Tim

Nah, always scope to find another level!😉

Saturday is the 40th anniversary of Leigh Matthews giving Neville Bruns a busted jaw behind the play. Amazing vision on YouTube; Matthews himself ends up staggering off the field with a bloodied face and helped by trainers after the subsequent melée. Apparently it was 20yo Steve Hocking who took on the role of equalizer. Lethal was charged by police, deregistered as a player for 4 weeks by the then VFL, but still managed to get amongst the goals in his final 9 games, including bags of 6 and 4.

Yeah, the draw was at the Cattery; it was the day that Tom Lonergan copped the kidney injury, and the year after we beat them by a point when Robbo went nuts. So, our only wins at Porkbarrell Park this century were that one, Max’s breakout game in 2015, and Max’s hero game in 2021. At least they were memorable wins to go with all the bad stuff (incl. 186). In fact they are our only wins there since 1988 (3 from 26 attempts).

Thanks Ghosty, but for those decrying the soccer work at our flush runs, you forgot to mention that when our boys came out, in the spirit of cross-code harmony they left a bag of Sherrins with the Victory mob, who did a session of kick to kick - they didn’t touch the round balls. There was a lot of across the body kicking on display - expect some heavy checkside action in their next outing. 🏉 (Weak attempt at humour alert - just joshin’….😉)

The general criminal law has its own version of outcome-based results. If you shove someone in the street and they stagger and recover their balance there will be different consequences for the pusher compared to if the pushed person falls over, hits their head and has a serious or fatal injury. And I reckon that’s the way it should be, as outcomes do matter in terms of extent of penalty. Moore was concussed, iirc.

Melksham - good defensive efforts

25.9 - a day out on the accuracy front on the scoresheet. 10 of the 12 goalkickers are still plying their trade in the AFL 7 years down the track, and 14 of the 22 in the whole team (should be 15, as Gus played as well). With hindsight that’s a good metric for why we had such a strong performance from 2021-2024. And for the record, 3 votes J. Melksham - the same bloke who received 8 coaches votes at his last start, 7 years on. I looked at the stat sheet for the game, and the weirdest thing was that player C. Oliver had 26 disposals without taking a mark - the only player on the field to not do so. Strange. Even Pat Kerr, playing in his only ever game, took 2 marks among his 7 possessions.

Yep, our last quarter score sheets add up to 14.21 to 44.22. (Fwiw, I think you’ve overestimated our score by 1.1 in the 5th game.) By my calculation that’s a percentage of 29.4% for the collective last quarters over 9 games - a significant body of work. While it’s shocking enough as a stat in its own rite, the big imbalance in accuracy between us and our opponents disclosed in that stat also indicates that they are having a lot better looks at goal than we are. That suggests they really are running over the top of us and having shots from much better positions/under less pressure.

Whole team - unusually fumbly day Lindsay - liked his work JVR - OK when rucking

Hmmm…we must have been watching the same game but saw things very differently. Spargs’s work in the last two (after a long layoff) is evidence as to why the FD likes him.

Lest we forget…. What about the most significant CEO we’ve had in decades, Peter Jackson?

He’s quick enough. Spargo - why coaches lovehim

Juddy’s 8 week old golden retriever puppy joining in the activities this morning. Very happy in her work.

Because? (Just wondering whether you had any insights into his performance there.)

It must be a tough gig being on the ball as a God 24/7! 😉