rpfc

I would avoid doubling down on a ruck position, yes.

If Gawn is injured, you can’t replace your best players and we are going to struggle. Having a great replacement for Gawn is such a waste of investment. Someone needs to be first ruck and surely the 6 time AA ruckman will be that.

I would get a Meek type to play at Casey in addition to having Weed play 2nd ruck at AFL. And I don’t think we have had a great sample size with Weed as back up ruck with this forward line. I just think it is a cheaper option to mooted alternatives and may mean we can do our search for a tall fwd in a years time when they may be more options. Also bringing money forward for Oliver, Petracca, and Brayshaw that can gives us flexibility in later years. This is the beauty of these long term deals - they provide long term stability and flexibility.

How dare you talk about @Demonland like that!

2 massive things in his favour - not carrying 2 primary rucks is a comparative advantage, and his tapwork is actually quite good. Great for a forward. I don’t want Grundy at the mooted price, Meek is zero fwd craft from what I have seen, other options aren’t worth the move from where I sit… It’s a definite need for attention but I hope for Sam still. Last dice roll of course.

Seen a few comments after his efforts in the ruck yesterday. Unless we are trying to find a direct unicorn replacement for LJ I think the better option would be Weideman to back up Gawn with a ‘cheap’ or young ruckman at Casey to back both up. Then I would make a play for an established tall forward with the cap space and the draft capital revived for LJ. With Brown/TMac 2 years away from kaput - this year or next we need to source their replacement. Is it van rooyen? Maybe. Is he big enough? Sam as back up takes the pressure off his forward craft and positioning and allows us to play a ruck who is good enough forward while also good enough in the ruck. Can Sam be an adequate back up ruck in a top 4 team?

@george_on_the_outeri don’t want to get into the definition of world class but i have spent a bit of time up here at the AIS and it is comparable whether or not is shared. These are excellent athletes and they have the facilities to get the most out of themselves.

I think median age of your best 12 players would be the best indicator. Im not doing that research but that would be a good indicator… What?

Can we just talk on the level here? We have world class facilities for high performance at two locations; these enable our players to be the best they can be. What we don’t have is a centralised base that houses our footy dept and our admin. And we don’t have a social club aspect to any location that members can go to. The first one is a genuine annoyance and the second one is a laughable pipe dream, but neither of these things are a hindrance to winning games of footy and being successful. Just thought it should be said.

That would be the end of the VFL. List sizes are going down, clubs will be allowed to draw from their feeder at will soon IMO, or use a construct like a running draft to supplement from anywhere. If there is a true seconds comp, then the players that are not attached to an AFL team or playing in country leagues will be so few… What does the VFL look like then? I think once they move to an easier system to bring on players outside the system - it will give the VFL and other second leagues some gravitas as they see players plucked every week to play up and compete well.

Don’t drink so much wine? It’s his favourite!

Interesting tweet from the swamp: Good age bracket to be this good.

‘Q u e e r’ is censored? Where is this code based? In Texas?

Witnessing a bit of history for our club with Karen Paxman; a pioneer of the sport at the club that got this going with the Bulldogs. 2 x B&F winner 5 x AA honours Still playing like that at 33. Is a trailblazer for girls who want to play footy or just be accepted as a proud [censored] woman and is someone willing to put up with a ruckman as a partner… Lucky to witness this historic Demon.

Another thread of wasted internet…

You look for the silver lining in clouds don’t you? Did you ever think that’s where the rain is? Yeah? Did ya? Nah, I’m with you WCW, just feel this ‘seperate but equal’ stuff is not long for the world. And one massive part of the club is about to have a big 2022…

It’s threads like this that make me genuinely sad we have segregated the boards - the women played the best ever game last night IMO and we are in this thread… because it is on this board… SAD!

Funny. Unlike you to be self-aware.

With ND35, 41, 53, 63 and 70 available I can see us only using the first three until we know LJ gets us. I think Baker and Rosman will be delisted and I also think that Tomlinson will be trade with a year left. I think we will shovel whatever we get for LJ somewhere to get an established tall forward. Re-sign Bedford IF we think he will take someone’s role. Then 1 year deals for Melksham, Hibberd, and Hunt. Looking ahead to end of next season - there are few to end their journey so bringing in kids this year for Melksham and Hibberd will hem us in as kids get guaranteed 2 year deals. No dramas if we don’t get that key forward, just upgrade the picks, move money forward to next year, and try again next summer. Brown and TMac will be fine for 2023 IMO pushed by JVR (Weideman back up ruck competing with Smith or a cheap back up ruck from wherever).

Back up ruck is Weid’s best position IMO

Maddie G was good help for Libby tonight.

Looked like Sammy Johnson was having a nice moment with her boyfriend/husband on the boundary line after she worked her way back to AFLW. Love that stuff. God, this team has people you just love. Mithen is just a neat, everywhere player - reminds me of Nathan Brown circa 2000s. Maddie Gay is immense and Libby Birch was just breathing fire back there. West, Purcell and Hanks are just hard at the footy with great balance. And Tayla H doesn’t even celebrate when she kicks one from 40 off one step. Like Mark Waugh through covers - it’s a surprise if it doesn’t happen so why bother celebrating… Oh, and Kate, please, consistent run in with momentum and don’t lean back when you kick it… you’ve got everything else!

Shelley Heath brushed off a few crows tonight. Love the arrogance.

The whole club cracks in. You half expect it from the admin staff at the club we are that hard at the footy.

I think that would be the case. We would want to avoid opposition players nominating us and destabilise a finals run. ‘Excuse me, Ben Brown? Is Player X who just nominated Melbourne going to replace you?’ As an aside, I hate the Rugby League, signing people 12 months out. And real rugby fans up here hate it - it’s the journos and those that don’t really care that think it is fine.