Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Sorry, but I can see Richmond getting belted in quite a few games and generally uncompetitive for the next year or two. I know they've drafted a bunch of talent, but I think history has shown that putting a bunch of talented kids up against men week in, week out that they can't bridge the gap between youth and experience, developing and age hardened mature bodies. Thinking of examples like North in recent times, but even Gold Coast and GWS, who had ridiculous draft riches and priority talent at their disposal. Then, there's always one or two sides that either fall away and/or have a horid season with injuries and drop way down in competitiveness. As much as the draft, salary cap etc even things up, I think having only 40 odd players per team on a list means that beyond best 22, there can be a relative shallowness of ready to play talent on most lists which will provide a spectrum of competitiveness across the league given age profiles and injuries etc.

Yeah, but quality players don't grow on trees and until he's either sufficiently out of form and out of contract and/or deemed medically beyond repair, I'd rather be optimistic that he can return to his best. A few players of late that we've had have been almost given up for dead, but then turned around their injuries/fitness and fortunes on the feild and made some very valuable contributions. Thinking of guys like Melksham and TMac in particular, but possibly even Disco to an extent.

A fit Salo is A grade, end of story. His contribution to our premiership season was very important.

Agree with this 100% Personally I'm fairly loath to see him moved off the wing, because he added another dimension to us in that area that complmented Ed Langdon as seen by the great year that he also had. I don't see anyone else really having the same skill set as Windsor to do what he did for us on the wing, but maybe he can still use that to greater benefit of the team off half back, so I'll reserve full judgement until whatever transpires does. Also, surely another focus for the team/individual development has to be to stop Ed kicking it out on the full so often. I do think it's not all Ed's fault, because I think the role we have him play, he's so often collecting the ball and disposing it so close to the boundary. But I do wonder if we'd be better off either changing our game style a bit, so he's not so often in positions where he's hard up against the boundary or if we do see that as a critical part of how we use the ground, try to use a player who's a better kick than Ed to be in those positions more often. Personally I'd like us to play a more direct game style that sees us move the ball through the centre of the ground more, so we almost eliminate the issue anyway.

I'd say he got Tmac a bit more when Oscar was still around at the club. Forget exactly what they use to call Oscar, but I recall it being a good one. He was a bit of a whipping boy for the fans, but think he was genuinely well liked by his teammates.

So's [censored] knuckle yeah?

A message from the man himself, copied from Neil's FB Page: I am deeply honoured to accept the title of Australian of the Year 2025. This recognition belongs to the entire MND community - the families, carers, researchers, volunteers, everyone at the Fight MND foundation, MND state associations, and the countless Australians who have joined us in this fight. It also belongs to my family, headed by my wife Jan and our children and their partners, who have supported me every step of the way. My journey began in 2013 when I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease - a beast of a disease. It doesn’t discriminate; it robs you of your ability to move, speak, swallow, and breathe. But it also ignited a determination in me to fight for those affected now and in the future. I chose to fight because if I didn’t, how could I expect anyone else to? I chose to hope because I believe in the decency and generosity of Australians. I thought, if people truly understood the challenges we face, they’d join the fight with me. And you have - oh, how you have. So thank you. In my lifetime, I hope we find the causes of MND, better treatments, and ultimately, a cure. Beyond that, I hope to leave a legacy that shows we all have the power to choose to fight, to smile, and to act. Because the mark of a person isn’t what they say; it’s what they do. Thank you for believing in this fight. Together, we will win it. #AusoftheYear Australian of the Year Awards In all the appearances he makes, I'm amazed at how humble, greatful and inspirational is. With his ability to reach out to other people and bring them together, it's no wounder he was a coach. I bought my nephew Neil's book "When all is said and done" a few years back for Christmas, but haven't actually read it myself; something I think I should make time for. Queens Birthday this year will be huge. Also wounder if there will be a bit of a pre-election promise of funds for MND research?

Yeah, feed him to the Lions for his crimes ...or whatever. Lol

What about Brock McLean, he's a good bloke. Maybe he can take the fall.

No, I think a bot would offer better insights and interactions.

Yeah, Harley Reid seems like a fair swap if Freo don't want to let go of Andrew Brayshaw.

So I think Brad Green sent flowers to Trac's mumma and they're doing full exploratory surgery with Australia's best truma doctors tomorrow, to make sure he hasn't pulled a heart mussel as well. Personally I'm a Trac fan in many ways, but that [censored] show around him last year at the end of the season was a disgrace. He could have shut it down way earlier. Think he actually has to build back some trust with the supporter base. The team winning and planting ourselves back up top of the ladder off the back of a few bogs from him and Clarry will probably do it!

Nup. No woundering - man is a beast. I think he'll be running for the role as the black knight after he retires from football.

Agree with that. He has that innate forwards sense of where the ball is likely to drop, where the dangerous space is and awareness of other players around him. He may drop the mark, skirt the contest and seem out of the play, but next thing you know, he's out the other side of the pack and having a shot on goal. On the down side for him I think that when he pulls it off, he makes it look easy and opportunist and when it doesn't fall his way, it probably makes him look lazy and undefensive. BBB also had a similar sense as a forward, although I think he may also have been better at times of bringing other forwards into the play, by providing a well directed tap on to advantage of our other forwards out of nowhere when he looked out of position, that often created scoring opportunities, even though he wasn't pulling down that many marks and having direct shots himself. I'm not sure we could have all our forwards play this role of Fritta, but I think you at least need a few with the ability to create and provide attacking scoring opportunities - if everyone is just looking to takle the defender, who is actually being the attacker? Also think that it soaks up alot of the opposition defenders attention checking him and fees up other players to get out in space within our forward line. I personally think playing as a defender on someone like Fritsch would be a nightmare, because players like him are just so 'slippery' that you can't easily out position them around a contest, they are always two steps ahead of you with respect where the ball is going and where to position themselves.

I grew up in Box Hill and really wished dad had taken us out to Sportsco to meet Robbie. I did get out to the Western Oval last round in 87 though and standing up the back against the fence behind the goals is memory that will be etched in my memory forever and probably solidified my passion for being a MFC supporter and I have Robbie to tank for that. The elation of MFC supporters that day when we realised we'd made it through to the top 5 was amazing and that Robbie would get to play finals was frequently mentioned, not just that it was our first finals appearance in over 20 years