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Tonight Brett Rosebury breaks the record for umpiring the most AFL games when he runs out for the 503rd time. I know it's not specifically a Melbourne Demons post, but without umpires, we don't have a game. Reading the article reminds me that for every new or changed rule that our players need to learn, so, too, do the umpires who we expect to get it right first time and every time. So, congratulations Brett Rosebury. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-04/afl-umpire-brett-rosebury-creates-history-with-most-games/102684112

On the roos equivalent of dl, there's probably a very meta thread about the what they are saying arden st thread on dl that has devolved into a thread about high end whiskey, which as they rightly suggest could only happen on mfc related forum.

As @SFebes has said, Clarrie’s due back vs the Blues. Tonight I’ll be at Casa De Frittata and should Fritta Jnr pop by I’ll ask him to confirm. Can’t guarantee that though, if he comes late in the evening there’s every chance I’ll be hammered and won’t remember a thing he’s said. 😜

David King on Sen just hauled Cornes over the coals for his comments around this incident. Said if it was any other club Cornes would have come down on them like a tonne of bricks (100% true imo). Went hard at him. Well played Kingy. Turns out the club doctor is a close friend of Cornes. All he had to do was state this upfront and decline to comment on the matter. Nothing wrong with standing by a mate. Nobody expects an objective comment if talking about personal friends so best not to comment at all.

I'm torn on that front, in the sense that i'm of the view that wherever possible any penalties should be clear prior to the infraction, not post the event. Sometimes that may not be possible if the infraction is totally random or impossible to predict it might occur. Can't really think of an example, but this is 100% not one of them. Players being allowed to come back on after being concussed because the club doc okays it has been a risk that has been discussed ad infinitum ever since the concussion protocols came in. That is at the heart of the discussion about taking it out of the club's hands and have an AFL doc make the call. So there should have been clear schedule of penalties in place PRIOR to the Allir incident. That way they have the investigation and apply the appropriate penalty - just as is the case with the MRO. And in my opinion the ONLY penalty that will have any deterrent effect is loss of premiership points. Using the Alir example that might have been worth a loss of 4 points, with 4 points suspended to add to any future infractions (for say 5 years). Does anyone seriously believe if such a penalty was in place that Port wouldn't have 100% made sure a SCATT test was done? I'm not shocked that the AFL hasn't come out and said NOW, going forward any such infraction will cost premiership points. Why? because their governance of the game is all over the shop. A question for the AFL. What happens if a very similar scenario happens this weekend? Let's say a team on the bubble of making the finals doesn't do a test on a player that gets a glancing head knock, that player comes back on and later it become clear that player had been concussed. Is the penalty 100k (with half in the soft cap) because that is what Port copped? Would any other penalty be fair? Given making finals might mean at least 100k in additional revenue, is a 100k fine actually a deterrent in that scenario?

Given the abuse and derision the umpires have to put up with, that's a great record and excellent service. He must have a hide of steel.

Where has the Players "AFLPA" been in all this. I have not heard a word from them.

So Port handed a $100,000 fine, but read this nonsense: "$50,000 of the fine will be included in Port Adelaide's football department soft cap, with the remainder to sit outside the cap unless the club commits a similar breach of concussion protocols before the end of the AFL and AFLW seasons in 2024." So they're allowed to [censored] up again, it'll just be a $50k hit to the soft cap. Are you [censored] kidding me? The AFL are an utter joke. Power cops huge fine over concussion protocols error - https://www.afl.com.au/news/993091

A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush. No way jvr is part of the conversation for the no 1 pick. I don’t care how good this Reid kid.

Harmes played quite well last week 19 possessions 4 clearances & 4 tackles So rightfully rewarded by the MC

Second spot is well and truly up for grabs. Cannot understand the calls for resting players.

They have no concern about this game. They’re talking whiskey for gods sake. We are a joke! 😂

Have l opened the wrong thread???

JVR isn’t in any trade scenario. It’s been discussed in this thread already, but the plan would be we trade up to Gold Coasts first pick (currently 5), as they need more points to match bids for their 3 first round academy players this year. We trade them 15, 22, 34 and any loose change for outgoing players. That gives them more points they need and we get pick 5. We then trade 4 and 5 to West Coast for 1. West coast need as many top kids as possible for their rebuild. They’ll use 4 to draft local Curtain and another top talent. We draft Reid. That scenario everyone is a winner.

