Dr. Gonzo

I'll be watching Kozzie, Spargo, ANB etc closely #forward50tackles

Exactly if we do take on his contract we should be getting draft picks out way, not paying for the privilege! If not walk away and leave them with the albatross or get another club to shoot themselves in the foot.

I'm not saying we shouldn't look for another ruck option. I'm saying we should look for one that is younger or doesn't cost $700k a year and isn't locked in for 5 more years at 29 years of age and with a recent history of being unable to get on the field. Grundy might be ok if you're building a fantasy team but we have more pressing needs I'd like to see us put the cap towards in the next 5 years. If he only had say 2 years left to run you might look at it, but 5? That's gonna handicap you down the track.

If this was a Melbourne player we would be livid that he was suspended. I don't care if he's playing Saturday we should still belt them. If not then we simply aren't up to it.

The reason he said it is because that is what happened.

That's when a player elects to bump - this wasn't a bump, Cripps jumped to contest a loose ball. I don't want to see that physicality legislated out of the game. It's very similar to the Viney hit on Hurn back in 2017 although Vineys was far more egregious. I loved it though.

Agree with you I didn't think it was suspension worthy either. He was contesting a loose ball (it wasn't a marking contest contrary to some previous posts in the thread) and was entitled to jump up for the footy. Ah Chee was concussed but that stuff will happen occasionally in a brutal contact sport like footy. It's not always malicious.

Remember it well - top of the ladder after beating Hawks in round 18 then lost our last 4 games ☹️

2006, Carlton won 3 games for the season - 2 of them against us at Docklands. Cost us top 4. Edit should've kept reading this was covered above 🤣

Agree 100%, if we don't then we're not winning the flag this year so doesn't matter where we finish anyway.

He surely gets off if it's taking this long

The two wins would be last year when we scraped home and at the scg in 2019 our first win of the season. Slim pickings, I just envision Papley giving us headaches.

I'd rather play Pies in the QF over the PF if it comes to that. Last week still fresh in the players minds and they know they have the double chance so won't be as nervous about losing to them (if that makes sense). Sydney worry me because they are smartly coached and always play us tight, I don't think we've had a comfortable win against them since we shellacked them under Bailey.

I was taught two things love Melbourne and hate Collingwood - my hate for then has waned over the years mainly due to the pity for losing so many GFs and our lack of playing them in big games. Essendon, Hawthorn and West Coast were more hated. After this year and especially last week they are back to the top of the hate lost, cannot stand them and hate the thought of losing to them. Anyone who wants an understanding of the psychology of the club should read the book, Kill For Collingwood. It is a history of the club written in the early 80s and really delves into the early history of not just the club but the suburb it grew from. It is understandable why they have such a vile culture. The worst part is their arrogance when they have only won 4 flags since the 1930s! 4!

I know, was shattered when they didn't go for Ross Lyon

How much involvement will JT have though? He is more drafting than trading, Josh Mahoney used to be our trading guru - is that Alan Richardson now?

Why would we be screwed? Our midfield is strong enough that they should be able to break even at minimum at centre clearance. In fact we have lost centre clearances a number of times the last two years despite having a dominant ruck and midfield! You just need a big body who can compete and bring the ball to ground for our mids and running players. Just compete around the ground and don't get outmarked. We are blessed to have Max with some of his around the ground work but the ruck position is the most overvalued position in footy.

I agree about Longmire although Collingwood have a good record against the Swans and also travel well historically. I think it will be a(nother) close game.

I wouldn't say we whacked Adelaide at the G. We got out to a 25 point lead before half time, they reeled it back in then we held them at arm's length before Fritsch kicked 3 goals in the last few minutes to blow the margin out to 41 pts.

Last year I was confident that if we were within 5 goals at halftime we would win. This year I don't know if 5 goals is a big enough lead for us to take into the 2nd half!

Yep and the short run up is another key as you've said - Max marks it 20m out then turns around walks back almost to the 50! You don't need that long a run up, just give yourself enough room to kick over the mark and pop it through. Short run up, straight run up, keep the ball still and relax should be the mantra. Who would've guessed the best goalkicker in the games history would know a thing or two about what it takes? Would love to get Dunstall down to training to sort them out (unlikely Plugger would do it).

Exactly right, no one should be missing from 30m out directly in front. No one. I don't care how fatigued you might be that is a layup, like shooting ducks in a barrel.

I remember watching Darren Bennett as a kid, held the ball straight, no bent elbows, bent over to hold it as close to his foot as possible to minimise the ball drop (less variance for the ball to move between hand and foot) and more power through the kick as the foot hits the ball at a lower point. There is a technique to it which can only improve through repetition, watching the way Gawn and Petracca kick their set shots is mind boggling for professional athletes. The other thing I've noticed as a novice/amatuer is you get better accuracy when kicking to a target rather than kicking through a target - so it's easier to aim a kick at the goal umpire (who stands in the centre of the goals) rather than to try and work the ball through the goals. Petracca is an excellent field kick (look at his pass to Kossie in the first quarter against Freo as an example) but he's in his own head with the goalkicking because he neglects his natural kicking motion. They need to relax and focus on repeating a good technique but it can only be improved with practice!!!!

We must win both to finish top 4. I think we will.

No point if he can't kick goals. It's no good taking marks if you can't convert.