The Great Pretender

If you look at the teams on an individual basis they’re pretty evenly matched. Who will dominate? Petracca (in game #182) or Neale (in game #250)? Love Steven May’s courage! Can the Lions stop Max? Will Melbourne kick straight for goal? How will Brisbane cope without the loudspeakers playing their favourite songs when they kick a goal (I anticipate they won’t kick many anyway)? Demons win because the Lions will simply suffer stage fright on the G.

Who do we death ride in 2024?

Carlton and GWS Giants were seemingly out of contention well past the halfway mark last year and yet, both finished close to playing off in a grand final. Even at 0-4, I wouldn’t write the Pies off.

Seriously, didn’t play for Casey at the weekend and didn’t train yesterday. Not on the injured list. What’s the story?

We can all laugh but regrettably they have the silverware from 2023 and we don’t.

After the election, the Tassie Devils will be cactus.

6. A. Bannan 5. K. Hore 4. O. Purcell 3. R. Watt 2. T. Hanks 1. B Mackin

The remaining free agents - 2023 AFL FREE AGENTS * Previously delisted ** Restricted free agent ^ Previously a free agent ADELAIDE (1) Tom Doedee** BRISBANE (3) Nakia Cockatoo* Rhys Mathieson* Dayne Zorko CARLTON (2) David Cuningham Sam Durdin* COLLINGWOOD (1) Cooper Murley* ESSENDON (1) Will Snelling* FREMANTLE (1) Joel Hamling^ GEELONG (2) Tom Hawkins Rhys Stanley GOLD COAST (5) Jed Anderson* Levi Casboult* Charlie Constable* Sam Day Jake Stein* GWS GIANTS (2) Matthew Flynn Lachlan Keeffe* HAWTHORN (1) Fergus Greene* MELBOURNE (2) James Jordon* Jake Melksham NORTH MELBOURNE (5) Todd Goldstein Daniel Howe* Ben McKay** Liam Shiels* Kayne Turner* PORT ADELAIDE (1) Scott Lycett^ RICHMOND (1) Bigoa Nyuon* ST KILDA (5) Tom Campbell* Jade Gresham** Daniel Mckenzie Liam Stocker* Jimmy Webster SYDNEY SWANS (0) WEST COAST EAGLES (1) Zane Trew* WESTERN BULLDOGS (3) Taylor Duryea^ Toby McLean Roarke Smith*

As noted above, ZZ at 196 cm won't cut muster as an AFL ruckman so the question is what are his credential as a KPP? Forward or back?

6 Hore 5 Hanks 4 Purcell 3 Lampard 2 Pearce 1 Heath

A mate of mine who today is a very jubilant North fan is going to Casey today but isn’t confident. Tells me that by his reckoning, the Kangaroos have only 7 AFL listed players and Casey should win easily. I’m not so sure.

If Ben Brown’s injury woes continue I think the club definitely needs to have a conversation with him regarding retirement from the AFL. He could play next year with the Casey team or take on a coaching role. After all, aren’t we being constantly told that we need a forward coach who has played in the role, rather than a ruckman presiding over the forwards.

Christian Petracca said on AFL360 that he didn’t think his last shot at goal against Carlton was touched and Toby Greene agreed with him. Interestingly, the vision shows Weitering arriving at the scene late and slapping the goalpost. I’m not sure if this was raised previously but I bring it up because there was an element of post slapping in the case of Keays’ disallowed goal for Adelaide, the sound of which is said to be a possible reason why the goal umpire might have believed the ball hit the post. Anyway, both incidents are now water under the bridge.

6. Jake Melksham 5. Jake Lever 4. Jack Viney 3. Trent Rivers 2. Angus Brayshaw 1. Christian Petracca

Clarkson sure to go with youth.