Rivers of Belief my friend

AFL is petrified by the current and future concussion law suits. It’s understandable. But it’s making the game (even more) challenging to adjudicate.

I admit that I have some anxiety about Monday’s game, but, along with the general optimism of Tuesday’s podcast still creating a warm glow, I just discovered that there’s a show on Binge called FBoys. I presume most of the Magpie supporter base is watching this trash, and enjoying it.

I can only assume a larger slice of the broadcast pie (4 night games vs. 3). It's almost always about the money.

I’m going to go on the off chance we win comfortably and if we do I’m starting a Meeeeeelbourne chant just to stick it up ‘em.

Confession time. I bailed on that Carlton win last year. REGRET. definitely showing up on Monday.

Reminds me of that scene in Saw 2 with the pig sluicer…

Umpiring needs a complete overhaul.

Approaching 50 like me, mate? I feel ya.

Maybe interviewed at the ground while the music is playing?

Hi guys, in your upcoming game preview towards the end of the podcast (vs Carlton), I’d love to hear some ‘more solid’ predictions about what might happen. I know that’s like asking Richard Dawkins to predict the next genetic mutation of a true believer, but it’d be an interesting exercise to try to pin point what the factors will be for success or failure - eg will loading (in prep for Collingwood) *really* impact the game for us? Will the return of Hunter and the selection of Schache bring the magic back? I realise the podcast airs before the team selection, but you get what I mean. What are the main factors that will predict win or loss? Massive caveats, of course, but I guess what I’m asking is to predict what would normally be only obvious in hindsight. can you be the buddhas on the mountaintop?

I think I’m over booing. Even for umpires. I never feel good after it. Same as like during the last quarter against Port when I threw my phone at the couch and it bounced and crashed into my favourite coffee mug and broke it and my chihuahua looked at me fearful and wide-eyed never having seen such a thing. Time to rein in the crazy.

As a comms professional and speechwriter who sees the same in the word-world, I empathise with you and commend this approach.

That 3rd quarter was the opposite. We had the ball on a string like it was 25 degrees and dry. Killed them. Where was that the rest of the game? Polar opposites.

Need to professionalize umpiring as soon as possible. It’s just so frustrating to watch.

*Very* forunate. I’d go as far as to say: tremendously lumky

Richo: “you’ve gotta pay that”. yep, hence why forwards will keep ducking.

We thank you for your sacrifice, WCW. Go Dees.

Swing tackle?

Play on?

If we bring our first 4 minutes we’ll win. (I’m trying to be funny but it’s only Wednesday)

Yep - I remember a game vs Richmond back in 2019 (ugggh) where they beat us comfortably, but Melky kicked 4 - brought the Harlem Globetrotters that day - very strong. Wish he could be more consistent - from game to game, and within games. Let’s be honest, he’s got game!

Minus a broke leg, I guess…but yeah, looks fairly…free spirited…

Hardwick: “we know the kind of football that beats Melbourne, we just needed to execute it for longer” this is what worries me - sides have worked our main strategy out and we don’t have enough different ways to play…and don’t choke sides out like we used to… don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying watching our team play strong footy these days, but we’re not our once irresistible selves…

How TF was that holding the ball on Chandler. I reckon I could do a better job umpiring and I can barely run around the block.

It’s my pet hate for non calls - reward the tackler. Otherwise, the tackling team sacrifices a player while the other team gets the overlap. It’s not good enough. Reward the tackler. In other news, we’re looking very ordinary. No magic any more.