Lord Nev

Rounds 14-16 is set to be played in a similar fashion to the ‘football frenzy’ between Rounds 9-12 with the final round of matches to be scheduled in the traditional Thursday-Sunday time slots. The rescheduled match between Essendon and Melbourne will be played at some point between Rounds 14-16 after the initial Round 3 encounter was postponed in June. “This is the emerging view hot off the press. It’s going to be worked through with clubs and the Players’ Association,” McLachlan told 3AW. “There’s going to be a Round 13 … then they’re talking about having another period of compression if the players and clubs want to do it, and then we will finish with a traditional round. “During that compression period, it (Essendon v Melbourne) will be picked up in that compression series. “That’s the broad plan which will be somewhere from (Rounds) 14 to 16. That’s broadly what is being discussed.” AFL confirms when rescheduled Essendon-Melbourne match will be played

I wasn't, but I like the thinking now that you mention it!

As a club with poor to average facilities but a seemingly pretty good digital/communications team this is a silver lining for us...

Viney took a pretty big hit to his strapped shoulder during the game and IMO played out the game hurt. Could be that possibly.

2. And no frees for. 1 FA cost us a goal. So really, 6 disposals, with 4 turnovers and 3 clangers, he did more for the Crows than us.

I guess it's a bit like an embargo, once the first person has reported it then it's 'out there'. Also, not every reporter is employed by AFL media and has the same agreed rules as them. Totally agree she outed herself and it was dumb. I also think a warning to Cleary would have been more than enough. Cleary did the wrong thing and admitted it. I don't get why people are making up conspiracies about something so simple.

Even if not injured, you have to seriously consider dropping vandenBerg after that game. Some absolute brain fades, some horrible disposal. 6 disposals, 2 tackles. 4 of his disposals were turnovers. 4. Out of 6.

He admitted fault cos he had some fault in it. Hardly think it's this conspiracy some are trying to make it out to be.

Yep. But I'm talking about how AFL Media already had a protocol in place about not naming people but then Cleary did it. I'm not saying it's 100% clear cut, given it was on his twitter and already public as you mentioned, but he did still do the wrong thing which he has since admitted.

OUT: ANB (suspended), vandenBerg (injury), Lockhart (soreness - knee) IN: Pickett, Hannan, Rivers

Explain Gawn's poor game tonight then, and tell me how it will mean he'll play well in 4 days time.

100%. Goody should have learned about this kind of thing back in the Viney days. Can totally understand Max wanting to play after the week we've had but we've got to be a bit smarter and colder with the decisions in that way. Goody in his presser pretty much said it was a captain's call by Max (didn't use those words).

Yikes. Didn't even think about that.

Clearly hampered him tonight. Now he faces the most in form ruck in the comp with it worse and off a short break. It's a tear too btw, not sure how that gets better by keeping going. Strange comment. Medical advice was he should miss 2 games, Max made the call himself that he would play, otherwise known as a captain's call. Let's hope it doesn't backfire.

Should have rested him for this game. Now he's playing injured on a 4 day break against Goldstein in a harder to win game. This was one of those captain's calls that can backfire.

We would walk this game in without a head coach, so to lose this one says something IMO.

If we don't lift and the game continues along the same lines, do we take it as a statement about the coach from the players given the messaging throughout the week?

We wish.

Remember how we talk about how we're this 'competitive beast' team with too many inside mids? We're getting done in clearances by the worst clearance team in the league.

Another piece of trivia, all these coaches started their careers 0-9: Ratten Hardwick Neeld Nicks The first 3 all won their 10th game. Nicks has his tonight...

“I just don’t think the players have played as well as what they could have, and there’s maybe some selfish guys through the midfield. “People have been commenting on that a fair bit, like they find a lot of the footy but are they working for each other?” Bernie Vince Says That Melbourne’s Players Are A Bigger Issue Than Simon Goodwin

Sure, but even so Jones still has more goals and marks inside 50, so bit hard to defend Hannan's form atm. I didn't bring out all the stats, just the ones relevant to the forward half and the pressure there. I really like Hannan, and his couple of games before those ones were really good IMO, but he dropped off a cliff after that. As I mentioned, I don't think Jones has been good as such, but he's been nowhere near as poor as some are trying to make out and he's contributed more than Hannan the last 2 games. I would have been looking more at Jackson (0 tackles in 2 weeks) and Melksham (1 tackle in 2 weeks) given our lack of forward pressure than Jones at this stage. Unless Jones lifts I can't see him playing against North, but it still boggles the mind that others like Gus, Harmes and Melksham can get away with things week after week. Edit - And just to add, their heat map percentages are identical.

Usually I'd say you're right, but the last two weeks: Hannan - 2 tackles, 0 goals, 10 disposals, 1 goal assist, 1 one percenter, 0 marks inside 50 - TOTAL Jones - 4 tackles, 1 goal, 27 disposals, 0 goal assists, 0 one percenters, 1 mark inside 50 - TOTAL I know it's a Demonland trend atm to trash Jones, and I'm not saying he's been good, but he hasn't been as bad as some have made out and I reckon he's edging Hannan for form atm.

Same, his goal kicking accuracy seems good and before this year he was probably our best kick going inside 50, not sure what's happened this year but just seems to be all about kicking goals and nothing else.

Amazing people keep talking about trading Sparrow. Even with the injury he's still played more games than Jordan; yet Jordan is the darling of Demonland for some reason. I think both kids will be good in the long run, but it's just bizarre how the favouritism works out sometimes. Sparrow isn't getting traded or delisted.