Pates

If you’re assuming that currently lockdown conditions exist (really hope it doesn’t) I will run to just about every corner of my 5km radium wearing red and blue head to toe screaming like a lunatic. If I get stopped I’ll say I’m doing exercise. FWIW I’m hoping that should we get to that final day in September by that stage there will be restrictions that have eased for outdoor gatherings and that the club maybe be able to organise outdoor viewing locations in parts of Melbourne such as Casey, next to AAMI, and maybe fed square. If the AFL were really fair they would make if free but ticketed and available to members of the two teams playing first.

All you have to do is listen to players and coaches talk about his role to know he’s doing what’s asked of him. If that’s not good enough for you then I don’t know what is. Not saying he had a good game on the weekend but there are deeper things than statistics that define whether they’ve done their job. Goody and co say he’s doing what’s required, that’s good(y) enough for me.

Love the nickname Bowser! Love this kid, looks a damn good pick up.

I think that nails it. That said I think he still played his role in getting to the space as the defensive winger. He ain’t going nowhere, he’s played a massive role for us this season.

Versus WC Melksham showed what he’s capable of. Versus Adelaide unfortunately he showed the other spectrum, that kicking of the ball after the ball went out was just the cream on top. I think he stays because of his efforts last week and he is a good kick for goal, but jeez he’d want to pull his head in.

Possibly one for the records page but I think the last Demon to kick 50+ in the H&A season is was Neitz (TMac got 50 in the finals series). Would love Fritta to get 4+ next week to break that.

It was a bit silly of the coverage to do that, just makes it look more messy. I understand the decision not to overturn it because really there has to be concrete evidence that it needs to be reversed. The mistake was that they only look at it in slow motion, frame by frame, therefor you get motion blur. By looking at the slow mo at a speed you actually see that it was hand on foot not hand on ball. That’s a misuse/misunderstanding of the system and technology, not so much the decision. The evidence they had/used told them “insufficient evidence”. He got the goal he deserved from the kick in only 30-40 sec later so I wasn’t too fussed.

This is a really backward way of looking at the battle against COVID, the whole point to vaccinations is to get people out and about and mingling with different communities. Staying zero COVID after vaccinations have reached the 80% point means you might as well cut yourself off from the world for the next 3-5 years.

Absolutely agree, I was really enjoying saying things like “good work Fritta, great pressure!” The goals at the end were rewards for his hard work. His accuracy has massively improved!

First time since round 12! And that’s including Clarry’s awful miss from dead in front.

He was good without being amazing for me today. Did very Smith-like things at times but also did some good important acts. As a depth player he came in and played his role, not much more you can ask.

Absolutely 100%. Annoys the F out of me that the cats get this free ride with the MRO. Rules for one club, different for other clubs. When it comes to the MRO’s ruling the first box that gets ticked is “Do they play for Geelong?” Yes = no case No = immediate suspension

Given we have dropped silly games like this through the year there’s not much to be too disappointed about today’s performance. Wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t without lots to work on but when you get the 4 points and power home with a quick fire bunch of goals at the end, while missing two key pillars, you have to smile. Particularly with us being on top going into the final round. Next week the Melbourne vs Cats and Dogs vs Port matches look as mini QF finals, they set the tone for the finals. I honestly can’t wait! It was great to see Fritta kick a bag, he really seemed to be enjoying himself. Brown started with a flurry but I felt he stayed involve. Some better kicks towards him could’ve give him a chance at a bag himself (looking at Harmes). Ultimately we got the job done and Fritta got a little confidence to go forward (after basically being MIA for the first quarter). Bring on Geelong with May and TMac back!

Bring the standard pressure we’ve had in the last two weeks and we win. It’s been a curious week with top teams either losing or being challenged at certain point so it’s a good lesson in staying focused and in the game. I’m personally a little disappointed they didn’t take this opportunity to give Weid a crack but Brown’s getting into some good form so hopefully it continues today!

