Adam The God

You could be right, but I'd be staggered if Gus isn't in the midfield this week. This is one of the aces up our sleeve we've been holding back. I reckon he'll play midfield. If Harmes does come in it will be at the expense of a forward or half forward/mid rotation - see Melksham or Sparrow. As for captain Jack Sparrow, I reckon his game against Freo has been bizarrely overrated. I thought he was dreadful in the first half, before working his way back into it during the second half. If they want to bring Harmes in, I'd suggest it's mostly likely Sparrow.

I don't understand why we don't have Tomlinson as a sub every game. I get the injection of pace like a Chandler or Bedford, but talls are vital to our structure and game style, so having someone that has the capacity to play tall back, forward, wing or ruck seems like the ideal sub. But you may be right, mate. Harmes could well be sub.

Watching Goodwin's press conference, he hesitated when discussing where Harmes will play. He might just not want to give up too much in a press conference, but my read on it is I think Harmes will play VFL this week.

There's a reason he's not in AA calculation this year, Andy. He doesn't have the same mobility IMV, but Lever at 90-95% could still help us win back to back. #positivebinners

Not partly due to COVID. Wholly due to COVID. Anyone that thinks people are staying away because it's cold are kidding themselves. COVID is stopping many from going.

If Darcy had nominated his club of choice as someone other than the Bulldogs, then the Bulldogs would have no reason to target him Besides, English has come on and they probably don't need two guys that can mostly only ruck. I wonder if Darcy would be open to us. 😉

I wonder if Darcy has indicated he'd be open to a move back east, hence their aggressive LJ offer?

That St Kilda game is directly before I believe we started loading, hence the little bump in performance, which you hope to get off the back of the first week of heavy loading.

I dunno. I think it was pretty clear Chris Scott was talking about loading a couple of weeks ago. People would prefer to look at other factors as to why we suddenly slumped in a mirror image to last year. I'd suggest if we don't win the flag people next year will be saying the same thing. It'll be pretty hard to defend on the body evidence if we win another flag though.

His name is Max Gawn and he is and should be our captain. He's perfect. Lever is the next captain for mine, by quite a way. Petracca may well be a good VC.

And now they start it earlier, particularly if you get early wins on the board. Modern players are a lot fitter than 2007 though.

Great stuff. And you'd think the industry would have honed this further over the last 15 years.

Haha, brilliant. 😂

So good above his head?

I wasn't against Bowey being dropped, I'm just saying I'd prefer Bowey now. He too has toe, so I'm not sure it's enough nowadays to get Hunt a game. Agreed mate.

That was the most intriguing take for me. It sounds like we're really at the forefront of player management and what we're trying to do with loads. My interpretation anyway.

I reckon his goal kicking last year and early this year was excellent. I'd suggest he's not at full fitness and that's making his goal kicking harder IMO.

Different tanks, but in time, I agree. I hope Bowey can get back in the team this year. I'd have him ahead of Hunt.

Bit of a Deven Robinson mate? Really like him as a player, despite his yo-yoing in and out of the Brisbane side.

Thanks mate.

Gee, Max is good. Love him as our captain.

What a brilliant deal that was.

Plus the fact Grundy wouldn't be great as a resting forward, so it means he has to ruck pretty much the whole game or sit on the bench. We could play him behind the ball I guess, but I don't see it.

Hayden Young is a good young talent, but could we fit Rivers, Salem, Bowey and Young in the same side? I don't think so. And I love our three aforementioned from a defensive perspective and certainly in Salem and Bowey's case, their kicking.

Yep, agreed, although Melksham as the defensive forward will be an interesting watch come finals. My feeling is we want to play two recognised talls forward of centre and are making do with Max and LJ forward to partner Weideman, but that we might prefer Brown and TMac/JVR ultimately, over Brown and Melksham. It may well be a horses for courses thing though. If we think Melksham is a good defensive match up on a key interceptor or 1v1 defender, we might play him, but I can't see Melksham playing in big finals. I could be wrong, but it may well depend on the fitness of TMac or the courage of playing JVR. It does seem though that playing Melksham enables more space in forward 50 for us, because Melksham gets up the ground, or plays forward anchor, and this gives room for the likes of Kozzy, Fritsch and even a trailing JJ or Langdon to work in. It'll be interesting to see how it works with Brown in the team, I expect at the expense of Weideman.