MadAsHell

This will be a big blow to the Opals medal chances, but I think she has to go. You can't have a team leader behaving in her fashion. Not to mention she has a habit of making things all about her which probably isn't the best ingredients for a successful team. https://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/liz-cambage-could-be-stood-down-from-olympics-for-multiple-incidents/news-story/ab470852cb0a607f237f8533a99e80e9 Also Alex De Minaur is out after testing positive to COVID. No doubt there could be others. https://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/alex-de-minaur-has-been-forced-to-pull-out-of-the-olympics-after-testing-positive-to-covid19/news-story/7dc3e8305630a938a652010bd1816310

Olympics will have no crowds due to the recent spike in cases in Tokyo. Over 900 the other day it seems. It was already set to proceed with locals only and no cheering, however now it will just be for TV. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.nine.com.au/article/3e84fc38-2b06-43d8-b828-2c6b7319cee1 As a result we see that Nick Kyrigos has withdrawn due to not playing in front of crowds. Can't say I blame anyone for doing so to be fair. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.news.com.au/sport/olympics/reason-aussie-tennis-star-nick-kyrgios-snubbing-tokyo-olympics/news-story/11c004463b548b63aebe19748a725329 Watching the Olympics with no crowds will be odd. Have to say I feel for the city of Tokyo. Hosting the Olympics ain't cheap and now with no tourists or even local supporters, they're not going to get much back at all! Makes one wonder whether a decision should have been made late last year or even at the start of this year to move the games somewhere that had COVID a bit more under control???

Thanks for all the above info @Macca. Very comprehensive list above and not much I think I could add at this stage, outside of our Womens 4x200m Freestyle relay team. You mentioned 4x100m and the medley, but I reckon if we only win one Gold Medal for the whole Olympics, it will be the Womens 4x200m. Otherwise a big interest will be to see if the Boomers can finally win their first medal. I think they're a good chance, though it wont be easy. Simmons withdraw and Bogut's retirement hurt, but I still think we're capable. Also a change in the format makes it interesting also. No more two groups of 6, rather three groups of 4 and the highest 8 ranked teams go into a draw for the Quarter Finals. I think this has been done to avoid tanking (avoid certain opponents) plus reduce the amount of games played. Also look out to see how the Hockeyroos fare after their review wrapped up earlier this year and there were all sorts of culture problems which you can read about here. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/hockeyroos-coach-quits-as-review-set-to-be-released-20210317-p57boy.html But can't wait to get into it. Have got my two weeks leave staycation all booked so I can watch the majority!

Not impossible. Carltank had the chance to do it in 2013!

Are your eyes painted on @58er or do you just struggle to read? Where have I said we should target Kent? I've listed him as an option along with several others and in the quote you referenced, have even said there's two others I'd clearly favour ahead of him I also fail to see what's disrespectful to our HFFers when I've said we could put him on a wing??? Again if you could actually read you'd see I've said Baker would be the one to make way (wingman) which is who Kent or any of the others names I listed would replace. I will stick up for him that he was in our 22, but was just injured all the time that made him that irregular in the team. If it weren't for his shoulder injury in Round 23, he would have been in our 22 in the finals that year, no doubt.

I'll give you that. Not wrong. Though to be fair he's mainly been played as a pressure forward. Not saying he'd be a super recruit just one option amongst 4 others I suggested as a cheap option. Personally I'd love to see us turn Lochie O'Brien around or pry Jeremy Sharp from Gold Coast. But also I wouldn't be shattered to see Dean Kent return.

I had this Dean Kent more in mind. And the one who kicked the goal to seal the game v West Coast in 2018.

Agree on all of Jetta, Jones and Nietschke. I expect one of Joel Smith/Hore to go, but not both. Mitch Brown will likely go unless Weideman walks or B. Brown demands a trade for not playing enough seniors. Others who I think will get the chop are: Aaron Vandenberg Oskar Baker Austin Bradtke I think with Jetta going that they'll hold onto Lockhart for at least one more year. Otherwise with an ageing Hibberd it only leaves two very young Bowey & D. Smith as his only backups. I also think they'll keep Bedford. Like the look of him and he along with Chandler keep the pressure on players like Spargo & Nibbler to keep performing.

