BaliDemon

Definitive NO to going after Harry McKay.

Just do it Dees.

Carlton should trade Cripps back to WA. He’s not the midfielder you want in finals. No burst speed. Can extract it but he’s a plodder. Overrated.

Don’t muck around Dees. Get Tom Lynch.

Don’t muck around Dees. Get Tom Lynch.

Joe is scary when he’s on. He’s the difference maker between making a GF and winning one. Anyone claiming our current key forward stocks are adequate should take note.

Another horrendous video review call.

Jeez we could do with a Kiddy Coleman type on a wing/hbf. Compare his penetration and run to a Lachie Hunter or even Salem. We desperately need some speed and class through the middle of the ground moving the ball forward.

This is the danger in consecutive extra weeks off if you’re a top four side that wins week one. You can potentially lose momentum. A week off after the home and away has to be scrapped.

That’s the danger of floating around mid ladder for too long and not making hard calls on your list.

Sanders now we’ll and truly front and centre for us unless we trade up to go higher. Personally, my first preference is McKercher but hard to see how we get him. Choice between Sanders and O’Sullivan also isn’t an easy one.

2 end of first rounders means around 2 picks in the 20 - 24 range after academy picks and North finishing a bit higher on the ladder. They are okay picks but nothing special. End of second rounder will be around pick 40 which is nothing really. I think they’ve got it about right with North. You can’t go helping GC the way they have and then leave the Vic club getting a lesser deal. They’ll have the nucleus of side that can challenge for top 8 within 3 seasons. After that it’s up to them. Like everyone else, they will still have gaps and weaknesses on their list that they will have to navigate and overcome. To assume they’ll have a flag three-peat because they’ve got a raft of good young talent and a top coach is a bit over the top.

Wardlaw has played 8 games of senior footy. “Gun” is probably pulling the trigger a little too early.

I like a good conspiracy as much as the next person but this one is just silly. It doesn’t happen.

This is hyperbole. No-one knows that. Sheezel looks a star, LDU is establishing himself but unknown how good the others will become. People go ape droppings over high draft picks but odds are pretty strong that a few won’t be as good as initially thought.

Although I agree that the umpiring last night was horrendously biased at times, I can’t agree that there’s any grand conspiracy surrounding it. We see interstate teams receive this sort of favouritism all the time in finals in front of big home crowds. It’s just human nature unfortunately to be swayed by thunderous screams and calls of ‘baaaallll’ from lopsided supporter attendances like that. Crappy umpiring but nothing sinister in it. Also, the AFL I’m sure would’ve been just as happy to have GWS in another GF. It’s not all about Collingwood of the prospect of extra gate takings and more eyeballs at home on one particular day. They’d be fully cognisant of the opportunity to further grow the popularity of the AFL in a market they’ve pumped tens of millions of dollars into. No conspiracy there guys.

Tonight won’t be close. Lions by 40+

I like the fact that they won’t compromise the first round. With Ben McKay for pick 3 type scenarios occurring, I think that’s right. That’s already a big enough leg up.

Was it? Jeez he sounded like Riley!

Riley Beveridge reporting on SEN Crunch Time that the AFL are going to recommend an assistance package to North Melbourne of: - End of first round pick in 2023 - End of first round pick in 2024 - End of second round pick in 2024 - No priority access to Riley Sanders ** Pick 3 compensation for McKay is a separate issue. Will “likely happen” but won’t have anything to do with assistance package.

Riley Beveridge reporting on SEN Crunch Time that the AFL are going to recommend an assistance package to North Melbourne of: - End of first round pick in 2023 - End of first round pick in 2024 - End of second round pick in 2024 - No priority access to Riley Sanders ** Pick 3 compensation for McKay is a separate issue. Will “likely happen” but won’t have anything to do with assistance package.

Riley Beveridge reporting on SEN Crunch Time that the AFL are going to recommend an assistance package to North Melbourne of: - End of first round pick in 2023 - End of first round pick in 2024 - End of second round pick in 2024 - No priority access to Riley Sanders ** Pick 3 compensation for McKay is a separate issue. Will “likely happen” but won’t have anything to do with assistance package.

Putting aside the terrible umpiring and undeserving presence of Maynard out on the ground last night, I still have to dip my hat to Pendlebury (35yo, 380 odd games) and Sidebottom (32yo, 300+ games) for the way they are playing footy this finals series. How they can be producing games of that quality in their 14th and 15th seasons is mind blowing. They were real difference makers again last night, particularly Pendles at crucial moments. Out and out superstars of the game. Pains me to say it but De Goey was also very good. BOG for mine. We needed Tracc to produce a game like that in the finals but unfortunately he didn’t quite reach that level. We need him to next year if we’re going to have any chance of winning the flag. De Goey really ripped that game apart last night - he was everywhere and untackle-able. Poor Toby Bedford. Absolutely ‘Melbourned’ it up in front of goal in the last quarter. As soon as he missed that shot you could almost hear the air going out of the GWS tyres.

Bont is such a big name and presence on the ground now that the umps are just going to give him the 3 votes if there’s any doubt between the 3, 2 and 1. I think this is what gets him over the line. Heaps of 3’s. Frankly he deserves the medal - what a superstar over such a long period now. Has been the best performed player in the AFL over the past half decade. Bona fide Champion. 🏅

Bont.