Mach5

RE: McDonald, I have been a little concerned about the 666 limiting his main strength, which is his ability to cover the ground, end to end running and wearing opponents down, running them off their feet and getting loose/advantageous positioning. Beyond that, I’m not sure what his great attributes are. Long straight kicking & sticky hands? Bare essentials for a tall forward. I think in time he’ll figure out how to use his running ability in this new system, but yesterday it didn’t work for him.

I think it’ll take about 6 rounds for everyone to figure what the hell we’re dealing with, with these new rules. Playing lists have been set up and gamplans have been drilled into players, based on certain acts and playing styles giving an advantage - the goalposts have shifted and everyone is now trying to establish what is most valuable and the most efficient game style for this new game we’re stuck with. Granted, we haven’t been fantastic, and we desperately need some true crumbers, but don’t underestimate the impact of the rule changes, with the slightly different stagnation and the coaches tinkering with how to combat that, but not being able to make too many changes in-game to see what works.

Interesting. Not heard anything about this, but I guess it could be correct...

Not sure about that, I'd say we still get a fair bit of content, but it just comes in different formats now, e.g. instagram stories. I used to find the majority of content lame, boring, and either a regurgitation of what had been done better by the mainstream media, or sugar-coated club propaganda - either way nothing of real interest. We sorely needed a fresh approach. I prefer articles and interviews to come from independent sources. Having said that, more could be done, and will. I understand we did have some unforeseen issues with an appointment that would have impacted this space.

Why do you think Bell publicly announced Hogan’s mental illness issue late yesterday? Out of the interests of transparency? They knew this was coming and wanted to beat the media outlets to the punch. Now, rightly or wrongly, no one can question his actions or decisions without looking like an insensitive uneducated pr*ck. Freo knew some minor details, but weren’t aware of the whole picture. Bell was posturing for a better deal. He took it beyond the point of no return, then pretended to opt out. Little did he know he was being played. Mahoney made the early announcement because we weren’t going to settle for this deal not getting over the line, and he didn’t want others to interfere and tempt May elsewhere. We dominated the trade period.

Sadly, Freo are just getting on the front foot here, openly discussing mental health issues as a protective measure against what is yet to be fully revealed... Theres already videos circulating & there will be more. We knew what we were doing.

“Monkey see, monkey do” is a phrase I use sometimes and I’m in my early thirties. I don’t think it’s that rare. When I saw it, I immediately understood it to mean that the AFLX players were just copying what they have seen elsewhere in American sports (with disdain), and kept looking for another comment that could be seen as more directly offensive. I admit it that on reflection it was likely intended to elicit such a response, but hardly conclusive. It’s not cut & dried. Having said that, I’d expect a coward to hide behind such an ambiguity.

I’m a little confused because I though the alleged slur was just a commonly used phrase, and would seem appropriate in the context, except for the fact Betts is indigenous and it has been construed as much more. Or is there something I have missed? Admittedly, I’ve only seen the comment in passing.

I think technically it IS correct though. Not long now.

Monday announcement. Perfect fit, true to type. Won’t say more.

Do they still have a bar over in Perth called The Bog?

Got a feeling Hogan might know a lot about bags.

Spoken would indicate that I was criticising what was said in that moment, not the individual in perpetuity. In any case, you’re pointing a finger at an entire generation as if yours is on a pedestal. Get your hand off it; we’re all scumbags.

Spoken like a boomer entirely lacking in self-awareness. Bravo.

I reckon that’s a bit unfair on the current generation. Previous generations would have been just as bad if the technology was available to them.

1. Kolo to be named in the AA squad of 40 after playing the entire season on the wing. 2. Jones to supplant Lewis as a permanent fixture on the HBF, with Lewis retiring at season’s end. 3. Preuss to play approx 20 games. The matchup against the Goose Duo to strike absolute fear into opposing ruckmen weeks out. Gawn was hard enough on his own. 4. Frost to seek opportunities elsewhere at season’s end, after playing < 3 AFL games. 5. Sparrow to play >5 games, earning comparisons to Luke Parker. Healthy competition for spots means he doesn’t play as many AFL games as he probably deserves to. 6. Joel Smith to entrench his place in the first 22 as a tweener utility that can play anywhere. 7. Jeffy Garlett to retire after not earning a single game for the season. 8. Fritsch takes it to another level.

I went to that game and [censored] a lot of people off in the crowd because I was barracking so hard for Freo, but that was only because they were playing against Geelong. I wish them every failure.

Top 5 pick actually, not sure why some continue to relegate him to only top 10 status.

Yeah, that’s not correct.

Completely agree. I see Preuss used at FF and taking ruck contests in the F50, maybe beyond, limiting the amount of ground Gawn has to cover and letting him consistently set up a kick behind play for intercept marks. I can see Gawn & Lever getting in each other’s way.

This is pure speculation and I’m not referring to Jesse specifically at all, but if you consider the circumstances he is in and the events that have occurred in his life in recent times... I can imagine a man of that age might be going through an emotional rollercoaster, that footy might not seem the most important consideration in his decision-making processes, and he might make some poor decisions off-field, with all the trappings that come along with being a high profile footballer. He might indulge in certain things he shouldn’t, possibly far in excess of the odd cigarette, and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that those tendencies might become “open secrets” that would even make it difficult to get a great return for him if you were to trade him. Especially if he were to be careless about who witnessed these indulgences. Compound that with a “go home” tendency, a dodgy injury, and an aloof character, and it’s not painting a great picture. Just imagine for a second that all those things were to eventuate for this hypothetical player; do you think that what Mahoney received in return for Hogan might be actually a great result? Maybe worth considering. We don’t all know the full details at play here, so maybe we’ve done pretty well out of this. Hogan is a cleanskin to my knowledge however. Beware worshipping false idols.

Very happy to have Kade on board. Long & gangly, covers the ground very well, long penetrating kick. Will break lines and gain a lot of metres for us.

If a straight swap isn’t a win, then what is? Tyson for Preuss plus a 4th rounder we won’t use..?

Probably little more to say at this stage, we both know where things sit and we need to work on other avenues before giving Gold Coast our attention.

Yeah, the club really suffered by having picks so late that we had to settle for Fritsch and Spargo as our first couple of selections. Disasterous.