Pates

Spargo doesn’t seem to be sticking as many tackles, need him to bring stronger pressure vs Sydney.

I must say I’m in the same boat as you, I like that he’s back and he’s done well to get over his injury concerns but I don’t see him as best 22. His shots on goal from the weekend I’ll forgive as he’s only just come back but from memory he was never particularly reliable on goal. He could fall into the best 25 category but for me not best 22.

He’s sitting in that category of could be out at any moment so every week could potentially be his last game for Melbourne but I actually think he’s improving in his confidence. His ball use has mostly been good (although he set Jones up with that up and under that gave Jones his shiner), and he’s getting better at his evasive movements. That said I think he’ll get found out when exposed to immense pressure from the likes of Richmond.

If that happened (has it ever happened in any professional sport?) the AFL tribunal wouldn’t play any part. But most (if not all) one punch hits that cause death are as much to do with the person landing on concrete as it is the hit itself. Brayshaw wasn’t knocked out, he got hit on a soft part of the face. Half an inch lower and it’s quite possible he’d be playing this week. Again not defending Gaff but there’s always luck involved when it comes to any injury.

So I feel like they shouldn’t put weeks on it, I think they should simply say he won’t play again this year. Brayshaw’s season is done, Gaff shouldn’t have a chance to play in a grand final. If they do want to put a figure of weeks make it 7, and it potentially runs him out for games next year. But should he play again this year he will be given a lot of heat. Ironically probably the same sort of heat they gave Adam Goodes (still can’t work out why that went so far). I’m not defending Gaff but I’m sure doctors and Ambo’s could say severity punches can depend so much on where the person is hit. I very much doubt Gaff picked a spot on his face thinking “this is going to cause maximum damage” I see it more as a wild swing not really aiming at anything. Bugg’s hit could’ve been just as bad last year but Mills only (I say only in comparative recovery terms) ended up with concussion. For that reason the teeth and jaw being so badly damaged shouldn’t weigh as much into it as I think people think. It’s as bad as Bugg’s hit, Brayshaw’s gone for the year, given the timing of it so should Gaff.

Agreed but internally we should just concentrate on ourselves. All three games are winnable, all three games are very losable. Sydney will hopefully be feeling beaten up from the tough pies match. God I wish we had Viney playing.

Also how would Gus feel about playing side by side with the bloke who broke his little brothers jaws and flattened a bunch of his front teeth? I have a feeling each of the Brayshaws will have him in their sights next time they see him. They seems quite a tight bunch of brothers. I’m predicting 6 weeks. He was looking directly at him, it’s not an accident and young Brayshaw is gone for the year and in the hospital. I feel for Mrs Brayshaw, she’s just dealt with Gus’s concussion issues and now she sees this. Plus she’s got another son in the army!

As always curtailing a forwards influence rests a lot on the midfield and ensuring he doesn’t get good delivery. It’s a cliche but win the midfield and win the game. Something that concerned me a little bit was particularly in the second half GC won a lot more clearances than I would’ve liked. Now it could well have been we were trialing some new set ups against real opponents when the game was done and dusted but we want to be switched on in that department for our final three games. Also would like see us making better use of our forward entries, still seems to bounce out too quickly and easily.

We got the suns in one quarter and just built on it. Losing Smith hurts because it feels like our depth is really being challenged in defence. Have to be happy with a 90+ win, only criticisms are that we took the foot off during the second and third quarters and missed some really simple shots on goal. Still wasteful going into 50. Could’ve won by a lot more. Lets reload for Swans next week, massive game!

Was Garlett trying to get it to AvB? That was a shocking kick.

C’mon Dees get it back over 100. Harmes held and ignored by the umpire.

Me too, they look very similar. Poor bugger, doesn’t look good.

Great mark from Jesse and goal, he created the last goal and deserved reward for effort on that.

Look at the end of the day I’ll take an 80+ win with no injuries. That said I hope Goodwin does give it to them a bit, some bizarrely stupid decision making and a massive ease off of pressure. I swear since the seven commentators gave TMac a big pump up of his set shots he’s been 50/50. Really should’ve snared that one from a great mark. Anyway 20min of footy left to leave the suns a mess for next week.

No doubt we’ve taken our foot off the accelerator.

This is where the senior boys need to rev the younger lads up, make sure they don't get into a mode of penciling this win in. Stranger things have happened. The good news is that aside from the saints we have actually brought a scary level of intensity and skill against weaker sides. Putting possible finals to one side there has to be competition for spots so everyone should be expected to bring it on Sunday or there'll be someone knocking down the door at Casey to replace them.

We took him on with very little risk on our end and gave him a crack in his home town. Some people have the drive and desire to be an AFL footballer, some people don't. Good luck to the bloke.

If Geelong had somehow pinched that one as well I would've spewed. As it is one thing that this match has shown is the last quarter fade outs can happen to any team at any time. Hopefully a few of the boys were watching this because watching it from the outside would be very beneficial to them if/when we get in that situation again. I hope those tears are especially salty for the cats fans.

Yep c'mon tigers, kick on!

This game has such a familiar ring to it. Geelong outplayed in every way, opposition wasteful, they get a sniff and snatch a stupid win.

Richmond still wasteful going forward, very poor kicking into the 50.

Richmond have dominated Geelong, the cats must have some crazy lucky rabbits foot because they are the luckiest club in the world.

We should reward form at VFL level, therefor I see one of Kent of Bugg coming in as they have been on the cusp and few times. Melksham is a big loss though, he’s become the person I would like to have the ball delivering into the 50. Rarely wastes it. Hopefully this is just precautionary.

Could get interesting this round! If we hit our straps vs GC there could be some bags on the way. Jesse’s first half of the year has been a whole lot better than his second half. I don’t know if he’s been carrying something but he’s definitely not as dynamic as he was earlier in the year.

Gus’s signature is huge for our club, although I wasn’t worried he must’ve attracted some big interest and could’ve been forgiven for holding out to get a massive deal from someone else. Just as a side note did anyone else feel like his re-signing got very little coverage compared to Cripps? I get that Cripps is the only top player in a garbage team but Brayshaw has been huge for us his year particularly with Viney not being available for much of the year.