Pates

I'm willing to give him his slow start off the back of an injury that can take a really long time to come back from. BUT he has to start taking his chances when they come, I can accept he's going to take time to get back to what he was but we need more from him.

He's got the bye to get some time practicing his skills and kicking, but post bye he needs to be hitting the scoreboard.

I've kept away from looking and posting on D-land after Thursday night, it was as bad a performance as I've seen from us for a long time. Worse than the Swans gave of round 0 because at least in that game we gave a yelp before getting overrun. 

Smashed in every facet of the game, no winners on the night. TMac, Lever, and May gave as much as they could in the face of constant pressure and the balls going inside the Lion's forward 50 had absolutely no pressure on it. My biggest consolation is that I don't think we can play worse and it's insanely rare that every one of our prime movers in the middle have such terrible games. 

I think the players and coaching staff need to put a pen through it, obviously still review it properly but also regroup after the bye knowing that that isn't "us". 

I'll also add that we need to be manage BBB in blocks of 3 games, I don't know if that was the plan and injuries/the fixture prevented it, but he was not capable on impacting the play at all.

Tough night but if you offer me 4-2 at the start of the season I'd be happy with that.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Dude I was just looking up that exact same thing. I remember planning a trip in 2014 when we played Port. We wanted to do Alice Springs with a side trip to Uluru. My eldest was 6 and I thought it would be easier to fly than to drive or bus the 5 or 6 hours albeit more expensive and I'm positive there were flights between Alice and Uluru. We didn't end up going so my memory is only of the planning of the trip but I was sure that there were flights.

Turns out there aren't anymore and if you want to fly from Uluru to Alice or vice versa you have to fly to Sydney, Brisbane or Cairns and it will take 23 hours with 2 stops. Crazy.

That's insane, I can't believe the at the very least REX don't run flights to Uluru from Alice. I can only imagine they figure as a tourist location most people only fly in/out from the major cities.

40 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Not picking a first gamer to be the made sense when the sub was medical rather than tactical. Staring a first gamer as medical sub meant that they may not even get on the ground which would be a major disappointment for the player and his family, especially if they had made a long journey from their home to wherever the game was being played.

Now, though, the sub gets to play some part of the game, even if only a small portion (yes, I'm aware of Schache in the final last year -but that's truly an anomaly). It means first-gamers can be the sub and their family can be confident they will see him play at some stage on that day. 

Yeah I personally have no issue with him being the sub now that it's a tactical sub not medical sub. If there are others who are ahead that have earned a starting position then I think it's fair they get the chance first. Plus him coming on as the sub has a little bit of excitement "x-factor" about it, he can go with dare and freedom with the pace perhaps not as hot as first bounce.

28 minutes ago, old55 said:

Maintaining the rage on the Maynard incident and advocating that Kossie avoids suspension are incompatibly hypocritical for me. Maynard should have got 4-6 weeks.

I think Koz deserves a week, for me it's not something we should accept in the game. I also think that Maynard coming out of last year with a premiership medal is one of the most disgraceful things in AFL history. 4-6 was exactly what he should've got. I hope their premiership is cursed and they never win another one until they retire Maynard's number.

29 minutes ago, CHF said:

OK. Kossie out for the match. A question, could he play in the Casey game given that he would have served his suspension?

Don't think it works that way, it's for the footy weekend which would include Casey's match this week. Even so I wouldn't play him at Casey, every chances some local footy thug lines him up just to make a name for himself.

I was watching that 360 segment with a big grin on my face, the kids loves the Dees so much. If Trac kicks a goal v Lions I hope he dedicates it to Eddy!

Alright so no Koz, personally I'd like to see Woey a full game with either Tholstrup or Brown as the sub.

AMW a chance as well from reading recent Casey reports, but where would we play him?

Personally I'm not fussed about the verdict, would've loved for it to get downgraded but I accept the way the tribunal saw this one. Last year I reckon it's a fine but more credence is being put on potential injury and duty of care off the back of Brayshaw.

Need big one's from Nibbler (who is in good form) and Chin. 

It's interesting their comments about game style, I have to imagine a lot of those who said it didn't watch the port game the week before. Has to be one of the games of the season as a neutral. The Crows game felt like they tried to bring the game down to a scrap to make it hard on us, we had to grind that win off the back of tired legs. It wasn't pretty but to use that as the game to say "they play a boring style" is a bit silly.

