Tarax Club

Had him penciled in as NQR earlier in the game.

Should cheer the tea-leaf readers. An alternate career beckons... As a jumps jockey.

Casey showed some resolve in the second half to make a contest of it. North the perennial cellar dwellers will rise. After all the AFL largesse, they can afford to play two highly touted recruits in the seconds?

Verrall showing a bit more presence that quarter.

Verrall showing a bit more presence this half.

Must be the shortest honeymoon on record.

CASEY last 3 goals.

JEFFO IV!

JEFFO! Straight as an arrow for #3.

JEFFO threads the eye of the needle! Drop punt the choice of true professionals.

JEFFO 2!

Kicking accuracy meter awry. 8 behinds

Was in first quarter.

JEFFO!

Big Luker! Mark and goal.

Going Live in less than 15 minutes. https://www.afl.com.au/vfl/matches/6475

Match Day! Having missed last night’s heroics. Travelling back to the land of Oz. Will be tuning in this afternoon. Andy Moniz - Wakefield’s performance will be on the radar as will the other Oliver (Sestan). Question on notice will young Pup get another go around? That was a terrific rundown tackle on debut. Given the context of the game.

We patiently await team selection: ‘Clark’ Kentfield must out looking for a telephone box.

Tholstrup a most deserved elevation after his last match at Casey. Performance actually matches ‘some’ of the messianic hyperbole being spouted about, since his arrival by worshippers of a paranormal kolt.

The haircut helped. He’s now a ringer for the old dog. Add the Brown pedigree of dare, deavour and determination. Pup’s debut with the big dogs decidedly deelights the Demon Diaspora.

Or the scenario has the satisfying twist of denying Beagle Boys inc. aka ‘The Filth’ A finals berth. Of course as a final after thought ‘Bros’ gets collected by the Karma Bus.

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The great thing about Aussie rules was the unpredictability of the Sherrin. Bounces could randomly go anywhere and decide the result of a whole season on the point of the Sherrin at the Grand Final. The playing field unlike other codes was not derived from the square but oval. Surface area was much larger and contained more bodies contesting for the ball. Harking back to many contestants competing over a pig’s bladder or a ‘ball’ of kangaroo hide. Serendipity or just plain luck was a factor in deciding the victory. Fast forward to now with the AFL Big Media and $$$ in play, ‘the industry’ has removed most of the native charm. Leaving an often more predictable product for consumers. Despite the post-King’s Bday emergence of doubters, doomsayers and deriders and the media pile-on. Personally the performance last round was utterly without luck. Plenty of ball going forward, matched the opposition for marks inside 50 late into the match. Plus 4 or 5 posters and being denied a goal by a dodgy technician assisted scoring interpretation. Was massively deflating. Yes the opposition was going up the other end. Either getting easy goals over the back of defenders or frequently kicking low% goals from the boundary line. Hawkeye would have had a field day. Internally the feeling would be some steps back from ‘The Alice’ precipice have occurred. Add some judicious selection reinforcements, re-instil belief and kick in a modicum of luck. The form slide can be arrested after all this is a team game. Greater than the sum of its parts.

If last week was rock bottom, it’s not all doom and gloom. Points margin of loss was decreased by 41% from the previous round. joeboy - comic genius works Max Gawn - monumental in defeat Trent Rivers - endeavour lacks finesse Kysaiah Pickett - wayward [censored] genius Christian Salem - ying or yang? Caleb Windsor - kid goes alright Jacob Van Rooyen - showed some spark Bayley Fritsch - press play now Tom McDonald - centred amongst kaos Alex Neal-Bullen - Nibbler does daicos Steven May - matchup from hell Christian Petracca - gallant at Gallipoli The rest - little meaningful impact Next encounter - Clarkson smells blood?