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How exciting will it be to do a best 23 instead of a best 22. It's got the tent up.

I'd rather he went to The Goal Kicking Performance Centre

I'm waiting for the coaches to start wingeing about how unfair it is if they get an injury early on and are one man down. ...so then we will get a 5 man bench and injury sub. ...but then the cry will be about how some are abusing it and it's not fair. ...then we will go to a 6 man bench. ....but then. Anyway, you get the idea.

Really like the way this Petracca bloke moves, treadmill or no treadmill. Looks like he's been going at it for a while in this session, and isn't it great to see him operating this way - hammer and tongs - at this stage of the next season. This bloke does not compete with his mate Clarrie, he just ensures that he is in the best possible condition that he can be and takes it all on (including the physical testing) from his own inspiration and volition. Gotta admire his inputs to our Club; professional endeavour and focus. Onyer, Tracca!

Poor Jake severely challenged by injury throughout 2022, his stats were way down on his usual form but still managed to play a role in defence. He looked so sore at the end of games. One tough cookie is our “Rick”, looking forward to seeing him fit, healthy and back to his deadly best in 2023.!!!

Just in case the Australian Taxation Office is monitoring Demonland, clearly Petracca was not on a holiday at all. His travel costs were entirely directed toward high performance training with this photo the proof.

So, one option being suggested is that the "concussion sub" be replaced with someone called a "tactical sub". Apart from the change of name, how would a tactical sub be any different from the red vest/green vest sub used a few years ago which essentially everyone didn't like? I suspect the 5 man interchange will be the decision because it's what the coaches have always wanted. What matters more, though, is whether there is an increase in the total number of interchanges allowed (is it 75 at the moment?) If the AFL keeps the number of rotations at whatever the number is now (or even reduces that number), I don't really see much harm in replacing the sub with a fifth interchange. Having said that, though, I'm still in favour of massive reductions in rotations overall. Something like 20 per game would be better. It should open up the game and leave the best players on the ground longer. It should also provide forwards with better chances (because there will be less likelihood of onballers be able to defend space as effectively in front of the forwards). We might even see the return of the 100 goal a year key forward.

The failure of straight sets will drive this group and coaching staff to never experience that feeling again.

i'd keep 4 interchange, no subs and reduce interchanges to 50 this would reduce 2-way running and congestion, opening the game up more and allowing the more skilful players to entertain us with their skills. ball ups would be reduced. tackling reduced and scoring increased. the game would be a better spectacle. coaches would initially hate it but they'd soon change and embrace it.

I hate the sub rule, so this is a good change. I still think we will need to plan for Gawn and Grundy to play a high percentage of game time on the ground at the same time.

James Jordon to become the answer to quiz questions in future.

I'm assuming we tried over the trade period with no buyers. If we can't get a top 5 pick with a swap of futures then there is absolutely no point, especially in this draft. It was harder this year to achieve a move up into the top 5 given the Jackson deal happened relatively late so we didn't know what we were dealing with and by that time oppo clubs would have been busy making plans of their own. Next year we'll be on the front foot from the start of trade period with any bottom dwelling sides who need points for academy players/father sons. Gold Coast for instance have multiple high-end academy prospects coming through so they'd be a good club to deal with. One draft haul can change the future and fortunes of your club and I can really see us using next year's draft period to bring in another crop of super high end talent.

I think Charlie suffered from our lack of tall forwards this year. With our forward line performing poorly, Charlie (and ANB) were up the ground much more often, and therefore delivering into the 50 not kicking as many goals. On paper he actually had a "better year" statistically. More disposals, pressure acts, meters gained. More "shots at goal plus inside 50s" in 2022 than 2021. 2022: 11.8 disposals, 2.8 i50, 1.1 shots at goal, 4.2 score involvements, 2.4 tackles (1.0 i50), 4.0 marks (0.4 i50), 11.5 PAs, 195 m gained 2021 11.5 disposals, 2.2 i50, 1.6 shots at goal, 4.4 score involvements, 2.4 tackles (1.0 i50), 3.4 marks (0.7 i50), 10.8 PAs, 187 m gained

I deserve a lifetime membership to Dan Murphy’s after my contribution to their bottom line that evening

