rpfc

The forward line this year has been a fascination to me - some in the media intimate it’s a massive issue and liability and I would have agreed a couple of months ago due to two things; no Fritsch, Brown, TMac, and Melksham meant not much forward craft and nous, and our forward connection was really down with little delivery to options, but the remedies have been impressive. With one addendum that Jake Melksham won’t be there to take pressure off Fritsch and provide ‘interceptor engagement’ of which is so good at. But back to the remedies; Petracca - obvious one and a powerful one made even more so with Oliver coming back. Chandler in the team - allows another speed forward in Pickett to get up the ground and also play out of the guts. Smith being trusted - I came down for the Carl-Freo-Coll games and he was avoided in 1-1 contests like the plague but now there is more trust there. Pickett out of the square - last week against the Swans he was a 5’8 Tony Lockett putting the fear of god into people kidneys coming out of the square. SCG is a unique ground but there is another option that Kozzie is more than happy to execute. He never can mark it so he may as well knee someone in the back of the head. What we are left with after the last 8 weeks is a really potent number of options regardless of if they go small or tall with TMac. IF our forward connection is good enough and we look to hit the option and not blast away, we have a good enough forward line to kick a winning score. Well done to Goodwin and Stafford.

Footy sucks sometimes.

Nah, we need to get a forward and if they can take ruck duties off JVR then great. Max isn’t ready to share and I don’t know if he ever will be. We just need to be quick to get a replacement when the work inevitably gets to him and he goes quietly into the night.

Backline. Dropped for prelim in Perth.

Yes, these imaginary people are despicable. If it weren’t for the fact that they may, or may not, exist - I would be throwing haymakers down at Nick’s.

Everyone will be onto him now…

A person I don’t like talking about a player I don’t care for, from a club I hate.

The AFL sell the product, C7 have as much power as the AFL allows itself to sell OF itself. It is a cop out from the AFL to just blame the broadcaster as they count their cash. Theirs is a responsibility to the game - one they have been failing more and more and since they have not had an empowered Footy boss it has all been laid bare that the facade of proper governance was just that.

What is the rationale for Thursday night? It’s the effing finals, you are going to get blockbuster ratings, just put it on the bloody weekend. No chance for a lot of people to make it to the game.

Internal monologue “I [censored] hate that Hunter [censorino] rah rah and I have I have long running argument with my more successful brother in law about the Grundy trade so I gotta smash him in there, and also Hibbo for that one player I forget his name, and TMac because Grundy’s not going to take a mark soigottagethiminthere…rah”

Also, one does not simply enter the game day thread during the game…

Absolutely. Fritsch is a stone cold killer that turned quarter chances into gold sealed. We were always going to get over the line with how we dominated territory and contest in the last 40 mins. Also, don’t sleep on this stat - after 20 mins of the last - we played on from marks 28% of the time (Syd 7%) Our ball movement was assured and quick and through the middle a lot of the time. That’s what I wanted to see us do, especially on that small ****ty ground.

Melksham is playing so well but as a list management and development question he may still be denied a new contract due to the FD wanting to provide more opportunities. Some of you think these things through in such an unfeeling manner; if Grundy and Tomlinson have suitors - we are going to get them to their homes - they are not ‘required players’ to the MC or the FD. My guess is TMac goes around again and maybe Brown is done but can’t be sure. We gave TMac another year to smooth out his contract so I doubt we will then pay it out too. Dunstan, Hibberd, and JJ gone IMV. Schache stays as a cheap body if we see slim pickings for similar type. Harmes, Tomlinson, Grundy and Spargo to be traded only if the capital they bring back can be used to acquire replacements or further talent. I think all 4 would get something back. I would use this draft hand we have to reshape us a bit and bring in some talent similar to 2019 with Rivers, Pickett, and Jackson. But they will need opportunity.

Yeah, that is really pushing the value prop of ND1. Its all about picks in the top 5.

Well this was great fun, and as one of the inaugural riders I will take your thanks and your undying admiration and gratitude. Jackson is a singular talent that they tried to stiff us and the football gods were having none of it. ND5, 13 and 25 is about right.

Brodie won’t want to go west when he has so many suitors on this side of the continent. And before we talk about ‘we hold the whip hand’ - no we don’t. Players can refuse to go and while we can just keep him. Do we want to? Don’t we want to invest in a forward? Maybe JVR can avoid rucking?

If north win, Reid is still on. ND5 with a 10 win season is a bit overs for Freo so I am glad to take it from them.

Forecast? Late. Change.

Define plenty and you will back up your first 8 words.

Then we are asking a 31 year old who hasn’t played first ruck for two years to ramp up back to 5th gear…

We can hope.

If you have to ask, you’ll never know.

Says the man with 4 exclamation marks in a row…

Especially with those years he spent at San Quentin… maybe 5th rounder

Yes, I was at that game and he did do a good job in phases of that game. But it doesn’t come naturally to him. Jake is much better at it.