4 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Steve I generally your posts

Nope

Round 17 last year. Scores were nearly level 10 minutes into the last quarter. They then scored 5 goals to 1. 

13 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

2 - It's clear as day that one of Gawn and Spencer do not work in fantastic unison with Hogan when they're in the same forwardline. We have mids who like to kick it to packs and we seem to often witness Hogan and Spencer/Gawn flying for the same ball. They don't work well. Gawn is much more dangerous on his own, as is Hogan

I feel very uneasy about moving Gawn out of the ruck to accomodate Spencil and moving Hogan out of the forward line to accommodate Gawn. I know this is more simplistic than what you are suggesting but we have an AA ruckman and an emerging gun forward. Spencil is a largely known commodity. Surely plan A should be Gawn rucking and Hogan forward with Spencil (if he plays) having to fit into that structure as effectively as possible?

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-03-20/etihad-stadium-racing-against-time-to-be-fit-for-round-one

Ridiculous.

That stadium is seriously a disgrace.

If anyone goes down with a LTI there will be a lot of very angry people!

4 minutes ago, Is Dom Is Good said:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-03-20/etihad-stadium-racing-against-time-to-be-fit-for-round-one

Ridiculous.

That stadium is seriously a disgrace.

If anyone goes down with a LTI there will be a lot of very angry people!

Good, move the game to the MCG. 

Edited March 19, 20178 yr by america de cali

14 minutes ago, america de cali said:

Good, move the game to the MCG. 

Don't think they can as there is the Hawks v Dons game on that night.

Unless they made it an afternoon match instead of twilight......

From being cautious about our chances for round 1, I now think its likely to be a blowout for one side or the other.

Very tight matches or seemingly unlikely blowouts are typical of Round one. Melbourne over 15.5 points is 2.88 and will probably be $3 by game start. I will be betting.

Melbourne have set themselves for 1st round better than I can ever remember. But my non demon relatives on the weekend likened my passion as a disability that I often forget I have. I cant immune myself for a big disappointment if we fail badly on Saturday. But dont take my tips as I have Spencer playing hard and well. I also hope Brayshaw can break my suspicion that he is turning into Jack Grimes.

 

17 minutes ago, Franky_31 said:

From being cautious about our chances for round 1, I now think its likely to be a blowout for one side or the other.

Very tight matches or seemingly unlikely blowouts are typical of Round one. Melbourne over 15.5 points is 2.88 and will probably be $3 by game start. I will be betting.

Melbourne have set themselves for 1st round better than I can ever remember. But my non demon relatives on the weekend likened my passion as a disability that I often forget I have. I cant immune myself for a big disappointment if we fail badly on Saturday. But dont take my tips as I have Spencer playing hard and well. I also hope Brayshaw can break my suspicion that he is turning into Jack Grimes.

 

put it back onto Etihad management to reimburse any injuries due to the turf at Etihad.

The old way of playing the second ruck was from the bench. With interchange rules the bench became a mid field resting zone and there was not much room in the rotations for a ruckman on the bench.

With decreased interchange perhaps there is now room for Spencer to be a bench ruckman. Gawn to the forward line while Spencer rucks and then Spencer to the bench while Gawn rucks.

One also has to be realistic about what we are trying to achieve with Spencer. Is it just nullifying the other ruck and allowing others who could have played the spot (Watts) to be more damaging.

The problem is that there is no real position anymore of "resting" in the forward pocket for a ruckman .... perhaps we could re-invent it

Gawn struggles against athletic ruckman like Hickey. Playing Spencer will allow us to throw Gawn deep in the Forward which will allow Hogan to press up. Will cause headaches for the defenders.

Edited March 20, 20178 yr by juzzk1d

One really has to be concerned about the Etihad surface

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/mar/20/doubts-persist-over-gabba-pitch-five-days-out-from-aflw-grand-final

The Adele concert in Brisbane was on 4 March !!!

"The AFLW grand final between Brisbane and Adelaide will be played at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast after the Gabba pitch was deemed unsuitable to host the inaugural title decider.

