deanox

6 Hore 5 Mackin 4 Heath 3 Fitzsimon 2 McNamara 1 Chaplin Apologies to Hanks, Goldrick. Well done to Beasley in her first game.

I was wondering that about Pisano. Went back through the info I could find about the pre season games, and it sounded like she played, but no reports. She wasn't named as an emergency either.

Love on Kayo.

Shelly Health one of the most underrated players in the AFLW.

She is amazing when the ball is in space, but really needs to add another string to her bow so she can find a way to get involved.

It's the half back to centre kick that we're missing I think. We need one short and safe to gain 25 metres, before the long kick. That means if it turns over it rebounds from half back not from the centre.

@Jaded No More my recollection is that there was a group of ex-players unhappy with the club and it's direction in 2020. The board met with them, and my interpretation of the outcome was that to bring them "inside the house", a director position was made available which ended up being Brad Green. To be clear this is my interpretation putting 2 and 2 together (hopefully to make 4 not 5!) It's also what I wish they did with Peter Lawrence instead of fighting him, whether a board role or another role.

I can't help but read this as "a board member who was in the minority/lost the vote, has called for a spill of the entire board so that it can (hopefully) be replaced by a new board that agrees with them".

Ironically I think making the season much longer could have a good outcome for the game. - Shorter preseason means players can't be "as fit" in round one. It means overall fitness levels might plateau closer to what is sustainable year round and get rid of the assymetrical "loading" and fitness issues that plague June and July. - Lower fitness probably means more one on one and less gut running zone, which seems to be a preferred feature for many viewers - More games means more equitable fixture, playing everyone home and away - Need for larger squads to manage fitness, injuries, etc. means that there is more depth kept on AFL lists (instead of using the list mostly for development). - Longer season might even see a reduced reluctance to rest players when injured. I can see a good case for this. Not saying it isn't without its issues, I haven't actually thought this through. But I think it's worth considering if they can secure the grounds.

It probably shouldn't be possible to go as bad for us next year as it has this year. Although if there are ongoing issues with Clarry and Petracca then it is possible. So assuming if tends to normal, instead of terrible, we should bounce back up somewhat. Like all clubs we'll need luck to bounce back all the way. And we can create some of that luck in the off season.

Worst part of this one is that as Petty was running in for goal, instead of paying the 50, the umpire started shouting get back Tom, get back Tom, which probably was a bit of a distraction for Petty...

After being so good for 3 quarters, perhaps he didn't have the fitness base to go a 4th.

Or you could say Freo doing what we did to west coast (the first time).

Definitely seems to have a bit more power. I wonder if he's been on a modified program that's been pushing him a bit harder?

You could imagine it, but if you are imagining the USA you'd be wrong. Because "free speech" means that the government can't police your political views. It doesn't stop a private company (your employer) from limiting your speech. And fwiw he isnt compelled to sign up. As an athlete he could have chosen a range of sports to pursue, and he could choose to be paid to play in other leagues. And to make it worse, we aren't even talking about the AFL restricting general speech. The critiscm he made were directly of his employer. If you worked at Coles and went on a podcast and gave Coles a spray and your manager a spray and they heard it you'd get fired too.

This country never had (nor does it have) a right to "free speech" whatever you think that is. It does have an implied right to freedom of political communication (ie as Moonshadow said below the government can't lock you for supporting a political party other than their own - that's what freedom of speech actually means). In this case, regardless of whether he was right, Green broke his employment rules, which is why he was reprimanded. For what it's worth, I reckon there were ways he could've said similar things about player confusion and dissatisfaction with the MRO without attracting the AFLs penalty. His choice of language was pretty poor.

I think the AFL has a long term goal of averaging only 6 day breaks. It would allow them to play mid week games, and mean you could fit say 27 games plus a bye for each club in a 24 week fixture. I'm not sure they'll revert get there but I think that's why they want to test the 5 day break.

I reckon if a club signed with Docklands stadium when it opened, then they should only be able to move back to the MCG when an existing MCG tenant moves out creating a vacancy!

Tholstrup pretty chuffed to be above Petracca in the list of significant injuries.

Is there any evidence he is upset about the role or is it just an easy line for media to make up? The evidence I have is that he spent most of the first quarter on the bench last week, came on and finished strongly and left the ground arm in arm with Goodwin didn't he? He looks happier to me than he has for a long time. I know that's an average way to judge these things, and sure he might be traded, but it currently seems pretty baseless. Just media stoking fire for clicks.

Ok so he is lacking acceleration and power, he can't break away from congestion and there has been a drop off in explosiveness based on your post. I agree. We are also seeing him at record low time on ground. Posters are reporting they think he looks a bit bigger this year. Some suggestions are he is carrying a few extra kgs of weight. Whether overweight or a bit heavier due to gym, it's an observation. Since the middle of last year he has not had continuity of football or training. An extended stretch in hospital, injuries, limited pre season, more injuries, etc. Yeah, he is having an poor year by his standards. We all agree on that. Yeah he is having a middling year by AFL standards. He is probably still around abouts the top 75 players in the comp as per rankings etc. (424 play each week so that's top 18%). And yeah, that's not going to be enough to win a flag, you need top 10 and top 20 players to do that. Maybe, just maybe, all of the decrease in physical attributes you are describing are a result of that lack of preseason?

I don't think I'm cherry picking stats. Those stats are Clarry's bread and butter in good years too, and he is still at the top of the club for them. He absolutely hasn't been at his best, I acknowledged that. My point is he hasn't been the complete disaster some people are making out. Someone claimed he didn't tackle, yet the stats show he is leading us for tackles. It's true he isn't influencing games as he did previous years, this is reflected in the coaches votes. Instead of comparing to other MFC players, we could compare his league wide: 34th for disposals 17th for contested possessions 9th for ground ball gets 42th for total clearances 41th for tackles Not terrible by any stretch, he is still giving top line AFL numbers. But he isn't top 10 like he has been, maybe only top 50. He is ranked 35 in the the AFL ranking points, 74 in total fantasy points etc.

Just to flag,Clarry is currently: - 4th at the club for tackles (total and average per game) - Leading the club for disposals (both) - 7th for total effective kicks (the top 5 are all defenders who always take safe options so lead this stat, 6th is Langdon) - Leading the club for total contested possessions (2nd behind Gawn in average) - Leading the club for total possessions. - 2nd for turnovers (unsurprising because of how many posessions he's had, but he is second behind Viney here). - Streets ahead in first for ground ball gets. - 2nd for centre clearances, 3rd for stoppage clearances. - 4th for pressure acts. And he's done that while averaging 77.7% tog which is 18th at the club (Ben Brown the only non regular above him) Yeah he's having a down year by his standards, but a) he isn't on his own here and b) he is still performing statistically as well as anyone else in the midfield.

When Melksham did his knee last year I'm sure they just listed him as season, not indefinite. I'm not saying that I think indefinite means he can come back this year. I think it just means, we aren't putting any timeframe on it.

My take is that the competition is broken, not just Casey. The best players not on AFL lists aren't playing at VFL, they are playing suburban league where there is a match every week, they get paid, and their teams care about winning a flag. The VFL level comp doesn't have the elite fitness to execute AFL standard game plans and pressure.