Dr. Gonzo

No-one will ever have 100% strike rate, most of his misses seem to be around key forwards (Weidemann, Hulett, hopefully not Jefferson). His strike rate would be one of the highest in the comp.

On the other hand Gawn often wins ruck duels but we fail to win the clearance. I think JVR competes well, especially in around the ground contests.

Agree with the exception he is not a poor ruckman - he actually competes well in the ruck.

Love this kid, was unlucky to get dropped after his debut, glad he's getting a run at it now

Great to see our ball movement off half back and our attack/pressure on the opposition. It was there last week but we couldn't sustain, bring that effort every week and we will win more than we lose.

Players would just sit off the pack waiting for their opponent to take possession and then pounce. It would penalise the ball players and reward the tagger/scragger type players. Holding the ball used to be fine until the AFL stuffed it up with all their BS interpretations. If you take possession and have prior opportunity to dispose before being tackled and are then tackled, you must dispose of it legally or it is a free kick. None of this "ball was knocked out in the tackle" or giving players 720/1080 degree spins to get rid of it. If you dive on the ball and are tackled it is holding the ball. If you drag it in under your opponent and tackle them it is holding the ball against you. You could maybe outlaw 3rd man in but otherwise revert it to how it was about 15-20 years ago.

The GoFundMe was a joke by the Suns social media team. The fine was a joke by the AFL/tribunal.

Taking a wild stab, assume it is related to cultural issues which it would be a breach of site rules to discuss.

Fixed your post

Apparently McLuggage and Stengle are very gettable too - oh, wait...

I agree 100% but the reason the NGAs exist in the first place is because the big clubs kicked up a stink about the northern academies (rightfully so IMO). My kids would qualify for the NGAs under current rules because my wife was born in Asia but they were born here and grew up with footy around them since birth, same for me. The whole thing is just another rort compromising the integrity of the competition. One of the key pillars of equalisation is the draft and it is severely undermined by academies and also father/son picks.

So did guys like Nick Blakey whose dad played 300+ games for North and Fitzroy. The Academies are an absolute rort.

And it further compromises the fixture and integrity of the competition. You're not allowed to criticise it though or you'll be sternly berated by Gerard Whateley.

Since the rule has come in they've been consistent that if the player taking possession is within 9m of the goal line (ie in the goal square) and there are opposition players in the vicinity then you are allowed to rush it. For some reason they've decided, without consultation or communication, to change their interpretation and now pay that as a free kick. Was that a one off? Or will they pay it consistently like that now? Or will it be ad-hoc depending on which umpire you get and which team is infringing which seems to be how most of the rules are officiated these days.

How many times does the umpire dissent rule get paid? It's a rule on the books, it happens all the time but the umpa only pull it out once in a blue moon and when they do it is at a critical moment/costs a team a goal. The administration and officiating of this sport is an absolute farce.

Part a makes b, c and d redundant. He was within 9 metres of the goal line when taking possession so not a free kick.

There was a fairly similar one at the end of Swans/Freo (I think it was) yesterday. Result? Throw in.

I've been a member since 1989 when I was 7yo, signed my kids up at birth, used to never miss a game on tv etc etc I'm seriously considering whether I bother renewing my AFL memberships next year, $1500 a year for the family for something I just don't really enjoy anymore. I still love the Demons but the league has lost me.

Maynard's was way worse https://x.com/outbreezyWC/status/1806953258788983173

You can be happy with the effort and disappointed with the result. I've felt the reverse often enough as well.

Was it negative and uninspiring in the 2nd quarter? When we were also winning contest and playing a high press zone defence?

What's up with our fitness? It seems to have deteriorated each year since 2021 to the point where now we struggle to run out games. In 2021 we used it as a weapon to run over teams in the 2nd half now we're lucky to hang on to 5-6 goal leads. It can't all be down to changed personnel.

Some of the umpiring though, sheesh! Rivers run too far? Free against for blocking when May marked on the wing (and didn't May let the ump know about it too), May mark not paid, just a few of many BS decisions. I'm not a basher of Fritsch but nate, you've gotta at least look like you're chasing your opponent, especially when the ball is on the wing! You can get away with it when you're hitting the scoreboard but when you've been quiet for a few weeks these "efforts" stick out like dogs balls l.

Can't really complain though, Lions were far worse and coughed up two dead set sitters in the final quarter as well.

Well we gave it a decent crack, ran out of legs again though. Something is seriously wrong with our fitness program we have looked gassed in final quarters all season. Cannot fault the endeavour though, happy with the way they attacked and pressured. I really like the look of Kolt and AMW was good in his debut. Viney back to his bullocking best and Kozzie was electric. I do not u derstand why Brown wasn't brought in for some fresh legs especially when we looked so cooked. Did we forget we had a sub? What's the bet he gets dropped next week.