John Crow Batty

Great ball winning players always benefit from the unwritten and unspoken "involuntary retaliation" defence in scraps with close checkers. He was against Liam Picken who is quite a mongrel. Remember his crude stuff against Nat Jones. Ablett will get off.

We are certainly a better chance since we are playing at a neutral ground. It remains to be seen if the bye is to our advantage or not. In the past it has worked against us. They may fall for the same trap that others have in not paying us enough respect and they are also coming off a very tough game. I have no doubt that Roos has a winnable plan but it remains to be seen if we are switched on enough to pull it off and the stars align our way. Our two way running against the tigers was the best I have seen in my memory. Needs to be repeated. If we can get some early scoring pressure we are a big chance to keep our noses in front. Then we have to exploit their high risk attack from defence game and get maximum return from turnovers.

I agree, But we did give the Hawks a thorough working over that they were crippled and were never in the game against Carlton. One of the most lacklustre GF's I could remember aside from our last two pathetic efforts for the flag. It irks me that we were good for Carlton.

YES!

In the final round we were 24 points down against the doggies at the Western Oval mid way in the third quarter and the cats were looking like they were going to win. It was almost like a miracle at the finish.

The AFL could use the salary cap angle for legal fees to deter other legalistic attempts that Essendon may be thinking to use. Legal fees for 20 plus players will be in the millions.

My thoughts are very similar to yours but after all the turbulence Scully caused here I'll stay out of this for at least this season. We are progressing well without a player yet to play a game. If he goes we are in a position to get a good deal. Back to the topic, Roos extension of tenure is still too far away a prospect to get prematurely over heated with but I'm salivating at the thought where we might be the end of this season and next season under his leadership with or without certain high profile doubtful's. Have not been so optimistic with our prospects for over a decade.

Peter Moore was known to have a puff during the breaks.

Roos did his best to kill this line of questioning at the post match interview last week. I tend to think he wont commit until he is sure he has long term buy in from the players and that we are a realistic top 4 prospect come third year. Does not look like the type to hang around just for the money. He wants premierships. He must be very encouraged by the amount of progress his team has made so far though.

They have to keep sabre rattling whilst they try to keep dreaming up an escape or praying for miracles.

I think it is a genuine period piece. There is no proof it was worn in the 1900 GF but in those days it was unlikely a player would have owned more than one guernsey and it would have lasted a long time. I have a framed pub mirror with a photo of the 1900 team and the guernsey looks pretty convincing. I suspect the owners are being greedy or they may have withdrawn because they got a better private offer after all the publicity as sometimes happens. No sellers or buyers commission also.

I was quite impressed with his efforts. There were a couple of moments in the middle of the game where he was the old JW we love to hate but when the game was there to be won he was the JW we always hoped for.

Yep, nothing changes. Over rated, over payed, over hyped and over there.

Reported today that NikNat has signed for 5 years for $4.000.000 to stay at WC. Obviously the criticism hasn't hurt.

Is he one of the Barrett's of Wimpole St?

I think the match review panel may have had that Adelaide player in the back of their minds who suffered broken ribs from a raking spoil from Dawes when making their decision. Dawes is like a grizzly bear swatting bees that get in the way of the honey.

I wouldn't say that. Over enthusiastic and clumsy perhaps yes. But not selfish. Just trying to do the hard man stuff and working over their big man defenders.

I would like to see more polish coming out of defence in particular from point kick outs. This is offset partially by our defensive pressure cramping their offensive play forcing rushed shots. 8 behinds and 3 goals were scored by Richmond due to our inability to safely clear after a point was scored.

My thinking too is that he is a Hawthorn player and speaking of around the time Peter Schwab was sacked in the later part of the 2004 season. Interesting this mystery footballer is talking of the misery in past tense in contrast to regular winning now. Worth also remembering that some eyebrows were raised at their heavy culling of senior players the following season.

Maybe the umpires need grippy gloves especially with the damp yellow ball to get extra purchase on their throw?

I have been getting same including triple posting on my ipad and computer. I find at times it has been taking a long time for save to be confirmed and at least for myself, touching save more than once because nothing seems to be happening. Then all the extra posts appear when I refresh the page. Only happened in the past week or so.

Who?

Yes, most agree that Essendon should be severly punished but it would be a disaster for the game and AFL if they were forced to fold or be forever condemned to mediocrity. They are a well decorated founding club and an integral part of the fabric of the competition. There needs to be a mechanism in place to allow them the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves yet still be rightfully punished. Though only they got caught, only a fool would believe that similar jiggery pokey has not occured at other clubs who I might say are very lucky to remain undetected. Let Essendon be an example that this crap must stop forever.

It may be the case that Essendon forfeit the rest of the season, or else field a rump side that gets thrashed by 30 goals a game as seen so often in minor competions.

They scored far too easily. Kicking some out of their arse too. Then we missed crtical chances. Despite what others may say. we did miss Terlich once he went off.