Jjrogan

Death, taxes and complaining about umpiring. I vividly remember growing up fans complained about umpiring. This year its non stop complaining about umpiring. We all follow other sports. And yup, fans complain about umpiring. Ill stick my neck out here and say 20 years into the future people will complain about umpiring. (And i will complain about people complaining!) Maybe one day, we all just let it go, accept the best team wins the flag and move on with our lives. Liberating.

If Milkshake gets off the chain against this mob could be the difference between a 60 point win and a 90 point win. Bit of downhill skiing didnt hurt anyone. Until it does.

Gawn to play the final 2 years on his career at full forward please. Would legit give opposition defenders sleepless nights. He's a 40+ contested mark, 35+ goal kicker well into his mid 30s id say.

Goodwin, the coaches and the players have all bought into a process. Playing for percentage, managing players workloads or trying new things is not part of it. They'll follow the same process whether its the Lions or the Eagles. Dees by 45 (75+ if we are efficient)

And neither was that a successful era. Scott lycett/nathan vardy Toby nankervis Jordan Roughhead. These are premiership ruckman. Much prefer to have 2 way running, smart, courageous hard midfielders. The ruckman is the cream, its not the substance. Overpaying to keep Jackson and losing Brayshaw would be a decent misstep imo. Also, Collingwood says hi.

Better off tagging Lever, Brayshaw and Petty. The intercept marks and ground balls are what opposition teams need to stop to have any chance of kicking a winning score, not the midfield.

Stats wise Tmac can actually take a mark. Weeds problem has beeen the same for 6 years. He's a key forward. The best key forwards take marks, either uncontested or contested. Sam does neither consistenly well. 2 marks in 2 games. Thats not mental. That's ability. Up until now in his career, he's too easy to defend. He's not overly fast, sly or strong. His ground ball pressure doesnt help but if he was clunking 5 or 6 marks a game it would be overlooked. Its a harsh assessment, but the exposed evidence is there.

Gawn is 3 players in 1 Dominant centre bounce and throw in ruckman/clearance player. Elite around the ground intercepter And now, forward marking and goal kicking threat. He's miles ahead of any replacement player (for 3 years now) and thats why he'd be recognised the most valuable player in the league i reckon, if not the best.

Jackson is the bees knees. Was all in on day one. But if any club thinks, under the current rules condtions, he deserves a contract more than 750k a year, then im sorry you havent been watching football for the past 20 years. Wouldn love to sign him for a long term deal. Would love to keep oliver, brayshaw, sparrow, jordan, petty, salem, bowey more.

Yup. Hunt's role specifically highlighted by Goodwin as the lock down defender for the quick opposition small forwards. He wont be going anywhere as hes picked up a few scalps so far and will be important in finals. Cameron, Higgins, Walters.

This is a fantastic suggestion imo Minor dissent should be a 25 or 30 metre penalty. Many sport have different levels of penalties (typically umpire disrespect is the harshest tho). Given how relatively minor waving your hands at the ump in frustration is (and I'm for a penalty), it might be a suitable middle ground as it gets implemented.

Well now we're venturing into what can players see v media v crowds. Thats a very subjective lens to apply. He did it, it was paid. He wont do it again. I agree the Andrews one was the harshest of the lot. But the point here is in 5 weeks time, the majority of players will probably just stop doing it. Lets see

It was a bad decision pay the free. But stiff shizzle. People make mistakes. It was the correct decision to pay 50. There's a difference. How many times in history has an umpire overturned his or another's decision based on viewing the replay? (Not video replay). Its a dissenting act to ask an umpire to look at a replay. Mitchell nodded his head when told. I'm tipping he wont do it again.

Hawkins 50m was clearly there. The rule is if you ask the umpire to look at the scoreboard (replay), that is dissent. Made clear as mud in the preseason. Tom Mitchell looks at the scoreboard and ask the umpire to look. 50 metres under the new rule all day long. Players, especially captains and senior players, would do well to learn the rules of the game.

Players can't remonstrate but crowds and the public can throw as much filth and abuse their way. Ok got it. It's my right to be a sook and act like an 8 yr old when things dont go my way! The frustration 50m is silly, but imo the real reason why umpring and refereeing is down across all sports and all codes is the respect they get in general for doing a job. It's not player abuse that turns them off.

Yup, 3 of these media darlings are as soft as butter. When they had Rockliff, Gray, a younger Boak and Wines they werent being exposed as such. Now they are.

Bigger picture rival... Lions 01, 02, 03 Cats 07, 09, 11 Hawks 13, 14, 15 Tigers 17, 19, 20 But this year I agree its the Lions then daylight. Only team with finals experience, star power and depth across every line to match Melbourne right now.

Aging team, takes the pressure off, easier to slide to the bottom 4 of the ladder and rebuild. I'm not sure that's the wrong photo.

80 percent of the world dont give a ****. 80 percent of the world's population care about clean drinking water, having a roof over their heads, getting themselves and their familes through wars and political oppression. Its nice living here in District 1 and having District 1 problems but as a reaction to this stupid behaviour, most people with real fundamental problems could not care less. Pretty sure of that.

The only player in the club that can stop Trac (at training) according to Steven May last night. Great signing.

Fair play to Tom Morris for doing his job and then giving it right back. Takes guts to stand up to a guy who was trying to bully and belittle him like that.

I think there's a legit typo. Zak Butters at 25. 125 perhaps? Maybe should be Zac Bailey? Averaged 18 touches, 3 tackles and less than a goal a game last year.

I agree with your sentiments fwiw. I used to get all worked up about umpires once upon a time, but then I got myself a life and realised abusing someone to make me feel better is actually pathetic. But Rome is the mob so er, play on.

Fantastic series. A pleasure to read, so thank you for this. Lists are always subjective but I think you did a great job on nailing the tiers. I would say, as our (only) Premiership captain in this era, 5-time All Australian ruckman and clearly head and shoulders above his peers, I reckon he has Gary covered even now (both 2 Blueys) Back to back should do it though :)

Quick glance at any match stats, a clanger is most certainly not given for a behind. In fact, i believe its recorded as an effective disposal as it registers a score. Out on full would be a clanger. I liked the earlier suggestion re forced v unforced clangers. Would be a better reflection on ball use.