ChaserJ

Poor Abdul gets a bad rap.

I think his detractors have shrunk over the journey. Fully behind Melk getting an extension, our fwd line functions better when he’s up there and just a great person to have around a team that feels like is starting to skew younger.

Have spent a bit of time there watching u18’s footy in recent years, can vouch for the cafe, staff there are good folks too.

Wonder if West Coast have any regrets about not taking that offer. That’s an enormous haul they’ve knocked back.

Even this NGA explainer doesn’t really make it clearer: https://www.afl.com.au/news/1185092/explained-how-ngas-work-and-what-the-afls-rule-change-means/amp

Sorry, phone was glitching and posted multiple times!

I asked the question, and to Cal’s credit he answered, but without seeing the rules, it feels like we’re missing something given what NGAs are supposed to address:

I guess being from Samoa doesn’t qualify you under those rules, but a shortage of representation from players with Samoan heritage, this seems like a significant oversight. Especially given he has been part of the Academy to this point, I do wonder how many times we can get shafted by NGA rules.

Yep. Both cap space and trade assets. Blues don’t want to give up p11 in Houston trade.

His value hasn’t increased since moving to Carlton, would not be giving up p5 for him.

Ouch, has had little luck with injury this year. A shame he doesn't get to battle against Smith and O'Sullivan on Sunday, but of the other Rebels have really stepped up. Sounds like it: 'Trainor’s concussions are a talking point among recruiters ahead of the draft in November, where he and key forward teammate Harry Armstrong are the standout tall players in a midfield-dominated class.' Why this Triple All Australian premiership Bulldog wants out of the kennel

Have clashing commitments otherwise would have been there. Lalor may miss again (apparently hamstring complaint kept him out last week) for GWV. Trainor may be done for the season with concussion. Marc MacGowan reporting in the Age that he has already missed games previously with concussion so that could be a watch come draft time.

If you look real close after Alix kicks his 2nd goal, you’ll see me in the background rubbing my chin pondering just how high he could go…

"Melbourne will complete an external review of the club in a stunning backflip on its approach to the on and off-field problems which have plagued the Demons. The Herald Sun understands Melbourne is preparing to complete a full-scale independent review of the club’s performance in the football department and other senior positions after a turbulent year. The Demons have repeatedly denied they needed an external review but have buckled to calls to open the club’s operations to outside sporting experts to review operations. Melbourne great David Schwarz led the charge for a “top-to-bottom” review in the Herald Sun on August 14 in the wake of Christian Petracca’s bombshell decision to explore a trade. The thorough audit will involve people with considerable experience in successful sporting organisations including former All Blacks manager and culture and leadership specialist Darren Shand. At least one highly-respected AFL figure, such as administrator Geoff Walsh who reviewed Carlton and North Melbourne recently, is also tipped to be involved. The club is in the process of approaching individuals with necessary skills to help identify and fix the problems which have hampered the club and led to the resignation of president Kate Roffey last week. But Roffey may not be the only major departure as the review is expected to analyse the performance of all key roles in the football department. Coach Simon Goodwin is contracted until the end of 2026. His right-hand man is football manager Alan Richardson. Club great Brad Green will step in to fill in for Roffey as president while the Demons attempt to convince 200-game former Demon and ex MCC president Steven Smith to accept a board position. The external review will be welcomed by the club’s supporters who are eager for the club to address the cultural and on-field issues which have troubled the Demons since the 2021 premiership. The club has not won a final since the flag and missed the finals in 2024. Chief executive Gary Pert said in a pre-season interview the club had the best culture he had seen in 40 years but there has been recent acknowledgment the club needed to face its issues. The club hopes an external review can help mend the issues Petracca has spoken about explicitly in recent weeks to club leaders after considering a trade including the professionalism and standards of the player group. The review will be aimed to draw a line on the issues and lead to a fresh start for the club next season with a list which remains one of the most talented in the league. Melbourne list boss Tim Lamb is spearheading the club’s mission to attract new talent to the club, including another prime big man, amid the turbulence. Port Adelaide playmaker Dan Houston initially wanted to land at the club but ruled out Melbourne after the Petracca revelations."

Damn, must have happened before I rocked up. ACL bad or more of a knock?

Sorry mate, haven’t been able to find anything that’s centralised that info either.

Couldn’t add much more to what Adam’s said, but Mentha was pretty quiet and one of our other future NGA kids, Prasad kicked a goal for Dandy but was quiet outside of that. Riak matched up on Tauru for a lot of the 2nd half (including ruck contests inside Gippsland 50), and it was a fun watch. At times they were playing kick to kick with each other though (I’ll blame the wind).

Wouldn’t want to get pinned by an Ah-Mu tackle… Got a decent game here. Tauru looking really, really good overhead.

Will try and navigate parental duties and lob over to watch. Sam Lalor unfortunately absent for GWV against Geelong (playing now). He got a pretty bad corkie in the first half of their win last week, guessing it didn’t come good.

App’s good for the live streams and game day stats (although they take a bit of time to go up).

From what I’ve seen a work in progress, but improving all the time. The athletic traits are really exciting and he has competitive spirit. Getting the better of Shanahan should give him some confidence.

The guys at Baseline have posted some footage of Riak’s game last weekend. https://www.instagram.com/p/C_e5KKOTljJ/?igsh=a3FpZ2Jvd3F0M2Fh

Thanks for the scoop @goodwindees. Any notion on what Clarry’s preference (as in go or stay) might be?

Thanks for posting the write up from ESPN @binman. Jasper has taken over from Knightmare at ESPN, and I reckon I prefer his insight to KM’s.