No10

I disagree. There was nothing more stage managed this year by the AFL than the Hawthorn controversy. Suddenly Hawthorn started winning games (stopped tanking) and Clarkson was shuffled out the side door just before a milestone game… to predictably return several weeks later. AFL won’t give North pick 3. I’m sure. Too much interference/management by them this year. It’ll be end of first round, at best.

Smith looks like he’s playing for his life. Not super effective but the intensity is nice to see

… and if WC trade to a team with around pick 5, 18 and 23, perhaps. Couldn’t have Clarkson coach a huge legacy game. Nice stagecraft from the AFL, perhaps.

Great analysis. Here are my 2 predictions, highly cynical. Clarkson walk away is planned show of emotional weight. He’ll return before the season finishes. Gives the media exactly what they want, even though it’s not the real point. Hawks to win this weekend against WC. AFL can’t let them have pick 1 this year.

Despite the good instruction, it seemed too hard so I just paid for WatchAFL $30/wk is fairly steep. If I still had a subscription I’d send you my login as I don’t think it counts devices. Maybe someone will share. Hope you solve. It seems unfair that you’d have to double pay.

Ha. To each his own I guess!

I find Watchafl to be the most frustrating service. The games live are fine, but on replay they edit out all content between quarters and even now trim time after goals. They now cut as much of the channel 7 coverage as possible, switching back to the Foxtel team in a sad studio nowhere near the game. Do Foxtel management even watch afl? I’m going to try the @Hatchmansolution

The game was lost. Bris overran us in the end. The thread started based on Max assessing what went wrong, what decisions could be learned from. The fact JVR was a potential replacement for Max, coupled with the fact he then kicked 3 in the next VFL final and was among the best, as was TMac, suggests they both could’ve contributed. Bowey also among the best. The role of the bottom six is to support the top six. You can’t say the bottom six were effective and that was exposed with a weakened top six. Might not have changed the result, but the decisions of last year didn’t work. You have to learn from failure.

Mind blowing the sub wasn’t used. Great summation. To be fair, Goodwin has amended his faults every season, consistently improves. Player management will be prime… so the big question must be: what will be the issue this year?

Pretty good team on paper. Not so great for the death-riding.

Surely umps should be made professional. Are they currently on match fees only? If given the choice of fully employed with two on-field - Or - four, but under the current pay system. I wonder what they’d prefer?

My equally uneducated position is that both are needed, but super talent is hardest to attain. I like your generational draft group, but the current group haven’t fully succeeded on their potential - the absolute cream of young talent should compliment them rather than looking too far ahead. I’m guessing we’ll over pay for a top 10 selection in this draft. Everyone will go nuts but we’ll find another star. 13 + F1 + Freo F1 for Nth pick 3

Big cost, yes. But would be shared by the Tennis and highline access to the CBD, plus some commercial development. Inevitable such prime space will be developed. Being a media guy, you’d know the value in those aerial shots (grand final, tennis open) looking back at the CBD needs to showcase the city.

What’s the problem with the railway line? It’s exactly where the facility should be built. The whole sporting precinct needs to be connected and that’s the divider. Plenty of incentive to get this done from all sides.

Nobody confident to put Gawn at FF? That appears to be the plan.

It’s a strange world where after a game I actively look for the @joeboy player review. And after trade week, I want to see @WERRIDEEfield the teams. DLand… love it

Two interesting quotes from the HS article: At Melbourne, Grundy will take the lion’s share of the ruck duties, meaning six-time All-Australian Max Gawn will play more minutes in a key forward role next year. — Melbourne believes its premiership window is still wide open despite the loss of Luke Jackson as it cashed in on his departure despite still haggling on a deal for replacement ruckman Brodie Grundy. The Demons believe Grundy will be an upgrade on Jackson in the short-term future despite the departing premiership player’s undoubted potential and cherished place in the club’s premiership history.

WC probably right to hold off on any offer. MFC can eventually call Luke and tell him that Freo aren’t offering his value and he needs to visit WC to at least look around. No player wants to be undervalued by their club. He goes in, WC take their best shot with their facilities and whatever players impress - tell him they’re offering pick 2. Luke can still hang out with the Freo guys, go surfing, whatever, but the club that’s showing him proper respect is WC. That’s how I’d play it anyway

Love this analysis Dr. A nice comparison with Hawkins. Weid fits the system. You’re spot on and I hope it all clicks this week, could be an awesome game to watch.

Might be the week to rest Kossi. Chandler or Bedford. Maximum pressure is then on all the small forwards to hold their spot.

This is excellent analysis. I don’t buy the Dangerfield relevance. His is a single action, whereas Fritta had two distinct motions. However, your examples are much better evidence. The low impact argument appears strong. I thought he had no chance before. I’m on board.

@Pates I hope London's opening up. I came back to Aus a month ago and it's so surreal and almost culture shock to be in a packed MCG. Not to mention the smashing of Richmond... Shell-shocked. And now the emerging Blockbuster Demons. It's all worth the quarantine in itself.

What happened to ‘car park F’? That seemed a relatively straightforward option and adequate. The option @AC/DeeCposted was more the ambition I expect they’re still pursuing. On the other side of the MCG, building over the train-lines to connect Melbourne Pk / MCG has tons of potential. Add a high-line style platform all the way to Fed Sq... I see something more integrated than a standalone development coming.

Good line up. I like ANB on wing. I suspect Goody will persist with Baker a bit longer. Probably only one of Jetta / Bowey. Can’t see Tomlinson moving out of defence now. So TMac is fwd or wing or bust. I like him on the wing personally. For all the talk of good depth, we’re looking far from solid with only a few out.

What’s the story with Oliver?