Hatchman

I don’t know who is doing it, but please, for the love of God, whoever keeps clicking their pen during the podcast could they please stop it is literally driving me insane!

I'm still on a high from the flag in 2021. All I wanted was to see us win one flag in my lifetime. Took 45 years but we got there After all the suffering as a supporter and member of this club I have endured in my life, any flag between now and when I am dust is just gravy

Just get him because he always seems to have a day out against us!!!!

I can imagine some in the media may have got a polite STFU from opposition teams about making any further comments on Jack. You don't want to make him angry or give him a point to prove. The man is not human.

https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theage.com.au%2Fsport%2Fafl%2Fmoney-talks-premiership-demon-to-request-trade-20240812-p5k1rn.html

Personally I think the season was over after the loss to Freo. Despite trying to preserve players with different game styles after the 22/23 seasons to mitigate injuries, the losses of Brayshaw, Trac, Salem (again), Max has been too much to overcome. I suspect Windsor has been iced as well given his age. If we make the finals that will be commendable but I don't care if we miss because we are not a chance to win. I still believe in our list and with a couple of savvy trades in the off season and some luck with injuries next year we will be in the hunt again for one more time. In the meantime rewatching the 2021 Flag when the season is over again will keep me happy

I live on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, sorry flights are too expensive

Great rant, agreed with all of it @binman - don't let it be the last time either

Good call, I was surprised at this too, it did seem to throw us off a bit

Umpiring was terrible but I thought we were as lucky in the first quarter, as Essendon were in the last with a number of questionable decisions so I guess it evened out. Essendons ability to put scoreboard pressure was their biggest problem, would have been a different game if they kicked straight This game may become a turning point, not for this year, but next as our young talent is now really making it's mark and we should be able to put a much better team on the field next year

FTA died in the USA decades ago, Cable is nearly dead here as well. Everything is streamed here now

I'm loving attending regular baseball games here in California watching the San Francisco Giants Full strength beer, crab cakes, garlic fries, decent burgers - it's a heck of a lot better than the [censored] served at an AFL game

Loved the aggro at half-time, young fella was walking around like he had watermelons under each arm after a few push and shoves 😂 I like this kid

It set an appalling example to all the other players, especially the junior ones. It was a disgraceful act, the fine should have been a hell of a lot more Our club needs to be better than this, little wonder that we are having the season that we are having, with players resorting to this kind of behavior. It is embarrassing.

TL;DR We need to review the rule of contesting the ball in the air, with the perspective of banning hitting players in the back or the back of the head, making it an instant free kick and, if the player gets injured, a reportable offense. As a lifelong fan of the game, and a former player in the MPNFL in the 90s, my connection to AFL runs deep. Even after migrating to the USA 4 years ago, I make it a point to watch every game. However, the physical distance has given me a new perspective, allowing me to reflect on the game without the constant AFL noise that used to dominate my life. Let me be clear, this is not a post aimed at condemning Moore. As a former player, I understand the strategies and techniques using knees in contest that are part of the game. Bringing your knee up when jumping into a contest was part of our training, a strategy to protect ourselves and to hit the player in front. Ideally, it was to knock them down, and if injury occurred, it was seen as a bonus. I have not written this as a knee jerk to the Trac injury that occurred during the game. I know it is a legal move. But now we have a player with broken ribs and internal injuries and it is the second time this has happened this year - the first was Mays injury. While this is bad, the more serious side is the knee in the back of the head, which is still allowed. Hitting anyone in the back of the head is dangerous; with a knee (or elbow/fist) done at speed, it can cause concussion and long-term have all the effects that we are all too familiar with in the loss of Brayshaw. The NFL in the USA banned the use of the knee in aerial contests (say between a Wide Receiver and a defensive player like a Safety) due to the high risk of injury and an illegal attempt to interfere with a legitimate aerial contest. It is now time for the AFL to reconsider the rules around aerial contests for the ball, including center ball-ups, and ban bringing the knee up to protect players. This change will prolong the careers of ruckmen and also prevent head injuries. In the case of someone standing under a hospital pass getting cleaned up, it should be an instantly reportable offense, given the high risk of serious injury to a player. Last point: while I acknowledge some will decry such a rule as "softening" the game and the inevitable death of "the hanger," I would rather see the game evolve (which it has done for 150 years) to protect players and prolong careers. Changing this rule will still allow taking a mark on someone's back; you just cannot hit them with an outstretched knee. You must use your shin, and just like in tackling and bumps, you have a duty of care to your opponent. Do it wrong, and you pay the penalty.