Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Just imagine how different it would be if we'd lost by a goal or two.

There was a period in 2020 (perhaps the preceding years as well), when he was very much on the fringe. I actually think in 2020 he was very harshly suspended for 2 - 3 games for what was then a pretty marginal suspension for a sling tackle or something - would probably clearly be a suspension now (for everyone but Collingwood), but back then I think he was made a scape goat out of it. Really intrupted his oppertunity to establish himself in the team at that time. I recall watching both him and Jayden Hunt then play great games in our practical dead rubber game against Essendon at Metricon in the final Rd of 2020 and thinking they were both definate goers that had something to offer the team, but I think at that time, there would have been pleanty of our own supporters more than happy to throw ANB to the wolves and delist or trade him.

To be fair, I think they've also relaxed the rule to allow some 'natural arc' rubbish that pretty much means you can run off your line the same as if you are playing on and make it almost impossible to umpire as well.

Still look more civilised than Collingwood supporters - at least they have some teeth.

On another note, I've been looking at some of the post game stuff with Jack and it's mentioned how he had alot of family, uncles etc come over and watch him for the game. One of the guys hovering around Todd in the background has a considerable likeness to Todd and I've been woundering if it is 'uncle Jay Viney' (a fairly handy player who made it into the red and blue for the MFC on a few occations. When I talk footy with a professional connection I have over in Adelaide often tells me one of his claims to fame is that he played local or school footy with Jay and recalls him as being about the stongests, hardest guys he's every played with. Also, looking a the photo of Todd with Jack after the game on the MFC socials - please someone buy the guy a hair brush and an iron! Personal grooming not befitting of the great man, warrior and servant of the MFC.

Thought Jack played a decent game for 200, probably wasn't at his absolute best, but I'm sure he did alot of hard in and under stuff that didn't really show through on TV. One of the posters mentioned how Jack keeps improving - an area of his game that I think he has really improved from early in his career is his ability to navigate or burst through traffic. Remember he had a stage where it seemed he was often trying to do too much an got caught holding the ball a fair bit. Over time, he's really corrected this, I think through a combination of knowing when to release the ball to a team mate, but also sharper evasive skills and getting stronger and perhaps better technique to stand up in tackles and barge his way through (wounder if the Judo helps with this). Put on a great example of his step and composure and disposal under pressure with his very handy goal in the third quarter in last night's game.

I would have loved to have seen Ben's reaction after that goal. Alot of other players would probably have gone and got right back in their face afterwards, but I bet you all Brown did was get arou d his team mates and smile.

Just thinking about some of those far easier shots that Freitch missed at times this season - maybe he just needs to have big moments like this to focus his aim.

Really enjoyed that win. Thought it was slipping away a few times, but we came through with the chocolates in the end. Very Goodwin win we kept them within reaching distance for most of the game, gritted it out and came away with the victory. ANB - great game. Always puts in. Just keeps getting better. Lever - very glad he came up, because he was solid as a rock when we really needed him to be. BBB, T Mac - proving the neah sayers so very wrong and winning us games of footy. Chin - guts, determination and did some very handy things as well. Winsor - great find. Another JT special (No surprises here). Rivers played a very good game and seemed to really make up for the goal he gave up from the free kick he gave away. Lingers was really good to key parts of the game as well. Clarry and Viney, weren't at their absolute best, but really stood up when the side needed them as did Max. Judd Mc Gee, just keeps on being his solid self. Thought Woewodwin was both impactful and executed really well when he got on the ground - starting 22 next week? (I hope so). Rest of the team Howes, Salem, Trac, Petty, Kossie, Freitch, Sparrow all had some good moments as well. Keep rackking up the wins and building the belief boys. GO THE MIGHTY DEMONS!!

Maybe 😁

Less Steve May probably accounts for a bit of that.

No... and yes 🤣

I think the rest of the league are actually catching on to how good he is.

Congratulations Jack - love your work. Just an absolute beast of a player. One thing I distinctly remember that Todd was renowned for (assides from being as hard a nails), was for being a consummate professional in his training and preparation and I get the sense that has well and truely rubbed off on Jack as well. It's like the kid was born and raised to be a gladiator or perhaps like a Spartian warrior for the Melbourne Football Club.

And fearless workhorse when we were battling for control of the game back as well. Far better player than Sellwod and he got 6 AAs. But then I don't see Jack as being the type that wins so many popularity points with umpires or the AFL - that's the beauty of him.

