rpfc

Because I will probably read of this to my little one assuming it all goes well…

The box ticking was from his psychiatrist to approve a move to Carlton and sign of on his mental health he had to meet with a well run club so he could ensure he made a rational decision. They are tricky them shrinks…

Sam M is a lot better than Browne. I am biased because I know Sam but he is pretty good IMO. He is also cut from the Caro cloth of destroying his club when they deserve it as he has done with his beloved Blues.

Hibberd is an upgrade offensively and with decision making. Not defensively, but we should be able to cover him. He also looks to get us going when we fall back into boring footy. Not as much as Hunt but it’s valuable. Ultimately, this will be decided by the best 12 players on ground.

Yes, they are a team that planned for the pre-finals bye. They will start well and I expect Selwood and Danger to will themselves to dominate the clearances early. We need to weather that and counterpunch with quick movement. Get them late in quarters.

First game I can remember is 94 Semi when Garry kicked 10 to 3 qtr time, I was angry that Balme took him off and didn't understand why he was not going for Fannings record. I was 9. Best game would be the 00 QF final comeback against Carlton closely followed by the 18 EF against Geelong - mainly because we had waited so long and we were so good. Worst game - there would be many I have chosen to forget - I remember coming down for the game just before Neeld's nadir against Essendon in 2013. The first game against Port I think and just comparing the teams as they warm up and having this sense of dread: "uh oh" I still vividly recall just watching the Port mids running through their centre bounce work before the game, and then they ran through similarly during the game...

Disagree, I want to win a flag in the next three years. Gunston would be perfect for our quick turnover game plan - he is so smart. Mids we have.

Good to know, I would put Gunston above Cerra in terms of targets.

All for continual improvement - perhaps the note I didn’t play in the post you quote is that if we were to invest anywhere it would be in our forward line so your reference to Lynch is apt. But our midfield is strong and at the peak of their powers so unless we want to move on from some keys in there - it could be potentially destabilising to get someone in there at the expense of someone who is getting us to where we are right now.

Cerra is a good player but we don’t ‘need’ him and we shouldn’t (and we won’t) destabilise the culture by forcing out players who want to stay and are in the 18. If that’s what it takes to get him then we just won’t get him. Jordon, Sparrow, and Rivers (IMO, he would be an excellent mid) will be pushing that core midfield group next year and that is enough established young talent for us. Petracca, Oliver, Viney, and Harmes are a tough, balanced core group that is amazingly talented but also has the ability to disrupt other midfield groups (Viney) or run with someone effectively (Harmes). And they are 25, 24, 27, and 25… And to those that would want to ‘upgrade’ Jack or James - there is a basketball idiom that applies; “there’s only one Sherrin.” We don’t need 4 players hunting the footy, we need our stars to be lifted higher than they can go by themselves through the blocking, and movement, and defensive mindset of the rest of that group.

This is the forgotten prelim. Dogs a massive chance to get into GF with very little pressure. As an aside, I think the free kick differential is due to their name players just not getting the down side of all those 50/50 decisions - dropping the ball, incorrect disposal, holding, etc Umpires defer to those name players ‘wouldn’t do that’ and voila 100 extra frees a year…

Scott’s hubris. He has already lauded the 5 touch Esava and has lapped up the Genius With Staying Power effluent the footy media has showered him with since they went with Hawkins/Cameron/Rohan/Ratagolea.

Joel can’t get a break. Poor fella.

That was great.

If you are looking for a knife, and you find 10,000 spoons - that’s not irony. Thats going to a spoon factory and being a troll. just sayin

She has a fundamental problem with not knowing what irony is. Its actually ironic… Don't you think?

They have lost 5 PFs (19, 17, 16, 13, 10) and have won 5 PFs (20, 11, 09, 08, 17) for 3 flags (07, 09, 11). So 50% winning record in PFs is pretty good… Wish our record was so horrific.

@dazzledavey36I think that up until a few weeks ago - Sparrow had another frustrating season on the fringes so I can see where the smoke would come from. We are quickly getting to a point where we have a settled first choice midfield that is young enough to push out eager you eager young players that aren’t given a go. It will be a reality soon, perhaps not with Sparrow for 2022 but it is coming.

Then you can add the back up ruck Esava Ratugolea’s 14 goals. As a tall forward, there is more to one’s effectiveness than goals kicked and while I do think I would take Hawkins and Cameron over many duos - I think it is an immaterial argument ahead of Friday night. They are trying to tie up Lever, and they may do that but May will intercept if he can, Petty is a natural at it and taking grabs while he’s doing it (he sometimes tries too much but that is youth). I am more worried about a forward line that has to deal with a fleet of smalls that neutralise our aerial dominance and force our mids deeper to help out our backline to get the ball out of there. I am certainly not worried about Geelong’s forwardline - we are literally built to beat that setup.

Sparrow has been on the fringes most of the year so I can understand this. The price of being a good team. The FD have done an amazing job keeping so many kids in the 22 this year.

11 prelims in 15 years and this place really would be Strawberry Fields…

Learnings are one thing - they are an old team playing a possession style against a force of Demon nature, hungry and young. They can learn all they like, as long we don’t allow them passage into the middle of the ground in transition and break even in stoppages - we will win and restore balance to the universe.

Never mentioned he’s a Dees fan… Dont need to be Sherlock.