grazman

Lunchtime tomorrow that is...

As it should be, but never let it be said that footballers are always the sharpest knives in the drawer.

A) because he knew he was cooked if it was tested and, B) he was probably completely ignorant of what the penalty for tampering with a sample would be.

Excellent bowling display by Hazlewood, ably supported by Lyon and Cummings on perhaps the wicket at its best for batting. It's already turning though and batting won't be so easy on days 4 and 5.

Agree, on Paine. I'm glad he made runs, technically he looks the best of all the batsmen, he just doesn't make runs consistently. The Aussie tail can usually be counted on for at least another 50-80 runs. I like Paine's captaincy (except when it comes to DRS), he makes good field placements and backs his bowlers in, he's calm and measured and he has personally taken a lot of the spite and arrogance out of the way we play. A lot was made of the issue of momentum and recent Ashes history over there, but the team has walked the walk. The Poms have been extremely lucky not to be three nil down in this series and the Aussie team know that the Poms can't keep riding that luck and getting away with it. We just need to bowl well now. I'm glad that they picked Starc, just get him to bowl 25 overs to create some footmarks for Lyon to bowl into.

I don't like Steve Smith, I love him! Note to the Pommy Booers. If you walk through his world you better show him some respect. Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Smudge!

Well, not biologically anyway. There's only 4 months age difference between the two. Ed's brother is of the Collingwood variety -Tom.

In The Age. Meanwhile Fremantle's Ed Langdon has not decided he wants to join Melbourne in the upcoming trade period although he is likely to request a trade back to Victoria. The article doesn't quote Langdon and says we are a chance to land him, but other clubs are interested. Not unusual at this time of year for rival media outlets to 'dis' each others claims. It might also be a ploy by some to drive his currency up.

I think the plan would be for May to play forward.

Sam Flanders. Not sure why people are keen on Dan Butler, he's no better than what we already have.

Yep, wouldn't have been interested 12 months ago, but he's definitely improved and probably still has more development in him. Is definitely an outside player, but he isn't soft. Along with Langdon fills a void in our list.

Would be 6th in our list for average metres gained in 2019. Has pace and a 74.3% DE and is rated as elite for Goal Assists. I think he'd get a game.

Pick 3 for Amon and Pick 10? Maybe throw in a future 3rd round pick as a sweeter.

Completely different sort of player. Elliott's strength is his marking. He doesn't play the small forward pressure role.

I wanted Papley as well, but he's likely going to Carlton. Let's see what they pay for him and that might explain why we aren't chasing him.

With Lyon being sacked from Freo (who Langdon has a close relationship with), you would think that would only strengthen the case for him leaving.

John Ralph just commented on Fox Footy that we aren't in the race for Zak.

The stats don't support that view. If you take Pressure Acts, Contested Possessions and Tackles as the measure then it's easy to see which Captain has dropped their bundle this year in terms of work rate: Avgs: Pressure Acts, Contested Possessions Tackles Career Viney 20.4, Jones 11.1 Viney 10.9, Jones 8.5 Viney 5.8, Jones 3.7 2019 Viney 21.5, Jones 11.0 Viney 9.3, Jones 6.8 Viney 5.3, Jones 2.2 2018 Viney 21.0, Jones 15.4 Viney 13.5, Jones 9.0 Viney 5.9, Jones 3.7 2017 Viney 21.5, Jones 16.3 Viney 11.8, Jones 9.4 Viney 7.0, Jones 5.4 2016 Viney 21.0, Jones 17.1 Viney 12.8, Jones 10.5 Viney 7.0, Jones 5.4 2015 Viney 18.4, Jones 14.9 Viney 12.1, Jones 9.9 Viney 6.6, Jones 4.3 2014 Viney 19.6, Jones 16.4 Viney 8.7, Jones 11.6 Viney 4.4, Jones 5.2 2013 Viney 18.8, Jones 13.4 Viney 9.2, Jones 10.9 Viney 4.2, Jones 3.5 Viney is rated elite for Pressure Acts and tackles and above average in contested Possessions. Jones is rated as below average for Pressure acts and average for Contested Possessions and tackles (below average for all three this year).

That's a good pick up - fifth last for tackles in the comp... we were third last year, we've dropped away by nearly 10 tackles a game. Given that tackles are a good measure of work-rate I would think this more a sign of the players attitudes than any change to the game plan. Fortunately next week we play the worst tackling side in the comp, unfortunately we're likely to have a couple more players unavailable due to injury (including Max I suspect).

Had a lot of injuries at the Roos and now dropped in the second last game of the season - seems he might be on the way out. Doesn't get a heap of the ball, and his DE% isn't flash either. I know North supporters had high hopes, but I think with Petracca, Fritsch, Melksham, Hannan and Joel Smith we have his type covered.

Darren Burgess should be all over this.

Players are only worth what other clubs are prepared to pay. Player rankings though a far from perfect measure (too many variables), but one that can provide a rough guide on what players might be worth, can be helpful. Obviously one of the key constraints here is that clubs are constrained by what draft picks they have to offer. Currently ANB is the 158th ranked player in the league and 14th for position (that will actually go up at the end of the year with player retirements). Stretch is the 533rd and 123rd for position. Similar players traded last year (rankings are based on rd 1 2019 rankings) were: Gary Rohan 302/40 for pick 61, George Horlin-Smith 453/112 for pick 59, Jackson Thurlow 444/110 for pick 70 Sam Lloyd 402/43 for pick 64 Dean Kent 487/81 for pick 65 Taylor Duryea 379/82 for future 4th round pick. The ball-park measure for a joint trade was Jared Polec 90/48 and Jaspar Pittard 303/64 and 3rd round pick for pick 11 and future 4th round pick. (North in a similar position to Gold Coast in that they needed experienced AFL players to fill a need and balance their list) So ANB is probably worth a third round pick and Billy is probably worth a fifth round pick. If we were to trade our first pick along with ANB and Stretch (both have positive cultural attributes the Suns need in terms of training and preparation and as players looking to extend their AFL careers this maybe attractive to them as well) to Gold Coast for King we could reasonably expect another late first round pick* to come back. * depending on what happens with their bid for a priority pick, but also what happens with Jack Martin and Peter Street remembering they also have Brisbane's first pick for this year as well.

Delayed start, bit of moisture in the air, might be a good toss to lose. Watching Stuart Clark take some wickets from yester year and Binga spray them all over the pitch ?

I think a combination of a loss of power, (presuming his foot still isn't right) and the opposition knowing how he plays means he's getting tackled a lot more with (and without) the ball. I like the idea of trialling him as a small forward. He will create turnovers. I remember his final against the Hawks last year with 27 disposals and 8 clearances as vintage Viney. He's as tough and competitive as they come, he will be more disappointed than any posters on here about his form this year. He'll be back.

You mean like going out on benders and getting a club suspension?