DeeSpencer

They paid to dump Brodie, were happy to dump Wright who was battling away in the reserves and they had to clear Scrimshaw who I don't think ever wanted to be there but signed a big contract to stay purely to lock in a nice start to his earnings. Brodie and Wright look great now but they just weren't performing at the Suns, I honestly wouldn't have predicted their improvement at new clubs. They've now good a solid core of senior players and a really good chance of keeping King, Lukosius, Rowell, Anderson, Hollands, Powell, Ballard, Ainsworth long term. Rankine is a blow, but I think it says less about GC and more about the Crows desperation and ability (mostly through lack of their own talent) to go after a big recruit. Rankine joining is more akin to Dawson joining the Crows in a very similar move than it is the usual GC exodus. Really the biggest issue the Suns had was paying massive overs to keep and to recruit players. They now have enough senior bodies that they can finally stop handing out crazy contracts to fringe mature players to come join them. That was step 1. Step 2 was to stop being so desperate in signing their own players on mega deals. Losing Rankine hurts but he's not a bad case study for the rest of the GC list. If they can wear losing Rankine they might stop signing the next Darcy McPherson to crazy money.

Petty unlucky, but McCartin and De Koning were the right choices for the main key defenders and the other backs who got picked ahead of him in Daicos, Coleman, Blakey, Clark, Young and Quaynor are all very good players. Not sure who I’d leave out for Petty of that group. It’s already 1 too many defenders to begin with. I’d take out Clark or Young and still be at the standard 7 defenders. This team doesn’t have 3rd talls at either end or really a true number 1 ruck, which shows you how rare good talls under 22 are to begin with.

Interestingly GWS played St Kilda, Geelong, Brisbane and Freo in those 4 Manuka games and got smoked in all of them. They used to win a lot there. The Showgrounds games were against GC, Carl, WCE, Dogs, Hawks and Bombers. Not a great commercial fixture there with no Coll or Rich and Ess only late in the year with both teams done. Its also a little misleading as they played their one big home game of the year at Stadium Aus v Sydney in round 1. The argument that they should move home games against big Victorian clubs to the SCG to capitalise on travelling fans is a tricky one. It would help the crowds, but suddenly they are Sydney 2.0 and not GWS. And they’d have 3 home games and potentially only play a minority of home games at their home!

I’d have Wilkie in a back pocket, such a great shut down defender. And I’d have Sicily over Taylor, just does so much more. Stewart CHB, Maynard back flank. Rioli’s been great but only need 1 rebounding defender

Playing half a season of ordinary football probably played a role too

He’s been a bit off his best but at the same time since he came back from his break he’s easily beaten Daniher twice and taken care of Walker, McKay, Hawkins and Naughton. Unless I’ve forgotten someone the only key forward who’s really got away on him was Peter Wright early in the year

Dogs game - 6 day break, Alice springs Pies game - post Perth in the wet and blowing chances in the first half Carlton game - mental fatigue and game plan. Some of our prime movers aren’t as healthy as they were last year. They get the week to freshen up now. Burgo effect was mostly mental IMO. Time for Griffo mode

Langdon played 100% wing, I don’t think he’s ever played anywhere else for us. I didn’t see Harmes play anywhere but wing. He didn’t attend a centre bounce and I didn’t see him start forward at any time. We aren’t going to bring JJ in to play 21% game time on a wing. He’d have to split the wing with Harmes and they would both have to play significant time forward to make that happen and we don’t want that. We want a small forward who makes excellent position, hits targets inside 50 and always gets in the right defensive positions. Brisbanes game plan relies upon Rich and Kiddy Coleman bouncing from half back and hitting up running mids - Clugg, Bailey, Neale etc who then get it in quick to dangerous forwards. Spargo did his job stopping those quick bounces from half back. He plays in the hardest and least rewarding spot on the ground and that has to be accounted for when measuring his output.

