titan_uranus

Didn't disgrace himself by any means but I'm still not a fan. We don't need looseness or unpredictability in our back half but that's what he brings. I felt he was caught out of position too much. Lever and Petty played well and helped cover some of the gaps but IMO today showed two things: Smith is more than adequate depth, but he remains depth. I have absolutely no idea how you draw that conclusion. When did Smith come off the injury list this year? Doesn't the fact he hasn't broken into the side at all this year until today as a late replacement really damage this statement?

No way.

Got some good resting minutes into some key players: Petracca 86% TOG (that's his least since Round 5 vs Hawthorn) Salem 86% Gawn 80% (lowest all season, by far) Jackson 69% (incredible influence despite spending nearly a third of the game on the bench) Lever 100%, Langdon 95%, Petty 93% allowed us to get some of those rests.

6 - Fritsch 5 - Petracca 4 - Jackson 3 - Langdon 2 - Salem 1 - Lever

The most obvious one is May for Smith. I'll admit I'm terribly biased against him but I didn't rate that game from Smith anywhere near as highly as others. Hasn't curbed his desire to run and push up the ground but was caught out of position a number of times by losing track of his opponent, getting sucked up the ground and then burnt on transition. Very handy depth and good to get a game into him pre-finals if we need him, but he goes straight out if May's fit. We're better with Viney than we are with Sparrow or Jordon based on their games today, so I think that's a second change. TMac should come back in as well, then the question becomes whether it's the other of Sparrow/Jordon, or Melksham. Brayshaw didn't get near it all day but having played all season, and with the ball on the other wing for lots of the game, I'd be surprised if he gets dropped now.

I actually think that was the perfect game for us. First and foremost, no injuries (as far as we know at least). Comfortable win in the end, and a comfortable final quarter (which meant A-graders got to rest in the forward line/on the bench). Got to trial new things - those final few centre bounces we had Jackson, Brayshaw, Sparrow and Jordon in the middle, for example. Found some form for Fritsch, Langdon, Spargo and Salem. Kicked 100 points with Brown and Fritsch both only playing a half of football and Pickett struggling for most of the game. And we got challenged, which IMO is far better preparation for next week and the finals than to have had a GC-like romp. The reality is this match was very close to a dead rubber - the only benefit we gain is that if the Dogs win, we'll finish top 2 even with a loss next week (but if Port wins, we have to win next week or we end up going to Adelaide for the first final). But all in all I'm really pleased with how that played out. Bowey looks so composed for a third gamer. Give Jackson the Rising Star award right now. Petracca played a more mature game, which I liked. Thought Lever and Petty did really well in May's absence (I'm going to need a hell of a lot more convincing about Smith).

Title should be "Games missed by best 22". It requires a subjective choice over who the "best 22" are. Brown's currently in our best 22, but he's missed 12 games. Tomlinson was best 22 before his injury and he's missed 13 games. That's 25 right there before you add everyone else's. That aside, we know we've had a great run with injuries this year. This stat doesn't show it (I mean, it has Brisbane at 104 games lost, but they've had a great run with injuries until the last month. There's no way anyone could argue Brisbane has had a worse run with injuries than the Dogs this year).

There's nothing at all in the Dangerfield report. On Hawkins I'm torn. That's pretty close to just a run of the mill run down tackle and if that was a Melbourne player, I reckon we'd be pretty upset with the notion of him being suspended. But he did pin the arm and he did drive him head first into the ground, in circumstances where he probably could have avoided doing so. And we know the MRO loves the outcome as much as the action, and with Joyce being concussed, you'd think he'll be given two weeks (careless, high, high = two weeks). Which presumably means the Tribunal will be sitting on Tuesday.

Even if so, the worst possible result for us is an away game against Port, which is probably the only option where we will find ourselves in "hostile" territory.

Record against the current top 8: Melbourne: 7-2 Bulldogs: 6-3 Sydney: 5-3 Geelong: 4-4 GWS: 4-5 Brisbane: 3-4 Port: 2-5 West Coast: 1-6 GWS, the Dogs and we have had the most games against the top 8, with the Dogs and us to get another one next week (although those figures will change if Essendon replaces West Coast in the top 8).

Well analysed. Just to round it off, if we lose to Adelaide tomorrow, then: If we beat Geelong: (a) we finish 1st and play Port if the Dogs beat Port; or (b) we finish 2nd and play Geelong if Port beats the Dogs If we lose to Geelong: (a) we finish 4th and play Geelong if the Dogs beat Port; or (b) we finish 3rd and play Port if Port beats the Dogs This means that, before tomorrow's game, we can finish anywhere from 1st to 4th, we can host any of the Dogs, Brisbane, Port and Geelong in the first final, and we can still be away to the Dogs, Geelong or Port in the first final.

Brisbane now just 1.8% behind the Dogs. If they beat West Coast next week and the Dogs lose to Port, there is every chance the Dogs miss the top 4. That would be ridiculous for a side that has been in the top 2 on the ladder since Round 3. Having said that, Port hasn't beaten a side in the top 4 all year, and they've barely beaten anyone in the top 8.

Carlton no chance from here. St Kilda only 2 points behind but getting belted in general play. But if they can hold on, and we win tomorrow, we're locked into top 2. Conversely, if Geelong wins, and Port beats the Dogs, we'll be playing next week to avoid having to go to Adelaide for the first final. It is huge.

If results go expect this round (Geelong, Port and we all win), then next week is huge: if Port beats the Dogs next Friday night, we'll need to beat Geelong to avoid going to Adelaide for the first final.

Ouch.

Jack Riewoldt just 3 touches. "Look out if you're playing us" lol.

Tonight's game is a great example of what I was saying above. Richmond are -4 in free kicks tonight. They've given away a stack of off the ball, or late hit, or undisciplined, free kicks tonight. It's not a conspiracy or anti-Richmond bias, it's just a side which infringes on the rules a lot.

The Richmond fawning in the commentary box is disgusting. Noticeably though, Daisy doesn't get involved in it. It's all BT, Brayshaw and Leppa.

They still haven't made the finals yet, either. They need to win next week, otherwise they run the risk of Essendon passing them with two wins (could theoretically also be passed by St Kilda or Fremantle but they're far less likely to win both games).

Channel 7 going on and on about Richmond's inexperience:

GWS with this win will likely finish 7th. That means they likely play Sydney in the first final (Brisbane would have to lose to Collingwood or West Coast for Sydney to pass them), and then the winner gets the loser of 2 v 3. So if we win both games and finish 1st, we'll avoid that semi.

Richmond are witches hats out there. GWS was excellent last week vs Geelong but hard to read much into this.

To be fair, if you're a Richmond fan, does it matter? You've had a great run, three flags and an era to always remember. Now let's hope they completely fall apart and spend years wallowing down the ladder.

Remember when people were complaining about "we gave up Hogan/pick 6/Ben King for May"? Ah dear.

Certainly if there's no pre-finals bye, one of my concerns about resting players (missing every second week for five weeks potentially, through to the prelim) isn't a concern anymore.