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As if we needed another reason to love and respect Big Benny, he's refusing to have his image used in betting ads. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/high-profile-players-refuse-to-play-ball-on-afl-betting-ads-20230228-p5cobo.html

Maybe they’re waiting for scans before making us all panic? Anyone who doesn't think Jack is a huge loss is kidding themselves. He is an A grade midfielder and our VC. Not as easy to replace as we think.

Agree. And he has had his first uninterrupted preseason ever i think (he got though most, but i don't think all of the sessions last year). So looks in ripping shape. His kicking improved heaps last year - but looked to have gone to another level against the saints, with more penetration and depth, which is probably a function of having an uninterrupted preseason. It makes him much more dangerous and impactful. At least he has completed the big Jan-Feb training block and so has his fitness base down.

Staggering that people still underrate Viney. Intensity, on-field leadership, hardness. 10/10 in all three. Watch the first bounce of the GF for a reminder This is a blow, however if it does not have any ongoing issues for him, then I'll take this now, rather than round 22

Seems like Jack Viney is underrated by a majority. He is a big loss, so hopefully it's not long term. Gus spent a majority of the match sim off half back, so he could now spend most of his time in the middle. And it could also lock in Judd McVee for round 1, and maybe Rivers gets some midfield time.

Since when is Jack Viney easily replaced? and by whom….

The TV networks probably claimed the same thing about cigarette advertising back in the day. I've worked in the betting industry and I'm a keen punter, but I find the betting advertising over the top. The ads aren't directed at long time punters like myself and my mates, they're directed at new punters who are primarily kids. And I've seen the pitfalls 1st hand of underage gambling.

People don’t notice Jack, because he is so often at the bottom of a Pack, feeding the ball out

Absolutely disagree. His hardness and leadership are irreplaceable.

Good points. Would less revenue really hurt the game that much though? I feel like 16 year old Clayton Oliver would still pursue footy if he thought he’d make 500k a year, and not 700k a year. The players realistically don’t have a comparable sport, and they’d still be well looked after. The gambling money needs to go away in my view. An umpire was giving betting information to his mates. What more do we need to see before we realise it’s corrupted the game, as well as become a huge cultural problem?

Man of the ages. A true leader and worth another donation.

I’ve been watching tonight’s practice matches and have noticed that the music blaring after goals has returned. I absolutely hate it. The MCG did away with it, but then it started to creep back at the end of last year. Are we stuck with this [censored] now? It’s so unnecessary. Adds nothing to the game. Our crowds generate the atmosphere. Get rid of it. It’s garbage

Too late. I have locked myself in the bathroom.

backflip? Seriously Jack was on fire in the training sessions I attended. He was also on fire in the middle of last season in our big win against Brisbane at the MCG in June when he was captain in Max's absence: https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_match_statistics?mid=10664 In addition to his trademark aggressive tackling, he showed some incredible agility in that match - changing direction at high speed and leaping over fallen players to win possession. It was the best I've seen him play in years. Clearly he was hampered by some injury in the latter part of the season and wasn't a shadow of the player he can be in the finals. I'm very hopeful that his great preseason sets him up to play at his best this year and this knee injury is just a small hiccup.

Put simply, LJ’s manager was never negotiating with us to stay and apparently Kozzie’s is. That is a big difference and probably what leads to some confidence from the club he will stay. 🤞

Let's not let facts get in the way of a good ol' fashioned Demonland Mass Panic(TM) 😀

Trac was just on SEN with Whately. Sounds like he won’t be one of the players rested for this weekend and is looking forward to the game. Said he had butterflies last week for the first time in his career with respect to a practice match. I know words are just words but it sounds like they mean business this year and are looking for atonement. They also reflected on the amount of leads they blew last year and looking at ways on how to halt momentum of the opposition. A shorter pre season between 2021-2022 was also a negative factor. Fair to say the Dogs didn’t exactly shoot the lights out last year with their shorter break. Trac said he felt mentally refreshed after having the opportunity to head overseas this past summer. And credit to Whately for asking a Kozzie question that didn't revolve around his contract status.

