Nasher

Maverick Weller. That tackle really was a thing of beauty. High degree of difficulty, caused a free that would otherwise have been a goal, and would have hurt the recipient like a bastard. Great stuff.

Not often you see two players still currently on the rookie list as the last two touches in a goal. Other than maybe Bernie's third, no other goal got me psyched up more than that one. Crucial in the context of the game and he was just so stoked about it. He has an enthusiastic bounce about him that I find infectious, I wonder if it has a similar effect on his teammates. Just looks like he loves being out there and is playing accordingly.

I don't think Collingwood are gifting us anything because they don't make the fixture. They don't get to decide whose home game it is, so it is not theirs to gift us.

You want your sub to be a fresh set of running legs. If you really feel the need for two ruckman, start them both and sub one off later if it's not working. I remember discussing this when the rule was introduced, and my view was that a ruckman should never be the sub. That view hasn't changed.

I'd think 150 would be a stretch given the slow start to his career, let alone 200. I just read Burgs' column article and I reckon he's in the Jetta Mancrush club. Understandable given the way he's gone about it since being rookie listed. It's been a while since a player has come back from the dead as he did.

This highlights the dumbness of the "the MFC did to itself" argument many fans put forward for the MFC not getting a PP. Cascading cockups is a prerequisite for a club landing itself at the bottom of the ladder for a lengthy stretch. No club that has struggled has done so through doing everything right.

Heh. And when he loses: more legal bills to pay. The lawyers, as always, are the only winners in all of this.

It was a "press red" option to listen to an intentionally biased all-Collingwood commentary (Ed, Shaw et al). The actual game was called by Hudson, with Derm and Roo adding their 2c. For some stupid reason Fox are playing the novelty commentary instead of the proper one for all the replays.

It's not Roos' style to tell players they're playing for their career. 1) he's said as much, 2) it puts unnecessary pressure on the player, 3) uncontracted players would already be well aware that any game they play impacts their career prospects and 4) a good performance wouldn't guarantee another contract anyway.

I'm intrigued by your first paragraph.

I don't mind Derm. He does dribble a lot, but from time to time does have points of interest to raise. He knows the game I think, you just need to see through the waffle that intersperses it.

For what it's worth, Hudson called the actual game and was excellent. I found him annoying in the early years, but I reckon he captures the moment very well. Need more professional comentators like him and Whately, than ex footy player boofheads, or try-hards like Basil and Hamish who try to fit in with the jocks.

Grimes registered two frees against. By my recollection, the OOTF and the holding the ball where he was tackled by the neck. I thought there were more too, but that's what the records say. If I get a chance later I'll go through the smart replay.

Rest players who need resting. Harmes is playing with energy and vigour. The changes depend on who puts their hand up at Casey today. Michie and Grimes are the only ones at risk of losing their place, but I'd be happy for no change if nobody at Casey stands out.

You mean to say... that teams who lose are usually terrible? Revolutionary! You'd think anyone who's watched the MFC in the last 10 years wouldn't need that to be explained to them...

My favourite quote: "We miss Cloke". No kidding!

Heh, thanks guys. But my prediction was 50% out of spite and 50% the same gut feel I have most weeks which is usually wrong, which by my sums adds up to 100% arse. I'll take it though

Dawes describes himself as a battler, and that's what he is. In the last two weeks he's been back to his best - he's been holding marks, and he's used his strength to break tackles. If he can continue to do that, he definitely adds something to the side. No doubt it'd be nice if he could hit the scoreboard more, but I can live without that so long as he contributes in other ways. Dawes takes a comparable number of marks to 'second tier' marking forwards such as Schulz, Roughead, Petrie et al. These players all take 4-6 marks per game on average (Dawes 4.7). Elite marking forwards such as Riewoldt and Cloke take in the order of 7-8 marks per game on average. When he was in poor form he still took a minimum of 2 marks a game. The criticism of him goes beyond reasonable IMO.

Is this still the case? It's dead set unbelievable that a person who aspires to be a professional athlete would smoke.

This thread was ahead of its time. I answered 'no' at the time, I'd like to change that to a 'yes', thanks. On current form will win the B&F in a canter, and will feature in the Brownlow votes.

So? It was a line that made sense when they were expecting to be playing in them. They're not expecting to be playing in them. To put it another way: if our the Queens Birthday is our Grand Final, when's theirs? It certainly won't be the 2015 AFL Grand Final, nor was it the 2014, 2013, 2012 Grand Finals. They're as relevant to Grand Final discussions as we are: not at all.

If only it were at Etihad, eh? Could have sank three of them at once.

If people are still saying it's our Grand Final it just goes to show that they are dimwitted sheep. Don't know if they've noticed, but it's been a fair while since Collingwood have played in a Grand Final either.

Nice one. I remember commenting during the Geelong game that it was as if he'd just suddenly realised he was supposed to mark it. He'd always had safe hands while playing in the VFL apparently, and has turned in to a reliable pack mark now. Engine is probably his main priority to work on now, I'd think. He looks knackered in final quarters, though this is hardly surprising with the stop-start nature of his career to date, though that seems to be behind him now hopefully. Some adequate help in the ruck wouldn't go astray either.

I doubt he looks that closely at it. He'd know his place in the world; he probably doesn't even look at it at all. Exactly the same thing happened with Harmes for Sunday Casey games too - named on the extended bench and on the field in the Dev league, while he was in excellent form, and indeed right up until the week he was promoted off the rookie list. I doubt young James' teeth are feeling all that kicked at the moment.