rpfc

Sydney don’t win contested footy like we do. Like you have to in Finals. Carlton’s defence is a worry but that midfield and fed line can kick 8 goals in 15 mins on any team. Geelong look like they will be around the mark again… ugh Dogs can beat anyone on their day, but they are getting less and less of those days. GWS should be in the 8 but don’t feel threatening. Hawks are plucky but nah. Brisbane are the real deal and are the biggest challenger. How hungry are they? We will find out… they play in Mordor this Friday.

This is what I mean - they are already watching footy and a lot are investing financially to their team. They are not growing the game very much; not like the northern teams or the Women’s game.

Port will be throwing themselves around Thursday night. If Lever is right, maybe May gets right. If Gawn is not right, Jackson and Weideman is entirely adequate as a duo for a month.

He made an error but those three players did not do much to make that Essendon defender commit to defend them and open up the 50 for the others. They just led downhill, there was no V cut, there was no one willing to engage the defender to make it easier for the others. Poor all round really.

He had a double pressure smother that then went down the other end when the game was there to be grabbed. He is not missing, mate, you’re not looking at the right things.

Another 6 day break for us against a team under the pump. Big challenge.

That was an impressive win. So many down and we just kept coming and when they opened the game up we said - ‘thanks for that’ and torched them. Oliver, Smith, Brayshaw, Harmes, Langdon, and Weideman were great and the rest just went. Gawn looks sore. 6 day break, and with a lower leg strapped - we need to keep Jackson… To those that say this felt like a loss - you are kidding yourself. Wait till we lose and tell me how you feel. Well done to the team and the FD to keep them patient and piercing.

No growth. They are all already invested in a club. I really don’t get this attitude. Is it naïveté or do people really think we shouldn’t bother in the northern states?

Wasn’t Melksham off a HB flank? We are getting into the depth charts in defence. A Covid hit to that line could see the return of Matthew Collins via a time machine from 1998.

Lever came across on $700-$800k and May similar. That is unders for what they are. Petracca is around $900k which is better value than Jake Bowey on his rookie $100k. Langdon on $500k… We have some team friendly deals people. We may have to say goodbye to a best 18 player to keep Jackson, Oliver and Brayshaw.

rpjfc is also a paid up member. And got a really solid plastic plate and cutlery out of it.

Jordan doesn’t wax lyrical about this when prodded by Garry Lyon and other Fox people that know - but he had the ear of Oliver and Petracca and Gawn long after he retired and even came down to the club in the pre-season ahead of 2021. He considers himself someone with a split allegiance which is simply stunning when you consider what he achieved at the Hawks. He was better than people remember and the people that matter got a lot out of him.

We also didn’t want to keep them. I forgot what Howe brought us but Frawley leaving brought us Brayshaw.

I don’t like the term ‘cull’.

That would 5 years… think it will be shorter so we can pay him the big coin later

Well I believe in Luke… For those that remember the dark times…

Unless it’s a final - we have not been putting away sides. Some if you look like sheep standing on their hind legs with your confidence of a win and a blowout one at that. We have Casey’s backline featuring Steven May, we are losing the clearances around the ground like we always do, and if we can’t turn the ball over quickly we are kicking to Gawn, Brown and TMac all going up at once because of reasons.

This discussion about the cap is an interesting one, we had a thread on trade targets where I had my go at who is getting paid what: I think that to keep Jackson and Oliver we are going to have to move on players in their prime who are role players - by definition they will attract a decent salary but their loss can also be covered relatively easily. So McDonald, Harmes, Hunt, Tomlinson, Spargo, and Weideman… I refuse to consider trading ANB and Brayshaw due to the fact that they are more than just role players (which may also apply to Harmes), and Melksham and Hibberd are delisted in this scenario. The downside of having so many stars is the quick progression of Jackson causes problems.

Hmmm. I don’t know if the backline atm would be a good place for a debutant. Not setting Howes up to succeed IMO. I would put the acid on Hunt by giving him a big hug possibly. Don’t know what he responds to.

I am amazed how Petracca and Oliver and Gawn with a bit of Fritsch, Brown and Jackson has so many footy watchers in awe of us. But the aura is just that. We are a system team - the cream on top is why we are the best but it is because we have this system that allows Trac or Oliver to look so dominant. So anyone is a chance (maybe not NM) if they bring similar commitment and we are slightly off. Hate to be boring but there it is.

Had bad time. Stay have good time.

He has elite skills and decision making. It is so stark atm with our backline minus Lever, Petty, and Salem.

Well they did just agree on a new EBA - do you think there’s something in it??

Stand him down until he signs? Strong but fair.

Yeah, leave him alone. Track wouldn’t have thrown him under the bus like that unless the club was confident.