Jjrogan

I'd say you're dead on. Aflw costs 57 mln to operate. Last year, MFC made 56 mln in revenue (3 mln profit). Generally speaking the AFL is drowning in $$$$. 1 bln of revenue. 650mln operating surplus Then they pay the clubs 400 mln The AFLPA gets 50 mln Grassroots they made a commitment to give 10 percent of revenue (100mln!!) Net profit is 120mln. (And they don't pay tax) They have 160 mln in cash on hand. TLDR: there's easily enough runway to expand one or two teams, not eliminate them. And for what it's worth the salary cap needs to be increased in line with global sports. Revenue has essentially doubled in 10 years, and salary cap has only gone up 60 percent.

We'd be on 124.6. So 6.1. I reckon we look back and pin point this as the turning point in our forward line structure. Turner can play, he leads up, finds separation, has sticky hands and is faster than JVR or Petty (or so it appears). Real prospect.

Sometimes I feel like Bailey Fritsch doesn't exist either.

Yet again, Port 2nd on the ladder. April is the cruelest month.

I'll feel more sorry for us if we don't win by 6 goals+. They'll have half a VFL side out there.

Credit where credit is due. Brisvegas played a fantastic game across the park. Tackle count was 82 to 53 to them. If there was a stat for 'effective tackles ' I'd suggest it would have been even more lopsided. And how many smothers or a intercepting hand did they get in. I don't think many teams (let alone them again) could have that sort of kicking efficiency and pressure around the ball indefinitely. Our forward line needs to work out what sort of forward line it wants to be. Is it a kick it to advantage and have our keys read the drop zone with crumbers. Or it is a lead up and honour the short kick. Right now it's in between and means even 3 on 1s and 4 on 2s become a [censored] shoot with players not on the same page.

I'm with you mate. It's tiresome after a point. It's a global phenomenon. It's pervasive through basketball, baseball, soccer, NFL, NRL, Cricket. Keep going. You're telling me that every sport in the world the officiating is getting worse and worse and worse? This is despite the evidence that the percentage of correct decisions is close to all time highs. Maybe all the actual data is wrong and the fan's human eye and biases are right. My theory is that being 2024 we expect perfection and have simply got less tolerant of mistakes. Every single supporter base would say their team get the rough end of the stick for umpire decisions (it's when and where you get them!) which is clearly impossible. Some days you're the bug some days you're the windshield.

There was a stat mentioned by Joe M that Trac had 100 more forward disposals than the next player last year and already leading this year. The ones where you actually have someone playing on you. Elite midfielders have between 600 and 700 possessions a year, so this must off the charts from a standard deviation perspective. He is the best and most consistent player in the AFL imo.

Future first and an Adelaide death ride coming up.

Port is one of the few teams that rely on their top 3 midfielders for inside 50s more than us. And they bat deep. Rozee is good uncontested so we have to have someone responsible for him from stoppages. Viney for mine. Wines and Drew I think can be nullified. But Butters, well good luck. Guy has gone from 'potential' to mini Petracca/Oliver clone in 25 games. Egads.

Said it before, but what elevates us from serious contender to God mode is Trac's kicking. He just gets so many great opportunities to convert possessions into scores. If he hits targets inside 50 and around the ground, it's worth 3-5 goals. Absolute weapon.

ACLs in most cases are determined on the spot by the Lachman test. They would have test that on him, so an ACL would be a surprise.

Defence need to pay the Hawks forwards one-on-one respect today imo. Lewis, Nash, Breust and to extent Ginnivan are no slouches. Watson is an unknown but I haven't forgotten Rankine getting off the chain in his first game against us. Chol will prolly play a defensive role on Lever.

Devils advocate. I'm not suggesting he is being gifted a game but these sort of decisions would definitely be memory banked by a player and his management during contract decisions. He is only human. Being selected this week is a massive sign of faith by the FD towards him which may get paid back in spades in the next 12 months or so. Hmm, maybe I am suggesting he is being gifted a game but if he turns out to be the forward conmection we are looking for I'm ok with it.

How good was the way they used Wanganeen-Milera as much as possible. Watching him kick is like watching a Federer backhand or a Warnie leggie. Skill and execution just sublime. Not to the same extent, but I'd be keen to see McVee freed up a little bit to be getting that kick from the back half into the forward half. But we seem to be trending in that direction anyhow.

I quite like the NFL model where you can swap draft picks for coaches. In 2000, the Pats gave up 1st, 4th and 5th round draft picks to the Jets for Belichick. Hmmm what's Goody worth? (Kidding)

Forget about the players. Get a proper coach. Longmire will be out of contract at end 2025.

This. This will be the longest season ever and player management for mature lists like ours is paramount. Dogs aren't a top 8 side with that backline imo. Coffield, Khamis were absolute passengers if not liabilities. Add in Lobb and they are playing with 3 fewer players every other week.

As others have mentioned. This is a great test for our forward line. Brambles has played 30 games Coffield has played 50 games Khamis has played 10 games. It's a great test because if our forward line isn't able to win one on one match ups, find separation and take marks against this lot I'm not sure when.

TMac on Lobb is going to be box office entertainment. I can't wait.

It was pretty tough conditions for forwards but there needs to be less focus on intensity and contest, and more on getting seperation and space. Fritta says hi. 4 marks a game this year to take the next step. Below this bar and the odds of being a bona fide AFL forward is quite low. He has the hands, so perhaps his positioning is NQR but hard to tell when not at the ground. Having said all that he has an appetite to jump and impose himself physically which as we know is very desirable trait. 2nd year, just needs time. Not easy playing on the best key defender also.

There is no question our forwards don't move enough. But equally, if we have a 3 on 2 or 4 on 3 with a 'fast break', I still not confident we score. We don't make the right decisions or run to the right spots. I'm sure they do a lot of work on this at training but imho it's a 'skill' that you either have or you don't. If you're going to run with an undersized forward line you simply have to be able to take advantage of 3 on 2s. Conversely, our back line is excellent at defending when outnumbered or out positioned.

Good. I don't want him suspended.

Yep. A bit of patience is needed now. I thought Salem was ok and did some nice things but the lack of leg speed was very evident. Pickett was sorely missed. Also, I'm not sure in what world Charlie Spargo offers more than Jack Billings. Spargo offers nothing overhead and when you're struggling for a mark inside 50 it essentially become 5 on 6. Billings also can take a pot shot from 45 and nail it. Again, not the reason we lost but watching the same players struggle with the same limitations is just frustrating.

You didn't give votes to a midfield that got smashed and couldn't hit a target inside 50?? This is not the Demomland way.