Webber

Seems unequivocal, but there’s also this. ‘Blocking’ means contact obstruction, no? 17.5 MARKING CONTESTS 17.5.1 Spirit and Intention The Player whose sole objective is to contest or spoil a Mark shall be permitted to do so. 17.5.2 Free Kicks - Marking Contests A field Umpire shall award a Free Kick in a Marking contest against a Player where the Player: (a) pushes or bumps an opposition Player in the back, unless such contact is incidental to the Marking contest and the Player is legitimately Marking, attempting to Mark or spoil the football; (b) holds or blocks an opposition Player; (c) unduly pushes or bumps an opposition Player; (d) deliberately interferes with the arms of an opposition Player; (e) makes Prohibited Contact with an opposition Player; or (f) engages in Rough Conduct against an opposition Player.

I’m (almost) certain the shepherding/blocking/interference rule only actually becomes a ‘law’ if there’s physical contact, but would have to scour the fine print. Instinct and sense also suggests that if a player is going for the ball, in this case a mark, anybody in his way who isn’t going for the ball can do whatever they want as long as they don’t physically obstruct, and by that I mean contact. Go for the ball, and if the ump’s paying attention, you’ll get a free kick if you’re obstructed by contact. Think about a scenario where 3 defenders stand in an arc 3 metres in front of a leading player, thus ‘obstructing’ that leading player’s run forward. Until you make contact, it’s just occupying space. As a physiotherapist, I’m not sure I’d care about any player applying ‘implied’ pressure or presence, this guarding or occupying space (as above), if it wasn’t contact. The game is nothing if not about space, possession and evasion. In respect to injuries, contact is wholly different. Interesting topic I reckon.

Yes. Dancing around a player, waving your arms, shouting “BOO!”, making faces, intimating contact, all allowed if you don’t physically contact them. The umpire simply jumped the gun, assuming contact had or would have been made. It was a mistake, but it’s easy to see why he was anticipating contact.

This too I prefer.

Two things. If it was a meniscus injury, I’m confident that would have used the term. The other being that you don’t ‘chip’ a meniscus.

I’m assuming, and pretty confidently that they’re talking about the ‘articular cartilage’ rather than his meniscus, which is commonly termed ‘the cartilage’. Confusing, I know. The articular cartilage is the super-smooth surfacing we all have on the end of our bones to act as a joint surface. This can be subject to cracks, fissures, softening, chips, and ultimately, degradation over time that ends in bone exposure and likely joint replacement to resurface those bones (with titanium and nylon). It sounds like Christian Salem has had a bit of that artic. cartilage ‘chipped off’. What they’ll invariably do is surgically (keyhole) smooth the edges, and either ‘puncture’ the bone beneath to create a scar tissue ‘surfacing plug’, or lay down a matrix of organic material in the defect to have it function as original surface. Both take time to become weight-bearing and solid to increased stressors. I’d be surprised if he’s back within 8-10 weeks. (All the above based on the opening assumption).

Yep. Muscle ‘fibre-typing’ is unique to us all, in respect to relative proportion of slow-twitch and fast-twitch (broadly aligned with endurance and power respectively….Gary Ablett senior was high % fast-twitch, our own Robbie Flower slow twitch). JJ will never be a muscly unit, but probably somewhere in the middle, in the AFL physique Goldilocks zone. I suspect a couple more years (50-80 game region) and nobody will be talking about his lack of strength, or physicality. He’s a hard nut, and smart, as you say. A nuts and bolts natural footballer for mine. On Salem’s knee, I’m interested to hear the outcome. The ‘incident’ seemed pretty innocuous, and his knee was already strapped to protect the medial ligament (it doesn’t really, but ‘feels good’). I couldn’t see a significant rotational component, or hyperextension, or even a lateral force (knee pushed inward). His knee looked very ‘un-swollen’ on the bench, which is always a good sign. I’d be very surprised if it’s his ACL (but never shocked), but unsurprised if it’s an aggravation of a niggly MCL (medial ligament) or a medial meniscal tear (relates to the MCL). Fingers crossed.

Except that Danny I can feel sorry for….

Kinda.

It’s not a tear that needs to heal. The tear actually ‘releases’ the painful area of the plantar fascia (big sheet of connective tissue on the sole of the foot) and given it settles over a few days, away you go. As has been mentioned, it’s a good thing.

Underselling him I reckon, CBF. Next to May, he was clearly our best defender. Just made himself a certainty for next week, and if he stays fit, likely the season.

This is where it really became a sh*tshow! In essence he’s saying that Tom Morris barracking for MFC means he’s conspiring to damage the Bulldogs. This is frankly first order ‘sore loser’ stuff, and a shameful embarrassment to the club and his team. If Bevo’s not well, and it’s perilously close to appearing that way, then he genuinely needs help. Otherwise this is a disgraceful performance from someone whose job requires much higher standards. I abhore gutter journalism. Tom Morris was just doing his job.

That’s the plan.

Latest…..just uniforms and “Easter Eggs” to come. Unlike the Dees, not going to be ready for around 1, but not far away.

Next to Richard Hadlee, my favourite bowler to watch, ever. Riveting. For all the tabloid waffle, seemed to live like he really loved life, and had a reputation for being the most generous competitor on the playing field. RIP…

The sad truth, binman, is that ‘personal experience’, which is the very definition of ‘anecdote’, will always defeat science in the minds of some, albeit as you say, a gratefully lower number in Australia than US. Science is theory and observation made specific, analytical, reproducible practice. For those unfamiliar with its methods, that’s an unknown, elusive thing, thus mysterious, untrustworthy. “What they’re telling me can’t be true, because my mates and their mates and family have had ‘these’ experiences” will always defy the rigour and analysis than some don’t/can’t/don’t want to try to understand. I take heart in the fact that Australia, objectively more than any other country (Vax rates) rejects this approach.

Artistic licence definitely allows me to glorify somewhat. 😉. Interestingly, BBB has exceptional muscle definition, perhaps more than any player at the club. Not biggest, but most delineated. Naturally low subdermal fat. He’s a physio student’s ‘surface anatomy’ dream, basically. You’ll also note, no disrespect to Clarry’s attributes, that I’ve made him a better looking rooster than nature has otherwise determined. Still him, but dare I say more handsome.

Asymptomatic Covid population (much more likely in the Vaccinated) are less likely to transmit the virus. Herewith Lancet journal article detailing such… https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(21)00059-4/fulltext The ‘vaccinated’ are thus less likely to spread the virus. Science.

Yep. First time I ever went, on a visit home from the UK, I was flabbergasted that you couldn’t see all of the ground in a stadium supposedly dedicated to Australian Footy. Wouldn’t that be the absolute first priority? Did some architect just say “that’s alright, they can always just watch the big screen”.? It’s a heartless, claustrophobic wind-tunnel with rubbish turf.

Looking good for getting them finished by then dpositive.

Latest…..heads, arms, and some unfamiliar item in the top left corner

The pathological hatred MM has for the Dees verges on laughable. I suspect if you asked him, he’d have some explanation for how we stole the Premiership last year, didn’t really deserve it, won’t be much chop this year….blah blah blah. To say he lacks credible objectivity is voicing the bleeding obvious.

My testament to Tayla….

18 contested marks in the competition this year. Next best = 9. She’s a star, and proof (as if it was needed) that a happy footballer is a better footballer.

And yet…..still just ice.