FarNorthernD

5. McNamara 4. Paxman 3. Hore 2. Hanks 1. Birch

And after 3 flags it’s hard to see them having the hunger needed to get back to being top of the tree.

The thing most likely to stop us being top 4 again won’t be other sides but injuries in our own. Like the Tigers during their flag years and the Swans in their one we were incredibly lucky with our injury run last year.

We had 5 out to HS protocols last week and 5 this week. By now you’d think half the players have had it. Hopefully we can get a few wins under the belt and be pretty much covid done and dusted by the back half of the season

Imagine how good Zanker could be if she was able to train in a full time AFL style program. That’s the future.

May be best to ask @Supermercado his opinion given, I believe, he coined the term in the first place

Is that right? Wow! The kid just gets better

3 Zanker 2 Birch 1 Hanks

Melbourne playing the Bulldogs? Don’t know why but think it will be tight early and then we will kick away towards the end of the 3rd. Will win by about 74 points.

We are so unoriginal that we even have to pinch our iconic commentary moments from American sport. That’s borderline pathetic.

I’m guessing you flew into Cairns Jaded?

Yes a lack of a developing young ruck could be an issue. However we are so blumin professional these days I’m wondering if we have already targeted a young promising ruck from another side who is out contract at the end of the ‘22. As you said learning to ruck from Gawn, whilst in a top 4 side with a great culture would be an attractive proposition to many.

Put me down for Turner as being a big improver.

I agree. The pre season is all about the players who are poised to take the next step. We all know that Petracca will probably be handy next year, Langdon will be quite good on the wing and Oliver will have neat hands Im keen to see who out of Rosman, Laurie, Chandler, JVR, Bedford, Howes, Baker, Weideman, Turner, Smith etc cements their place in the first 22

You there @Dees_In_October.? Any/all reports are always appreciated

James Jordon tracking to be Pendles-like? Normally you’d think gross exaggeration and extreme wishful thinking, the ramblings of the delusional, but the way this club is tracking at the moment it could end up underselling JJ.

That’s a fair call Paulo. Any particular reason for this confidence?

It is strange isn’t it. We have watched 60 years of pathetic performances, our rusted on supporters are old and kids have been embarrassed to wear the colours for a decade or more. But then we play Geelong in 2018 in finals in front of 92,000 and our supporters out number theirs 3 to 2. I believe we have ability to rebuild quicker than most clubs could. We play at the G, we are called Melbourne and have great colours (honestly who would want to wear the Hawthorn colours out?). Watch the rise of the Demon Phoenix

Has anyone seen the links (AFL & AFLW) you press and the fixture magically goes into your calendar?

It’s funny but you’d think for most kids, with less than 10 games under their belt, they would merely be hoping to cement their place in the side. Later to perhaps win a rising star nomination maybe even win it . For Jake though he got his nom in his 3rd game and a premiership medal four games later. You’d imagine the rising star award would mean less to him than most. You are right though WSW he would have to be a favourite for the 2022 award.

Chances are DeeSpencer that the first few matches of out season could look something like Rnd 1 Wednesday night 16th March V Dogs at the G Rnd 2 Thursday night 24 March V WC in Perth Rnd 3 Friday night 1 April V Bombers at the G Rnd 4 Saturday night V Sydney in Sydney All off 8 day breaks. If it looks even vaguely like that then the disappointment of a Wednesday night opening will be soon forgotten

Any guesses as to how many people are there?

Honestly our lack of injuries to key players had a huge factor in our success. I think it is our single biggest threat to success next season.

Yes the Mother’s Day specialists

We play 2/4 of last years bottom 4 teams, whereas Brisbane play them all. But then who knows, some teams will improve and some be worse. Particularly in the women’s game, you only need one injury to a key player and your chances of winning the comp goes down the gurgler.