rpfc

In a vacuum - this looks a great appointment. The Jackson shadow looms large because of his success and the promotion of his commandants to his throne. My only concern is that Pert comes in and realises the success of the previous admin and doesn’t think to stamp his authority in the wrong ways. As for those that were overlooked - they can see this as an opportunity to learn under a great operator or they should look beyond from October.

The thrust of my criticism of him being 'exited' was to do with the false narrative that with him leaving means the vanishing of what he represented - that certainly isn't the case just yet... And my other objection was the minor aside that we would be losing what we lack - outside delivery, with that said Fritsch is providing as much of that that Jack ever provided. I never thought he would excel anywhere else, so this doesn't surprise me. I am sure they will give him another chance - they won't cut the cord just yet.

Your optimism starts and ends with the Geelong win. We should beat Freo in Darwin and WB at the G. We should smash GC at the G and StK at the G. We should not fear the Swans on our home deck.

I thought Lewis was great yesterday. When I was watching off the footy he was invariably the designated loose in the absence of Lever and the fact we couldn’t afford to move Hibberd off Sidebottom. Buckley really took Goodwin to school yesterday... but that is another thread. In an interesting aside - Lewis has to do more than we would want him to do when Viney went down last year and now history may repeat with Lever. I am very comfortable having someone like him back there. Really think the OP doesn’t like him and is waiting for any and every to blast him. Sad.

North of the wall... (GoT reference)

His sloppiness with the footy is what hurts him. I will stand by the fact that he is bloody good player - you don't find it as easily as he does without a great deal of talent. What a great place to be that ANB, Harmes, Fritsch and co. are keeping him out. I trust him to come in and contribute and keep us going and that is great. You can't replace your best players of course, but Tyson could easily be in the 22 that runs out deep in September.

It would be utterly remarkable, and lend credence to the 'sleeping giant' fever dream we all have about the supporters that have been subdued by years of mediocrity emerging from the cold.

Nah, get to my feet and stay there.

As a tall forward I was offended on behalf of Tomald when Fritsch ruined his mark late in the game. But his vision and skills are just so impressive. Footy scouts would have overlooked him for the dumbest of reasons.

Robbo kicked 69 in 2005 and didn't get AA. Phil Matera kicked 7 goals less and got in around 4 talls and Riccuitto was shoehorned into the forward line...smh.

No, I’m Spartacus.

The impressiveness of it comes from the fact they are 18 and 21 respectively - this is not a couple of role players plucked from State leagues. They are expansive, skilful talents.

For those that questioned the beginning of the Hogan era - this is what we saw: a bloke who could go up the ground for 14kms, set up goals with his footy IQ, and make men look like boys one out in front of goals. He is terrifying.

He hasn’t taken to being a mid like Brayshaw has so I judge him on a curve that is probably unfair. He is an excellent kick.

Yes, he has effectively replaced that side of what Watts brought to the table - frankly, when someone who isn't Fritsch, Brayshaw, Melksham or Hogan kick the ball into the forward line, you quickly remember what we lack...

Oh @skuit, you are a man/woman after my own heart... love these KPIs you have mentioned. What is the UPs situation - we are 10th but with 217 a game and that is definitely in the region of diminishing returns, especially considering we get it forward so often. Really hope we take this aggressiveness to the Hawks and not go back into our shells, they would prefer us in our shells; they want to prepare behind the footy and switch and snap the rubber band. Clarkson is an excellent coach but he has more and more also rans in that team and we need to expose their best players to our best players and I don't think they will cope.

My first reaction was to throw up in my mouth. My second reaction was ‘huh, AFL must be moving away from white’. And we are back to it meaning little... What will it be in 2020? Silver again?

What a level headed bloke. Hope he gets a shot early in the season.

You get a certificate that is 'signed' by a laser printer...

Ummm, aside from their height - those are two very different players...

I have actually passionately defended the inclusion of white guernseys in the past. @daisycutter could testify to that, I am certain. We would have, every year, a tedious argument about the clash jumpers and whether we should have one and which colour they should be. We invented the game as a way for cricketers to keep fit, and therefore played in whites and were known as the 'Invincible Whites' before the VFL was a thing... My recent 'apathy' is born out of the fact that we have chosen (or been forced to use) white, and I have no reason to argue against something I am perfectly fine with as a Demon. Reverse the yolk and that is not my club, go back to that awful light blue we had in the early eighties for the TV and that is not my club, but the non-colour white has some attachment to my club. But I am happy to not engage and enrage my fellow supporters who disagree. And do it. Every. Single. Year. Hence Morgan Freeman:

Looks calm and ready.

Nah, removed entirely from NEAFL now as Eastlake up here are the only licence. Soz.