DeeSpencer

We’ve set up our entire game around our stars playing well and when they’re either injured or down on form our lesser likes struggle. Same as last year.

hes not much taller standing up, was a lazy option but he had little else

Shipping a stack of goals to this big Gumby and his inbred family celebrating is not fun

Long to Spargo a shocking option from the kid but Tommy Mc is not drawing the ball because he can’t make position

Had enough of Grundy. What’s he doing?

Tom McDonald is so busted

Setterfield did a number on him at Carlton last year too I think.

Grundy not on the line, he really runs his own race

Goodwin make the change already. Sub the big dud off

At least Bayley gave his first handball inside 50 of all time

Fritsch such a lazy footballer, he really thought he could give his opponent space and run him down. Hasn’t laid a tackle like that is his life

Hollywood stuff after last week, no midfield fresh legs on the short break, and a couple of donkeys in the side. Not looking promising

Umm the crowds at the non SA games are in many ways the entire point of the round. But they hardly have to be sellouts. Just enough to total a solid influx of tourists. They’ve structured the round to put 3 low drawing games at small venues to hide the smaller attendances. Then the double headers, which makes Richmond Sydney the only standalone big venue game of the neutrals. It’s all about attracting 30-50k tourists who will then spend the 10M or whatever they’ve paid out back in to the economy. If it wer3 9 games with completely neutral sides that would only have to be 4K a game. I bet when they try this next year or the year after in Sydney they’ll have someone out in Homebush playing in front of 2000 odd people but the round in total will get 40-50k tourists. Especially when it’s in somewhere attractive to visit. Im still dead against it but the numbers will add up to make it worthwhile for the governments. Or at least worthwhile enough that they can claim it is whilst they’re enjoying their free meal and game of footy with Gil’s replacement.

I agree. Although I think fair restrictions on gambling advertising (keep away from kids, keep to a limit per ad break, minimise cross promotions) hardly means slashing earnings that drastically. I also think players could be given a guaranteed 10 week block off per year, with a maximum of 25 hours work in preseason and in season closer to 30 per week. That time can be dedicated to studying or work experience for life after footy. There’s no reason why footy has to be some mammoth earner. It should be a head start not set for life. I don’t think making footy less commercial means fans pay more. I actually think it would be the opposite. Take the commercial focus away from the game and clubs become clubs again. Members and attendance should be the main drivers of revenue not tv money. If fans go back to being the backbone of the game they’ll get treated as such and the average punter will get a return for their ticket, and those who pay more will be very appreciated.

I guess you’ll be sitting in the Port cheersquad end tho?

No, classic afl late change, we won the toss

Rebranded OP

The US sports farm out development to Colleges and high schools, as well as expensive private clubs which in certain sports drastically hampers then playing pool. I'm not sure why we'd care what they're doing in that failure of a country anyway. Yes, they technically cut down from 3 to 2 (2 to 1 official) practice games but most teams had full scale intraclubs and we've been training at full contact since November. Practice matches and trainings allow for underdone guys to be managed, there's no such allowance in games. Several clubs - St Kilda, WC, Richmond, Ess - are already loaded with ten or more injuries. The Eagles side we played on Sunday was an absolute mess in round 4, good luck to them trying to get through 19 more weeks.

Congrats for drinking all the AFL Kool Aid. The AFL was in a strong financial position as any business that’s been running largely unchallenged for 150 years should be. Having enough cash to weather a sudden disruption should be the bare minimum for acceptable governance. Especially when it’s come because the V/AFL were gifted Waverley then sold it to get in on Docklands at a bargain price. Player wages are massive. Whilst they deserve long term medical care and support the average player is now pushing 400k and draftees and getting well in to 6 figures before they play a game. The soft cap budget was 9.7M before covid. It was slashed to 6.7M but that’s still a very healthy number, and they’ve added 750k back in and made certain welfare costs exempt. Thankfully there is a cap tho, next thing they need is a cap on the AFL and clubs executives because especially at the AFL things are out of control. That’s where the extra money goes to. The AFL find ways to sell more of the games soul and budget the profits to themselves. 7:50 Fridays, 3:20 Sundays, 4:40 Sundays in the middle of winter that they call twilight, Thursday night footy, a brief flirtation with Monday night footy. They’ve finally run out of time zones so now they’re moving games! The continued growth of the broadcast rights should easily cover growth in player wages, growth in the footy cap and plenty of cash distributions to clubs. An extra round is just greed. Why the players signed off on it is beyond me.

If Hibbo is out, Brown isn’t ready and we want to stick to our 3 tall forward, 3 tall-ish backs structure then we have 2 choices. 1. Turner in. He was good at Casey, especially early. But it was his first game back from a few weeks off. 2. Schache in, with Petty back. I think he would’ve played ahead of JvR if not for injury. He’s certainly fit and has nice skills, plus height to ruck. Obviously the question marks are still there over his attack at the contest.

You said Hibbo out, Laurie in, with Rivers back to defence. Rivers was already in the backline for the majority of the game. Hibbo needs to be replaced with a 7th defender be it Petty or someone from outside the team. I’m intrigued by Laurie, wouldn’t mind seeing him as the sub again soon. But I’d only pick him straight in to the 22 if Fritsch or the 4 small forwards are out. I don’t think he’s ready for AFL midfield time. Even with Pickett and ANB spending more time in the middle a 5th small forward would be a lot.

His kicking has been ok and handballing generally sharp, but he provides very little run and carry. Run opens up angles that then creates quick ball movement. The bigger issue with him playing half back is his lazy positioning and kick chasing. He lets his man be the outlet all the time and will lose track of an opponent. If the pressure is good then he can get intercepts, but fast pace teams will just take the leg rope he gives opponents and use it. Brisbane’s use of Zorko on him was a massacre. Salem at full fitness has the pace and smarts to know when to push up to cut off a kick rather than constantly be dropping back. Bowey, McVee, Rivers all have similar natural flanker attributes, they can run the lines and can zone off and close on an opponent. If we’re ever lucky enough to be fully healthy I expect Gus to be competing for a wing/mid role or even to be an excellent sub.

The people getting a free weekend interstate in posh hotels and tickets to watch a stack of games with corporate hospitality will like it, who knew?! I reckon it’s probably a good deal for the governments too, even if it’s a huge price. If they get 50k tourists dropping a a grand each that easily covers the outlay. The 23rd game stops teams losing a home game. I just can’t believe they’ve got the plays on board for such a low fee IIRC. I’d be asking for a lot if I was a player.

Rivers can’t go back to the position he played most of the game in. He attended 3 centre bounces. Hibbo has to be replaced by a defender, be it Petty or otherwise - Turner a decent chance. Also can’t see Laurie jumping JJ in to the starting 22, would be sub at best.

There is very clearly ball infront of the post. Whether than means the ball is 100% not over the line we won’t ever know. But this is how they judge it and it’s consistent.