TeamPlayedFine39

Granted I am amongst the world's worst tippers, but I came out with fourth. It's a bit of fun and I can't for the life of me imagine why the official AFL one isn't being released until mid-season...

This time of year they usually reward the big stand-out matches. As the year wears on, then they start rewarding consistency.

#dropjones

It's out of Gawn and Grundy at this stage of the year, but plenty of footy still to come for one to pull away from the other. Grundy has been fantastic this year, but he plays differently to Gawn with one controlling clearances with his tap work and drifting forward to kick goals, while the other influences around the ground better, using his mobility and versatility. While not a perfect correlation, it's similar to the Cox vs Sandilands debates for 2005-08. It's often the influence of the media that decides if there'll be one or two rucks in the AA team on any given year. At this stage, I'd say that Gawn has a slight edge over Grundy, even if it's just for his consistency. Nic Nat is not playing at the standard of these two at this stage.

I had no idea that Tim Smith was capable of playing this sort of football. Having seen very little of him in the past, what I had seen was, what I believed to be, one dimensional. Good VFL key position player, but non-impactful at senior level. He has been outstanding and his versatility and aggression is a real weapon.

Yeah... nah...

Some heavy legs out there but the effort for Spargo to tackle Talia to to the ground was great. Talia would have 25kgs on him.

Liked the cops and ambos at the fence applauding Hogan’s mark.

Of all the insults we’ve received over the last 11 years, this is the one that really stung. It was around this time that I started to realise just how much trouble we were in... and there was much, much worse to come. We got an insight that, despite our own optimism about our club, list and direction, the competition had zero respect for us.

We asked in 2013 as well. http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-23/afl-denies-melbourne-demons-priority-pick/4976082

If the same test is applied to Carlton that was applied to us, then the Blues have no chance. We were denied on the basis that we had good prospects for improvement on our list that were either too young to have had an impact or were injured - such as Mitch Clark. The Blue are constantly raving about their quality young list and that it's just a matter of time... I don't think they can have it both ways.

It is curious the amount of vitriol that is thrown Lever's way, but absolutely nothing is levelled at Charlie Cameron, who left Adelaide with a year left on his contract and for worse compensation... At some stage Adelaide needs to have a good look at the people they have in leadership at their club and stop blaming others for their players regularly wanting out.

Pretty sure Lynch was using us as leverage to jack-up his price with Adelaide. Fool me once, shame on you...

I rate degoey, but we have no currency for a trade, unless of course we’re willing to trade out one of our equal or better young players.

It has to be a bit of both; but for the most part its good/bad luck with injuries. However, I don't think that you can put Adelaide and Collingwood's soft tissue issues down purely to bad luck. The frequency with which they occur and reoccur seems to point towards something wrong with their preparation and/or recovery.

Last year it was his goal kicking from on or outside 50 that amazed me. This year it's his passing that's been the stand-out element of his game. There's such penetration in his kick and the ball moves at such a speed that it splits the defensive zone and puts a team mate into space. Great to watch and long may it continue.

I think we'll be able to answer that question in seven days time. Great teams beat the poor teams, however so do average teams. The Adelaide game will let us know where we are and where we're heading.

He’s an inside mid- always has been, always will be. He was held back for injury, form and education, but now that he’s been unleashed he’s looked right at home for the first time in a long time.

If one is going to get off, it's Charlie. If Charlie goes, Ed's in big trouble.

It was a bit of fun, good exposure and gave a very positive view of our club to the world. Was a little bit cringy that the women's team, who seemed to be present, weren't mentioned or acknowledged at all during the episode - everything was ''da boys'd love that''.

This is a positive response to a thoroughly bizarre situation. How can the AFL and their own tribunal be on such different pages? I think the May ruling was right, it's also (remotely) possible that Charlie should escape with a fine, but no way Ed gets off for that. The tribunal has set a stupid precedent by letting all three off as footage of these infractions will be used for all future contact with umpire hearings. There are three different types of contact being made with an umpire - the tribunal has now made three different exceptions to the rule.

Did Hawkins plead guilty and admit fault and regret? If so, judging by tonight, that was probably an error.

I think a knock on Curnow in his draft year was that he was thick as two bricks and prone to making stupid decisions. Turns out that he's a much better player and athlete than anyone thought he'd be though.

I think I read in the Casey thread yesterday that Johnstone was playing in the backline. His skillset may be well suited to a shut-down role: he's got some pace, is tough, physical and a strong tackler. His football 'smarts' are the major concern at this stage.