Nasher

More likely DOF was that his opponent was still suffering the effects of the concussion. Would they have known that back then? Never let the truth get in the way of a good story though

Were we ever being investigated by ASADA?

What are we to applaud players for doing if it's not fundamental footy things? Funny that McKenzie handballs features in the two most watched clips from the game: the Kent running goal and the Salem goal.

Wow. I had somehow managed to erase this from the memory bank completely too. Must be a trauma response. It would be fair to say a second consecutive massive turn around is on the cards.

I can see absolutely no logical reason why a player would ever sign with a year to run with his existing club. It's risky as it's against the rules, it forced the player to spend a year lying through their teeth, and it achieves nothing that couldn't still be achieved if they waited. You also then eliminate the possibility of changing your mind. I don't understand why Scully did it and I don't think Frawley would do it. It just doesn't seem logical.

It's probably just part of your psyche/personality. I'm not worried at all. (And wasn't last time either, if that means anything)

Because merging threads is a pain in the arse, and locking them is one single press of a button. If posters are going to be lazy and start new threads when there's clearly at least one other appropriate thread ON THE FIRST PAGE, then I am going to be lazy when I dispose of them.

This doesn't need its own thread.

It's a very fine balancing act to be aware of your limitations (ie try kicks you are not capable of), and not overcompensate (ie not try kicks you are capable of). The stats seem to back up what we've seen in that Nev seems to have struck that balance. It's not just the high DE% either: 0 clangers on the weekend. He's been using the ball very well.

Spencer out for the season seemed to come out of the blue. No impact to the MFC so long as Jamar stays fit, but I really feel for the guy. Just hasn't had any real continuity.

There will always be an otherwise best 22 player injured or out of form. You can't look at the current team now - by round 1 next year, circumstances will have changed. They always do. I've got absolutely no doubt that there will be room for Trengove in the side.

Scott Chisholm would have to be close to the worst I've seen in my lifetime.

They'd be competing for the same position, I expect.

I'll qualify by saying I haven't seen the first half yet (and may not bother) - but the thing about Riley is that he earned his place through consistently good performances at Casey. It wouldn't surprise me if the coaches backed him. It doesn't seem right to me to make a player play (say) three first rate games in the VFL in a row, then only get one at AFL level to prove himself. Then again, if he was that bad, maybe he will be dropped. I'm definitely low on confidence after my last few efforts at picking the changes!

Hah, I've got to confess I've watched it a million times as well (and I *still* haven't seen the rest of the game - though it seems to have finally appeared on the SmartReplay thingy). Seeing McDonald charge inboard and hand off to Tyson still makes the hairs on my arms stand up.

Dunn will give the B&F a shake this year. I don't reckon the gap between he and Nathan is anywhere near as large as these voting systems indicate. He's found a level of consistency that I didn't think was in him.

Our coaches love Bail, because he runs hard and leads the way for pressure acts. He is second only to Cross in tackles. Anyone who puts his name up as a candidate for omission is putting their understanding of how this team operates on display I reckon.

Loved that goal, but I reckon his kick to Frawley was just as good, if not better.

The thing about the Essendon supporters I know is that most of them aren't objectionable people at all, until they start talking footy. Supporting that club just does something to people.

I would back Dawes to drill it, but I agree with the gist. He inspires a level of confidence that is rare.

I get to! Yay for night shift. Doubt there'll be much happening around here by about 3am though

He could've had a job working for Pizza Haven in the late 90s.

Nev also plays his 50th game next week week after next, in which he will equal Gerard Healy's record for the most number of games played in jumper 39. Making history!

Best #39 since Craig Smoker.

It dropped out at one point because I refreshed my browser and saw the Driver Error page, so I panicked and cycled the database service (which would have caused that page to come up for a few seconds)... only to realise it was BomberBlitz that had given me the Driver Error page in the first place, not 'land. Whoops! Looking at the server right at this minute, it's under no stress at all.