titan_uranus

Assuming Geelong beats Hawthorn tomorrow, there will be a two game gap between 7th (likely Carlton given its percentage) and 8th (Collingwood). Five weeks in, we are getting close to the point where the top 8 starts to take shape. There is a reasonable argument the top 7 will be playing finals this year. You'd think the 8th side will be the Dogs, with Collingwood, Richmond, Adelaide, Gold Coast and GWS mid-table sides who will win some good games but not enough.

This was the game many (me included) realised we were the real deal. They jumped us early, I think it was 2.3.15 to 0.0.0, and were all over us with their 2017-20 pressure. We absorbed it, limited the damage from their momentum, and then flipped it on its head. And they absolutely crumbled. All whilst Hibberd gave Dusty one of the best baths Dusty's ever had (there haven't been many). It was joyous to watch.

Absolutely no chance whatsoever. The game moves too quickly. It can't be stopped because a team doesn't like a decision. This isn't cricket or NFL where there is down time between plays and a chance to review discrete decisions. The umpiring was poor last night, and I am of the view the AFL needs to pump significantly more money into investing in better umpires, better conditions for them (i.e. make them FT and pay them well enough to attract new umpires) and better training. Simplifying some rules and removing others altogether would assist. But a captain's challenge is wholly unworkable and at any rate would turn into a tactic - captains would call it at a strategic moment to stop the game.

Look, we know, you don't want to see Brown in the side. This is not a good argument in your favour, though. Tomlinson did completely fine, but Petty's better and got the spot back accordingly.

Third game out of five where Carlton have come out of the blocks looking a million bucks and then ground to a halt. Round 2 vs the Dogs they kicked 12.4 in the first half but then only 4.2 in the second, having a 38 point lead whittled down to 12. Round 3 vs Hawthorn they kicked 9 of the first 11 goals but then only 2 more, going from 42 points up to behind in the last quarter. Then today they were 50 points up just before half time and at one stage had just a 1 point lead. They've won 9 quarters for the year (out of 20), but 7 of those have been in the first half (i.e. 7 out of 10).

How would you feel seeing this as a Brisbane fan? Andrews cops it for doing arguably less than Hewett does here. The spotlight's been on this exact thing since Friday night. But this umpire doesn't pay it against Hewett.

The Langdon push on Petracca's goal was 100% the correct decision.

33,433 at today's Carlton v Port Adelaide game, for comparison.

Ok interesting, will have to try to see it on replay. At the ground it is sometimes impossible to tell. I saw Sparrow lose it but he may have been sledging Hill for exaggerating the contact.

That’s true, but who else would make way? Jordon’s doing really well on a wing IMO, and I reckon Brayshaw’s now really settled in defence.

I thought it was against Sparrow actually, who seemed to remonstrate demonstrably.

He’s got a big month ahead of him as someone is going to have to make way for Salem. Hunt’s spot makes the most sense right now.

Sure can I reckon. Jordon might have done six straight last year. Goodwin loves stability. Plus he isn’t getting into the starting 22 right now. So unless being the sub is robbing him of a VFL game, he’s in the best place he can be.

Will be interested to see the crowds for today’s two games: Carl v Port and Ess v Freo. I expect both to be bigger than ours despite today being Easter Sunday.

On the umpiring: it was atrocious but not all one sided. We got a holding the ball when Hunt didn’t tackle the opponent, another one when De Boer clearly got a boot to it, and a tripping free to Bowey when he appeared to trip over his own feet.

Brown makes us better than either Weid or TMac and so comes in for one of them. I’d keep TMac after tonight. But it’s not an easy decision between the two. Keep a watch out on two others though: Lever looked proppy after the game, boots off and limping. No ice from what I could see. And ANB was also limping, and I think maybe had an injury issue this week?

6 - May 5 - Gawn 4 - Petracca 3 - Spargo 2 - Pickett 1 - Oliver

On the crowd: yep, barely 20k sucks. But it is Easter, which doesn’t help. I also reckon that our supporters just generally aren’t used to night games. We’ve barely had them in the last 20 years. For some, I suspect the routine of football feels better in the day but doesn’t suit at night.

Clearly our best game for the year. Not only the best footy we’ve played but what impressed me was that, and this will go under the radar given the margin, GWS actually played some strong football tonight. Their clearance work was dominant early and they forced us to play far too much in our defensive half. So to then turn it on and belt them by 11 goals was sublime. And puts some egg on the face of those who have said “but they don’t score enough”. Really loved seeing some of the season’s lesser lights stand up: Pickett, Spargo and Sparrow all did really well. Sparrow’s tap in the 4th was a highlight but it was the gut running from half back to make it there in the first place that saw the entire side get around him after the goal. May was phenomenal tonight. Lever played the second half on one leg (fingers crossed it was nothing too serious but he didn’t look great after the match) but May kept everything at bay. Petty showed us why the FD knew what they were doing in bringing him straight back. And the work of Gawn, Oliver, Trac, Harmes and Viney to wrestle back stoppage momentum was huge. I’m sure some will point out our wins have been against sides all currently sitting outside the 8, but we’ve now beaten 4 of last year’s finalists, and dealt with two road trips to boot. Time will tell whether these sides end up being finalists in 2022 but for now we can hardly ask for anything more.

We're getting ever closer now to being the first ever side to re-field a flag-winning team in a subsequent game. Down to just Salem, Brown and Hibberd, with their replacements being Hunt, Weideman and whoever this week's sub is (let's say Bedford). Salem's a clear walk-up best 22. Brown IMO deserves to come straight back for the lesser of Weid/TMac. Which leaves Hibberd fighting with Hunt (and Smith...and Tomlinson) for that last spot. I don't know if we'll ever get the premiership 23 back on the park, and it may well be the case that Hibberd never gets himself back into best 23 contention, but damn I'd love it to happen just for the record and memory.

Tomlinson did nothing wrong but Petty is, rightly, in front of him in the pecking order. Smith was unlucky to lose his spot but now that he has, he's on the outer. With Lever back, we have enough height down there that his versatility isn't as important as it was when both Lever and Petty were missing.

100% the correct decision on Ryder.

I don't mind Saturday 4.35pm games to attend. They're awful for TV/radio though, they get lost between the 1.45pm and 2.10pm games and then the night games. Reality is the North game isn't interesting to anyone and whilst Fremantle might be 3rd, does anyone expect them to still be there by Round 11? We should see more primetime games in the next block though: Round 12 vs Sydney at the G Round 13 Queen's Birthday Round 15 vs Brisbane at the G Round 17 vs Geelong at GMHBA

Time for more people to focus on the latter, not the former. There isn't an AFL conspiracy to give the Dogs more free kicks. It's far more likely they are better tacklers and better and releasing the ball without being caught in the tackle, and/or better at spoiling opponents without chopping arms or getting them high.

This is correct. To remove all doubt, the position should go further and be that if you elect to bump and you make any contact to the head, you will be suspended for at least one week. That is, you will get one week for no injury. If there is a minor injury, it's two weeks, and the more severe the injury the more weeks you get.