I'd say the style we are trying to play more of is what we did against Hawthorn (who admittedly aren't great). It's not high tempo, but it's knowing when to pull the trigger and getting men streaming forward with the ball in regular motion.

They must have nightmares about Gawn, he regularly seems to put in massive games against them. It seems silly to say but if he does it again I can't see us losing because it elevates so many other players into the game.

But overall their comments aren't over the top or disrespectful, I've never really had any bad experiences around Brisbane fans.

14 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

I also cannot see how we downgrade Kosi’s charge in the current environment and I’m comfortable with him missing a week, independently of what else has happened this year. 
He has to know that he’s now going to be looked at closely as someone with a history and he needs to be exceptionally careful. 

This is where I'm at with this bump, when I first saw it I thought, "it's a week". Nothing changes every time I see it, he gets him high and he doesn't need to. I'm totally happy with the club challenging it because in the past we have rolled over when I thought we should make a stand, this at least is telling the competition that we are backing ourselves to do what we need to do to win.

I go on the AFL Reddit page and there were some really vitriolic statements from people and the general consensus is that he's a thug and a sniper. I like our players playing hard but I don't like our guys being seen as thugs and dirty players. I really do hope the club is able to curtail Kozzie's attitude on this.

The other funny part of that page though were Carlton fans criticising the club for challenging. Like seriously, they are going to criticised a club for trying to use the rules to get their player off a charge? Some club supporters really have zero self reflection on them, you can guarantee is Cripps does the same thing they'll be whining that the other player ran into him and to challenge it at the Supreme Court. 

55 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I’m not sure of the rule but IMO the dissent free kick should’ve taken place in the centre square.

I think it depends on when it was said, and how far back the ball was to the middle. I think there's this weird mid point where a free after a goal places the ball where they are on the field (or in the centre if it's team's defensive area), and then conversely where if a free kick is given it is out of the middle.

Because I think it happened in the immediate aftermath of the goal it meant it gets taken where it happened.

I've probably explained it poorly. 

2 minutes ago, layzie said:

Carlton are once again becoming a team to hate 

Always disliked them, but they really are insufferable when they get up and about.

If Voss is smart he will be telling the players to enjoy the win, but know that they got away with one there.

8 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Bring in the Captain’s challenge. Cottrell’s mark would’ve never stood. 

That would be huge if they did bring that in. One decision a match, get it right you retain it, get it wrong and you lose it. 

11 minutes ago, Chook said:

There should be more leeway given by the umpires when the ball is dead. No one wants double goals for "dissent", or htb frees reversed because of diving players (Rozee). We want more holding the ball frees and less of these types of inconsequential acts resulting in game-deciding umpiring decisions.

Look it would be very interesting to know what was said/thought was said. If it was also an expulsion of frustration rather than a direct attack there needs to be some leeway. In such a tight contest the last thing you want is a soft decision ending the contest. 

10 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

He was charged with Rough Conduct not Striking, as would have been the case had he raised the elbow. 

Look I'll agree to disagree, he lifts the elbow out which raises his arm to impact with the upper arm. He doesn't get done for striking because that's the part that made impact.

Had a great time sitting with the Demon Army on Thursday, first time my brother and I have been in amongst the cheer squad since we were kids. 

Just a side note since Pies got brought up, those pies at Adelaide oval are the skinniest pies I have ever seen. Barely anything in them!

1 hour ago, Fat Tony said:

He didn’t lift the elbow. It was by his side. 

I'm not sure what you're looking at to be honest, he raised his elbow even if it was only slightly. He keeps his ams by his side the whole time he grazes the Adelaide player and we're not missing him next week.

It's silly from Koz, these silly acts have no genuine benefit to him, the team, and the game. It makes him look like a cheap thug. I don't like it from any player in the comp, so to have one of my favourite players do it really frustrates me. 

I've heard a few people saying Goody should be taking him aside and trying to curtail it, I actually see it as a leadership group situation. A chat from Gawn and Nibbler saying, "you're letting your teammates down with these acts" would be the best approach. If can play the game hard, without playing it dirty. 

3 minutes ago, ElDiablo14 said:

Wouldn't it make more sense to have a Canberra based team? In that scenario that team should be able to have similar catchment areas as GWS (playing some games in Western Sydney).

