FireInTheBennelly

You're not reading it wrong DG. It's being adjudicated wrongly. It has been for years. Clever coaches from the Clarkson stable have exploited the poor adjudication for a decade, and only now, when Clarkson's side are poor, he's called it out. He wanted the loophole closed, however what's happened is an exaggeration of the poor interpretations. Players need to be coached to drop the ball at the slightest contact. Far less likely to give away a free. No, it's not football, but that's how they want it played. [censored] Gil

So does that mean it was a skill issue or decision making?

Seeing the leg-ups the AFL have been giving GCS, I really see them doing everything they can to prevent that from happening. Within the rules or otherwise.

#bringbackvelcro

I couldn't help but thinking Heffernan was still on the Bummers payrole when he played with us.

Does Jonno Brown still live in QLD? Can we get him COVID cleared and working with Weid while we're up there?

I lost count how many other times a player took possession and was immediately tackled - and made absolutely zero attempt to dispose. But all of a sudden prior opportunity kicked in again.

Definitely Rodge. He was average last year and to be able turn it around under the circumstances is a massive effort.

Yep. we're currently the easiest team to play against for a decent coach. Apply basic pressure and stand around waiting for us to hand it over to you.

I reckon you could've stopped at anything.

Not sure about you, but I'm seeing plenty of consistency

So many 'learnings', so little learning. One can only hope the board is learning.

Nup. Still nothing!

If we can get rid of any AFL assistance does that make it easier to push back on the draw that we generally get? I'm talking Geelong, Essendon fixtures where we're always shafted.

And the 1 they called play on was when Hawkins had May on his wrong leg and May actually pulled up expecting it to be paid. Hawkins spun around beating him easily.

You know what really surprises me in all of this? [censored] nothing!

A big call while you have him on your avatar I think he has the talent, something isn't right up top at the moment, and it's not just the terrible hair.

Salem looks like a player that's been overloaded with instructions. Playing on instinct he goes quick and 9 out of 10 finds a good target. Lately he's taking far longer to make a decision, ignoring easy options, and doing the old long down the line trick

That cost me the Gimme 5 on Sportchamps

I'm amazed at how often we burn a player in space and go long to a contest instead. It seems every kick-in we'll have a player free straight up the ground at around the 45, and ignore him to go down the line to a contest. Incredible.

Honestly I'm starting to think that's the best outcome out of all this. The end of Gil and his cronies is exactly what the AFL needs.

I think James Stewart wasn't going to be selected to play in the near future, hence he's out

Well remember when the story first broke it was that he was asymptomatic. Until of course channel 7 produced footage suggesting the opposite. They've been trying to dodge and dive since the very beginning.

The most important quote in that article is: 'has of course plunged the AFL season into peril again' Well, no, it hasn't. It's certainly plunged Essendon's season into peril, and no other club, or the competition, should be penalised in any way. Fine Essendon whatever revenue the AFL may have made from the match, and they forfeit until clean. Done. Clearly players are still running the risk, and the warnings from the league and clubs is not getting through. Let the players manage themselves. Can you imagine a players reception at a club where he's had the team forfeit games? It's the only way to stop it. And yes, 100% I'd say the same thing if either of our 2 boys that broke the rules tested positive.

Which is exactly why the league needs to get fair dinkum about it. It has to be forfeit and 4 points to the opposition or there really is no penalty and players will continue to run the risk. Draw a line right now AFL. If a player breaks the rule and ends up testing positive it's a forfeit for any games over the next 14 days at a minimum, and continue to forfeit if any other players test positive within the 14 days, until the entire team hub is tested clean.