TeamPlayedFine39

It is a concern that we have not be able to identify / draft or trade-in a capable ruckman since 2009.

Goddard is a dead weight on Essendon. How he can look so indignant at others when he put in such a weak effort himself is beyond me.

Yep- start resting players for next week.

If this is Richmond ‘tanking’, then hand them the cup now.

I’m a big Garlett fan, but I like these changes. The team’s looking a lot quicker and damaging this week. Melksham, Kent and Hibberd all have long, line-breaking kicks.

Bit of spice/petrol added to the 'Q-Clash' this year! http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-16/lion-slams-soft-suns-ahead-of-qclash BRISBANE defender Nick Robertson has lit the QClash fuse, labelling Gold Coast "soft" ahead of their match at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night. "I'm looking forward to getting stuck into them on the weekend and so are all the other boys," Robertson said. "I reckon they're soft to be completely honest so I'm looking forward to getting into them. "It's just the rivalry. They reckon they're the team in Queensland and so do we." When pressed further on his comments, Robertson didn't back down. "I think they take a bit of a backward step when blokes go hard at the footy," he said. "I hope they hear that too." Sounds more like the promotion for boxing than AFL. It's very unusual to hear in this competition and brings back memories of 'bruise-free football' a few years back. It could be seen as disrespectful or just some gamesmanship but I can't imagine Chris Fagan being happy with the opposition being handed a little extra motivation...

Marvellous!

Much closer to the answer I was hoping for!

Not the answer I was hoping for...

Does anyone know (roughly) what the dimensions of the oval are over there? Is it skinny, wide, long..??? Comparable to the G or Etihad?

I’m a Garlett fan and still a believer... I’d like to see a final bench of: Melksham, Kent, Garlett and Fritsch. Plenty of run and pace there.

“Goodwin on Hogan: It had nothing to do with training loads. Hoges’ injury was the result of a specific incident during the game.” If memory serves correctly, that’s what happened with Mitch Clark’s first fracture. In a marking contest near quarter time against GWS.

I think what a lot of people have commented on after our defeats this year is that we don’t seem to be ‘hurting enough’ and that the players and coaches seem to get over it and move on too quickly. Even this week there have been posters objecting to the positive spin that players have been putting on our loss to Sydney. This is clearly sports psychology at work. The players have obviously been trained, for the public face anyway, to not get down on themselves and stew on the negatives.

Percentage!

If Essendon turn up to play (Collingwood 2017) then they should beat a depleted Port.

If we win by 2 points, I’ll take that.

I would have thought McCartin would be a round 2-3. Talent probably places him in the 2nd, concussions and health/injury issues push him to third... For the life of me I simply do not understand the hype around Darcy Moore and would be flabbergasted if a club surrendered a first round pick for him.

That’s the gamble. Id say he has very little value at the moment so would rather keep him and look to build upon his potential. It comes down to whether you think he has what it takes at senior level. I think he has the makings of a decent player and could surprise a few in the next year or two. With that said, I completely understand people who aren’t convinced as he hasn’t had a great showing at senior level as yet. I doubt anyone would offer better than a third round pick.

IF that is the case, I doubt we’d let him go unless the trade offer was significant. His stocks are as low now as they could ever be and he’s coming to an age and size that he can start to make an impact. We’ve already invested a lot of time in him and out no 1 forward has just gone down with what is a potentially very serious injury. Contracted to the end of 2019, so I’d hope we keep him.

Champion Data are rubbish. With that said and looking at the draw, I think we’ll fall over the line by percentage without winning another game. It’ll be absurd, and some may even say undeserving, but we’ll make it.

Perth a great place to visit! (Just stay away from the footy)

Take these stories with a grain of salt, but that is absurd money being offered if true. I rate Polec as a player, but only Nth Melbourne values him that highly.

Oliver has already become a much greater player than I ever thought he could be. He’ll be the best player in the league sooner rather than later. Brownlows though are fickle things and I’d rather have 3-4 players capable of winning one like Brisbane (Voss, Akermanis, Black) West Coast (Cousins, Judd, Kerr, Cox) than one standout player like Judd at Carlton or Fyfe at Freo.

I thought for a first game back he was great and didn’t notice what some perceived as a lack of pace. He’s always struck me as a natural footballer above all else and I think he adds a unique element to our line-up. His strength and physicality will be needed against a battle hardened Swans. As some others have suggested, I think he stays, with JKH making way for Melksham.

Currently on the same team as Hamish Brayshaw. He’s got some uncomfortable conversations ahead of him whichever way he turns.