The Jackson FIX

Yes. Less optimistic about the following week though, ‘aints might touch us up.

Spot on, they understand how to play to Gawn now. Sadly, it doesn’t appear we a) have a sufficiently evolved game plan to counter this or b) sufficiently evolved undergrowth of talent to counter this. Having said that, less footy this more-season to assess than previous years. I remember a match (can’t recall which one) several years ago where Gawn and Viney had the ball talking. Those days feel long gone.

Oliver is the value for the Brownlow more so than Trac I feel. Very consistent poller (I think he had ~13 votes in a lean-ish yr last yr) and his contract is up for renewal which will probably give him motivation plus keep him in the media spotlight through out the year.

Thanks for the podcast fellas, a good listen. @binman’s dog might benefit from a run around in the 2s before he features in another firsts podcast.

Darcy will be out too I assume.

He played in the 1sts in round 1, 2018 and was drafted in November 2017. He has played 60 AFL games. Couldn’t have played more than 10 games at Casey (being generous). edit. Forgot he was recruited from there so I will take your point on that one

I think Spargo can be ok but I am Beginning to wonder whether our arrangement with Casey is impacting our kids’ development. Baker should be better than he is. Bedford hasn’t come on. In fact, I find it difficult to pin point one player that has developed well down at Casey and then quickly risen to the challenge when called Upon in the 1s. Richmond is full of players like that.

Never fun to lose, even though pre-season. Understandably got monstered in the midfield - probably by the best midfield in the comp. Most sad to see was some of our Casey players of the past few years don’t seem to have advanced at the rate you’d hope - Bedford, Baker (arguably Sparrow) culprits. If they’re in the selection frame in the next two months we’re in strife.

Thanks for the updates all.

How many heartlands do we have?

You are entitled to your opinion sir/ma’am.

The fact that it has made the papers means it is a tone deaf choice. All of the effort to be community leaders in demonstrating equality through the AFLW etc quickly gets compromised by something small (arguably innocuous) like this. One of two things will happen - they’ll put their hands up and say ‘no harm was intended but we realise it wasn’t the best choice now and will change it’ or they will cry poor and shout ‘the world is going f’n mad’ (Racetrack Ralphy has already done this). I hope they choose the former and show that we have the ability to listen to people.

This was the lead footy story in Robbo’s paper today. Footy journalism is flying.

Montagna’s livelihood nowadays depends on him being noticed and he will make bold statements (regularly) to try and create a headline. Campbell Brown is/was the same, Kane Cornes, Ben Dixon, David King the list goes on. Not saying he is definitely wrong on this one but I’m suggesting there is a decent chance his intel is questionable but he goes with it anyway because he needs all the attention he can get.

Surprised our club (or any club) hasn’t seized the opportunity to monetise exclusive content post-Covid e.g add another 10 bucks onto your membership every year and get 2 exclusive news pieces every week. I think a lot of members would pay for it / would help the club pay for some of these guys that perhaps we’ve taken for granted for too long.

Was just reading that stK have been practising standing 5m ‘outside’ of the man-on-the-mark zone instead of actually manning the mark. You can move freely there. Didn’t see that in our practice match. An interesting move. Feels counter to the spirit of the rule though so I kinda hope the AFL make it 10m+ to give the team with the ball an advantage if players try to do this

Point taken on fitness being more of a factor this season than last but I just can’t see them falling away... they have an efficient defensive structure ( aren’t one of those teams that runs around manically), they’ve added 3 high-quality players (albeit two of them older) and they play most of their home games at a unique-shaped ground they play significantly better than any other team. Too many tailwinds for them to fall in a ditch...

I’m still waiting for our flag unfurling from the 2019 pre-season predictions.

There are surely financial expectations that should see this idea sink quickly... surely MFC gate is going to be significantly higher if the game is at the G? How do you compensate them? How do you compensate MCC supporters that would have to pay to watch them at Marvel?

Any news on #TomMcDonaldWatch? Going to be hard to win early games if we lose another forward marking option.

Rookie spots aren’t a charity. From what I saw today the gap is too big. Of course they give him advice and if he improves enough (because of it or for other reasons) then we’ll have another dip but you don’t list a bloke because he might be ok.

Best since Neitz... that standing might not last long though given what Trac looks like he is capable of.

Haha I am not bald and there was no ill-intent in my comments, intended in affection only. Apologies if taken that way.

Good to see little Wiz get a goal in the red and blue. Unlikely to get a spot this yr - just too undercooked. Probably sent back to WA with some clear instructions on what he has to work on ahead of next year’s draft.

I know it has been said before, but Rosman looks like he must have gone through puberty when he was 6.