binman

I disagree on both these points A F. Faded in the second half, but I thought he was our best defender in the first half. And i don't recall being out of position or undermining our defensive structure (certainly not repeatedly) being an issue at all. From a structural perspective we missed May, but Smith wasn't playing his role really. No one was. So that no doubt created some structural challenges for the defence. We will need to replace Hunt's overlap run and carry and i I think they took the opportunity to give Smith a run with view to assessing if he might be a good replacement for Hunt. And he played accordingly, meaning he was zoning off, providing a link option for handballs, provising some run and carry overlap, using his pace to impact marking contests and getting up the ground. For me Smith is chance of coming into the side at the expense of Hibberd. Hibbo is the incumbent and deservedly so. And in all likelihood keeps Smith out. But he is slower than Smith and Smith can impact aerial contests better, so Smith is definitely in the frame for a finals gig. It might end up being be horses for courses a bit. Hibbo's best games this year have been going one one one with gun strong mid sized forwards - like Papley and Martin. Hibbo will get selected this week and likely go to Dangerfield when he goes forward. Looking at the other top 5 teams, Port has Robbie Gray we would need to Hibbo to lock down, but the dogs and lions don't really have an equivalent player. So maybe Smith comes in if we play one of those two teams.

Its funny you should post that DL. As a glass half full sort, i was thinking that no pre finals bye would actually work in our favour given our fitness, but in particular how healthy our loss is (touch wood). Not sure about the Power, but the dogs and Cats are limping along a bit and would love that extra week to get prepared for the qualifying finals. I've never liked the pre finals bye, not that has been an issue for us! It is important to remember why it was brought in - which was primarily to stop teams sending out a b team in the last round in dead rubbers to keep players fresh for the finals. The trigger was freo under lyon dong juts that against the hawks down in tassie. It was stupid knee jerk decision In the years since there has been some revisionism and it is often said the benefit of it is that teams have their best shot of having their best team on the park in the first week of finals. And by doing so creating a more level playing field. But that is actually the key reason i don't like it. Teams who have prepared well, are fit and are in ok shape injury wise (through luck and/or good management) are disadvantaged. And teams that win the qualifying final then have two week break before the prelim. So lets say the team that finishes top, has an easy win again the team that finished 4th. And lest say they had dead rubber in round 23. Come the prelim they might have only played one tough game in 5 weeks - two if the qualifying final is tough. The stat swamp highlights seem to support the contention the pre finals bye disadvantages the top 4 teams

Smith - didn't surprise binman

Fair points. It was more about tbe form we were in come finals. We were red hot. And there was no standout team that year. We smashed Sydney and the roos in the finals And weren't we 40 odd points up at half time in the crows game? And they went in to win the flag. Have I got the year right?

That was the year we should have won the flag. And I always thought if jarman had not refused to come to us in 1988, and instead sit out the season so he could get to the hawks in 89, we might have had a shot such was ability.

Not now. Jixed them

Could not believe the tigers were favourite with bookies for this game. So I backed them to win ay 2.20. And to win by more than 39 at 14

Can't get much more west than that!

Smith will make it.

If only he had hadn't abandoned his art....

Likable bloke. Assuming you like stoners. He is hilarious o Gus and Gawny. And his post match interview with Eddie and co after the eagles game was equally hilarious. I was thinking that he could well be the long lost son of the Jeff 'the dude' Lebowski

The covid related resource drain on state police forces - time and money - in the last 18 months must be insane. Good time to be a crim. Though perhaps not of the organised variety given the anon sting and lack of international travel disrupting supply chains

Matched only by a thread about the permutations and predictions of how we can sneak into the 8.

Agree. Surely the ADF could play a role in that space.

Was thinking exactly the same thing. Trolling gold. All the classic tropes. Even the Nazis get a run. It is actually quite heart-warming to see posters try and help others learn how to handle trolls properly by providing so many opportunities to practice doing so. Meta.

Maybe. But perhaps the reason they took him to Perth was they wanted the squad of players (ie the best 22 plus the 4 players the want as cover key outs) to have the opportunity to train as group, away from prying eyes and practice some new set ups and set plays. The week would also have given them lots of time to meet collectively, in groups with lines coaches and individual to discuss tactics, review video edits, scout opponents etc etc. And of course spend time together as a squad to build chemistry as we make our push towards the summit (sorry, couldn't resist the cliche). Tmac is key member of the team and they would have been keen to have him there. And really what risk did they take? Yes its long time to be sitting in plane, but in reality it is unlikely to have done him any harm. We can cover his loss against the Crows and he two weeks to get right now for the Cats game, having spent spent a week in sunny Perth (up till game day) staying in a five star hotel and resort.

My favourite us news site. Their podcasts are terrific

That's because he played a lock down third tall role. Replaced omac if memory serves Again, that is not the position he has played in the vfl. At least, not in the four games I have watched. He has played the same role as Hunt and rivers in those games.

I'm pretty sure he didn't play on buzza. Perhaps found himself marking him one or two times, but he definitely played the running half back role. Had 19 disposals and seven marks. And was close to best on ground.

Goody wants pace in the team and I think Hibberd is too slow these days Dazzler to play the role Hunt plays. Smith hasn't been playing the third tall. He has been playing the run and carry role at Casey in the games i have seen (which admittedly is only about 4 or 5). Gets high up the ground and gets meters gained. I'd be interested in the views of @KC from Casey about the role Smith has played and how he as gone this year.

I reckon there is a very good chance Smith comes in. They have had the luxury of playing players at Casey (when they get to play that is) in set roles that mirror roles played in the seniors. For example, Daw plays the Max role. In the last couple of VFL games Weed played took the TMac role (albeit with some ruck duties thrown in). Bowser played the Salem role. White the Brown/Weed role. Etc etc. And, all season Smith has been playing the Hunt and Rivers role providing run and carry off half back. It is a really good role for him because it doesn't expose his one one one defensive weakness too much, he has got some serious toe, is super fit, super competitive and tackles for keeps. As bonus his leap and athleticism means he can impact aerial contests and help stop opposition forwards taking marks inside 50. And Goody rates him (as do i, for what its worth). He was fantastic against Werribee - and they didn't take him for Perth for [censored] and giggles So given he has been training and playing Hunts role - and we need someone to cover that role for 4 weeks - he seems the logical inclusion. By the same logic weed comes in for Tmac (one assumes they will want to keep their there tall structure ahead of the finals). And i agree that Captain jack sparrow is the likely out.

A third reason might be better hub/quarantine facilities in Perth

Short honeymoon phase?

He was our for one week just prior to that photo. Landed awkwardly. Now 4-5.

Good thing we are an 8 goal better side.