Ollie fan

I will look forward to that. I remember him very well as an outstandingly strong mark and an absolutely shocking kick.

That sets out the All Australian team and their draft selection. Only 1 no 1 pick. 5 picks over 40 including one rookie draftee. I have always thought the draft is overrated and I think a club is mad to trade a good player for a draft pick. A draft pick is the hope of a good player; a good player is an actual good player.

So many great possibilities. We already have the best captain in the league. In waiting: Petracca, Oliver, Lever, maybe Brayshaw and then the generation after includes Jackson and possibly Bowey (Mr Cool Head)!

And I am next to certain that you see him shedding tears with Goody towards the end of the game. Hopefully he has enough of a bond for him to want to stay. Why can’t we maybe have him live in Adelaide but basically do Telehealth, plus fly over weekly for 2 days?

That’s interesting. As you say, selfless.

Three things in the change in the third quarter: Petracca turning it on Jackson Oliver going onto Bont and keeping him quiet (hardly noticed by anyone but Daisy).

I’m glad he’s staying. We have had an extraordinary run of luck with injuries but we can’t expect that to last. I’m certain he has the necessary desire and the necessary character to be an asset to the club. One day he will get it all together and then we might be very very happy that he has stayed.

I have always believed the draft is overrated. I would never trade a good player for a high draft pick. A high draft pick is a hope, a good player is a good player. The overvaluing of the draft can be seen if you go through the all Australian team in any year and check their draft positions. If the draft was completely effective, they would all be top 10 picks. They are not.

I have said for years, he’s our best since Barassi and now he’s heading towards being Barassi’s equal. However, I would not describe it as a “dramatic rise”; he has been outstanding since his first game in which, I believe, he polled two Brownlow votes. The other thing that the article doesn’t mention is a story that went around, I think, last year, that someone – it might have been Burgo - suggested to him that instead of hand passing as soon as he gets the ball, if it all possible he should take two or three steps at full pace and then dispose of it. He has obviously listened to that advice and it has taken his game to an even higher level.

9 - don’t forget Brian Dixon!

I have a memory of a Jakovich goal where he had a mark or freekick – can’t remember which – on the boundary line. Chris Langford was his opponent and was standing the mark. Jakovich ran in to kick but instead of kicking, he just kept going, straight at Langford, who did not know what to do. He was so bemused; Jakovich ran straight around him, and kicked the goal. It was outrageous play.

For us oldies: Hassa Mann v Hawthorn 1964.

Jeppers, Luke Hodge has been in a good paddock!

He is so weak. And he takes cheap shots at small players.

Both good habits and bad habits start early. Our player development then was criminal. Jack Watts is the worst example but there were dozens of others. He could have been a beautiful player and an absolute star.

Actually, his opponent kicked 3 on Salem in one quarter, and 2 on Smith for the rest of the game.

When I mentioned her potentially being a coach or having another role, I wasn’t talking about in women’s football…

Just watching Daisy and Nat on the AFL website: how good Daisy is!! Unlike the men: no ego, no rubbish, just great sense and analysis. Whether she has the material to be a head coach, I don’t know, but if she doesn’t want to confine herself to media work, there is a huge role for her in analysis/ strategy.

FWIW, the TAB betting on the Norm Smith Has six out of the top seven coming from Melbourne or Geelong – I guess the money thinks it will be in Melbourne V Geelong grand final.

Totally agree. The players love Goodwin. Can’t we assume that he actually does speak to them, and speaks to them honestly? I’ve got no doubt that Nathan Jones is entirely aware Of his situation, and I suspect Goody is being quite honest in his press conferences – I would think Nathan Jones is about 24th or 25th in our best 22, so that means that if we get a couple of injuries, he will be called upon and if we don’t, he won’t. I would also guess Goodwin had a frank discussion with Jonesy either before or just after the 300th, and that Jonesey was well aware of his position. I am sure that he could have chosen to bow out gracefully then and if he chose not to do that, it would have been with the knowledge that he was by no means certain to be selected again.

Agree with a lot of the above but comparing Clarry to Robbie Flower is like comparing him to Lyon or Schwarz – you just can’t. The real comparison is to RDB, And I believe he’s not quite there – yet. Another season like this, and he will be, or more.

Just re-watched the first quarter. Scott saying they controlled the game up until 3/4 time is a joke, as was him saying that they had the better of the rucks. it’s okay to try and put a positive spin on things, but who did he think he was kidding?

If Sparrow can’t learn to kick, he should be out of the side.

My expectation is that the way Goody speaks and the approach he has always adopted, means that we will be going as hard as possible to win on Saturday night, as we should.