My take on who's done what in 2017.

[merantau]

Like most I am trying to work out why we have been so ordinary this year. It's not just the last two games either. We played a great game against Sydney early on, should have beaten GWS away and played some good football against the Saints just 3 weeks ago. Apart from that we have had to pull out all stops to win from behind against teams that have managed to make us look ordinary. Brisbane for example just killed us for nearly an hour.

I'm not big on the tactical side of things, but I know this: coming in to this season I was full of hope that we were well placed to back up. Why? Because we had the best young list who would improve with games under their belts and some big names to come back.

So what's happened? We lose Stewart Crameri for the year - vital to our forward set up. Travis Cloke began pretty well I thought and then gets smashed up. Five weeks out and he's struggled to have an impact since.

Bob has been good and has been able to impact games - definitely a plus but ... injured.

Fletcher Roberts - has not improved. He's marching on the spot and has not cemented his spot.

Easton Wood has dropped off. Not a dominant interceptor anymore and has become fumbly too of late.

Shane Biggs - I expected him to continue his stellar finals campaign form - it hasn't happened.

Dale Morris has been his usual, reliable no-nonsense self and is rarely beaten.

Young Williams has been good at times and I thought he was unlucky to be dropped.
Matthew Boyd has struggled to have an impact and has often been under pressure. Why? I guess he's slowed down and the players around him are not pulling their weight too.

Matt Suckling has got us into a lot of trouble at times with costly turnovers and his kicking has not been the weapon it's supposed to be.

JJ? Sad to say that he has been exposed and now has to wear the consequences. I hope he has it in him to come back hard and do what he does best - take the game on and kick long.

Lachie Hunter? He cops a lot of criticism and I can't really understand why. He gets a lot of the ball but this year he's often found himself under pressure. However, I think he's generally handled it ok and not turned it over too much. That being said has not been as as attacking as before.

Jack Macrae - having a very good year. Consistent and works very hard.

Libba? What can you say? He got dropped for lack of form. Who would possibly have predicted that at the beginning of the year?

Wally? Has been terrific. Could not have asked for more.
Dahl? Another goer. Absolute 100% player who wrings himself out every game.
Caleb Daniel has definitely been a plus since being dropped.

Josh Dunckley : I'd marked him down for a big year. Started slowly, now injured.
Tory Dickson - battling injury all the time. Has not been able to have an impact.

Toby McLean - has not improved.
Jake Stringer - this year has not developed his game to become the gun he should be.

Bonti - his form has gone south this year. Why? Opposition and umpires are targeting him.

Tom Boyd - has not improved. Shouldering a heavy load but for big guy does not mark the ball enough although rarely gets the frees he deserves. His ground level work is good, competes well but sloppy handball lets him down.
Jack Redpath - I'd like to see him in the side for his physicality and he can lead into space and kick straight.

Tom Campbell - he's orbiting but will he ever land?
Lin Jong - has improved overall but not in any remarkable way and is no longer available.
Honey - had his chance but let it slip. Will probably get another but for him the clock it ticking.

Lucas Webb - hasn't been able to secure a spot in a team that is performing poorly.
Bailey Dale. I think he's improved. He's been getting more if the ball but has not been kicking goals and that's his job.

Marcus Adams - really good year until ... We miss him down back.

I may have left a couple of players out. But that, for me, tells a story. We have a lot of players who have lost form and are just not having the expected impact on games.