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JK just told 6PR that he'll be pushing for Brisbane (R23).

It’s been suggested that his penalty is having to sign with Carlton for 5 years.

Roos On The Couch tonight. The panel were talking about the Suns then Roos drops this beauty, “ I’m a football man at heart, I love the game and to go see My Team Melbourne win was exciting.” On Ya Roosy. Never get tired of hearing that.

Yeah, I know. Just got hit with a surge of “I f***ed up real bad and didn’t mean to and now everyone hates me” when I saw his reaction - I have had that feeling before in my life. Just my empathy acting up - I’m well aware that he isn’t the victim.

I think Gaff’s arrival into Melbourne and the way he was moved on was planned and handled very well. Sucked in trash media.

It wasnt that long ago our team would walk off the ground, week after week after week, with a hangdog expression on their faces because they had just copped another flogging. It must have been bloody hard coming to work every week knowing you would feel [censored] at the end of the day. Now that things are changing for the team (Due to their own hard work, it hasnt been gifted to 'em), i reckon its great to see smiles on their faces after a game. This team is forming some really strong bonds that hopefully will help us get us a cup or 3. If they want to have a bit of an in-joke after smashing the opposition, thats ok by me.

Gaff's lawyers 'Great Gaffe' - Grace just said: "My submission is you should impose a penalty at the lower end of the range, which commences at three years... I mean three weeks." OOps, that is a serious freudian slip!!

I think Gaff’s defence made a mistake arguing provocation as part of its case. Much better had he thrown himself on the mercy of the Tribunal.

I think it's disgraceful Simpson even allowed him back on the ground. Not even just for the unfairness of the situation (Fremantle being a player down) but for the personal safety of Gaff thereafter. Not to mention his mental health! Any responsible coach would've pulled the pin as soon as he saw Gaff in tears, despondent on the bench. Just my opinion of course.

Sure if he was taking a swipe directly at his employer. Here is Campbell Brown's reply.

You're right, we are such a soft society for thinking that punching someone and breaking teeth and jaws is not worthy of severe punishment. We should ease up on domestic violence, one punch strikes and drink driving too. Soft!

Just being a good scout and keeping an eye on the enemy. Staying two moves ahead. Feel free to come back next week to see all the intel I have gathered.

He is a first year player who has exceeded all expectations from when he was drafted in terms of the impact he would have in his first year. He will be a better player in 2019 for the experience in 2018. Agree that he will need to bulk up over the offseason but I have confidence that with another full preseason this will occur. Very happy with Sparticus this year.

Odd feeling of feeling very sad for Gaff and that justice has been served at the same time.

I've been meaning to do this during the year mainly to keep track of opposition teams with injuries or players coming back for our games. Usually I wouldn't have done this thread so early still being a few weeks away but with GWS' injury announcements today I thought I'd pull the trigger. My plan during the year was to open the thread a week or 2 before the game to track the injuries or returning players. They always seem to return for our games. MFCSS I guess.

Don't jump the gun. AFLX and JLT first.

Gaff has flown to Melbourne for several reasons; 1. To front up to the tribunal like a good man and accept his punishment and give his apologies; 2. To meet with the Dees and tell them he is coming next year and discuss his guernsey number. 3. To play golf with Angus and Jonesy and discuss club chores for 2019, and 4. To hang out with The Bugg. Oh! and; 5. Tell north he ain’t coming.

He and the umpire touched chins

I see Jayden Hunt had 21 disposals, 5 inside 50s and 7 tackles from the weekends game.. Surely would have to come under serious consideration due to Sydneys small forwards?

Something for all of us to say “TMac isn’t going down back full time, TMac isn’t going down back full time, TMac isn’t going down back full time...” He might be used as a lose and sneak down occasionally when needed to clog up space but he is a full time fwd now.

Hardly a Brayshaw free club...

Nothing solid. Just the usual media linking an uncontracted ex-Victorian interstate player with a few Melbourne based clubs with "room" in the cap. We're one of those clubs. As usual a lot of wishful thinking on here that he is a shoe in to come to us. North, Saints & Blues also a chance.

Undoubtably shows he has more empathy than his coach and club

?

Except for that annoying itch downstairs.

4 changes to a team virtually unchanged for a month who just won by 16 goals. You have to be kidding

He swung a punch spontaneously- he wouldn’t have had time to think about where it may have landed. A poor defence. The fact that landed where it did and caused the damage that it did makes him culpable whatever the supposed intention. He has forfeited the right to play again this year - but I hope he is allowed to move on after he’s served his time.