As @rpfcposted above, I don't think we'll be in the hunt for any name players. I think if we recruit anyone, it will be for an area of need who won't be on big money, but isn't getting a regular game, so we can get them reasonably cheap salary wise. We'll also have the selling point of being able to develop young talent, so we might be able to go for a highly regarded youngster who hasn't quite come on. With (in my opinio) Oskar Bakker likely out at years end and Fraser Rosman still an unknown, an outside wingman is probably still out lightest area. Some potential targets IMO are; Lochie O'Brien (Carlton) Darcy Tucker (Fremantle) Jeremy Sharp (Gold Coast) Dean Kent* (St Kilda) Ed Richards (Western Bulldogs) * Would be great to see him come back and get a crack at that midfield/wing position he reckons he didn't get a chance at here previously.

Port are talented, but clearly like it on their terms. Geelong are capable but are off the pace with their ageing list. We could drop games to these two in the home & away season. No chance of doing so come finals though. We've got this!

I enjoyed this one: After being one of the top teams part way through 2005, we lost 7 in a row to be out of the 8 with 3 rounds remaining. After a thrilling 1 point win over the Cats in Geelong we played the white hot Bulldogs on a Saturday Night who were also pushing for a spot in the 8. With a host of our regulars out we were trailing pretty much the whole match and were 22 down with less then 7 minutes remaining. However a late flurry and a Jeff White free kick and goal from 50 meters from a tough angle saw us claw out a 4 point victory and keep our finals chances alive. Which we secured the following week against the Bombers.

While I rate Maynard, I don't see him as a priority, especially given what he'd likely cost us in a trade and in salary cap. Jetta's replacement should come from one of Bowey, Deakyn Smith or even Lockhart. As for Hibberd's replacement, we still have both Joel Smith and Marty Hore on the list. And even Gus is an option for that role. He's shown himself to be capable in the backline, and we could possibly get another wingman like Richards from the Dogs for less which would allow Brayshaw to potentially move to the backline to fill the void left by Hibberd?

Robbo's performance at that press conference was one of the funniest and cringe worthy things I've ever seen! If you were his employer, you'd have to think about making him take personal leave and get his sh*t together surely!

1 year extension coming up. No inside knowledge, just a matter of opinion.

IMO, at the end of the season we'll be saying goodbye to Bradtke, Neitschke, Mitch Brown, Jones, Jetta, Baker, Vandenberg and one of Hore or Joel Smith. Chandler joins Jordon as a promoted rookie. That would leave us three senior list spots and two rookie list spots for the 2022 season. Gives us the flexibility to bring in someone via trade or free agency if need be, but otherwise we can just go to the draft.

Why not. Turner wore 10 in his highlights and Declase 15. Add 30 to each and we're away!

Hobart's the place for mine!

Adelaide or Belrieve Oval for mine. Already come to terms with the fact we'll likely miss out on it this year.

Play it in Tassie at Belrieve Oval. Brisbane won't like the cold.

Think Jesse Glass-McCasker might be worth a punt. Young key position player who can play either end. Gives us that key position depth to cover Tomlinson and he spent a few years on Carlton's rookie list, so has learnt under Weitering, Jones, Marchbank etc. So might be some ok insurance policy?

Martin caught twice tonight when attempting the fend off. Could this be signs of the beginning of the end for the Dusty and Richmond dynasty?

I still think a potential home base, close to the city, with some room to build that also has some AFL/VFL history is Brunswick Street Oval. Part of the redevelopment would probably have to include relocating the Tennis Club, but I think it has potential. Also with all the bars etc so close, you wouldn't have to worry about a social club. Would also be convenient for Lingers to get to training! https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/brunswick-street-oval/satellite

IN: Harmes, Weideman OUT: Baker (omit), Fritsch (susp), Tomlinson (inj) FB: Lever, May, Salem HB: Hunt, McDonald, Hibberd C: Brayshaw, Petracca, Langdon HF: Neal-Bullen, Weideman, Spargo FF: Melksham, B. Brown, Pickett FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Harmes INT: Jackson, Jones, Jordon, Rivers SUB: Sparrow Tommy Mc to defence and Weideman to go forward. Melksham gets a chance at Fritsch's mid sized forward role and Jones gets to hold a spot while we're winning. Also Harmes comes in for Baker as a more suitable replacement for Viney.

Princess Leia!? They can't do that!!!

Clearly holding the ball at the end. Seems karma has ran over the Cats!