No10

I don’t necessarily think it’s about any perceived weakness, it’s about countering our strengths. Scott arrogantly thought they’d play the game on their terms. Expect Clarkson to be smarter.

That’s absolutely true. But in terms of strategy, the worst thing Geel did was expect us to be overawed at the start. They played open and let us into the game with our attacking style. Clarkson is far smarter, I’m sure he’ll first restrict our game style and then try to pull us apart. I don’t think it will work, but it will be a far more interesting tactical game than last week.

This^ If Chris Scott was half the coach Clarkson is, then this would’ve been the 1st half Geel plan last week. Dees v Hawks will be the game of the finals.

Didn’t think you were unfair to Kent really, but even that first hamstring I remember he was chasing harder than any player on the ground when he went down. I just meant to say that he might breakdown, but it will be because he’s giving everything. And it’s clear Goody backs those players. It’s remarkable we have almost an entire squad of players with this attitude. What an incredible turnaround over the past few years.

I don’t think he’ll play, but that’s harsh on Kent on this occasion. He went too hard at the contest and didn’t protect himself enough. It was his desire to put his body on the line and win the ball. I think Goody holds players like Kent, VDB and both Smiths in high regard despite their injury setbacks.

Agree completely... But what did he do to Neville Jetta back in 2015?

And he’s the fastest in the AFL!

Am I alone in being shocked Jesse clocked the fastest speed in the entire AFL? I must be late to this revelation. Never trade Hogan.

I’m sure this has been mentioned... I went to check those amazing Clarry stats were accurate (they were) and found this. I thought it incredibly surprising:

Trac, Gus, Harmes, Salem, Oliver... the skills of these younger set are phenomenal (beyond elite) Bring me the head of GWS!

Yes! Packing now... uh oh

Perhaps ANB out? He's clocked up a power of kms- given SCG is smaller he could freshen for WC. And JKH, it doesn't seem right to run him up to finals. 3 changes, probably too many.

@Moonshadow Your ‘Fake maths’ comment was funny. I think it was meant to be funny? But yes, my assumption was wrong that Simpson gave 4. I withdraw, apologise and stand corrected.

I read differently, the coach tried to refocus him on the game, I didn’t think Gaff was upset by that. My feeling is he’s more likely to stay. Alternatively, if WC handled him in the same manner we did Bugg, then I think he’d go. Even down to the 4 votes, I think they’ve played this ruthlessly.

I actually like the ruthlessness from Simpson and WC. He’s a footballer, keep his head in the game, then after the game re-enforce he’s a good person and this is an accident in play, shield him from the media, make him feel totally supported and almost believe he wasn’t in the wrong. He’s one of their best, make sure it stays that way. Let the AFL deal with all that integrity spin.

True, but is supported by the vision. And a truckload of character references. Plenty of remorse from Gaff too, to be fair.

Solid defense from Gaff. Changing the conversation to the niggle off the ball. And as people have said on here, @McQueen - said he was aiming for chest but Brayshaw lowered his position... Building the case for a light penalty. Still think 8wks.

I thought Bugg was ‘high impact’. Incidentally, Jonas also got 6wks in 2016 for high impact elbow that KO’d Gaff. To your point, I’m interested to see what a defense does to the result. I’m guessing 8wks, but if less then you’d have to wonder about all that integrity around the Bugg handling.

I disagree. I mentioned Bugg because although the MFC article @Pates kindly posted said he'd trained harder and proven himself to be fitter and stronger, he can't break into the team, not even close. We ask these kids to play on the absolute edge, these incidents have an affect. If I were Gaff, I'd now stay at WC. The votes are just a hint to a far more brutal culture that rightly or wrongly can help him return to his best.

I mentioned it because (given the thread is about Gaff being OOC) it seemed interesting that Simpson (*assuming it wasn’t Lyon) went out on a limb with his votes. It’ll surely come up. It might’ve been emotional, it might’ve been strategic, it might be club cultural. Either way, you’d expect Gaff will now think about how to recover from this and that becomes a factor in his choice. *for Moonie

My God. It’s maths!

Thanks, I hadn’t read this. I hope Bugg makes it back. At the time the conversation was about how the MFC took a very high road during the aftermath and tribunal. There’s a long thread, obviously.

I’ve never seen a breakdown of ALFCA votes, unsure it’s released. Mathematics is at fault for that being 4 votes from one coach. I don’t think it’s emotional to assume Simpson gave him the 4 votes. But yes, that’s my assumption.

There’s a long thread on Bugg, some more articulate legal comments than I could offer (I think Jr?). But essentially we left Bugg to wear it alone. If it were Viney I don’t think everyone would’ve been so fine.

I’m not guessing at what happened- Gaff punched him. I mean to suggest WC might offer some defense at the tribunal. The votes from the coach suggest they’re not so willing to play the way we did with Bugg. Ie. guilty, no defence.