What happens in Thailand, stays in Thailand Steve

You thought we'd lose to Gold Coast

I have the utmost respect for the guy, when Leigh speaks I listen. But I was pretty put out by what he said about this to be frank. Saying that this will have a longer term effect on Gaff than it will Brayshaw is just plain ignorant in my opinion. You can't be making that comment if you have not been in the victim's position, not to mention when the victim has had his face re-arranged and might never be the same. He could have all sorts of long term mental effects in future that Leigh would have no idea about. I respect him showing sympathy for Gaff in this tough time but few know what Brayshaw is going through.

Breaking News from Mark Stevens: Federal Police spotted at airport! Absolute peanut.

Comments are great.

Feds always have a presence at Tulla airport. Isn't it their domain? #stevoshitstirrer

Make no mistake Sydney will be up and about after a win like that. Return to form for Buddy and back training, Jack and McVeigh will be better for the run, so too Alex Johnson plus the potential ins of Hannebery and Rohan. I actually feel more confident of beating WCE now than I do Sydney.

I heard from my contacts in the WCE inner sanctum that Gaff might miss our round 22 clash resulting from an incident with Andrew Brayshaw on Sunday. Apparently it is pretty serious. Watch this space.

And to read this thread from first to last post

My lord Trac seems like an annoying bloke.

How nice was this to hear!

He’s playing his role well as a decoy forward.

40.16 for the year, 4 goals against Collingwood, 6.0 in the Geelong loss. But yep, let’s throw all that away and make him a defender again because his radar was a bit off in the first game he hasn’t kicked a goal in all season.

Because we have O Mac and Frost as key defenders.

No one would deserve as much credit as him and PJ. Still can’t believe what they have built. I couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel until Roos was appointed

While this is just a snippet, I have never seen the level of camaraderie in the AFL that is currently being displayed by our key young crop. From memory, the Gus/Trac bromance moved onto Clarry after the initial display. Time will tell, but I'm not sure that the importance of this bond can be understated. They've probably played less than 20 games together as a unit. Is Goodwin the right guy thread is where this video belongs.

I think the idea of Vanders is better than the reality unfortunately, I know it was his first senior game in 2 years, but he got turned inside out a number of times against an ordinary gc side allowing the ball to come out of the 50 much to easily. It also doesn’t appear his kicking on the run has improved in his time out either, this is the same reason people get frustrated with Bugg, ANB and Kent. He also got caught out a a few times with the ball but I think that will improve as he gets used to the pace. On a positive note I do like his size around the contest particularly running though packs and creating a bit of chaos

Well done Trac. You can ‘move’ people / supporters who are off the ground - to emotion - as you will do on field. Are you lot seriously claiming he’s an annoyance just because he has the heart and wisdom to share his elation? Get real. We’re humans and not robots. This kid is responding to his feelings and wanting to share and be inclusive. If you think that’s strange or not warranted go and do some couch time. Trac - go and annoy the hell out of all of em. You’re the RDB of this era wrapped up as a renaissance man. Bromance lives - it doesn’t mean a lack of strength or something worthy of ridicule. It’s simply a male human being enjoying his mates.

Credit must go to Jade Rawlings - Gus, Tyson and Garlett have emerged much better players following their stint at Casey. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him get a senior job.

I agree, I don't think Gaff went out and thought "I'm gonna smash his jaw and break his teeth coz he's being a pest to me". I think he thought "you're an annoying [censored] I'm gonna hit ya a little because I'm having a brain fade moment and oh [censored] I just smashed you really hard and I am screwed". I feel for both of them, but bloody hell you look at poor Andrew and you just feel sick. To hear his mum was crying in the rooms just breaks your heart, when you think what Gus went through and that she has another kid in the army. I heard on radio this morning that she'd had to take on some counselling to help her deal with the Gus situation, and now this. FFS my heart really breaks for her! This will no doubt have long lasting ramifications on Gaff, his confident, his demeanour, the way he is perceived by the wider footy community, and no doubt his future and asking price. I would still welcome him to our club, but as stated previously, I would hope the club looks into the mental impact this will have on Gaff, on Gus (I'm sure he will be OK with it) and as a general look for our club. We were very hard on Bugg and he has barely played since (although he is a poor player which doesn't help), so how do we proceed should we get Gaff without looking hypocritical?

While we’re there, Hogan can line up at CHB and Garlett can assume the role of lock down defender in the back pocket. TMac is now a forward. A gun forward.