Gator

Port Adelaide have said today that it was from "last October''. Watts has informed the club that the video was taken at Oktoberfest in Munich last October and the substance featured is “Wiesn Pulver”, a legal substance made up of menthol, sugar and glucose. http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2019-02-03/statement-jack-watts

Is the chants reference directed at the MFC ?

EFA

It is a bit, however, some clubs complain about having too many introverts. There's a growing confidence I like.

You need context. In an AFL sense he was "rubbish''. At VAFA level he'd be considered very good. Still not elite, but very good. Sorry to hurt your feelings.

A poor 'interchangeable' footballer draws a curtain on an average career. I have no fond memories. He was rubbish, but that was our lot. We were a career opportunity. Didn't work. No hard feelings.

Jack Viney vs Nathan Jones Sam Frost vs Charlie Spargo Jake Lever vs James Harmes Joel Smith vs Christian Salem

Tom McDonald vs Mitch Hannan Jeff Garlett vs Billy Stretch Braydon Preuss vs Jayden Hunt

Christian Petracca vs Jake Melksham Tim Smith vs Jordan Lewis Michael Hibberd vs Josh Wagner

Aaron vandenBerg vs Kade Kolodjashnij James Jordon vs Tim Smith Braydon Preuss vs Tom Sparrow Toby Bedford vs Jake Lever Corey Wagner vs Sam Weideman

My guess is that he could miss the first 6 weeks, or more. A pertinent article: What to Expect After Arthroscopic Surgery Doctors may prescribe pain medication for the first week or two. As your shoulder heals and pain lessens, doctors recommend transitioning to an over-the-counter pain reliever. Doctors recommend immobilizing the arm and shoulder using a sling for four to six weeks while the soft tissues heal. Your doctor monitors healing at a follow-up appointment 10 to 14 days after surgery. After six weeks, doctors encourage three to six months of physical therapy to rebuild muscle strength and restore range of motion. https://nyulangone.org/conditions/shoulder-dislocation/treatments/surgery-for-shoulder-dislocation

From memory, the biggest issue with Petracca's injury (the gripe) was that he was doing it in bare feet.

I would rather nail my scrotum to a bull-ant infested park bench than watch this rubbish.

Four max. Don't care who, as people pick themselves.

Most people don't, which is why it should be called 'rare sense'. Although I appreciate a self-effacing comment when I see one. Melbourne, like Richmond (and unlike West Coast), play a high pressure and chaotic territory game. But even then, the better teams, despite their differing styles, are in the positive when it comes to 'metres gained differential'. Fast ball movement, high pressure, out-number at every contest possible, play on quickly, and get the ball into the F50 is our 'one wood'. We had the most inside 50s in 2018 and the best inside 50 differential, as well as being no.1 in countless other stats. And if we can't mark in the F50 we at least want to bring it to ground. It's no accident we're the highest scoring team in the AFL by 25 goals. Here is a stat I found very interesting and it confirms that our manic game-style has its advantages: Being no.1 in 'metres gained differential' obviously was a large reason we were no.2 in 'points gained differential', as you can see above. To retain the ball in the F50 and to out-number at every contest isn't helped by having a second lumbering ruckman. West Coast play a different game-style (precise kicking / retain control of the footy) to us that is more conducive to a second ruck. And it's also worth noting that Vardy is a very mobile and athletic big man with decent pace. He's as much a forward ruck as a ruckman, so a different type of ruck to Preuss. It's also worth noting that turnovers are the no.1 scoring source for scoring shots in the AFL. Generally speaking, mid-size players force more turnovers that 206cm giants. Gawn, Tom McDonald, and Weideman for me is enough talls to provide an aerial forward threat. Gawn won't be needed to fill the hole down back this year, so when he does need a rest Weideman can pinch hit in the ruck and Gawn can prowl the F50. And occasionally McDonald might get a 5 minute ruck burst. They'll most definitely try the Gawn/Preuss combo and if it works great. But for our game-style and strengths (outlined above) I'm not keen on it. We need to build on what works, not strip it back. There's plenty of room for improvement, which will come from hopefully Viney playing more than 7 games in the H&A, Weideman progressing, May/Lever controlling D50, Kolodjashnij and Fritsch up around the wings, for once a fit vandenBerg, and the natural improvement from over half the best 22 due to their age. I know we'll tweak our game-style. It doesn't need reinventing, just some improvement. The foundations are very strong. But I'm not convinced a second 206cm ruck helps our game-plan. For me it hinders it. You occasionally have to give something up to take a step forward, but playing Preuss gives up too much in my mind and I don't see the benefits of him playing with Gawn as any great panacea to where we're deficient. A wingmen has to be able to deliver inside F50 with precision. Smith on a wing is a diabolical suggestion. If you read training reports you'll see that Kolodjashnij has been playing this role well. He's the prototype wingmen and I suspect it's why we got him to the club.

Use your common sense.

Of course they'll try it. Not often though.

I'm a sucker for some of his attributes: aggression, courage and speed. I also liked his first quarter in AFL footy against St Kilda at Etihad before he was injured over the boundary line by Riewodlt. But I've seen enough now to be very concerned by his decision making and kicking. I think he's one of those boom or bust footballers with little in between. I see too many polished footballers ahead of him at the MFC.

I'm just not a fan of playing Preuss and Gawn. I very much doubt it's sustainable. I see it only happening on the odd occasion and it will largely depend on matchups. If I'm wrong I'm wrong. I won't be. I've also gone from being a Joel Smith advocate (look at my posting history) to being dubious. He's a scatter brain with poor foot skills. I don't think his incredible athletic prowess, courage and attack on the contest will overcome is low football IQ and decision making under pressure. I watched his game again recently at the Adelaide Oval in round 19. It would have done Tom Gillies proud it was that bad. Sure, it's just one game, but I'm no longer confident he's best 22 in a top 4 team.

Slightly left-field Back : Jetta May Hore Half Back: Salem O McDonald Hibberd Centre: Kolodjashnij Viney Brayshaw Half Forward: Petracca Weideman Neal-Bullen Forward: Melksham T.McDonald Spargo Rucks : Gawn Oliver Harmes IC : Jones vandenBerg Fritsch Hunt EMER: Hannan Lewis Frost Stretch Obviously Lever not considered Without Lever's intercept marking I'd be looking at playing Hore as a third tall. His trick is intercept marking, much like the similarly sized Langdon at Collingwood and I think he can complement our two tall defenders. I like Hunt's attributes, but concede he may find it hard. We'll be playing over 30 players, so plenty will get their go. Needless to say, it will change before round one.

Improving our defence one goal per a half of footy, plus natural improvement from Weideman and our multitude of other goal-kickers renders this a reasonably easy achievement I would have thought. Just having Viney's ferocious tackling and attack on the footy around the stoppages for 22 rounds instead of 7 also improves the balance between scoring and defending. Yes, Hogan kicked 47 goals, but we won't be playing a man short. I see no issue.

More Pavlich for me.

I take more out of a quality photo than the anecdotal evidence of someone I'm not sure I can rely on.