Have to laugh at Chris Scott saying "we should know by now" regarding the pre-finals bye. Is he living in the same world as us right now? We barely know anything day by day let alone over one week from now! I met up with a cats friend of mine and asked whether the old bodies will hold up, he honestly couldn't give me real answer. I think he sees what everyone else sees, which is why he is so desperate to know his his veterans league is going to have the week off.

Yeah I would've thought that's a free kick against Hawkins as he takes his eyes off the ball quite early in the contest whereas the Saints player takes his eyes off the ball at the last second, but Dunstall reckons that's why the umpire didn't pay the free against. As for Danger, I don't like the bloke and I almost certainly think he's a protected species, but agree there isn't anything in it. No case to answer, fine at most.

Something to do with SA making the provisions that Adelaide could fly in and fly out to do that match if Melbourne isolated for 60hrs prior to the match. Complete BS in my opinion, could understand PERHAPS a 24-48hr isolation but really there's not much about what SA are doing at the moment that makes much sense. That those olympic athletes are being forced to quarantine (albeit at home) for a further 14 days after returning from a 14 day quarantine hotel in Sydney is just ridiculous. Thanks for representing Australia! 🙄

Lol Dangerfield could get reported for striking and the end result would be the other guy gets weeks for head-butting his fist. As for the Cats and Carlton (the time of my last post), if something is too good to be true then usually it is. Carlton stopped dead.

Boy oh boy wow wee! early days in both games but if these results continue this could be huge! And what is actually interesting is that if we win tomorrow (we need to do our job as well) that would mean that the top 4 apart from us are looking in shaky form, the other top 8 should feel confident of causing a boil over second week of the finals.

I’m a bit the same in that I’m surprised they’re considering ditching the bye, I guess they might feel if they can see what’s happening immediately they know more and feel more confident. Whereas if they keep the bye it could get better but it could get worse. What a world we live in! 🙄

I have wondered about the downside to North/Hawks losing Tassie meaning there could be competition for our Alice Springs matches. I would hope that the groundwork we have done there would count for something but as they say money talks, BS walks. The disgust at GC/GWS getting a team doesn’t actually account for the fact there is infinitely more growth potential in those two markets compared with Tassie. Sydney and Brisbane took decades to stand on their own feet and that was with the grounding of South Melbourne and Fitzroy. The AFL view the money being poured in there as short-mid term pain for long term gain. Thinking about it now it’s funny but the best time that AFL could’ve pushed into Tassie would’ve been during the 90s (hate to say but I think we would’ve been a big target!). Now, without the allure of an extra game for TV rights the 19 teams would just be a drag on the competition. So they either wait until 20 teams is a possibility, or they get a team sent down there. Either way I can’t see it happening any time soon.

So where will finals be then? There wasn’t any mention of an MCG GF so I guess that’s off the table now. I find it bizarre that Perth are almost the only ones being properly considered to host the GF, Adelaide Oval is a stunning venue and would be a great location to host. I wonder is the treatment of the olympic athletes that had to double quarantine has made that impossible now.

I really would’ve liked Weid to come in for this game, very little pressure to perform, it could’ve been just the tonic. Will be very interesting to see if he sticks around.

It’s interesting you mention AFLW because I reckon the smarter way the Tassie government could’ve gone about this is ensure that when the AFL was looking at expanding the women’s game they made sure that Tassie was getting a team. That could’ve generated interest for the game down that way and if done correctly could’ve stamped their authority to say we deserve a men’s team. Not unlike the tactic Football Australia are trying to employ by using the Women’s Football World Cup to promote the game as being attractive for a future men’s World Cup. I personally think that Tasmania have overplayed their hand and will now be without AFL matches for at least a few years.

I think of everything about Jacko the thing he has improved so much at this year is his contested marking. Early days this season he got to plenty of contests but his hands never looked confident, now looking back at the marks he took against WC he just looks a totally different kettle of fish. The sky is the limit on him, I have never been this excited about a young KPP/ruckman at our club.