Jack Viney doesn’t read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

Yep, much bigger than Jackson and others. Much more emotion, more love. It’s going to be very painful as this plays out all season not knowing if he is staying or going. If he goes, it will be a huge blow to all fans particularly the kids. Really tough. A little bit of me will die.

Club doesn’t think he will miss round 1. So either way it doesn’t sound terrible.

I know it leaves a space for other mids, but! There is not a same for same replacement. No-one goes as hard as Jack. Who is going to get under the pack? He seems to have set himself for a big year, training hard, setting examples for the young ones. He can turn games in our favour. I was believing he could be our B&F this year. (Yes, ahead of Tracc, Clarry and Max) A full preseason interrupted at the last hurdle. Great it is not foot related.

Ben still needs to be congratulated for taking a stand on the issue. It’s pernicious and a corruptive influence on all professional sport. Just look at horse racing. However, your point about whether Ben and all AFL players would be prepared to accept lower salaries is valid. There is no easy answer to this question. However, it does require a total industry stance. An agreement initiated by the AFL supported by the clubs and the players. There needs to be a collective agreement that other forms of revenue need to be pursued to maintain revenue streams. Also an understanding that in the short term there will be less money from betting advertising. However, the stance taken by many clubs on eliminating pokies shows that positive action on gambling can take place. It may not be possible to achieve a solution but it is possible to reduce the reliance on gambling revenue. It is important for the long term health of the competition. Unless something is done, you can guarantee there will be future betting scandals that will engulf the sport and damage its image and credibility. In its way, the issue is a microcosm of society. The whole planet needs to do more with less. The planet cannot sustain a continuation of greed and avarice at all levels. And AFL footy will implode long term unless urgent action is taken to eliminate or at a minimum reduce its reliance on gambling revenue. Once fans start doubting the honesty and integrity of the competition, the sport is doomed.

I hope so much this catches on across the league. It could kill betting advertising in the comp.

The MRI machine was going to show some damage... then Jack made it cry All good no damage 👹

I have always regarded James Brayshaw as an astute judge of all things football and any comments apparently made by me to the contrary weren't really because my account was hacked.

What a coincidence! It's mine too!

Pickett would also be twice the loss Jackson was. Not because I don't think Jackson will go on to have a wonderful career, but because Pickett is a special player who holds a lot of space in the heart of Melbourne fans. Losing him would be akin to when we lost Farmer, who was a cult figure amongst Dees fans. Short of losing Oliver or Trac, which thankfully is nothing we have to worry about for 7 more years, I can't think of another player I would be sadder to see go... maybe Fritta.

Pay kozzie whatever he wants. Yes, he really is that good and worth it alone on marketing for our junior supporters. Never have I had such an emotional attachment to a player since Liam Jurrah and Jeff Farmer.

It could be media spin from Richo, to sooth the MFCSS of some, but I hazard a guess that it was just a knock and he is missing through precaution more than anything

Viney was already set to play slightly more forward in a midfield that featured more Pickett, Sparrow and the occasional Rivers rotation. If he does miss time then Harmes comes in and takes a chunk of Viney’s on ball minutes and probably a fraction Sparrow and Petracca more on ball covers the rest. That really shouldn’t be a significant change in results for home and away games. Winning without multiple parts our full quota of best 22 really should be part of the plan this year so we’re fresher for finals.

Looks like the membership website now has a 2023 Membership figure. 48,060

Who are you tipping this week? Oh yeah they're just practice matches. For the doom and gloom woe is us types look how much longer the Bulldogs have to prepare for our Round 1 clash. 3 FULL HOURS!!!!!!!. Free kick Bulldogs!!!!

Hate it with a burning passion

I was disappointed that Jackson left, but devastated is the word I would use if Kozzy left. He is such a special player and brings so much joy watching him play.

Well, now what do we do if we need an approaching asteroid knocked off its course?

Love this line “While he will miss this weekend’s practice match against Richmond, we don’t anticipate him to be further impacted ahead of the season.”

