Chook

Good smother from ANB. Geez he's giving the crows a lot. 😰

Correct me if I'm wrong but we'd be death riding the Hawks in this game regardless of how much we Hate Collingwood?

If so, then they would already know if there is structural damage. The lack of immediate retirement says there hasn't been (which is a good thing).

Brayshaw retired due to scans revealing uncorrectable brain damage. Totally different scenario to Viney, who is unable to pass his tests. To compare the two, you would need Viney to undergo a brain scan.

I would be very content with Melksham being our next senior coach. In about 5-7 years after doing his apprenticeship (either here or elsewhere) when Goody moves on as all coaches inevitably have to at some point. Big call but there you go.

I witnessed Powell live but was too young to care who kicked the first goal in a losing granny I remember the Geelong one as I had to rush off to work as soon as the final siren sounded I forgot/blocked out the existence of Mark Riley until just now. This is a chronicle of my life.

Counterpoint: do you think Oliver, Fritsch, Salem, Windsor, Lever, May, Petracca, Viney will be in better or worse form in another 4 months than they are right now? To my mind none of them are remotely near top gear at the moment.

I don't buy that we can't compete with the Geelong lifestyle. We simply need to play to our strengths. Some players like city life, while others could easily set up on the Mornington Peninsula (e.g., I believe Jake Lever has done this, as has Max Gawn?) Competing doesn't mean "doing the same thing". Obviously we can't compete with the farm life by offering farms. But there are things we and other clubs can do/offer that Geelong can't. Ditto for every club. Though I will admit that if I were a footy player and didn't have a hatred for Geelong I'd probably want to set myself up at Torquay with a hobby farm and a new truck too.

AFL's pet cat.

Next time you speak to him, tell him Chook thinks he's got himself in ripping nick.

Leaving that game I overheard a father consoling his young son wearing a Hawthorn jumper. Dad was consoling his boy saying "there's always next year." For a moment I pitied that young man, born too late to experience the flags and success of the 2008-2012 Hawks. Only for a moment.

I know the percentage is way different but the Dees have now only lost one more game than the Western Bulldogs, who some are tipping to win the flag... Food for thought.

Am I crazy but were there some serious echoes of the 2021 GF in that game. From Salem to Petracca from 50, to Sparrow's goal, to the absolute landslide in the 3rd quarter. It felt like we're "back" (obviously not back to 2021 of course but there was something in the air).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the first match this year with both May and Lever in the side? If so, expecting to hold Sydney to 0.0.0 of course, despite May being not quite the player he was. In actuality I'm a bit worried about the odd couple being back together - this isn't exactly the 2021 version of them, or of Melbourne. I worry they'll leave us a bit slow in defence. We'll see how it plays out.

Yep. Who does he have to actually learn the craft from?

Langford is looking like the 2nd coming of Angus Brayshaw and it's something we've desperately needed since Gus had to sadly leave us all too soon

I'll believe it when I see it. I don't think they've got the mettle to get it done on the big stage.

Loving this doggies feast on the Essendon carcass!

Imagine losing your identical twin to suicide. How could you go on? I believe it was their shared birthday recently, which would have been even harder to deal with for him. Horrible situation, and you wonder what made it too hard to go on for both of them. I hope the family can share their story one day so it can possibly help others in a similar situation.

If I were Selwyn Griffith, I'd be embarrassed as hell, even if I didn't think I'd done much wrong. It's just a really bad look for a fitness coach to have his team consistently trounced at the end of the match.

I hope the Footy Classified panel is watching this pre match for Spud’s Game.

Glad we're not playing Collingwood because I think we all know what would happen.

Has Luke Jackson won possession at all so far tonight? He's always buzzing around contests looking vaguely like he's doing something but never seems to actually impact the play.

Losing Viney is a big loss given his form over recent weeks, but with Oliver coming in and the lack of pace in our midfield that happens when all three of our big boys (Trac, Oliver, Viney) are in the side, I think it's ok balance wise for one in one out. Melksham out and JVR in has me far more worried. I can see our forward line absolutely stinking up the joint again on Saturday now we're basically back to the failed mix that saw us 0-5.