VFL

Rookie draft wasn't he? Has been at the club 5 mins and already has shown way more than Laurie. Don't get this rubbish that we wouldn't likely get a player better than Laurie at pick 80. IMHO, Laurie has few weapons or rare qualities such as pace, size or tenacity that would justify such an early and substantial commitment. His one wood is supposedly poise and being a good ball user, but I've seen very little of that at AFL level and you've got to actually get the ball to use it well. We've also got plenty of young mids his type, such as Bowey, McVee, Howes, Woewodin, Brown, Winsor, Chandler, Kossie, Rivers, Spargo, Sparrow and potentially Kolt, that all have better weapons and/or potential. If Laurie hasn't show something decent by half way to 3/4 the way through the season, we'd be far better off recruiting another key position type, where we have more of a need to develop depth and less young players at our disposal on our list. I respect JT's ability to pick winners, but surely the decision to retain Laurie is less in JT's remit and more in TL's. I'd rather give JT the oppertunity to find a few raw key position types and stack our investment in that type of player in the next few years. Similarly, I'd rather we'd gone way harder to keep Toby Bedford, but no use crying over spilt milk I guess I hope Laurrie does become an AFL standard player, because 6 years is a long time to invest in a solid VFL player, who sometimes plays a great game at that level.

Seriously, what's the need for a 20th team? The AFL season has two byes with an even No. of teams as it is for player management/welfare purposes, so a 20th team without any real justification isn't a necessity. Further, I think adding more teams, just dilutes the oppertities for the existing ones to taste ultimate sucess of a flag - on rule of averages, each team now has a 1 in 19 year oppertunity to win a flag Vs a 1 in 12 years in the old VFL. I actually think this sucess starvation could ultimately end with the least successful of the existing Melbourne based teams becoming financially unviable.

Was discugusted by listening to Gerard Wheatley carry on the other day on AFL 360 that politicians in this country should 'grow some spine and get behind these new stadium builds' with reference to the Gabba/Olympics and Hobart stadium funding. Geez Gerard not everyone can be gifted taxpayer gazillions like Geelong to rebuild thier boutique stadium. While I'm all for appropriate investment in stadiums such has occurred to the MCG over the years, in the current economic climate, I agree that it's not really appropriate. WA/Perth are rolling in mineral royalties, so thier recient upgrade isn't such an issue. The Gabba is still a great quality stadium, although possibly 10,000 seats too small at times. If there is really so much wrong with the Launceston and Hobat stadiums, the AFL should stop Hawthorn and North playing there imeediatley and give back the Tassie govenment all that sponsorship funding. What I think the new Tassie govenment really needs to do is get some gumshum and go to the AFL CEO bloke who replaced Gillam what's his name and say "Hey AFL we've got 100,000 members signed up her now give us the F@#*ing team we should have had 10 years ago when you poored millions into a team in Western Sydney that still only has 20,000 members. We'll play games at the existing stadiums in Hobart and Launceston until we're good and ready and maybe you can put in somd cash to upgrade them to persevere the game in a grass roots football state."

Have really liked Kossies games since he's been back. Hitting the scoreboard regularly, but also been really busy and impactful all around the ground. If we'd had him against Sydney, it might have got us over the line. Anyways, will be good to see if he can maintain this kind of form through the season - if so, I think he might have come of age and taken that next step up to being an elite of the comp, rather than soley a freakish talent who can turn a game, but perhaps not to be relied upon to do so every week. Have also been super impressed with Winsor who seems to be getting better and more confident every week. In particular, I noticed that against Hawthorn in particular, he was landing and sticking tackles alot better, where in some previous occations he was chasing players down, but being brushed asides too easily. Is great to have another nippy player to hassle, harass and put both real and implied pressure on the oppositions ball carier around the ground when we are not in possession. And just love the way he glides through and around traffic like opposition players are just standing still. And what a great get Billings has turned out to be so far. Wasn't really sure if he was going to be a find or a bust, but on the evidence to date, he's been a really schrude pickup.

Pertracca's defensive spoil, BBB and T Mac back and contributing, as well as Marty Hore and there is a good vibe about the team at the moment. Early days, but good signs I agree. I also wouldn't mind betting that Jake Melksham is having a real influence on ouŕ forwards and forward entry. Our new prefered game style forward of centre taking the game on a bit more and lots of flat low passes into 50 has got him written all over it. Would be amazing if he could make it back for a few games at the back end, but regardless, I get the impression that he's being a great contributor with his mentoring and coaching.

You're right. He's not a Wizard. More like a goblin.

Me neither. I think it would be bloody awsome for Hawthorn to spend a decade in the wilderness finishing position 12 - 15.

And that's a problem why?

Home to watch the reply after spending the day at the GP. Good to see Fritta have a good day - you called it @WalkingCivilWar. Who's going to kick a bag next week?