This ^ Completely unnecessary for Richmond to play on a Friday after a Sunday game. Why?

Takes a lot out of teams trying to go with the dees. And in the tigers case tonight, a five day break compounds that (short breaks really do have a massive impact - which makes our early season form even more impressive given how many we had of them)

He actually needs it for fitness. My guess is he will be the chosen sub for the remainder of the season, and we will persevere with Tomlinson because we need three talls down back. But he’s been sub too long and with yet another Casey bye, this is a good week to give him a full game for some fitness and touch. I really like what Smith has brought in the sub role, but the reality is that he’s an unreliable full time defender. Tomlinson is a slow meat and potato defender, but we know what he gives us. Smith is all over the place and I think May and Lever need the predictability of Tomlinson in finals. Smith being sub also allows us to throw Petty back in case of emergency and put Smith forward, should we see a forward get off the leash in a final on Tomlinson. If however we do choose to play Smith as a permanent third tall defender, I would think we need to bring back Hibbo for that last line of defense goal side reliability that we will lack with Smith.

No Cunnington for them is a plus! Always tears us a new one.

'They could care less about how to contain larkey, they're too busy arguing about Japanese whiskey v Scottish whiskey, and whether the 2003 range rover could be considered a classic'

Why even mention JVR’s name in these trade scenarios? Ridiculous. One of the last players we can afford to give up, especially for a mid.

monetary fines mean very little at the end of the day

Trump logic is not to stick with anyone.

Woey going out is unlucky imv Harmesy still in (for now) is lucky JJ didn’t keep up his required standard so very vulnerable again Hibbo deserves to come back but we are already ok for defensive structure. Spargo fell over in 2 contested play events and did an undisciplined act to gift Willy a free goal. His goal from outside 50 with a 5 goal breeze behind him was good but not excellent. Didn’t do enough to warrant return to 1sts.

I think mick mcguane misunderstood the loading memo

I think it's a great move putting Joel in there this week and he's really earned the opportunity. Hard work pays off.

And how about that Jake Melksham! What a turnaround in form that many here probably couldn't see (including myself) He's a dangerous commodity in that forward pocket/flank and opposition coaches would be damn concerned about his opportunism and silky skills Him on one side of the forward line and Fritsch (on his return) on the other side is what I'd like to see in operation There's no way Jake makes way for Bayley ... they both play as part of a medium sized forward line (along with Petracca) as well as the talls and smalls chiming in Beat that, Collingwood!

Purely on form Michael Hibberd "deserves" to be the sub for this game. Although, there could be a sneaky chance that Simon Goodwin pulls a surprise and makes Brodie Grundy the sub to give Max Gawn a bit of a rest in the game. I guess we shall wait and see what happens? 🤷🏼‍♂️

If he'd kicked 2 of those 3 shots on goal most would be screaming his praises

Tomlinson, Woey out Sparrow, Smith in Glad Petty retains his spot on the bench 😂

I can only imagine the players are in fantastic nick, relatively speaking for August. You wouldn't imagine Goodwin and company would be that stupid to allow history to repeat.

This wet lettuce penalty will deter absolutely no club from breaching the concussion protocol in a final, or any other important game. If we were a club with no integrity or care for its players, which we are very clearly not, as if we don't try to go around the protocol if Gawn has a suspected concussion in a prelim, for the low low cost of $50k!

Reid looks to be a beautiful mover and is clearly very skilled. The fend offs are exceptional and the player he looks like most is Jai Newcombe. But I don't think Reid will be as big and strong as Petracca, Wines or Martin and he does not look to have the same leap as Petracca. I have to say, I like the look of Zane Duursma, who looks a protype AFL footballer. He is bigger and looks to have more running and leaping ability than Reid. If the cost to push up the draft order to get Reid is significant, I would prefer we use or picks to trade or take several players.

Agreed, 500 games is unbelievable. That's the equivalent of umpiring every round including finals for 19 years. He's also one of the better umpires.

You have to sell the farm to get him, and on evidence it would be worth it. He’s a dominant inside/outside midfielder who’s played half back and up forward. He played more forward this year due to a head knock and easing back into it post concussion. He dominated everywhere and showed great marking and kicking skills to add the contested side and decision making. I said it a few pages back, but he’s the next Trac. To get him and have him learn from Trac and interchange the two between midfield and forward would be a devastating combo. Sell the farm!

