Chook

Trent Rivers.

I love him too, but people are too easy on Gawn as a leader. They're much happier to criticise Petracca or Oliver or Goodwin (who of course all should bear the responsibility too). Gawn is such a good bloke and great player that it's not possible for most people to actually consider that he isn't perfect, especially as an on-field leader.

And what's he doing before the game to motivate his team to switch on? What's he doing during the week. We all love Max but he has been captain the entire time we've nosedived since 2023. "Trying his heart out" is for followers, not leaders.

Gonna be annoyed when Max Gawn trots out the old "We can't be giving up 6 goal starts to teams," line again after this game. No s-- Sherlock. As captain what are you doing about it?

Be the noise of affirmation you want to see in the world. Meanwhile I'll be balancing my cheeseboard on my knee and calling out "Go number nine," as the good lord intended.

Good kicking is good footy.

Saw some footage of Garry in his prime, pre back injuries. He was svelte, bounding around the half forward line and wings like some kind of eternally 5 o'clock shadowed adonis. Almost looked like a different person. Time robs us of many things, but Garry has found a way to persevere in the media if not in coaching (where he could have achieved real immortality if he wanted to), so well done to him. Everyone who knows AFL knows who Garry Lyon is, and there's not many you can say that about, much less from Melbourne.

Ever notice how every week there is one or two incidents that seem to be the media’s focus that week? It’s not an accident. It’s by design. The sooner you tune all of it out the better.

Hope we win our grand final.

I would love to know the providence of the tape. These stories can be just as interesting.

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.