Swooper1987

There's a long way to go. TDK already carrying injuries. Gawn and Grundy, Gawn and Naitanui made the same AA teams in 18,19,20 and 21. Likely if they maintain current form Gawn and Xerri would both make it.

Kane Cornes said a week ago that three rucks are in the best dozen players in the league. I assume he was talking about Gawn, Xerri and De Koning. Two of them will make the team on current form.

Lol. Gardiner played forward and beat TMac and May at various times. Fort was Maxy's opponent - not that you'd have noticed him.

Melksham Gawn Pickett Bowey Rivers Petracca

He was a great coach, especially at Fitzroy from 1981-85. Three finals series in 5 years and very unlucky not to salute in 1983 when they were on the wrong end of a couple of very controversial calls in the Qualifying Final against eventual premier Hawthorn, going down by less than a kick. That same year they had defeated top of the table North Melbourne by 150 points! He was a master tactician. His move of Rhys-Jones onto Brereton in the 1987 GF was brave and incredibly successful. His work at the Bears laid the ground work for the three peat and it was fitting that he got the Bears into their first ever finals series. As a commentator on 10 he was incredibly thoughtful and thought provoking and his work on panel shows, especially Talking Footy was always entertaining. As a print journalist, I always felt he was the best columnist of his time. His contribution to the game overall is probably as good as anyone ever. RIP - a true great.

According to Wheelo's post in the stats file, only four players (Pickett, Gawn, Rivers and May) rated above 4.0 in the final quarter. Tracc only rated 1.8 for the entire second half. Younger players seemed to tire based on these stats and Tracc's influence waned the longer the game went.

Only Pickett, Gawn, Rivers and May rated above 4.0 in the final quarter. Petracca only rated 1.8 for the entire second half. Thanks Wheelo.

Mostly agree but thought Riv was pretty good. 23 with 8 contested at 74% and 5 clearances. Max was fantastic but as you say, not quite fantastic enough. Too much left to too few.

Gawn - flogged a genuinely good player today. Langford - another impressive game Bowey - safe and creative Pickett - exciting as always Rivers - improved as the game went on Petracca - wasteful but did win it well Too much left to too few today.

Gawn Turner Chandler Petracca Viney Langford Apologies to Rivers who I would've loved to squeeze in. Another remarkable game from Max, who must've picked up 8 or 9 Brownlow votes in the past 3 weeks.

For a bloke who was allegedly struggling, he has polled coaches votes in 4 of 7 games this season thus far. That's an impressive strike rate and indicative of the insanely high standards he has set over his career.

Good comeback by Max. Now on the leaderboard with 23 votes.

We've been very fortunate with quality rucks in my time supporting the Demons. I first remember Big Carl, then Garry Baker and Crackers Keenan; into Peter Moore; then Steve O'Dwyer and Jim Stynes; Jeff White; Darren Jolly and then Mark Jamar and now the greatest of them all in Max Gawn. The ruck has never been a position we've had to worry too much about. We seem to be good at finding them.

Defence stood tall and pressure forwards played a massive role. That being said, nobody had more influence on the result than Gawn. Gawn Petracca Rivers Bowey Sparrow Salem

Just saw the coaches votes for the game and staggered Viney didn't poll. 9 Gawn 9 Pickett 5 Bowey 3 Petty 3 Bolton 1 Tom McDonald

I'm not sure if it's the running style and left side dominance but to me he appears to be a 2020's version of Wayne Johnston from Carlton. Johnston played in a more violent era and didn't mind the physical side of the game, but he was a very skilled ball user who didn't appear overly quick but was always a step ahead. He was also one of the best big game players of all time. Langford knows where it's going and how to get it. He's also excellent at using it.

Thanks Wheelo. It seems you have exposed a major flaw in the rating system.

Thanks for this. How is Gawn's last quarter only rated at 0.5? He had 10 disposals, 6 contested at 60% efficiency. 3 marks, a goal assist and 5 clearances as well as 9 hitouts and got two frees. From the ground he appeared by far the most influential player on the ground in the final quarter.

gawn Pickett 4. Petty Viney Bowey Rivers Great team effort. The undermanned defence did a superb job. The highlights for me were the total team focus of Gawn and Viney as leaders. Twice Gawn could have taken the easy option of covering Darcy but instead went to man the dangerous Treacy who was without an opponent. Darcy ended up with two soft goals as a result but Max put the team first. Viney did a brilliant blanketing job on Serong and was still an influential offensive player. Kudos to our two leaders.

Based on Kingsley's press conference I think he gave Gawn votes. He was pretty impressed with Max's game. Goody not voting as highly for Gawn as the opposition coaches has been a common theme and likely explains his runner up place in the Bluey last year.

Thought the mids cost us in the last. They simply couldn't go with Toby Greene. Over the entire game: 6. Gawn - dominated as you'd expect. 14 contested possessions 5. Lever - very sure and steady. Looked like the AA version of himself 4. Petty - definitely a defender 3. Lindsay - an excellent game first up. Absolute class 2. Petracca - played in bursts but did some great things 1. McDonald - as a late replacement I thought he was great. Clarry was good up until the last, and I thought Sparrow was worthy of an honourable mention. He got better as the game went on. Jack Viney had 27 disposals and only 9 were contested. He is not the guy we want having the ball dished off to.

Lamb knows how to handle himself in front of a camera. 18 years as a copper, a former Detective Sergeant, state crime squad. Nothing Twomey or any of the other media throw at him will phase him in the slightest. He'll have been on the receiving end of much bigger grillings from the judiciary than anything these guys could throw at him.

Nah, Laurie Fowler won 3 (75, 79-80) and a couple of other multiples - Wells and Alves. Flower was second in 79, 80, 82 and 83. Missed games in all but 1980, which was one of only 2 full seasons he played, the other being 1978. It's just a flawed system. Geelong had a system whereby the four lowest polling rounds were excluded for all players. That seems a pretty fair way to do it. Allows for games missed through injury to not unduly influence the result.

The Flower effect. Despite being universally regarded as our best player for most of his career, Robbie only won it once. Most seasons he'd miss a game or two. I agree.

Good point. Gawn averaged 19.3 votes per game, Viney 17.7. It does seem low, that our two best players over the season couldn't hit an average of 20 (50% of the available votes). Gawn's season especially was statistically the third best of his career. Seems quite harsh, doesn't it?