I'va Worn Smith

Guys, it was clear a couple of our players copped knocks tonight and were sore. They were 'managed' in the latter part of the game. In that context and after last week, this was a good win. It would have been nice to have smashed them by 10 goals, but under the circumstances, we did what we were required to do. It is a long season. Let's hope we retain a full list and be ready, fit and raring to go come finals time.. Go Dees!!!!

Van Rooyen is still a kid. We have thrown him to the wolves and he is monstered most weeks. He needs more forward line support and I fear if he does not get more support, we will ruin his confidence.

Of course, not all men are violent. But too many women have been murdered by men. FACT.

Are Trac, Viney and Nibbler OK? Few possessions and when they have, never clean possessions.

No doubt. But then we all have to face reality at some stage. Like I said in my original post, we have not had a true home since 1964. A rather long time, I would have thought. In today's competitive AFL world, you must take the most realistic option. Even when it may not be your first choice.

Our footy club has not had a 'true' home since 1964. Accordingly, I cannot understand any negativity directed toward this proposal. Caulfield is a central location, close to public transport and for the first time in a long time, will house both our administrative and football departments in the same facility. How on earth can that be seen as negative?

My major concern.

The AFL need to understand that NEITHER the MRO or Tribunals are Courts of Law. Therefore, they cannot rely on precedent or "priors". Nor can they rely on a change of policy. Each incident can only be examined under CURRENT AFL rules and not ones the AFL want to bring in as a knee jerk reaction. The AFL needs to get its house in order and not be a 'law' unto itself.

I love my footy club. Farrk the critics. I just love 'em

The (Duke of) Windsor. A star in the making. Yes, I know. Not 3 words, but geez this young kid is impressive.

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