Almost related to that is my nephew's footy experiences when he was 11 years old. Each kid in the team was made feel welcome, was encouraged to do their best (no matter how bad their respective footballing skills might have been), and many other accolades of good sportsmanship and responsible adult coaching - that included well-behaved mums and dads, and other family members who came along to watch 'Neddy' play in the team. For example, barracking amongst the parents was not encouraged lest an outcry or two 'hurt' someone's feelings, and family spectators were reminded that verbal abuse to opponents and the umpires set poor examples for the children involved in what was in most cases, their first 'team' and competitive venture into sport of any kind. So, one of the worthy traditions of the club was that each week, three of the players 'won' a small trophy each to compliment a good performance and excellent behaviours, as encouraged. It was a gesture deep in the realms of sociological good manners and effective participation in a meaningful, disciplined engagement with sport (in this case, it encouraged good sportsmanship and respect for others no matter what were the circumstances on the day. This rotated around the team across the full fixture for the year; every player won 'a trophy'. When my nephew won his trophy for 'excellence' on the sporting field, the team actually won the game. The only problem was he had a bad cold, a consequence of which his mum and dad kept him at home that Saturday morning. In other words, he won the trophy without being in the team and not even turning up at the ground!

Bring back the 19th and 20th man. These were my specialist positions in under 12s.

100% agree that injury really took it's toll on Lever. How many games did he go off injured only to hobble out the remainder of the game? Tearing his plantar fascia on the eve of the season didn't exactly set him up for success either. A key barometer to our defence. I can't recall too many good wins when he's had a poor game, and vice versa - rare that he's had a terrific game in a loss compared to say a May who has played really well in losses (Sydney final on Buddy) The highlight of his season was that central kick against Carlton with 30 seconds left which was too hot for Motlop to handle and then led to the Kozzie winning goal. Showed genuine football smarts in a severely pressurised situation.

Nothing wrong with a 4 man bench (or 3 man bench for that matter). It's a tough game - injuries happen - bad luck. Less players on the bench means that players need to be more versatile and coaches more innovative, which is a good thing in my eyes. The alternative is that we go to the extremes of the NFL and dress a player and his direct replacement every game.

Viv Stanshall was a genius!! I was fortunate enough to see him a few times when he had a residency at a pub in London’s Fulham in 1975. 50p entry and he had musicians like Steve Winwood and the sax player from the Dark Side of the Moon album (can’t recall his name), playing with him. He would begin his show by opening a French horn case full of bottles of cider, that he would consume over the course of the evening at which point he’d be on the verge of collapse. Sadly, a few years later in 1995, he died in a fire aged just 51. There is a movie in which he appears, that is based on one of his writings that had been serialised on radio, called Sir Henry At Rawlinson End… it’s a brilliant piece of absurdist humour. The Bonzos also appeared briefly in the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour movie, performing their song Death Cab For Cutie.

But schnitzel is Austrian...make it bratwurst sautéed in onions and horseradish with a little Dusseldorf mustard to accompany. :-)

The Red Bull nutritionist recommends schnitzel und strudel.

The Hard Ons are still going around, now with Tim Rodgers on vocals. One of the guitarists in my band, Ged Corben, was originally with the Lime Spiders and later, with his brother, formed the Cruel Sea. I’ve never been much into metal, but have a lot of time for Ministry. Over the years I’d got to see Lemmy with Hawkwind (awful band), the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, the 101ers (Joe Strummers first band before The Clash), Kilburn and the High Roads (Ian Drury’s first band) and numerous others, but the show that stands out most for me, was getting to see Tim Buckley live at Knebworth in the UK… on a bill with The Allman Brothers and others.

Like he said as an 18 yo, I want to be the best in the league.!!

