Dee*ceiving

Sestan and Verell good chances to forge a career as well. Sestan and elite runner in juniors I am told, belying his size and strength. Also bottom age.

Great analysis, bodes well. But should be noted JVR is playing in a better team now, than Charlie was early in his career.

I think it was more in reponse to Hawthorn subbing a tall for a small. Tommo our slowest/most lumbering defender just wasn't needed any more. Agree re: Shache

To my mind... Fritsch, fitness permitting we must get a look at him in the forward in combination with Melksham... Smith > Tomlinson (Smith moves to the backline to make room for Fritsch) Spargo > Laurie Out: Tomlinson, Laurie In: Fritsch, Spargo It does leave us small up forward, but also very lithe...Not against trying TMac but working him in is harder...Sub?

6 - Lever 5 - Melksham 4 - ANB 3 - Rivers 2 - Brayshaw 1 - May

An absolutely outstanding game from Melksham, he completely nullified Sicily who was even run on the ball to try and get him into the play. Having seen this, and with Fritsch coming back in, can Jake still effectively play that defensive forward role on the oppositions tall interceptor? Having seen Smith (forward and back) & Tomlinson back it seems Smith is the better option overall of the two. Tomlinson out, Smith back and Fritsch in seems and easy change. Does that leave us too short/small in the forwardline? Or is that speed and agility potentially an advantage?

Hibbo being managed I reckon. Will be sub and assure the defense for the last qtr and a half. Where we'll likely be looking to protect a lead...

And white...

WTF would Jon Ralph know...

You're not wrong Praha. I was in Adelaide for the game v Port in R4 2022. The one where Port kicked their first goal half way through the 3rd quarter... Every Port supporter I spoke to, both strangers and those known to me were: Certain they'd win before the game Looked at me like i had steaming [censored] protruding from my face when I mentioned we were reigning premiers and coming in to the game undefeated And completely astounded they didn't win after the game Just bizarre...

I feel like Brad Green kicked 6 at some stage and I reckon Cam Bruce did too (or perhaps 8 or 9 against the blues one time?)

No chance

If nothing else I am confident the FD have given a lot of thought to the factors that resulted in our straight sets exit last year and have plans to prevent those factors from recurring. I would agree with most posters here that having our key players as fit and free from injury as much as humanly possible come Septmber is paramount. Theoretically there are many ways to achieve that and it doesn't necessarily have to be through players missing games...that said I can't see why we'd be putting Gawn on a plane to Hobart if we didn't have to.

Hibbert... Hibberd...

Such a wonderful thing to imagine though...!

I agree. if not resting Max entirely at least lighten his workload a touch. Plus it provides a chance to experiment with Grundy in the forward line. He won't be learning much forward craft at Casey with a bye or scratch match at best

I think we all know for sure they will save it for the last round against Melbourne 🙉

I think Goody moved Petty back to defense through the period of the season when he knew we weren't running at our best and would be trying to grind out low scoring wins in wet weather. With the boys coming out of the loading phase and the skies clearing he's more comfortable with a higher scoring game and hence more talent forward of the ball. Makes sense as to why it was agains the Saints, under the roof at Marvel that we started to see Petracca forward more

It will be Taj I think with a bit of a shuffle around of the other forwards. Risk is it may take Melksham out of his most effective role, at least some of the time.

I thought that too, but watching the replay last night the commentators checked the rule and the ball has to touch the post, not just the body of the player holidng the ball

And JVR is proving a more than capable back up. Competitor and a great vertical leap

Via Albania

I need a hot shower and a glass of red

👍 They also moved balta forward not long after Tommo spot would have to be safe with petty starring forward and Smith the super sub

Oustanding 4 QTR effort. Richmond were terrific in the first half but we just stuck to the process. Hit the contests hard, repeat efforts and finished well enough to stay in touch. Best last QTR we've played this year. Max immense, Trac does whatever he likes. Viney and Brayshaw just keep their heads down and work, work, work. Forward line sorted with plenty of talent tucked away and aching for their chance