Lord Travis

Fans aren't expecting JVR to be a messiah, but they are keen to see him as he's ready for AFL level. If he doesn't get game time this year, he'll likely head back to WA IMO. He has kicked bags of 6 goals, 5 goals, 4 goals at Casey. He kicked 37 goals in his first year in the VFL, which put him 7th in the entire league, and with more goals than many other AFL listed players, including our own Josh Schache. He's 195cms and 96kgs. He's now bigger than Tomlinson, May, Lever. He's the same height as TMac, and same weight as Petty. He's built his body up and is AFL ready. You're right we shouldn't be expecting him to dominate or play much ruck in his early AFL games. His VFL form has been strong though, and he is ready for his chance at AFL. He's overdue really. On form and potential, he should be in the team instead of TMac as a KPF, but the selection committee is poor and often plays favourites and doesn't reward form. Back to this game though, I can't see JVR getting a debut unfortunately if TMac is still not listed as injured, despite moving like the titanic and having zero impact. The Swans midfield is probably the best two way midfield in the game and has good versatility with players like Mills, Parker, Heeney all capable of playing vastly different roles when required. I'm expecting Warner to have a 25 disposal 3 goal 3 Brownlow votes type game. He's been in outstanding the past 12 months and is probably still underrated by the general football public. Goal kicking mids are gold. We struggle to contain those quick players and need Hibberd back to sit on Papley too. Tipping Swans by 21 points.

Their confidence is warranted. They've beaten us in 17 out of the past 20 encounters. Our record against them is the worst of any team and frankly it's embarrassing. We are absolutely their bunnies and I expect this weekend to be no different unfortunately. We love to beat them and get the monkey off our back. They have a mental hold over us and we need to break it.

Concussion. 12 day mandatory out. JVR has to come in. It’s his time now surely. With Gawn out and TMac limping to retirement, he’s next in line and has good form in the VFL.

Freo are rat****

Freo won’t finish that low, but jeez it’s be gold if we wound up with pick 5 after winning the premiership this year!

Oh FFS! So frustrating for Salem and the team. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised as he’s always struggled to stay healthy and on the park. He’s only played 2 full seasons out of 9. His 2021 season was just brilliant though and we all wish he could stay healthy and replicate that form again. We’re a far better team with Salem firing. Wishing him a speedy recovery!

He's 27 years old and isn't locked in the best 22 even if fit after 7 years. It's a major head scratcher why he's still on the list when he can't even get on the park by now. Anyhoo I'm hoping we give May another week off to ensure his calf is 100%. Petty, Lever, Tomlinson are more than capable enough without him, and Gawn and others float back to help too. We need May cherry ripe for our assault on the flag later this year.

The AFL games are duds unfortunately. They're too small-fry for a big developer to invest in, so we've been stuck with smaller developers giving it a crack and they just don't have the capacity to capture our unique sport in a fun and accurate game. Petracca being the star on the cover, only to have a rating of 85 alongside Aaron Hall, Harry Cunningham and many other battlers is an absolute laugh. Just shows the depth of knowledge the devs have about the sport.

They’ve shifted him back there over summer in an effort to get something out of him. He’s a number 1 pick who at this stage is a seriously average footballer. He was basically drafted with the promise of becoming a Dusty type mid forward beast and it just hasn’t happened. He’s 24 years old this year and yet only averages 12 disposals and less than a goal a game. Jack Watts had basically been crucified by the point in his career for similar output! We should beat the Lions this week. We owe them for September.

Surprised Freo lost to an injury ravaged Saints on the weekend, but not surprised they played poorly. I predicted in the offseason that they'd slide and miss finals this year as a result of the players they lost. Guys like Logue and Lobb are no world beaters, but they filled key posts in their structure and played their roles. With Lobb gone, they have no other tall forward who kicked more than 10 goals last season. Their poorly performing forward now is now somehow worse. They're reliant on a broken down Fyfe and Jackson as key forwards this season. Their forward line is a recipe for disaster. They'll struggle to score most weeks this season. Let's enjoy the high picks we got for Jackson.He won't be improving their team at all in the short term!

JVR come on down! Doesn't sound like great news for TMac. He's struggled with his foot for years now, and at 30 years old it's not going to get any easier to manage or recover from when injured. Shame his last few years have been impacted by the foot as he was really hitting his stride as a good key forward.

What a crock. Should’ve contested the impact rating, which is categorically incorrect. Would’ve brought it down to one week suspension instead. The next two weeks just got harder. Lions and Swans are two contenders, so losing Kozzie hurts. Hopefully the club is supporting him well and we get his signature soon.

With 5 minutes remaining, Jackson - 11 disposals for 28 metres gained. 5 hit outs. 0 marks. 0 goals. 1 behind. Overrated and we’ve made out like bandits!

Hang on. Kozzies was deemed high impact despite his opponent getting straight up, playing on, and not even requiring a concussion test. But Buddy is medium impact when his opponent was taken from the field under concussion protocols and sat out. Nice one AFL. [censored] me dead

Otherwise. He only had the 4 disposals and got subbed out. The sub rule has changed this year so it is no longer to cover injury, but can be used tactically as desired.

Going by the grading system it was: CONDUCT - Intentional. He lined him up and elected to bump. IMPACT - Low. Smith got straight back up and played out the game without issue. He did not even have a concussion test. This is what has saved Kozzie IMO CONTACT - Body. This is where it gets tricky. If it's deemed to be a body hit, which I believe it was as he got him in the chest and shoulder, then it's deemed body and the sanction is a fine. If it's deemed he got him in the head, the sanction rises to a week. SANCTION - Ignoring it wasn't a good look and taking emotion out of it, going by the tribal grading system, the possible sanctions are a fine or one week. Anything more and it's been judged incorrectly to make a statement.

Gawn Kozzie Lever Petracca Oliver Brown

You ripper! That was a great win considering the four guns missing. Injuries are the only thing that can stop us winning the flag this year. Go Dees!

What a dream 😍

Let’s belt these [censored]

Fantastic game tonight. Hate the Pies but they’ve been great. Howe will be a loss, but they’ll be a contender this year. Their quick and chaotic ball movement doesn’t allow teams to setup defensive structures. It’s why they beat us and is why they’ve taken up to the best teams. Credit to Mcrae for turning them round in a short time and energizing them with this new style. He’s a good coach.

Frantic pace and great ball movement. This game is the opposite to last nights stinker. Both these teams will be contenders this year.

Ahahahaha What a complete stinker. Draw is the result it deserved.

Both teams trying their hardest not to! Trash footy. If we lose to either of these teams I’ll be disgusted.

Dusty has been an average player post 2020. He’s not in the top 50 players anymore. He doesn’t have the extra gears anymore and just looks to get rid of it like hit potato as he can’t shrug the body contact anymore. Obviously had a great career, but guys like him and Cotchin are basically cactus now.