Little Goffy

Another difference between a bung knee and a head injury retirement is that at players routinely return to the game with all kinds of knee injuries and even repeated major injuries to the knee. It is also largely possible to go on to a normal healthy life (with a caveat for possible pain) with a knee injury. A head injury like the one which Brayshaw must now retire in order to avoid would be like a leg injury which left the player permanently unable to walk. Bonus point - leg injuries happen in often innocuous ways and are almost never the result of preventable dangerous or malicious play, whereas many head injuries are a product of a deliberate, reckless or negligent act by an opponent. Brayshaw is retiring because of a significantly preventable unsafe work environment.

Clearly the club reads Demonland to set priorities and was greatly alarmed by our collective ambivalence about the social media and publicity efforts. Correct me if I'm wrong, but she had this near-exact role with us before? During the glory days of Gibbo and peak Gus'n'Gawny? I had a quick look at her profile - she's seen premierships at three different clubs, and two of those came within a year of that club recruiting her. I'll never underestimate the power of social media again!

Just watched the Sicily incident. That is their captain, eh? That is bizaroo numpty level stuff. The squat pose - I don't think I've ever seen someone do that on a football field - to then come up with clear intent to upend his target, and then the obnoxious [censored] kick to someone as they are falling. The idea that he shouldn't be suspended is just arrogance from Hawthorn. Maybe it is inspired by all the times Mitchell got away with kneeing people? Natural justice would be if Sicily had got his foot trapped under his falling victim and missed 8 weeks with a wrenched ankle. I hope we break them so badly that they are having visible arguments on field about who was supposed to be covering who, and the whole club loses faith in the rebuild. Petracca to kick 5.

The only thing I took from the crowds on the weekend was that for the second week in a row the stands were empty for the final quarter of a Collingwood game. They were outta there like the police had shown up with a search warrant. Pathetic soft as butter club.

What is this 'suspended for making contact with his head' business with Rosas? And why didn't it apply to Maynard pushing his head into Viney's face?

6. Gawn - just quietly grinding out three Brownlow votes against an All-Australian opponent with a monster for backup. 5. Billings - bonus points for how important it could be for our season if he has rediscovered this level of form. His best game since 2021. 4. Petracca - Continuously involved the way a star should be. 3. Oliver - Continuously involved the way a star should be. 2. May - not all of his kicks were long up the left! Also a generally terrific tall defender I'm told. 1. Chandler - bonus point for how different 'good' Chandler is compared to 'slump' Chandler.

Oooh, cutting them apart in the last. Very satisfying. Kicking a big score while Fritsch is having a poor day is also a very good sign.

Was right in the middle of thinking 'Hmm, Pickett has been fine but a bit quiet for a lot of the game but seems busy in this last quarter'. And then I actually did some kind of witch cackle. Glad I'm not in a public place.

I've finally stopped procrastinating and got stuck into Orwell's 'Down and out in Paris and London.' Truly special. That art of observing reality and presenting it to the reader thoughtfully with only limited judgement of what is being described is sorely missed in our world of 'aggressive reputation management'. Y'know, Orwell did some sports reporting for the papers, back in his day.

I genuinely thought Tom McDonald would be out until mid-season or maybe never return, so that spoil was a particular joy.

I genuinely thought Ben Brown would be out until mid-season or maybe never return, so that goal was a particular joy. Meanwhile, in-form Chandler is as good as any small forward in the game. Smooth out his slumps and he is an absolute gun.

Household ritual: Celebrating: "Nibbler gets a goal?" Genuine concern: "Who is going to hug him?"

I've only got radio and stats to watch here, so maybe I am missing something? 7 disposals, 3 marks, 4 clearances, 2 intercepts, 2 rebound 50s, 3 score involvements, 130m gained at 85% DE seems like a pretty good first quarter for a ruck.

It is one record that should actually be marked with implicit honour in our history. Half our 1941 premiership team was at war by the time the 1942 season got underway. Melbourne was led on to the field by RAAF air ace Squadron Leader Keith "Bluey" Truscott, DFC and Bar. Truscott unfurled Melbourne's 1941 premiership flag and, very obviously lacking match condition, played an average game, kicking a single goal in his team's 79-point loss, which proved the last of his fifty career senior games.

Taking a moment to appreciate North making Collingwood's start look even worse.

Okay, but are these pots and kettle half empty or half full? Apparently that is crucial to knowing if you are management material.

This is consecutive game 216 for Crisp, so it would take this season and one more to pass Stynes.

Fingers crossed the open-goal-run-out-the-back is the psychological breaking point for this game and Sydney can get the six or seven goal margin their performance deserves.

Just trimming off a little to add to the 50m.

Must've confused the hell out of Maynard to see something change direction in mid-flight.

Collingwood are still in this game on pure 'luck'.

I missed it - what time of the quarter was it?

How, in all that is censored, was Maynard not pinged for walking the ball back over the goalline then. On the tape it'll be the rushed behind at the 15 minute mark. He was one the behind line, wanted to go out, walked a few steps across and no Swan player came to him, and then he has walked back over the goal line with the ball. Free kick any day. It's exactly what the rule is for.

Laurie, Schache and Spargo out doesn't raise anyone's eyebrow, and Bowey of course is injured. Tomlinson I can't quite agree with it. Searching for the panel's perspective all I can think of is that they looked at the various tall opponents they might put Tomlinson on; Ugle-Hagan - too mobile Lobb - too big. Naughton - too strong English - too big, too strong and too mobile But how that translates into Hore and McDonald, I don't know. Still, I'm thrilled for Hore and between him and McVee I expect we'll see a tribute match to each half of Michael Hibberd's career!

They make you thirsty?