Any evidence that Spargo played more than about 5 minutes on the wing? Langdon played 100%. Harmes 79%. At most Spargo played 21% but I’m pretty sure Nibbler had a little go there and generally Brayshaw would cover that time. Spargo having one stint on the wing is not reason enough to turn a backman (Hunt, Salem or Bowey) in to a wing or a forward. That would be a huge gamble.

Merrett seemed genuinely devastated the other night that he waited to commit to the club when they turned the corner and then they’ve gone and collapsed. Perkins, Cox, Jones and Draper can all play. Ridley’s excellent. Nic Martin’s a great find. Otherwise it’s a lot of role players and not too many disgruntled established players. They lost them when Saad, Daniher and Fantasia left Langford might leave, too expensive as a role player I’d imagine. Tom Cutler’s one of those guys who has all the skills but can’t hold a spot.

They made a mess of his end but Rutten coached the 2020 year as well and they were awful then. 2021 was all smoke and mirrors. 2022 obviously a mess. They could’ve backed him but they need wholesale change regardless. And for those who bemoan our pressure forwards and defensive mids getting a game have a look at how a team without any in Essendon defend. That’s their glaring list hole and they pay for it game after game. Rutten, Caracalla, Gia all highly rated at various times. All potentially good fits at the Dees to work on skills and offensive game.

Another coaches award and B+F and never getting near the recognition he deserves in the Brownlow would seem more on brand for Clarry. In all honesty something is badly wrong if he’s not well ahead by round 16, but he’s also been understandably off his game since Selwood hacked his thumb in half. I’m just glad he was back to something like his best against the Lions

The tackle has to be completed legally before a htb gets paid, even if it’s paid first the dangerous tackle then overrules it. Very well could be wrong but I thought the second free was high contact on a different player not dangerous tackle, in which case the first free probably stands

The only person in the crowd who might’ve been unfairly outed was the girl with Adam Goodes. She probably should’ve known better anyway, but once it was a known to be a kid everyone backed off the individual. If Petty and the club choose to deal with this privately then we have to respect that. The list of topics that you can’t go near in the crowd is really straightforward and everyone knows it. Don’t be racist, sexist, homophobic, ableist or attack peoples families covers most of it.

Not convinced there was anyone really staking a claim from the Casey side today. JJ’s the only one who’s been a first choice part of the side and he played a very JJ game. The sub role and depth spots are up for grabs I guess

I don’t love the way he plays but they really missed Jimmy Munro today. 6 day break after a slog in the wet probably a factor too. The time to win the game was the back half of the second when they had the scoring end and momentum and they gave it all back

Brown takes a clear man in front mark. Commentator: ‘good decision’ Now for 77 more mentions of how many minutes Brisbane have been ahead for

Bedford with a blistering run, nearly falls over and blazes away with team mates wide open. Tomlinson struggling to run in to the wind and the backline concede an easy goal. Sums this one up

Casey have set themselves a fair challenge but do seem to have the wind in the last. If they crack in and win some clearances and keep it simple going forward they’ll be a chance. The ball movement has been a disaster all game with forwards looking for easy kicks and backs/mids messing around with it

Would like to see Weed as the back up ruck in the second half and keep JVR forward. Casey’s midfield need to lift if the steak is going to stay alive

That was a beautiful mark given the conditions

Kenty’s going to kick the goal that secures 2nd spot for us. I can see it

6 Oliver 5 Jackson 4 Petracca 3 Rivers 2 Lever 1 Pickett

Salo for Bowey assuming Salo’s healthy and has been producing kms at training prior to this soreness. No way am I rushing McDonald back after 3/4’s of a game. I think there’s a bit of a different look we can go with in the midfield and half forward. Gus on the wing a little more, Harmes on ball and forward, Tracc on ball more. But some of that will depend on opponents and the venue.

There’s no way it’s going away, also no way the afl wouldn’t get involved. But if it can be handled quickly and without fuss it might benefit us. It’s absolutely awful that Petty has to deal with this when our players should be absolutely buzzing for the next few days