LISTEN HERE

Onya Benny. I despise Betting Ads…

The major sporting bodies claim that they do. They are arguing that their earnings from broadcast rights will be less if the TV networks have their betting advertising reduced. I suspect that claim is right. So, the question becomes not just a moral one but a business one. Are we as supporters prepared to accept a competition with less revenue which either has to be replaced (eg, higher membership or ground entry costs) or there has to be a reduction in costs (most likely to be borne by reduced payments to players). Or a mix of both, of course. When that becomes the choice, do people still want greater restrictions on betting advertising? Fair enough if they do, but it has to be understood that it comes with a cost. My position: I don't bet. But I also don't have a problem with the advertising. I find it easy to ignore.

Absolutely. If you have a 7 foot Gawn standing up forward, all of a sudden you need to always have an extra body near by. That means someone like Fritsch, who is by far our best forward, is harder to double team. Gawn is not the best kick, but he is an elite mark. You would worry having him behind the ball or in front of it. It's why club spend so much time trying to hit him at every contest. They know it's basically impossible to stop him for 100% of the game. Now add in Grundy, who at his peak was as good as Gawn (well I don't think he was, but some do), and suddenly you have to plan to play 2 rucks, or concede the centre square ruck contests, or plan for an additional tall defender to man one of Gawn or Grundy when they are resting forward. Most clubs don't want to carry an extra tall into games unless that tall is a really good player. Otherwise they are often a liability and rob you for additional mid rotations which are so important in today's two way defensive game.

I'm not letting this go just yet. I just did a Google search and cannot find anything from any journalists reporting that they'd heard Pickett wants to go to Port, or was considering it, or doesn't like Melbourne, other than articles forming part of the AFL Trade Radio circle jerk (i.e. raising it because it was raised on Trade Radio). Again, I'm not suggesting it's impossible that Port (or any other club for that matter) might be interested, but so far all I can see is that Kane Cornes said it one time on Trade Radio and has been peddling it ever since, and everything seems to be flowing from there. Given his obvious Port link/bias, I'd be interested in seeing any other journalist/media person who claims to have heard the same thing, not just repeating what was on Trade Radio.

Mundy was one of their best players last year, as were Acres and Lobb, while Logue was a decent contributor and malleable player I’m death riding them HARD

My mail is that the club have offered Kozzy up to 5 spots on the list for family and friends if he stays. Unfortunately he’ll probably never play again, for any club - too traumatised after losing his housemates. Anyone who’s lived in a share-house knows how devastating that can be, and most people never recover.

I reckon Laurie has some talent. He is at roughly the same position that JJ and Sparrow were at after 2 years on the list. And he has come into a premiership team Give him some more time

Raw numbers are pointless to look at now. The saints were selling $1 memberships last year. It’s about revenue. It’s about selling out Trident, Redlegs, et al. I think we do pretty well with that.

Bedford wanted to go, for more opportunity. Melbourne attempted to play hardball on the trade. Kossie is an out of town kid who lost the two closest people to him in the club: I think it would be naive to think that the club wouldn’t be thinking of ways to bolster his personal network in Melbourne to make him feel more at home here. I don’t believe that’d be the sole reason they go after Henry but I am sure it would help the argument.

Laurie doesn’t look like an athlete, but both he and Bowey were drafted for allegedly being the best decision makers/kicks in their draft - despite not being physically what you’d expect of an AFL player. I’ve seen glimpses of the decision making and neat kicking from Laurie at VFL level. I think he’s competing with guys like Spargo and Sparrow who have it over him for fitness. I think they will give Laurie time to improve his fitness but if he can’t get to the required level then he will be in trouble.

Seriously though, can you identify any other smoke? I haven't heard anyone say "I've got mail that Pickett's thinking of leaving" other than Cornes. Doesn't mean there hasn't been anyone else, I just haven't heard it. And it doesn't count if people are just talking about it. I'm of the view that Cornes is making a mountain out of a molehill because it suits him and his Port Adelaide link/bias. He only needs one line (the whole "he doesn't love Melbourne the city" thing) and then just starts talking about it as if it's serious/confirmed/going to happen.

Im with you. I was very excited to see something from JVR - but was left a little disappointed. Didn't have high expectations either - just a few clean grabs and a snag would have done it (in seniors game). I just saw one assist and a few follow up tackles. He's just a 2nd year at that, so ill cut him some slack, but dont get what all the hype has been about him during pre-season. Laurie is bordering on a failure. He needs something special this year to turn his career around or face being delisted/traded.