Gawndy the Great

1. 100% on the money, if they get any more compensation, their is a massive risk that in 4-5 years time when their new talent hits that mid 20 zone, they are going to be either incredibly successful potentially or at risk (ala GWS / GCS style) in holding on to their talent due salary cap constraints. They need compensation / assistance in attracting mature players and footy dept experts. 2. GWS are in a real salary cap bind of the GCS variety. Just reported Nick Hayes on a reported 1-1.2m final year (2024) contract. No one is touching that salary dump without a first round pick bundled into the deal. So either (current) pick 9 or 12 is bundled in. Their next pick is 50, which makes me think they wont be a factor in dealing with GCS.

4 weeks gets us to the week leading into Round 1 of Finals at which point he'd be 4 weeks and 4 or 5 days into recovery calculated from time of surgery tomorrow. If we win week 1, then he should be available for the PF and gives him an extra week to do rehab and fitness work.

If we make the Suns play work, we get either : a. Reid or b. 2 of the following: Daniel Curtin, Coby Mckercher, Ryley Sanders, Zane Duursma, Nick Watson, Connor O’Sullivan , Darcy Wilson Not sure what our priorities but Curtin / McKercher pick up would be such a steal. If we pulled either of these scenarios off, we would be in the hunt at least for another 5 years. Hoepfully we put everything on the table for the GCS first round pick.

You look at all the other contenders and we have most of our starting 22 available... at this stage we will really only be missing Petty in the first week of finals. 21/22 is very good IMO. Pies will have several out. Port look really vulnerable in Defense and Dixon's knee is worse than BBB. Brisbane are missing Ashcroft... so nobody will have their best team available week 1. I think we have so many options to cover Petty, that im not stressing one iota.

Just watched the mini replay as I wasn’t able to watch the game live. 1. Petty is a sharp shooter and bloody good judge of ball flight. He doesn’t need to be the brute KPF, that is JVR. They’ll be the next forward duo for many many years. I have no doubt. His injury looks significant. Hopefully it is just a really bad sprain and it’s one of those that are back next week. 2. Kozzy has to have kicked the most first-goal-game-GOTY-contenders. I reckon that is his 3rd for this year alone. 3. The umpiring from what I saw was atrocious. 2 of Norths first 3 goals were absolutely jokes, marks not paid, HTB, throws you name it , it was horrendous. If that is what was on show for the 10 minute highlight package then I’m guessing the rest of the game was equally worse. 4. Trac probably only gets the 2 votes as I’m sure so rather innocuous player will get the 3 and you know Bont just has to step foot on the ground to get noticed. 5. We will beat the Blues.

I reckon it’s season done for him. It maybe for Petty too.

I think the Crows are a chance to knock off the Lions next week - Even though it’s at the Gabba, they are trying to get into the 8.

Figures, just when we solve our forward woes, Petty gets an injury.

Pick 3 is on! Freo have Lions, WC, Port, Hawks They need to lose all of them. 3/4 is likely but boy wouldn’t a derby loss be fantastic. The Hawks have Doggies, Dees and Freo. If they win 2/3 or even 3/3 (No!!!), Freo drop to 3rd last! The Hawks will bully the Doggies next week and I predict another upset, they’ll run out of legs against us by then rebound to overtake Freo on the ladder in the final round!

That’s the game. Premiership material, Port are not

He is not right since getting KOd against us.

You want solid competition going into finals. All are winnable games if we take the right attitude. The Blues win over Collingwood was good but there is clearly some fitness questions hovering over them atm - we will see their true form v Saints tomorrow.

Mentioned last night regarding afls fixture inequality re :tigers off a 5 day break. So the Pies have a 5 day break and guess who they play? The oldest team in the comp also coming off a 5 day break. FMD it’s just so obvious who gets looked after in the AFL.

Tom Stewart is such a dirty player.

There is absolutely no way Marshall doesn’t have a concussion test after last week.

Shoot out game. Don’t think Port can sustain this open style for too long given their defensive shizenness

His Brownlow favouritism must be taking a nose dive now with Bonts game last night and the fact that he hasn’t polled a vote in the last month.

That’s the game.

5 day break. AFL and it’s fixture equality.

The Dees. Rounds 1 and 24.

Just wait until the AFL have 19 teams and the Dees get a bye in Round 1, and the power clubs just happen to get them perfectly spread out throughout the season.

Good luck to them. Didn’t we just prove ruckman cannot become forwards? Rowan and King in their forward line is great on paper but is a massive risk. Happily take their 2nd round pick to make a play for GCS Pick 5.

And given that this could dislodge Port from Top 4, sends a very loud and clear message that could not possibly be misinterpreted again, ever. A suspended fine is just a slap on the wrist. Maybe they give them an option: 1- 8 premiership points and 100K fine 2- 5% of the compensation the AFL will eventually pay as part of current and future lawsuits on concussion. That should create a few genuine miagranes.

This is certainly something that will make a more significant and immediate impact. Perhaps its 1 or 2 players / coaches with 20-30% salary cap concessions over the life of their contract. Allows Norf to offer someone coming out of contract big $ to sign with them. Mature, seasoned veterans will do more in the short term to course correct the club, set standards and provide leadership on field than another 2 first round picks.

I'd like to see TMac considered for the backline playing 2nd or 3rd defender during preseason and early season 2024..if and only if he get his body right. If Tommo decides to leave then he has the attributes to play that role. I still fancy J Smith as a forward - i dont know how you make it all fit together though. He is one of the better athletes on our list. Clearly lacks some skill and footy IQ but he can address that through training and development.