Rodney (Balls) Grinter

29 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

You'd need to go back to 1970 for the answer. We finished in the top ten that year, which is a clear omen for 2026.

Hope I'm not offending someone's taste in music here, but good God that's an ordinary song.

1 hour ago, Chook said:

Good. Probably shouldn't have dropped him for the prelim vs the Eagles in 2018. Guess I better move on about that though...

I think he'd look back on the club as doing him a favour saving him from the misery of that day.

13 hours ago, binman said:

Really?

Alternatively, Goody deserves much credit for gifting Kolt games he didnt deserve to fast track Kolt's development and getting critical AFL experience into him, and by doing so putting the club and Kolt's interst ahead of his own.

Of course, giving him the taste and exposure that we did to AFL that we did last year wouldn't have hurt him and I'm not against that aspect.

It's more the sort of expectations that I felt club were building up in the eyes of supporters, starting from draft night that this kid was a ready to roll player that I think somewhat exposed him to criticism when he didn't seem to set the world on fire in the games he was given.

All I'm saying is that a slightly more measured approach might have been more desirable. That said he seems a pretty robust character, who has a tone of belief and confidence in himself and resilience to external noise and so maybe that was also part of the calculation.

I recall there was a bit of a mantra when Roos first came in that even top draft picks would have to earn their spots and might need to wait a year or two to develop properly and earn a spot at AFL level, but that seems to have gone somewhat out the window. I'm not actually sure Roos even lived it that literally in retrospect, but maybe freaks like Clarry was in his early days don't come around all that often.

6 hours ago, Waverley said:

Don't be so sensitive, our players get potted worse on here

It wasn't so much about being sensitive or against one of ours being potted, was more that it seemed like a disproportionately big evaluation being made from a small sample size and that was way off the mark.

Look, in all fairness, perhaps the one being a bit disproportionate about things here is also me, because maybe it wasn't something that deserved it's own thread, but there was just something about that assessment that he'd made and that he kept banging on about it, that got under my skin.

Won't happen I know, but I'd be open to us playing a game in Darwin if they did all of Gather Round up there.

I think that would actually be a fair result, as all teams would carry over a similar level of fatigue. Would also be great for footy in the NT and NT tourism.

I don't think the AFL would go for it due to the lack of funding and/or lack of facilities, but just think how good it could be if the took an altruistic approach to it such as this.

12 hours ago, durango1946 said:

The way that Kolt's playing reminds me of Miichael Hibberd not quick but does not panic when under pressure this season.

His disposal has improved with each game along with confidence he belongs in the team.

Not quite sure the comparison you're trying to make there. Hibbo was quick and his boot was a bloody weapon. Hibbo was also hard as nails. Absolute beast of a player in hindsight.

I think Tholstrup might get up there in the hardness and athletic stakes, but I think we'll have to wait and see on that and also if he can develop the calmness and control over his kicking as he establishes himself, but maybe the potential is there for him to become that kind of backman. Would love it if he did.

10 hours ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

As much as we'd like all first round picks to be superstars, the reality is that most don't turn out that way, particularly later first round picks. Therefore - I'd say we're getting good bang for buck for this investment.

Agree with this. Not even sure he was quite a first rounder, but I think Tommy Sparrow is probably in a similar category.

Some weeks you get more Bang out of these guys though and they can play a superstar game or show traits you think could make them one and that's the tantalising and equally frustrating part of it.

11 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

Tholstrup is a reminder that not all players are ready made as soon as they are drafted.

Not everyone can be Clayton Oliver, Sam Walsh, or more recently, Murphy Reid and dominate matches from day one.

In year three, Kolt is starting to look like he belongs in the team and justifying that high draft selection.

Agree. Don't think it helped his cause that the club were pumping up expectations that he was one of the players likely to get games early, from the moment we drafted him. Maybe there's a lesson in that.

6 hours ago, joeboy said:

First line could have read ‘barging through the ranks’💪

I loved his grandfather’s energy and aggression!

He's a good lad.

Taught him everything everything there is worth knowing about football, including tooth extraction - a skill to be employed on the likes of Maynard

23 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Have a look at our first goal. Langford almost hit the post from 6m out!

I'm taking that as being more situational awareness of gathering the ball and then almost ending up on top of the goals.

To be honest, I've never noticed the helicopters that people are mentioning, because I've always found Harvey's field kicking to have good trajectory through the air, well directed hitting their mark and to players in good positions. His set shots for goal are generally pretty reliable this season too.

If I had any chip on him this season, I'd say that he looked a bit off and hadn't been winning enough of the ball, but was tempering that with him only being a second year player and that perhaps he was also attracting more opposition attention. I honestly don't think we should be putting the pressure on our talented youngsters to be delivering A Grade performances and carrying the team on their shoulders every week. I am hoping they mature and develop so they deliver for the team in future seasons and anything they do deliver in the now is a bonus.

There are players we have that I feel do need to fix up their kicking, but Langford isn't one of them, so I found it a very odd series of comment from Healy, which seemed overly critical, at the same time as being ill informed and off the mark.

33 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

I've always been a Chandler fan but he's munged both his goals through late, in his own words. He had the footy gods on his side

Honestly, think he's being modest and not wanting to big note himself here. Chandler is pretty much the most reliable set shot for goal we have. Also nailed a clutch goal in the Carlton win.

18 minutes ago, BDA said:

On the replay I heard Healy say at the final siren that Langford had a few things to iron out but had the potential to be a serious player

His kicking was the thing he needed to iron out apparently.

4 hours ago, Jjrogan said:

Ha thanks. Broken clock.

