sue

Often very little to none of the momentum that the ball gets comes from a fist (or even a hint of a fist). It is clear the AFL wants a fast moving game that this allows. I suspect the only thing stopping them from changing the rules to allow throws is how to stop long overhead throws like in gridiron coming into the game which would be a terrible look.

Leaving aside the puzzling issue of starting to do this when Casey has a bye, working on his forward craft makes sense to me. Even if he has never been much chop up forward, if we plan to use 2 rucks in the finals and would like to rest them in coming weeks, it makes sense to improve his forward craft as much as possible. If limited VFL minutes can be considered a rest, it makes sense, even if he learns just a little.

Nor do I though it is odd that they chose to do it when the VFL has a bye.

While of course winning this year is more important than a pick, I can walk and chew gum at the same time.

Don't your numbers include the many years when each team played each other team twice, one in Geelong and one at home? In which case it weakens your argument.

I agree. Just as soon as their home ground has a closer resemblence to a normal footy ground.

Wouldn't it be amusing if all the commentators had to sit an exam on the rules before being allowed to commentate.

Sharpening those antlers for the finals.

I've been as critical as anyone of him trying to do this, but the only time he did it last night (that i recal) was when he was up against 2 opponents who were in a better position to take an easy mark. He couldn't crumb that, so causing chaos wasn't a bad idea.

Obviously Gawn is not doing well at the moment. But equally obvious is that the umpires don't like him. Must be because he has developed this cunning mechanism for lifting his jumper up his body by a battery powered machine to milk a free kick in boundary throw-ins. Or at least the umpires must think so, because they don't pay him a free when his jumper mysteriously rises up. (Having said that I reckon most jumper tugs have little effect on the player, but the rule seems to be if a tug is seen, a free must be paid.)

Sorry if I missed it, but have any 'expert' posters who have been putting the boot into our fitness staff ever replied to my suggestion that perhaps the docs looking at the initial scans stuffed up rather than our staff? Personally I'm in the camp of those saying it was a difficult case further complicated by a week in bed and these things happen without anyone being specifically at fault.

Since wind can hardly be blamed for our recent goal kicking woes, I don't see that a closed roof makes a difference to the possibility of our being doomed.

All true. Let's hope we get back on track. But let's not over-estimate the strength of our adversaries and be intimidated, which was the point I was vaguely trying to make.

How the hell did we beat them then?

I'd add to that playing in the VFL provides a chance of getting a big confidence boost after being up against experienced AFL backs.

Some posters are blaming the fitness staff, but is it not possible that the medicos who did the initial scans got it wrong? (Disclaimer: I know nothing about such things.)

Scott's whinging is a joy to behold.

But I doubt my body will hold up for another 200 years.

OK, we can all understand that the AFL is driven by $$ rather than a fair competition and that's why some teams never play at that stadium (which is more suited for chariot racing than footy), but if they had any integrity they'd give the clubs forced to play down there some compensation (other than cash). Eg, every (excessive) time you play down there you get moved up the draft order by 1 pick or somesuch.

Presumably Fitzroy is down the bottom of the list because if a club doesn't exist, even the AFL hasn't worked out how to force them to play down there.

I reckon it's inappropriate for a manager to make any such comments regardless. Does his player no good either. Keep it for selling the player to another club at trade time (which will not happen with someone as old as Brown anyway).

Top 4 is more the issue. Get there and a team has a chance, however they limped in.

I don't know what he was thinking. If he had hit Lever, Lever would have bowled Cameron over.

Sure, but no quarantee that a 'ready-to-go year 1' player will be available to fit our specific needs, or that they won't be available a spot or two lower in the draft. I'm happy to leave it to Freo to lose to teams that are no threat to us.

We don't know how the rest of the season will play out so I will be content for Freo to win and give us some breathing space. Hanging out for the possibility of better draft picks is less important than getting into the top 4. And feels (in a weird sort of way) like 'supporter tanking'. Our window is now. Don't need some star pick who may (or may not) develop in a few years. (On the other hand, I realise a low pick may give us a trade to get what we need now.) Also, I hate Essendon.