binman

Yep, that's reasonable argument (Jackso is too expensive for what he produces week in week out). It points to the fact that whilst all clubs have a designated number one ruck few have a highly paid second ruck - Freo being one obviously (by the by i argued at the time Freo were crazy to go so hard for Jackson given their investment in Darcy). However, i'd argue that getting Jackson in is worth the riskin of putting too many eggs in the ruck basket. One, Maxy and Jacko clearly had a synergy as a ruck duo that makes them a very effective duo imo. Two, we obviously need a better back up ruck than we currently have. Three, it might actually extend Maxy's career as we would be much less reliant on him playing huge game time week in week out. And four, it would represent the perfect succession plan in terms of replacing Maxy when he retires.

Whether rucks are overrated is another discussion, but the last three premiers having below average rucks in the grand final actually show how important they are. Regardless of their level all three teams selected rucks rather than being prepared to 'break even' Take the Lions. The Lions have one of the best rucks in the AFL, crucial to their success and making 2 grand finals in a row. When the big O was injured, the lions had the option of using Daniher (a pretty handy back up in the last few seasons) in the ruck with Hipwood as back up. What did they do? Bring in Darcey Fort, the classic journeyman old school ruck who had played a grand total of 38 AFL games since his debut in 2019.

Goldstein being resurrected just proves the point about how critical rucks are in modern footy - and makes a complete nonsense of greenwaves assertion that 'Rucks are becoming less important in the modern game. Many coaches don't care too much about the ruck, they're happy to break even.' I mean, the bombers lose their number one AND back up ruck and instead of doing what say the tigers did back in 2017 when they didn't have a number one ruck and use a medium tall to 'break even' they instead called up a bloke who is 36 and had likely resigned himself to not playing another game of AFL football.

Absolutely complete bollocks. The last club that could remotely be said about is the tigers back in 2017 and the blues sround the same time. Terrority is just too critical to not worry about the ruck.

For me this is a total no brainer - I'd take koz all day every day. Medium goal kicking small forwards who can run thru the middle, have serious wheels and tanks and can apply elite pressure are arguably the most important players in footy atm. That said, a swap of Jackson and koz (with some extras to us) seems such an obvious elegant solution that I feel like it is a probable outcome. And if it does, as much it would break my heart to lose koz (in much the same way as it was when the wiz went home), getting Jackson would be massive compensation as it immediately solves two key problems fie us - a quality second ruck (which frees up jvr) and a succession plan for maxy. But, if we could somehow keep koz AND get Jacko that woyld be a huge game changer for us.

As nuts as the koz non call was, i reckon it pales against thefree paid to siath against fritter. Perhaps The umpires could argue they didn't pay the trip because for some incredible coincidence all four umpires were unsighted. But the siath howler was a concious decision to pay a free that was 100% not there. In fact, more than not being there, Friitter should have got a free as siath dangerously jumped into the pack and got nowhere near the ball. He did so in such an erratic way that I can only assume the umpire assumed siath must have been pushed. He wasn't. It was 20 metres from goal and Luke the koz error cost us a certain goal. THAT is where a umpire not in the immediate zone should come into play - it was clearly a howler, over rule it.

It's like an AFL version of the tree falling in a forest philosophical question. Does a blatant trip that four umpires did not pay a free kick for and the match review panel doesn't even reference actually happen?

No.

What do you mean by his refusal to shift Turner (i assume you mean shift him forward)? Didn't he do so when Jefferson was taken off?

That one was inihearanr and scattered. This one has been building over years - and came to a head today. The AFL is ruiining the game with their decision, one I believe is based on an explicit desire to foment controversies that feed the pathetic AFL media machine, to refuse to address the chronic, and wosening, woeful standard of umpiring.

I can feel a rant building like a volcano

Raskolnikov? Thought it was fritter after he found himself in the defensive arc applying some all team defensive pressure.

I'm down with earthly pleasures (arguably too down).

He's been under the pump, but I can't see claz crying.

"Everything is changeable, everything appears and disappears; there is no blissful peace until one passes beyond the agony of life and death."

Compare and contrast Andy's interview with the bison with this interview: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1745499/harvey-langford-rising-star?videoId=1745499&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1743400800001

We'll in the spirit of constructive criticism it did not come across that way AT ALL. A pro tip - you need to do some work on your apologies.

The defenders who run away from him must be all be gout gout level then.

Can't see them asking kolt to play a defensive forward role. We need his up the ground lead ups, energy and creativity too much. I think fritter plays melk's defensive forwardrole, or if not him, Sparrow (or perhaps a combo).

I take your point about melks ability to change direction off a step and execute either side, but OD argued that we were replacing 2 mobile forwards with two tall slow players. There's no universe that Melksham is more mobile or faster than Jefferson. Petty and JVR are more line ball, but JVR still has Petty covered for speed and mobility, particularly the latter. Leaving that discussion aside I like the selections too. Perfect day for footy - no wind, no rain, and an early arvo start means none of that late arvo/evening dew that can make the G tricky. Great conditions for tall forwards, particularly someone like jeffo who has great hands on the lead. There's an interesting subtext to Jefferson selection and Melksham's non selection. I can't see jeffo playing any other position than lead out from goal square forward - which is the position fritter has played the last two weeks. And with Sicily being such an important player for the hawks in terms of his intercepting we will need someone to play the defensive forward role. Surely that player will be Fritter. With Petty, and perhaps to a lesser extent, Melk to come back in to our best 22 this is a critical game for Jeffo and Fritter. If Jeffo has a strong performance hes a chance of cementing his spot in the ones - in a position that is Fritters best role. Fritter needs to do the job on Sicily and then he's possibly competing with Melk for a position.

OD - do you actually watch us play? Jeffo is not slow - in fact his acceleration off the mark and mobility are probably his standout strengths. Those attributes were certainly highlighted in his drafting notes. I'd argue that a key reason jeffo has been selected this week is because he covers the ground so well. And jvr is also pretty quick for a forward - and like jeffo good below his knees. And what on earth are you talking about when you suggest we are taking out 3 mobile players? Jefferson is a hell of a lot quicker and mobile than the player he is directly replacing - Jake Melksham - whose lack of mobility and leg speed is his biggest weakness Ditto JVR over Petty, whose mobility is just ok. Ironically the player you didn't reference, viney, IS being replaced by a less mobile player. We've all got opinions. And we're all susceptible to confirmation bias. But you are next level in terms of twisting reality to support your relentless negativity about the club you follow.

It was a terrific interview Andy - typically well researched, erudite (as is Langford actually) and above all interesting. My only knock is you didn't ask about the bison as a nickname.

You're not wrong

My tip about the freo pies game - freo wil look a completely different team to the one last week that looked like they had led in their boots such was their appalling defensive running Why? They are set for this game, and will have planned their program accordingly months ago. Part of that planning is a calculated gamble of a performance like last week. And of course pies are coming off a five day break. Another tip. In the wash up analysis this won't be mentioned at all. It will all be freo came to play, mouthguards at training did the trick, look how much better their defensive spread and running was compared to last week, blah, blah, blah. All symptoms, no diagnosis. Final tip - the 2.15 for freo is overs as is even money for more than 163 tmp. Don't mind the 8.50 for fro mote than 39 either.

And koz, who obviously wasn't in the round one and two teams when jvr, jeffo nd fritter last played together.