Webber

There’s no way of saying this without sounding like an absolute smart****, but I don’t care. I said in 2019 that Harry Petty would be our next best KPF. Never wavered (just kept quieter when the selectors looked like they might lose their nerve, so as not to be a repetitive bore), and today is why. In that assessment, I said his move forward from CHB would be like that of David Neitz. Too good a contested grab, too good at reading the play and too much a competitive beast who feeds on small wins to leave down back. And kicks STRAIGHT. No question he’s been great in the backline, but the boy was always gonna be a forward. Well done Petts, (I told you so, hehehe).

No we shouldn’t, if defence counts for anything.

All about starving supply, but they’re attacking much more than us, just have wasted shots.

At the game, and the lack of (defensive) pressure in the forward 50 is staggering! Ugly signs, and we’re going to get run over if we don’t improve our contest and pressure, Jack Viney excused, and assuming Crows have the legs. Can’t exit defensive with any conviction, can’t keep it in our own. Awful football, except for that bright 10 minutes.

Conspiratorial fugazi. It’s not an exact science, however much we wish otherwise.

You just can’t speed the tendon recovery, so if we accept that it IS tendon, the progression to sprint/acceleration will speed over the next month. I certainly wouldn’t worry about his skills, and match fitness for players such as Clarry is in the head as much as legs. He’ll be like a caged lion come his return. His aerobic fitness won’t be a problem, as he’d be doing lots of other stuff - bike, pool, circuit.

I reckon it’s panning out to be precisely a tendon injury timeline. He’ll be back, and knowing Clarry’s intent (vomiting with exhaustion in his first ever practice match), he won’t play like he’s underdone.

As best I can glean, they’ve determined he’s got a tear at the Musculo-tendinous junction, or M-T junction (where the ‘white’ tissue meets the ‘red’) of 2 (of his 3) hamstrings. These are more complicated than a simple mid-belly tear (3 week rule) and not as bad as a tear in the tendon pure (3 month +). Hence the time taken. Why they couldn’t determine this at first diagnosis, who knows (imaging isn’t perfect by any means), but it just means a longer timeframe, and longer still the more ‘tendon’ than ‘muscle’. This far into his rehab though, it’s now all about his symptom reportage, whether he can repeat sprint, accelerate, jump and land without pain, so we’ll just have to wait. Cherry ripe for finals I’m thinking.

Wow! So much happens when you go on hols* for 4 weeks (to central France, 1 bar 3G, which offers precisely NO contact with the world, in mostly a great way)! Just watched the replay (arrived home at 3/4 time, almost didn’t look at final score before nigh nighs), and what an enormous last quarter. Maxy at his best, Jack Viney too, and Trac obviously. What struck me too though was the massive quarter of Trent Rivers. Jakey we all know has the talent, and when he’s on, he’s a game changer. *WTF with Clarry’s M-T junction tear?!!!! and woe is me about Fritta’s foot fracture.

The ‘King’ of the ‘goldfish’ commentators only ….. no awareness of the past, absolutely zero concern for the bigger picture within a season. Whoever is in form and winning during his astonishingly limited 5 minute zone of reflection is the obvious team to beat/likely premier. Am stunned that he’s presented as a serious commentator.

Heard from a client yesterday (his son was playing) that the Paris Cockatoos won the French Australian Football League premiership. 20th licence? Would make for a nice away game trip.

If you count the automatic downloads and ANY amount of listening time, then the live listeners (regardless of time spent or double-dipping afterwards), there is a number?

Not a question, more a prediction. I reckon this podcast will be the most listened to you’ve yet done. And deserved. Actually, turns out I do have a question. Can you determine the download/streaming numbers of individual podcasts?

Yep, sub-standard umpiring. AGAIN. To that point, there were 2 other shocking non-calls that would have been easy shots on goal for us. End of the 2nd, Murphy tackled running away from goal, ran 5+ metres in the tackle, both arms free, dropped the ball, and the call …. ball up. Latter half of 3rd, Markov tackled, only 1 arm pinned, was spun TWICE!!! fully around, dropped to the ground…..ball up. Unfortunately, the reason they weren’t called was from outright fear of the Collingwood crowd reprisal. Call it the flipside of ‘noise of affirmation’. If umpires were full time, they might be able to coach this fear avoidance out of them. (I’m wild with frustration just thinking about them now).

You and me both. Possibly with an ABC radio commentary option.

Yep, couldn’t agree more. Whatever formula they’ve struck for Jack’s running load and having him off legs is working a treat for his feet. He’s playing 4 quarters like never before, and (at the risk of mozzing him) is injury free. You’ve mentioned Bin on the pod that his CB attendance and percentage game time have been tweaked downward too. Will be good to get Clarry back to ease the contest load again obviously. As to his kicking, I’m still getting used to him now being top 10% reliable by foot on our list, and using his right foot beautifully when needed too. It’s so rare to see a player at his age improve in basic skills, which can only be a testament to his dedication and work effort. When Goody talks about him, you can just hear the admiration and satisfaction. Imagine also the effect of his ethos on the youngers around him - Sparrow, Woewodin, Jordon.

Problem with that theory is they would’ve been using hand-grip all year. On a personal note, I used ‘grippo’, as a marking and set-shot kicking forward. Never felt it affected my ball drop.

Viney’s blind turn away from the tackle and pinpoint delivery to JVR was just outrageous, cos he just doesn’t do that stuff, Robbie Flower did that stuff, NOT Jack Viney. Almost wet myself (having almost done the same after the Lachie Hunter Jonah Lomu-like run through on Hoskin-Elliot)! Having the season of his life is Jack, just stamping his already Dees diamond credentials.

The one where we have kicked 3 goals in a half, and packed our daks when a score is possible. If that doesn’t change, we’re done. Simples.

They’re more skilled and their defence is too good for our attack (such as it is). On the turnover they look incredibly dangerous, we look like we we’d be lucky to score. That’s very simply the story of that half. We’re in it, but playing as ugly and fantastically inefficient as we are (which is now in our heads), can’t see how we pinch it.

Kate Roffey on 774 just now confirmed he’s NOT playing….. infection is ‘up like a balloon’. Horses mouth.

I think he was reported for 8 different incidents. Never heard what the (theoretical) suspensions would have been, or even if they bothered. Great player otherwise, not a fan of the baldy-hiding headband though.

Saw him play his last ever game when I was a kid, and he only had one purpose for being out there - to thump as many people as he could. Most openly violent game I’ve ever seen from any player. Remember feeling embarrassed that he was playing for my team.

Missed the biggest of all, the one and only Robbie ‘Mad Dog’ Muir. Knew Dipper due to work, nice guy, always had time for and interest in the less celebrated. I’d put Chris Judd up there for his history of sniping and eye gouging. Stealth thug.

Yeah yeah yeah, we all heard it and filled the <bleep> correctly, Andy. Was the highlight of this season’s podding for me, not least because I so agreed with the sentiment…… almost lost my chewy from laughing! Keep it up boys! 🍾 stuff.