Hair line fracture must be ok 🤞

ROUND 2 21. GWS - Harry Barnett - Ruck - 202cm 93kg The best ruck in the pool, Barnett is an impressive athlete and strong contested grab, showing potential as a Key defender. 22. West Coast - Darcy Jones - Mid - 175cm 67kg Explosive midfeilder who, despite his size, has a strong contested game and is good in traffic. May start his career as a small forward before getting midfield time at AFL level. 23. Bulldogs - Jacob Konstanty - Small Forward - 176cm 70kg High pressure forward who applies great defensive pressure while constantly hitting the scoreboard. Should pair up well with Weightman who is more of a lead up small. 24. Essendon - Henry Hustwaite - Tall Mid - 194cm 84kf Essendon finally acquire a big bodied midfielder. While not a quick or powerful player, Hustwaite finds time and space and has great agility for a player his size and has neat disposal. 25. North - Max Gruzewski -193cm 84kg One of the big question marks of the draft for me. Shows enormous potential with amazing overhead marking ability. Has played a mix of back and forward and think the Kangaroos will need to look at a tall consider a tall here given their recent drafting. 26. Essedon - Alwyn Davey - Small Forward - 181cm 77kg - (matched f/s bid) - Essendon get a gift and happily match a bid with Davey sneaking past their first pick. 27. Hawthorn - Lachlan Cowen - Medium defender - 188cm 81kg Running half back that has a booming kick and good defensive traits. Hawks have taken multiple mid/forwards in recent draft so have gone for the defender here. 28. Collingwood - Charlie Clarke - Mid/forward - 182cm 75kg A player I wouldn't be surprised to see taken in the first round. Strong contested forward with speed. 29. West Coast - Coby Burgial - Mid/forward - 183cm 80kg Would have happily taken Burgial earlier in the draft but couldn't find a spot I was happy with. Yet another mid forward with speed. 30. Collingwood - Adam D'Aloia - Mid - 186cm 86kg Adam is as credentialed and consistent as they come as a contested inside mid with solid defensive traits. Appeared 7 times at SANFL reserves level including finals where he acquitted himself well. 31. St Kilda - Mitch Szybkowski - Mid - 186cm 86kg Contested inside mid that may help ease the load on Steele. 32. Adelaide - Max Michaelanney - 190cm 78kg - (matched f/s bid) Adelaide commited to matching a bid for the 192cm defender. 33. Carlton - James Van Es - Key Defender - 197cm 99kg Don't rate Carltons key defensive stocks outside of Weitering. Van Es provides strong intercept ability as well as stregth in the contest one on one. 34. Freemantle - Isaac Keeler - Ruck/Forward - 198cm 88kg After loosing some talls in Lobb Louge and Meek, Freemantle could opt for a a developing ruck/forward that has some of the most upside potential in the draft. Question marks over his contested ability. 35. GWS - Harry Rowston - Mid - 182cm 78kg Suspect this will be their last selection and have gone with their NGA product who can develop as another midfielder. 36. St Kilda - Cooper Vickery - Medium Defender - 181cm 72kg Has great speed and intercept ability and uses the ball well and racks up large numbers, covering the ground well with plenty of run from defense. 37. Port - Jaidon Magor - Mid/forward - 184cm 75kg Will admit I haven't seen much of this player, but have read plenty and is getting huge wraps as a powerful mid forward that hits the scoreboard. kicked 21 goals in 10 games. Power may see a spot for the local product in the forward half with Butters to spend more midfield time, Gray retiring and Dylan Williams not coming on as expected and now delisted. 38. Melbourne - Sam Gilbey - Medium Defender - 187cm 73kg What to do with the Dees last pick. I have ended up siding with the Medium defender with exceptional footskills out of WA. A broken leg has ended his season early and may impact his start to pre-season. Will add depth to the defenders department that has lost Hunt and with Hibberd in presumably his final year. Other players I considered in the mix at some point in the first 2 rounds. Blake Drury, Jakob Ryan, Hugh Bond, Toby McMullin, Phoenix Foster, Kobe Ryan, Harvey Gallagher, Luke Teal, Ted Clohesy, Jonti Schuback, Jackson Binns, Archie Lovelock, Max Knobel, Harry Lemmey

Not sure why you're face palming this comment @Rhino Richards considering how it's an actual known fact.

Oliver Hollands is the one for me - likely to be around about when we make our first selection at pick 14.

Why? The purpose of the sub was so club's weren't disadvantaged if a player was concussed. Then they just changed it to if a player was injured. Now it will just be an additional interchange so we're back to where we started but with a 5 man interchange. Next they'll need a sub for concussed/injured players so will be a 5 man interchange + 1 sub. And on and on it goes. It's ridiculous, they should be limiting the interchange not expanding it.

That is a pretty good summary of events - not sure anyone is trying to rewrite history based on the fact that LJ has left the building Even before he left many people on this board would have differing views on how much or how little his influence was in the 3rd quarter of the GF Based on your summary and my own observations I think it's fair to say he was one of a number of players that lifted us to a level we haven't seen before. Was he the most influential - I'd say definitely not but he was good like a lot of his mates during that period I'm still really disappointed he left and personally I can't see Grundy offering us more than LJ could in seasons to come. No doubt Grundy is a good footballer, particularly if he can overcome any ongoing injury concerns but if I had a choice, I'd certainly stick with LJ for his ability to jump, his mobility to get to contests, compete as an extra midfielder and his "potential" as a dangerous tall forward. I've been watching a few games of Grundy as a pie, and he seems to really struggle to jump off the ground and his agility/mobility generally is nowhere near as good as LJ

Congrats to Gillard, well deserved Another milestone: That brings Kate into the top 5 alongside and ahead of some players who get lots more kudos. Check out 17th - Duffy! Very respectable average. And 18th, our old friend Scott - she's revived form to kick 7 for Geelong this season, good for her. .