I'va Worn Smith

Devastating news. The Norm Smith curse is well and truly back. Best for Angus I suppose, but the AFL will now be quivering through their lack of duty of care. There is ample precedent on concussion injuries. The AFL were warned.

Absolutely spot on. A series of unfortunate facts that many doomsayers either ignore or choose to forget. (see Kane Kornes). With a bit of luck with injury this year and the new blood, I reckon we will be OK.

Think about this for just one minute. Gus may never play football again. He may, but what if he doesn't???? FU AFL.

Lawyers, guns and money. If not now, they will queue up in the not too distant future. The AFL have just made a rod for their own collective backs. Shocking result.

On talkback radio today some of the nuffies were blaming Gus for not baulking or trying to evade Maynard. Just about says it all really. Let's not forget the ramifications of any decision made in this case. Massive really.

If the Tribunal finds in Maynard's favour, the AFL better leverage up their legal advice, because this has an undeniable potential to become very litigious down the track. In my many years of watching footy, I have never seem anything like what Maynard did and those that say it was a footy act are kidding themselves.

Cripps got off on a legal technicality. After that, the AFL quickly moved to change the laws of the game.

I don't often agree with Caroline Wilson, but on Offsiders this morning she accurately made reference to the AFL's hyper sensitivity to head injuries. We know the AFL already has a war chest put aside as a contingency for possible litigation. Interestingly, just after the "expert" commentators were discussing the pros and cons of the Maynard incident, channel 7 went to a promo on John Platten, for a news story they're doing on him and his CTE. I suspect this will be the context in which the Tribunal will examine the Maynard case.

I am astonished that some so-called commentators refer to Maynard's hit as a footy act. Sure, attempt to smother/spoil, but he jumped and launched toward Gus and therefore the odds were he was going to impact the head. If he gets off this, then there is no footy justice.

I am so frustrated with this loss. Seems yet another wasted opportunity. No real connection in the forward line and looks like we lose Roo. But, I cannot understand why we re-signed Schache. A former number 2 in the national draft, us being his third club, he clearly is not up to standard and as a result, we don't select him to play, when we are in desperate need of forwards. Yet we select a bloke that has only played 2 VFL games in 4 months. I have the utmost respect for TMac, but sadly, I think the game has passed him by. We have seen the lack of separation in our forward line several times this year, yet we dominated inside 50's last night. Surely our coaches can come up with a better plan that what we appear to have at the moment. So bloody annoyed.

I love TMac, but to bring him in for a final, after such a long layoff, was a bad call. He's actually been a liability tonight.

I'll take that win anytime, under the circumstances. Buddy's send off, - so a lot of emotion for them - on their patch, we looked ordinary for most of the game and still got up. I don't care who or where we play now. We are ready. Hope Melky is OK.

Call me a cynic, but I believe Hardwick's actions to be mercenary in the extreme. OK, he says he felt he had nothing left in the tank with Richmond and resigns. I don't believe that the deal with the Suns occurred recently, but do believe, Hardwick was sounded out well before. It will be interesting to see how many Richmond players, current or recently 'retired', he takes with him. I know footy is a business, but honesty and integrity, to me, takes primacy within any business in my view.

I thought ANB was good today and I'm usually not that much of a fan.

I loved today. Still don't have our best team on the park, but when we need to, we stand up. My only real concern is our lack of composure and that even when we are in the clear, we can't hit a target further down the field. I'll take that win anytime and I can only hope we are building towards the finals and our 'A' game comes to the fore when it really matter.s

Wouldn't we love the class of someone like Ooze in our midfield now? He was all class.

Don't know what's wrong at my end, but I can't see it. Thanks anyway

Where's Joeboy's player analysis?

RIP mate. Sad, when the older we get, the more we lose our heroes. Such is life. Go well "young" man. One of the best Demons ever.

He will walk. We will lose him to another club. JJ still has currency and whoever picks him up, will get a good player, to our cost, if that happens. In my view, he is way ahead of Spargo and far more versatile.

Jordan. Keep him in. He is way ahead of Spargo, but behind and in front of the ball. A greet kick and has grunt. If we keep dropping him, we will lose him.

Let's keep things in perspective and don't get me wrong. I'll take that win anytime, but they had key injuries (accepting we didn't have Oliver), but they had a few more and apparently the flu went through much of the team. Once again our kicking, not only for goal, but to position, as well as constant fumbling, when in the clear, was woeful. We need more forward connection with our mids and structure. I can only hope that we gain confidence out of this and reach the peak of form, come finals, but we are nowhere near it yet. YET!!!

Let's get Dimma? FFS.

Gawn Playing Sore? Spargo needs more. When you have a dysfunctional forward line, it is always going to be hard to win. Love TMac, but unfortunately he's passed it. I still can't believe how the opposition clear the ball without a contest in the corridor. We miss Harry and of course, Clarry. Loved Kossie's endeavour today. He didn't have enough mates though. Nibbler?

While striving to make a contest, of course, at some point, the player will take his eyes off the ball for a split second, so that he can gauge where the ball is, relative to the player in question. Simple commonsense. Then again, commonsense does not seem to prevail with the MRO or Tribunal. There was clearly no intent to hurt Ballard nor did JVR target him.