Running through the Canberra in my head (and I absolutely will cave to people that might have better knowledge):

Canberra
Pros
- Has established a bit of keen interest in locals through GWS
- Has a ground already that is in use and would probably only require upgrades rather a new stadium/full rebuild
- Is smack bang between Melbourne and Sydney making travel not difficult for most teams
- Could they also have a connection the the NT and play games Darwin and Alice Springs?
- Another possible intrusion into a rugby area 

Cons
- Small town, does it have the population/sporting interest to demand an AFL team?
- GWS have built a solid interest there, will those people jump across to the new team? If they do does that remove significant support from GWS who don't have much as it is?
- Would the climate turn a potential recruits away from moving there? Is the lifestyle what a "sports start" would look for? (I only ask because I swear so many seem to be coastal style people) 

I think Canberra should be in the conversation as much as any location.

15 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

is it really tho? the amount of players coming into the afl system out of the tasmanian ecosystem seems to have grown in the last decade, not fallen

in truth, the amount of players coming through a bigger state like south australia is far more concerning and has been flagged at head office as a watch item

I swear I thought I read a report saying there had been a decline in Tasmanian born AFL listed players over the last 5-10 years. 

This Tasmanian team really is an interesting situation to watch unfolding, it really shows that they should have come first before GWS/GC and the AFL then make a call on where they place the 18th team. 20 teams feels too much, but 19 teams is pointless for the money that is going to be pumped into Tassie.

I honestly don't know where a 20th team could be placed, I feel like each option is as difficult as each other.

As for this stadium debacle, it's really interesting to see that across the last 12 months we've had the Com Games be cancelled in Victoria, the Olympic Stadium/precinct issues the Brissy still totally up in the air, and the back and forth between the AFL and Tasmania regarding a stadium in Hobart. All of these issues centring around cost blow outs and public backlash regarding huge funds going in that direction instead of towards helping people that are doing it tough.

My personal view, having been to Hobart for a match, is that Blundstone Arena functions ok as a once every so often venue in an exhibition way, but for the purposes of being a regular every second week sort of venue it just doesn't cut it. I think a new stadium would be key to the Tasmanian team being successful (which is think is the point that the AFL are making), and a world standard stadium would also bring in more events and more interest to the city as well as have the potential to create a great precinct for long into the future. Does it need a roof? To host multiple different events it probably does.

I also see the benefit of it creating jobs in a difficult climate for people being able to make a living. 

10 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

You're right.  He's not a Wizard.  More like a goblin.

Have to say I liked Gary Lyon making that point on On the Couch, to get a title like "the Wizard" you gotta earn it through doing things that no one else in the comp can do. Right now he's no more of a wizard than Windsor. 

Lyon made the point softly saying, "he will be an exciting player to watch as he grows, but he is no wizard".

2 minutes ago, 640MD said:

Only saw the first half on the box.

glad we got better the second quarter was terrible.

Petty at least moved to the ball better than I thought he would. 
I liked JvR in the ruck this week he seemed more at home.

Thought Kossy and Salem were both very good. 
Saw max getting attacked, one or more should have come to his side. 
Glad fritta got his kicking goals boots on again.  He is brilliant if the ball comes over the back.  So quick !

will be interesting in Adelaide next couple, I need to trust the selection group. They are better at it than I am. 
Go Dees

Mitchell and the Hawks were absolutely physically targeting our players in ways that were absolutely not legal. I get it, rough them up and be physical but it just looks so pathetic targeting players to hurt them.

2 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Nothing fixes off-season drama like wins on the scoreboard.

Our guppy-brained media now have some new targets drifting into their viewfinders. Collingwood (but softly softly until it's obvious they can release both barrels), Crows, Lions, Bulldogs. It's a tremendously exciting time for them. And they always have us in reserve if we have some "off-field issues", ie, start losing.

Yep that pretty much sums the media up, they have to have a target in the off-season to sell papers and get clicks. People like Corns have to make bold, stupid, and totally unhelpful comments like Oliver might never play again (seriously he should put his hand up and apologise for that). They circled and hoped for us to have a slow start, we lost to the swans and their mouths were frothing. But now two good wins have them off our back and they've gotta acquire a new target. 

I feel like leg speed and a bit of x-factor would be where I'd be looking or a calm mature wing style player. 

Obviously a JPod style pick up of a tall player would be the dream, but that's extremely unlikely. I wonder whether they might keep an eye on JvR's little bro as an option.

This is the ultimate interstate trip that could galvanise the group. They're staying in Adelaide following the Port game, I imagine they'll do it in a training camp/hub style. It's the perfect time to get together and get closer than ever. 

Interstate wins mean so much, a win or two here would be huge.