I actually think North will be fine. A whole heap of their best 22 is injured, and many of those are in the 22 - 26 year old category. They also have some younger guns who need 1 or 2 seasons to become very good players. They will end up bottom 4, trade for some early draft picks and be OK. 

Hawthorn are playing as poorly as Adelaide, but their coach is so good it rarely shows as being that bad. They have 2 - 3 years of pain but if Clarkson stays they will be in the final soon, as much I as I hate to say it. But at least the Hawks v Swans game was watchable. Even in the wet, some of the individual efforts and skills were great to watch.

Huge crowd in Adelaide tonight 

Saints are on Early...

2 hours ago, bingers said:

Papley's so good ... 4 goals so far.

Yep Papley is very good, so glad he is not playing for Carlton.

1 hour ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Just watching Clarko’s presser and I’m stunned that he opened by saying he was pleased with his players’ endeavour. He emphasized it again a couple of minutes later. 

Sorry, but there were a few players in brown and gold who showed very little endeavour at all.

Also had a go at the umpires. Poor form when you lose the way Hawthorn did today.

Probably second guessing his President inevitably blundering into the media in the next 24 hours, shooting his mouth off about this effort not being what Hawthorn is about, blah, blah, you know the spiel! 

Gee, the St Kilda ball use is ordinary.

We reckoned ours was bad but under no pressure they fail to hit targets.

Edited July 25, 20204 yr by A F

Interested in the views of others but it does not appear to be a great crowd for a clash between two top 8 teams in a city deprived of football.

Entire stands empty if you look closely.

Good game though @Diamond_Jim, Saints look like they are in trouble with possibly 3 injuries. Kent can’t take a trick.

Charlie Dixon is a monster, well done to him for pushing himself to get to this level.

20 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Interested in the views of others but it does not appear to be a great crowd for a clash between two top 8 teams in a city deprived of football.

Entire stands empty if you look closely.

20,000 Cap on the crowd

Has anyone got a clue on the holding the ball rule this week/ minute ?

1 hour ago, trout said:

Yep Papley is very good, so glad he is not playing for Carlton.

wait til 2021...

a close game is a good game, been pretty happy with the footy this round so far

Absolutely loving Hawthorn being Brad Pitt, hoping it lasts another 20 years. Very flawed thinking behind having both Frawley and Frost together in the same backline, ultimate butcher brothers.  Hope they keep Puopolo, McEvoy, Burgoyne, Smith, Frawley and Scully on their list, chewing up salary space and all well past their best. Clarko’s press conferences are just so enjoyable, can’t wait for the next instalment     

10 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Has anyone got a clue on the holding the ball rule this week/ minute ?

It’s so hard to get a handle on isn’t it? “Prior opportunity” is non existent.

Chad Cornes is a [censored]. 

3 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

It’s so hard to get a handle on isn’t it? “Prior opportunity” is non existent.

Chad Cornes is a [censored]. 

Well I’ve got no clue Cards   - that’s for sure 

The quality of ball movement that quarter was awful (haven’t been watching prior). It seemed like wet weather football. 

My old man and brother are mad Saints supporters so I have a bit of a soft spot for them.

I do like the energy they have around the contests and there speed around the ground. 

If they didn’t choke with big leads against Roos and Dockers they’d be 6 and 1 this year.

I don’t think there is a lot of star power there so Ratten (who I’ve always rated) is doing a cracking job getting them up and about. 

Hope they bring it home with a few dodgy free kicks so the crowd torch the joint. Very very jealous of those who are able to attend.

4 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Well I’ve got no clue Cards   - that’s for sure 

Surely you’re onboard with the Cornes comment? 
One rule I struggle with is holding the man, players who never gather possession, even though they might be trying to, and 95% of the time when tackled it’s play on. 

8 minutes ago, Deeko2 said:

My old man and brother are mad Saints supporters so I have a bit of a soft spot for them.

I do like the energy they have around the contests and there speed around the ground. 

If they didn’t choke with big leads against Roos and Dockers they’d be 6 and 1 this year.

I don’t think there is a lot of star power there so Ratten (who I’ve always rated) is doing a cracking job getting them up and about. 

Hope they bring it home with a few dodgy free kicks so the crowd torch the joint. Very very jealous of those who are able to attend.

hill, marshall, and billings are all excellent footballers, with gresham not far behind them, and king shows a lot of promise

aints are good to watch

Clearly The Hoff is saving his best for us next week. He’s been terrible the last fortnight.

Maximum of 20,000 in the crowd... But they arent spread out across the stands/seats.

Just now, whatwhatsaywhat said:

hill, marshall, and billings are all excellent footballers, with gresham not far behind them, and king shows a lot of promise

aints are good to watch

Yes definitely some talent there and some good players across the list.

If you ranked the top 50 players in the comp though would they have any listed? Not sure. 

Rihht now they’re looking at a top 4 ladder spot which is about 10 spots higher than where I would have had them in March.

 

 

Well done Saints. Was hoping that Port would win to make it easier for us... 

Just now, Deeko2 said:

Yes definitely some talent there and some good players across the list.

If you ranked the top 50 players in the comp though would they have any listed? Not sure. 

Rihht now they’re looking at a top 4 ladder spot which is about 10 spots higher than where I would have had them in March.

 

 

jack steele is the best run-with player in the competition at the moment, so i'd definitely have him and hill, plus probably billings, in the top 50 players in the game this year

marshall not far off it either

What an incredible goal.

4 Quarters from the Aints tonight