Brisbane finished top of the ladder to claim hosting rights but the playing surface at the Gabba was damaged by an Adele concert earlier this month to such an extent that an alternative venue had to be found."

ominous.

I am sure the AFL has contingency plans for late change of venues. They better play it safe. How can newly laid turf settle in less than a week? My neighbours turf laid last spring in optimal conditions took about a month to knit properly with the soil.

Edited March 20, 20178 yr by america de cali

Dirt Glue.

 

1 minute ago, doc roet said:

Dirt Glue.

 

Almost spat coffee

16 minutes ago, america de cali said:

I am sure the AFL has contingency plans for late change of venues. They better play it safe. How can newly laid turf settle in less than a week? My neighbours turf laid last spring in optimal conditions took about a month to knit properly with the soil.

Not a chance...they own the venue.

Even if it looks like the players are skating on the surface the AFL will say it was perfectly good.

It will only be after a few players take serious legal action that the AFL will take note.

I just hope it doesn't have to be any of our players...

9 minutes ago, rjay said:

Not a chance...they own the venue.

Even if it looks like the players are skating on the surface the AFL will say it was perfectly good.

It will only be after a few players take serious legal action that the AFL will take note.

I just hope it doesn't have to be any of our players...

Maybe they should be reported to workcover? 

......on second thoughts that's likely a waste of time.

Etihad is a knee/leg destroyer at the best of times...there always seems to be more injuries there

 

Scary.

Just returned from a week os and sadly I am struggling to find enthusiasm for the start of the season let alone the first game.

Grand Prix is on next weekend and that is where I shall be.

Can we win Yes however our record against the saints and at this venue says No.

It is not on my win list for the season.

14-50mm of rain forecast in the next 48 hours too - I imagine that's not going to help them with their turf preparations.

2 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

One really has to be concerned about the Etihad surface

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/mar/20/doubts-persist-over-gabba-pitch-five-days-out-from-aflw-grand-final

The Adele concert in Brisbane was on 4 March !!!

"The AFLW grand final between Brisbane and Adelaide will be played at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast after the Gabba pitch was deemed unsuitable to host the inaugural title decider.

Brisbane finished top of the ladder to claim hosting rights but the playing surface at the Gabba was damaged by an Adele concert earlier this month to such an extent that an alternative venue had to be found."

A Brisbane fan has informed me they just recieved an email. Apparently theres also doubts the Gabba will be ready in round 2 for the lions first home game.
If thats the case what hope does etihad have??

Edited March 20, 20178 yr by ArtificialWisdom
english

The disappointing thing is the traditional vision impaired Frederick could have seen this coming.

What makes it worse is that the Adele concerts were only organised and approved for Etihad AFTER the AFL took full ownership and management of the venue.

They have no one else to blame.

Of course the venue hire fees would have been useful but it's time they put in place some non discretionary criteria such as no events within X weeks of a football game that involve useage of the the turf.

 

1 hour ago, old dee said:

Just returned from a week os and sadly I am struggling to find enthusiasm for the start of the season let alone the first game.

Grand Prix is on next weekend and that is where I shall be.

Can we win Yes however our record against the saints and at this venue says No.

It is not on my win list for the season.

The GP over the first match. Shame on you.

On second thoughts.........

17 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

The disappointing thing is the traditional vision impaired Frederick could have seen this coming.

What makes it worse is that the Adele concerts were only organised and approved for Etihad AFTER the AFL took full ownership and management of the venue.

They have no one else to blame.

Of course the venue hire fees would have been useful but it's time they put in place some non discretionary criteria such as no events within X weeks of a football game that involve useage of the the turf.

 

they might have been announced after afl took over (november for adele tix, september for docklands buyout), but i would suspect that the dates were already long booked.

16 minutes ago, hemingway said:

The GP over the first match. Shame on you.

On second thoughts.........

Actually it is up against qualifying 5pm- 6pm which is probably the most exciting part of Formula 1 bar the first lap