Tony Tea

Trac got some overdue love from one of the AFL data blokes today, who rated Trac's 2019 in All Aussie territory.

Even better:

At Ikon Park it would be a Royal Rumble.

As someone who played umpteen games of footy and cricket in Fawkner Park, can I just say "What hill?"

Carlton employed Bolton, and kept him on past his use-by date, to hold the fort while SOS rebuilt the list. There's a word for that, too.

Jeff got most of those goals as the last man in a chain. Cyril invented his goals out of nothing, plus he gave away plenty. Jeff's a seagull, Cyril is a jet.

I'm sure Melbourne gave Harmes' contract no thought at all, and simply plucked a number out of a hat. Unlike Kane, who has all the info on the Demons' inner workings.

Kane Cornes on SEN was going to say something about a recent Melbourne signing, but I got out of the car. I assumed he was going to criticise Melbourne for signing Harmes to such a long deal.

Our certain win will mark the start of our Deenasty.

Round 1, 1972. Had 8 to half time. For some reason I was at Moorabbin watching Saints North. Out of interest, does anyone know what became of John Stephens who kicked a lot of goals for StKilda in 72, but stopped in 73? He also played cricket for Victoria.

The win in Perth in R1 will be the perfect launchpad for our Deenasty. (Not Dee nasty.)

As I hear it, his ankle / Achilles / calf region is cactus. Won't play again. Would love him fit and firing at Demonland. Exactly what we need. Can't see it, tho.

I'm with you. Time on ground = hard running reeks of non sequitur. I'm tipping Jay had actually confused TOG with metres covered.

Pace and a great kick x 2.

And Ralphy reckons we're a basket case.

I wonder to what extent Weid missing the game-winner against Adelaide will affect his development. He had a chance to be the hero, but blew it by missing from straight in front.

Except when he was a Melbourne fan.

Seems like a good communicator, so it's odd his communication is reputedly poor.

The AFL sure loves unequal equalisation.

Our style of footy is bash it in long and hope. How many times have we generated an opportunity only to fail to crumb or miss the snap? We get the ball in more than enough times to win more games, but as many have rightly pointed out, we lack the small forwards necessary to carry out our gameplan. Manufacturing goals out of a forward scramble takes real footy skill; it's almost an instinctive, innate talent of the type best emphasised by Cyril. Garlett was okay at it, but never wanted to go anywhere near a hard ball. Elliott is a similar player, but is more like a little big man as he relies more on marking than crumbing. At least the footy dept is targeting our obvious weaknesses, run & carry and small forwards. Either way, we need more players who can threaten to score. Oppositions sat on our few threats this year. Spread out those threats and we unsettle opposition defences. Do that, run & carry the ball in deep, then kick straight, combine those additions with our hard ball core and we are a top eight lock.

Umpires should give 1, 2, 3... 42, 43, 44 votes.

We won't know whether Melbourne's succession is successful for a couple of years. And it's taken almost 10 years for Collingwood's to bear fruit. Plus, you have to speculate whether the Pies cost themselves a flag in 2011 in their (Eddie's) desperation to keep Buckley by sidelining Malthouse.

Clarko would turn Frosty into an All Australian defender. Frosty is quick, a hard at it competitor, can play on small or tall, and should be a required defender even with Lever and May in the side. Letting him go would be madness.

Basil -> filigree Siberian hamster -> rat -> Stephen Milne.