Skuit

I reacted to this decision in a realistic/non-realistic attempt dichotomy. Started pondering whether such a decision could be made based on the aptitude of the flyer (Pickett is relatively unknown but if it was Howe? Koz would have also put in a contender for mark of the century if he landed it). We have a beautiful unique ridiculous game we all love and a part of that is subjective umpiring. Deliberate out of bounds? Tried to genuinely release the ball? This takes an umpire determining the mindset and intentions of a player, and as such a lot of it is based on instinct. What other sports have this burden to the same extent? GWS defender fluffed his lines in the goal-square yesterday and was adjudged holding the ball. In reality he was tackled for a half a second and dragged over the goal-line. A point. But it looked bad. Free against. I didn't remotely even consider that the only player Pickett impinged on was wearing a Melbourne jumper until someone on here brought it up.

I like when I don't have to refute a statement because a poster proves themselves an idiot within that statement.

Plus 'epically' is a pretty impressive adverb.

Melksham being so high might be a clue together with Hibberd's rather elevated status. I would say Spargo and Jones are the real anomalies.

Was 50-50 at Blundstone - plus all the added effects of travel. Now 80-20. Makes a big difference in an 17-round season.

Surprised by the lack of celebration. The Tasmania-border-closure will probably be season-defining.

The exercise in compiling the rankings was the definition of a complete waste of time but the numbers aren't totally random (like derived from numerology for instance). A box of McDonald's cookies in the mail for whoever cracks the code.

I ranked the players using a more objective method: Christian Petracca 2280 Jack Viney 2666 Clayton Oliver 2248 Max Gawn 2200 Jake Melksham 2213 Jake Lever 2072 Angus Brayshaw 1888 Michael Hibberd 1741 Tom McDonald 1635 Christian Salem 1402 Charlie Spargo 1229 Harley Bennell 892 Sam Weideman 869 Bayley Fritsch 755 James Harmes 753 Josh Wagner 734 Aaron vandenBerg 687 Alex Neal-Bullen 689 Nathan Jones 685 Jayden Hunt 651 Mitchell Hannan 642 Oscar McDonald 611 Steven May 496 Joel Smith 474 Kade Kolodjashnij 335 Mitch Brown 313 Neville Jetta 274 Toby Bedford 235 Adam Tomlinson 181 Braydon Preuss 170 Ed Langdon 112 Corey Wagner 104 Tom Sparrow 95 Oskar Baker 76 Marty Hore 66 Harrison Petty 65 Kyle Dunkley 65 Jay Lockhart 61 Kade Chandler 49 Kysaiah Pickett 39 Luke Jackson – Trent Rivers – Aaron Nietschke – James Jordan – Austin Bradtke –

The footy is hard enough to watch this year without adding a series of four- and five-day breaks across the entire competition. If our post-Anzac fixtures vs Essendon of the past are anything to go by it will be an excruciating slop-fest - and I'm not certain that shorter quarters will make a difference. From memory and perception at the time, it was generally our extra day break against Essendon which seemed to be the deciding factor. I really do hope we're not rolling with just an 'anywhere, anytime' attitude but planning the bejesus out of this stretch - the coming month could be the making or breaking of teams in 2020. The cramped fixture and travel and accruing injuries at the back-end of 2017 derailed our season and ultimately delayed our development.

KPF with contested-marking chops is essential.

How come in the middle of a global pandemic and massive budget cuts the AFL can suddenly manage to organise a microphone to capture the reporters' questions?

i have a real question though. As it stands the MFC and Essendon are on a minor crash-course for a spot in the eight. There was talk at some stage of slotting us in if necessary the week before the finals, if needed. Clearly not fair - compared to other teams which have already qualified and played the one less 'elimination' match. With all the provisos in place, what is a fair outcome?

The public declaration that I would attend three games a week was one of those grand statements you make when you think there's no actual chance you'll ever actually have to follow through on the commitment. 'Baby. Leave your husband and we'll run away to a tropical island" "Oh. You actually left your husband?" The above is a joke. Attending a Fremantle vs. St Kilda match is not.

Even if Gus didn't have a clanger-fest yesterday he would still be in our bottom-end players. Needs a serious rocket.

Hey Swizzle. I respect that you can't burn your supposed source but maybe if you gave some insight into what was said then other posters wouldn't be so critical or disbelieving. Like a rough outline perhaps? Right now it's that the 'coach was spoken to'. About what?

While showing tap-ruck glimpses, Gawn was nothing until he gained the confidence to start marking the ball (Cats' breakout game 2016) - even earlier in this season (and most early season matches for some reason we should probably try to rectify). If Jackson gains that confidence then we will have a serious player on our books. Definitely gets to the right spots and willing to compete. Seems to have soft hands at present, which I think is probably better than the Dawes' bricks. Meanwhile, I worked out Weid's problem: he closes his eyes on contact. Watch the footage again. Smash him with the tackle-bags at training. He can still be something as well.

Melksham was marginally better this week but now that we seem to be making a concerted effort to lower the eyes I'd like to see Hunt come back in for Jake. Has breakaway speed and good leading patterns. Plus tackling pressure. I didn't catch as much superlative-wise as others re. Jackson but a shame Tomald showed a flicker of form before copping the eye-scratch. Otherwise would be a no-brainer. I'm afraid that will be the swap. Get games into Jackson now. Plus exuberance. This isn't a return to 2018. It's the results on a mini-rebuild based on list imbalance, and the off-season inclusions are all playing with confidence: our younger less mentally damaged midfield and forwards are now our core. Also - the structure now feels about right in both the front and back end. Tmac shouldn't come in for another medium. Fritsch, Pickett, Hunt, Bennel and Hannan in my mind are a difficult small-to-medium fleet to contain en masse. Angus needs a spell. It worked wonders last time around and seems to be working for those forced to fight for selection. Still immature and needs another giddy-up. Not sure who comes in but Jones has better delivery for starters. ANB is okay. Ins: Hunt, Jones Outs: Melksham, Brayshaw

If we win again this weekend we'll go from having no pot let alone a recipe to the lid off in the space of three weeks.

Just the cheapest one. There were e-readers twice the price but the salesperson failed to convince me of the justification - and didn't really even bother trying. I think they've evolved to the point where the bottom end model serves the purpose for most consumers.

I contributed to this one in a very minor way. @Supermercado - my mother still has a hefty copy sitting there unloved and unread in her tiny apartment in Cairns, which the poor lady has given up asking me about. Any suggestions where I can tell her to pass it on? Happy to return to sender if you send me a PM. Or if someone on here wants to wallow in misery - probably a silly question - I will forward.

Champion. Thanks Demonland!

Cheers George Sr.

Yes. Read between the lines and Goodwin has been promoting the rhythm method.

I also have Google but it's all Robbie Fowler and some botanist named Robbie.

What's the title?