to consistently perform. His quiet effort against Geelong highlighted how hard it is for us to score if he is not taking marks. He and Pavlich need to take on the Mitchell White/Peter Sumich dynamic if we are to kick decent scores. Farmer and Medhurst while impressive at home, were terrible at the Telstra Dome and this again raises fears that they will remain inconsistent enigmas - something we cant afford if September is our aim.

3) Injured defenders - Its a shame Robert Haddrill was unable to get a pre season under his belt because our backline looks so much better when he is a part of it. The "Wraith" Scott Thornton also missed valuable game time, and seeing he and Murphy work together would have been good for their development.

4) Had the bomb - I'm sorry to say, but Troy Cook, Shaun McManus, and Jarrad Schofield have all had the bomb. Their skills are terrible and while Cook and McManus will always be club heroes for the hits they;ve taken for the purple, we cant afford their errors anymore. In this game, turnovers result in goals. As for Schofield, he played for the Eagles, enough said.

Final Thoughts:

1) Poor Old Chris - I reckon the media are poised to crucify him. They are in the perfect position to do so. If the Dockers do well this year, it will because Marc Harvey cam over to 'toughen them up'. If we do poorly, it will Chris Connolly's fault. He's in a lose/lose situation, and only a big September will restore legitimacy to his tenure.

2) Where is Roger? One of my favourite players and a wonderful back pocket doesn't seem to be getting a game anymore. By all reports he is fit, so why isn't he playing? Is there something we don't know? I sincerely hope Roger gets another crack.

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