I'll bet he'll be a 2023 premiership player as well.

Looking on the bright side…… feeling a lot more at ease in barracking for Geelong this weekend

The AFL response to this is underwhelming to say the least and the way the AFL media have towed the company line makes me very cynical. I'd love to see a Journo start to ask questions including what was in Port Adelaide's formal response, the role of the AFL marshall in reporting the incident, what will happen if another club does the same thing during finals - will it be a $100k fine or something else.

If we can get him without selling the farm, it is going to be very hard for JT to not do the deal. Noted the comments in his last senior country game of the the other teams’ coach. “Harley destroyed us on his own and won the game for his team”. Then you read that a couple of AFL recruiters are saying he is the best kid they have seen. I can see a very busy DL post season, hopefully with us as Premiers.

Well done Brett, a fantastic achievement and still one of the best going round. I am always happy to see he is umpiring our games.

That $50,000 won't be much help to the AFL in the court cases to come. It won't help establish how concerned the AFL was about concussion back in 2023. Maybe they think the $50K if wisely invested with Sportsbet will help pay the AFL legal fees. Short-termism - may get them past this week but destroy the AFL in 10 years time.

I thought I saw it was a 500K fine which would be appropriate imo but 50K out of a 7 Mil soft cap is negligible I love the AFL controlled media driving the narrative too... AFL coming down hard. me bollocks they are.

Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me. I've never felt more of a 'scripted' feeling about the media more than this year. In wrestling terms this would be known as a 'work'. Guess it is sports entertainment after all!

Disgraceful outcome. AFL continues to protect its brand at all costs. Forget player welfare.

I wouldn't put it past SEN and the way all those guys work to have had a meeting on Sunday night or Monday morning and Kane's said, well, I have to back my contacts at Port and that's my position, and King's gone, great, you do your spiel on Monday or Tuesday and I'll go you Thursday. And they've probably gone, great, no worries. Kane gets to protect Port and King gets to bring balance to the debate. It really is that cynical the way some of this stuff plays out and SEN are real bottom feeders...

As I see it, Sparrow comes in for Woewodin. The only other possible change that I can envisage is which of Smith, Tomlinson or Hibberd is in the starting 22 with one picked as the sub and the other missing out altogether. There are arguments for and against every option. Best guess: Tomlinson plays, Smith as sub, Hibberd unlucky and misses.

The league has fined Port Adelaide $100,000 for breaching AFL concussion protocols, with half included in the soft cap. What a total joke. Port should have started next year on minus eight points as a minimum.

I shall cry happy tears when I see IN: Oliver

Exactly. As goody has said many times its not about one flag. It's about being in contention to win a flag for years. The club has been brilliant under goofy in terms of ensuring young players are brought into the team. Sparrow, koz and Bowey are terrific examples. Played in a flag as kids. Will all be senior players in three years time. Mcvee and jvr are on the same path.

I loved this summary from The Mongrel Punt (the bolded section made me laugh): ---------------- Now, what do we have here? A maring forward that genuinely looks like he wants the footy and leaps at it like he owns it! That’s what we have, and he has come from the forwards’ graveyard to do it. The Dees have a bit of a history with turning defenders into gun forwards, with the Coleman Medal-winning efforts of David Neitz, after playing in defence for several years, the standout. However, with six goals from Harrison Petty, the Dees may have found the best way to solve their key forward issues in 2023. Petty returned six goals in a dominant display, playing against a Richmond defence that, on paper, should have been able to make life very tough for him. He took four contested grabs and made every post a winner, not missing as he powered the Melbourne forward line home with two of the Dees’ six last quarter goals. He was aided by the continued development of Jacob van Rooyen, who genuinely looks like a power forward these days. I mentioned Petty’s contested marking, and whilst JvR had only the one contested grab, one of his biggest assets is that he has no fear when attacking the footy. He hits packs like they shot his dog or something, determined to either mark the footy, or make sure there is carnage left in his wake. When you add in the resurgent Jake Melksham, suddenly, this forward setup that was perceived as a problem started to look very menacing. If they can maintain the rage as they head toward September, regaining Bayley Fritsch on the even of finals might just make this group a nightmare to match up on.