I think we are 3-3 in this next block. We're playing good football but leak a bit too much on turnovers. If we beat Sydney in Sydney all bets off.

Sydney are overrated. Totally winnable game.

Couldn't make it to the ground on Saturday, so have watched the game on Kayo a few times now. One thing that stood out for me was Gerard Healy bagging out Harvey Langford's kicking, not once, but multiple times throughout the game.

Like has he actually really watched the guy play more than once? To say it once was maybe a first impression or off the cuff comment, but he was so persistent, that I really feel as if he had formed a strong oppinion and holds this against Harvey. Personally, while I don't think Langford has really fully hit his straps this season and/or has progressed massively in his 2nd year as we might have ideally have loved, I think the kid is doing OK and his kicking is one of the last things I'd hold against him.

On the flip side, both Gerard and Brad Johnson, seemed to be onto the fact that Kade Chandler is fast becoming one of the quality players in the competition for what he does and I do wholeheartedly agree with that assessment.

Anyways, back to the point, I know Gerard was a player that Mark Jackson couldn't stand and I've got to say, I think I understand why. Smug and arrogant. At least his brother blead red and blue.

1 hour ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

It worked for us yesterday in a big way, thought we controlled it extremely well under pressure and iced the clock very well.

It really was smart coaching from Kingy to make this a focus, given how many close ones we lost last year and even just in general it's pretty low hanging fruit to be good at winning the close ones. All that effort to play well for ~110mins means nothing if you loose it in the last 10mins.

I'm not saying Goodwin was all that bad at this aspect either though. Back in 2021, we made something of a habit of winning by smallish margins and controlling the game in the second half to do so. I think it's something that perhaps got a bit lost the past couple of years as we transitioned to a more attacking game overall, that we lost that ability to change the tempo and control the dying stages of games.

Controlling the tempo of games like this in-game is something of a measure of the maturity of teams and I do think King has inherited a list with a good spread of mature leaders to implement this kind of measure.

2 hours ago, In Harmes Way said:

Out of the next 6 weeks, I just hope we beat Hawthorn. Fairly convincingly would also be nice.

Agree. Hate those bastards

3 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

is the q silent?

....yes 😂

12 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

In his interview he ceded to JVR for the crowd 'OOOOOO!'. But I reckon there's space there for 'ROOOOOO!' and 'MOOOOOO!'

And hopefully many, many opportunities for both, on Sunday and in the decade to come!

More like a MOOQOOOsss, more similar to BROOOOOOsss I think, but yeah hope the crowd makes it happen

12 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

The Moose is loose?…………… more like the beast unleashed

22 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I can't see Max and Heath lining up in the same game this year - AT ALL.

If they share the ruck equally, it means we get less production from the best player in our team.

If it's 80-20 in favour of Gawn, then I can't see the point and value of playing Heath - he'll only play about 25% of game time.

On this point, I actually think we're likely to see more of this going forward as well.

Just my take, but I think things have changed somewhat since the Grundy days. At that time, Gawn was what 4 years younger and we were in the window to win another flag mode.

Fast forward to the present day and I even think Gawn would acknowledge that he's closer to the end, we're in a rebuild phase and will be more willing to sacrifice some of Gawns output to get The Moose an opportunity to establish himself.

I also think the 5th bench spot has resulted in more teams playing 2 genuine rucks and I think that actually impacts Gawn's ability to out work a single main ruckman.

I think the Moose also has more potential to impact up forward than Grundy, which is partly why the Grundy experiment failed, because he didn't have much forward ability.

Also as much as I actually really quite liked Petty's impact in the ruck, bringing in Moose will allow Petty to focus on being the quality key backman I think he can be and we need him to be. The past few weeks, he's been a bit of a utility type player, whilst we've had a gallant, but lacking in mobility T Mac down back - it's been a bit half pregnant and I'm not sure that has worked.

22 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I'm expecting the ins to be Jefferson, Laurie and Taylor.

I can't see Max and Heath lining up in the same game this year - AT ALL.

If they share the ruck equally, it means we get less production from the best player in our team.

If it's 80-20 in favour of Gawn, then I can't see the point and value of playing Heath - he'll only play about 25% of game time.

Well we've got Max and Heath in the same side.

Incidentally, even if Gawn doesn't play, it's likely we'll still have Max and Heath play in the same side!

11 hours ago, heath55 said:

Henderson will only get a game if they’re absolutely scraping the bottom of the barrel

Shows more than Laurie IMHO

On 17/04/2026 at 07:27, picket fence said:

Kentfield confirmed Will not play

Yeah, but at least The MOOSE 🫎 has got a gig.

And good on your boy Jeffo - hope he plays well and builds his game at AFL level. I do see the potential there.

No doubt Kentfield will get an opportunity sooner or later.

7 hours ago, manny100 said:

Bench IMO: Windsor, Taylor, Jeffo, Heath, Pickett.

A lot of our team had a shocker last week. Lets hope for a turn around in energy.

Swap out Jeffo for Kentfield and I really like that bench. We need to be maximising guys that really attack the ball. As smart and experienced as Miochek is, I don't really think he brings that kind of energy to our forward line.

Would love to see The Moose smash some packs.

Just now, Dr. Mubutu said:

Isn't it so great that in a competition with even numbers, 10 teams have had a bye by round THREE?

It's an absolute joke and a disgrace.

How do the AFL claim to run an elite competition with such a massive disconnect to the reserves comp.

It's well overdue that someone stood up and took responsibility for this garbage, but I guess the AFL executives are more interested in sampling wine in the Barrossa and selling whatever games they can to the highest bidder than running a proper football competition.