old55

Pretty accurate comparison of Scully and Trengove vs Dusty in there though - he was ahead of the curve.

We've got a premiership combination together now with Petracca, Oliver, Gawn, Viney, May, Lever, Salem, Langdon, Ben Brown all stitched up and able over the next 3-4 years. Add in Fritsch, Jackson, Pickett, Rivers, Jordon and a decent mature supporting cast. I'm going to put it out there now that we WILL win at least one flag in the next four years. I wouldn't have anywhere near that confidence without Petracca in that mix, so if it takes a 7 year contract to keep the band together over that period then so be it. It's been 56 years, quite frankly MFC supporters will not give a second thought to Petracca's contract length when this crew delivers the flag. I couldn't care is we gave him 10 years!

Sydney midfield last week was Kennedy, Parker, Rowbottom (20), Warner (19), Florent (22) https://www.afl.com.au/news/607621/secrets-to-success-every-club-s-cbas-kick-ins-for-r7 We'll have Petracca, Oliver, Jordon (20) - then you can add in your 2 preferred from Brayshaw, Jones, Harmes, Sparrow but note only 1 of those 4 were in the starting 22 last week. Someone has to go out and that could be Baker but then you've got to fill his wing spot so you're still only left with 4 primary mids in the rotation. Melksham, Pickett and ANB did cameos in there. I'd be going with Harmes and Brayshaw back to the wing. I could go with a midfield rotation of Petracca, Oliver, Jordon and Harmes. I'm just not comfortable with a midfield rotation of Petracca, Oliver, Jordon and Sparrow - there needs to be one more because of the inexperience and that would mean someone else has to miss. There'll be a significant number of combos where Jordon and Sparrow both have to be in there.

I can understand why we went for Brayshaw in the middle last week, with Viney out we've got a young midfield: https://www.afl.com.au/news/607621/secrets-to-success-every-club-s-cbas-kick-ins-for-r7 Petracca, Oliver, Jordon and we used Brayshaw and Jones If we go back to Brayshaw on the wing and Jones to sub (because Petty replaces Tomlinson) and bring Sparrow into the middle then we have a pretty young core set-up: Petracca, Oliver, Jordon, Sparrow ... I could see Harmes coming in for this reason.

Don't tell givemethenews

All true and I was in that mailing list too ...

I think TMac with only one year on his contract and much better form would be an attractive option for a number of teams.

They're not old, they're 28 this year and it's reasonable they'll both still play when they are 31 - that's another 3 seasons beyond this. Kennedy 33, Riewoldt 32, Hawkins 32, Dixon 30 - all still playing well in contending teams.

He'll be offered 4-5 years elsewhere and I don't know whether we'd go there - it's going to be interesting. I'm confident he'll carve out a successful AFL career, he'd make a good KPB if he doesn't make it forward - but whether or not that's a MFC remains to be seen. I really hope we can retain him - he's dynasty material along with Petty.

AKA old55 and Spunjy

I'll be amazed if you'll find a better mature alternative to Majak who's ready to go now. I don't think we need to waste picks on back-up in these areas, we already have Mitch Brown and Majak Daw, and we have Weid at Casey. IMO we should be trying to get ahead of the 2021 Draft curve and draft the best young talent we can. Right now our first pick is a 2nd rounder tied to Brisbane so likely to be late 2nd round.

Swans may have Rampe (189cm) back but have lost Melican (193cm). That leaves Tom McCartin (193cm) as their only tall back.

Fantastic news!

Ph.D in hubris, perhaps?

Sydney $4.20 at Sportsbet - get on!

You said he'd be sacked by Round 8 sunshine

Remind me again about your Goodwin and Kossie predictions. Thanks Dr!

Oh my word! First, people with no idea of maths lecturing on percentage, now somone with no idea of physics. It's momentum you're looking for. Baker's momentum increases with his velocity. His mass stays constant.

Nope, I believe that's "your turn over the barrel" sailor-boy

Honestly, if you haven't skied the deep powder you haven't lived. The only thing possibly better is inside a Mentawais barrel.

Ruthless - I like it.

I'm looking for a similar scoreline on Sunday - we owe these campaigners.

GWS would want to sign Ash - he's been on fire. We love Rivers but he's probably better.

Young is looking like 3rd best half back at best in that draft behind Ash and Rivers.

No Dusty = No Richmond. It's that simple. They are a group of very good to ordinary players who have realised if they play a very consistent and disciplined brand then Dusty will drag them over the line to flags. There's no reason he can't play for another 4-5 years and do it again, by which time I predict he'll be cemented at the GOAT. Dusty's 2017 year was the greatest ever by a player IMO. In 2018 Dusty goes into the PF vs Collingwood with corkie and what happens? In 2019 back half of the season he dragged them from 9-6 to 13-6 in four consecutive 3 Brownlow vote games to put them in the top 4 and in contention. Geelong wins the 2020 GF if there's no Dusty. None of their other players are great, their best player coming through is Shai Bolton. Their next best are Cotchin, Prestia, Edwards, Lambert, Lynch, Riewoldt, Rance, Grimes, Houli and Vlastuin - better players in better teams have been denied flags. Richmond fans can take this either way - they've got the flags in the bag.