Jjrogan

Amazing how we all have these wonderful conversations about how mental health. And yet seemingly educated people think its totally fine to sit at a keyboard and write this cr$p frankly and add to the culture of abuse. You'd belt him? Ive got money on him taking you on and giving it back twice as bad. I dare say he's pretty cut up and wouldnt hold back.

Yes, you can cherry pick. You're comparing this years three game average of an established player to the first five season of another. I prefer to keep it like for like myself (3.5 v 4.9 at the same stage of career). Whatever the case, the undeniable fact is he averages less than kennedy, mckay, hawkins, lynch etc etc. im not knocking him, but its a very valid question of how to rectify.

the top key forwards average between 5 and 6 marks per game. Even during their 'early years' as they developed with games before they had 60+ goals. Sam currently averages 3.5. So the question is a very good and relevant one. Personally, im hoping its not confidence. Sounds good in theory but during a career there are always going to be form slumps and if every time your confidence is down, it negatively effects your performance for weeks on end you're not going to be elite and you're going to be in and out of the side. Im willing to give him a bit more time, in 2-3 years time he may yet become a top 6 forward.

Someone earlier in this thread (or another perhaps) made a great point that BBs value isnt just his raw goals and stats. He draws the best defender and then also draws another to nearly every marking contest (and he's rarely outmarked) Both Frit and McDonald had career standout games with him in the side. None of that goes on his stat sheet

Doggies have one key weakness in that they lack height down back. Richmond towelled them up with Lynch and Reiwoldt taking 19 marks between them. (11 inside 50s). Its their Achilles heel imo. All this talk of forward pressure and tackling is great but if the ball hits the ground, their half backs of Daniel and Dale will continually rebound, despite our pressure which may or may not be there. Respect the strength and exploit the weakness imo. Stretch them and get 10-12 scoring shots from marks/free kicks and we're a chance of kicking 100 points. I dont trust Ben Brown to tackle, but i do trust him to draw 2 defenders, get free kicks, and create open leading lanes for others. I dont know what i trust Weeds to do in this regard unfor. In, salem viney brown. Out jetta, melksham, weed And i'd definitely have someone playing a forward defensive role on Daniel. His ball use is first rate.

Inconsistent umpiring but we were 3 goals up with 7min to play. Lever running 30 metres off Fogarty to kill a contest he didnt need to be in, ended up Fogarty goals. He really doesnt give a shizzle about his man sometimes. May outpointed one on one. Tex is a good player but he'll be disappointed. Overall the backline didnt play well and it cost us. Just goes to show how important Salem is for us. Either with that correct first kick or handpass out of 50 to hit a target (hibberd not as silky) and keeping his feet (jetta?!?!). Weiderman is a good kid, but Ben Brown consistently milks free kicks so will always be a better offensive option, especially late in games. Still, that was as deliberate as it gets and a draw at worst was the right outcome. Maybe a bit of extra hunger for next week so not all bad.

Closer to the truth than you might think. The ransom money for the colonial pipeline last week was paid in crypto. Its not untraceable but it's definitely harder than the regular banking system. And yes, its a launderers paradise.

As this thread opened, it should be pointed out some are down 50 percent in the last 24 hours. No doubt also a life changer if you jump on the wrong one (or any). Not really a store of value (currency) as much as a gambling fad. Play on.

Actually, this is exactly what happened. Mid 2018, it started getting a lot of attention that the Eagles had a persistent bias for home decisions and a conscious effort was made by the afl umpiring department to look into it. Since then the numbers have dropped a lot such that now theres no persistent statistical bias in the decisions for any team over a period of time (but thats no fun. Whinging is fun) Some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield.

I thought Salem was the best player on the ground today and an absolute star under wet slippery conditions. (That Walsh kid goes alright too) His foot passing was elite but a number of times effective handpassess through traffic whilst under pressure were brilliant. If he gets get 25-30 touches every week he's a sneaky top 3 Brownlow chance.

6 Salem 5. Lever 4. Mcdonald 3. Jordan 2. Langdon 1. Spargo

2+ goals, 10-15 touches, a few free kicks and maybe a contested mark or two. Cause thats an average game from Ben Brown based on career performances. Admittedly, all reports are he's taken a big leap forward this year so intriguing to see. Hope he gets a few weeks to show it.

Maybe just me, but I feel when we do get our hands on it, our centre mids do look for that extra handball to a player in space or trying to hit a player running a fraction more than the opposition. Some would it call it being cute and perhaps means we dont 'win' a clearance when we could. I'm generally ok with it, as others have suggested it's what you do with the clearance that ultimately matters. What's not great is when they do get clear, our starting centre mids are below average kicks. Not an urgent need, but another elite kick through our midfield would make us very damaging.

Forward intensity was excellent all night from Spargo. Really finding his niche which is great to see for a 4 th year player.

6 Tmac 5 Oliver 4 May 3 Salem 2 Harmes 1 Spargo. Second and third efforts were outstanding all night, particularly in the last.

Gawn has Brownlow votes against him in 2017 and 2019 (v west coast). He may have played an ok game or two against Max in 2016 but more recently he's been soundly beaten.

If Gawn is fully fit, he will give Hickey an absolute bath around the ground. Huge class difference. But Gawn's been copping some serious whacks in marking contests in recent weeks. Its not ok to strike a guy in the jaw with a fist but its ok to use your forearm and slam his head the guise of spoiling??? The umps need to pay attention.

The match committee has been reticent to make changes all year and doubt they will to a team 7-0. I think baker and tomlinson will be the only outs to make way for sparrow and weed. Im not as down on the game as most. North had a game plan and executed to amazing precision in that first half. Melbourne readjusted and won the 2nd half by 50 points. That's impressive from the coaching and playing group imo. sort of win that give the club belief and confidence and a wake up call that nothing is easy or a gimme.

Baker has been putrid entering 50. He's a total liability with the ball in his hands meanwhile north are hitting target after target. Pray he doesnt touch it next half and we might have a chance.

I'll set the over/under on the game time it takes for concern about his lack of tackling and pressure at 4 minutes. Luckily, he replaces Melksham whose line is usually set at 2 minutes. 3/4 goals a game is his key benchmark imo.

This is exactly right. And if you have a look at the "1st round" picks available in those drafts we might realistically have taken, its a whole bag of nothing. Lever in the hand was worth 2 in the bush unquestionably.

I agree. Constant rule changes. Longer quarters. Been ok. Sure they've missed some howlers but that happens every single year in every sport that has ever existed. They're professionals but so are the players and they [censored] up all the time (and by a lot more). Just because you're paid to do something doesnt mean you wont make mistakes. But its easy and carthartic to whinge so play on i guess.

Not once, but twice he was at the end of a 'fast break' for a goal. Gets to so many contests for a ruckman he will be unstoppable in a few years time if not sooner

And if so, who? Hibberd?

I would. Perhaps i was being a little generous with his goals (19 in 13 games last year) but all im suggesting is that if he kicks his two and contributes a bit here and there thats all we should be expecting to get. Maybe he lays a tackle. Maybe he doesnt. (6 in 13 games last year). I see Ben Brown a match winner brought in for these mature elite defences and for me he is unquestionably the better option, especially since Goodwin has declared them both fit. And agreed with most that we cant bring in both this week.