FarNorthernD

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.

Great get Fork, thank you. So many great lines throughout but when Max was asked what were his favourite games for the year (aside from the GF) his comment “all 3 times we beat Geelong were my favourites” was brilliant.

There is a quirk of human nature as to how people are regarded. After Ron left us at the end of 1964 he spent 7 years at Carlton (premiership Coach ‘68 and ‘70), 8 years at North (premiership coach ‘75 and ‘77) and another 3 years coaching Sydney. Despite 18 years and 4 flags elsewhere he is almost exclusively known as a Melbourne person and seems to regard himself as a Melbourne person too. Long live RDB!

Tom Sparrow has a touch of the Brent Moloney’s about him

Interesting that Essendon would have taken Howes at 13 if Hobbs was not available to them. The Bombers did not have an opportunity to pick him up as their next pick was at 46. Nothing is guaranteed in drafting but it does look like, through circumstances, we picked Blake up way later than perhaps he would have otherwise gone. “Essendon, at pick 13, chose Hobbs next, ending his drop down the order after several close calls went against him with Fremantle and Richmond's picks. If not Hobbs, the Bombers had Blake Howes in their sights, having met him days before the draft.” AFL site, Inside the Draft, 2 Dec ‘21

“The Demons handed over picks No.22, 79 and a future second-round selection for the 23-year-old, while the Dockers gave up Langdon, pick No.26 and a future fourth-round selection”. So to get Langdon we paid a future second rounder (pick 38 2020 - James Rowe?) and dropped 4 spots from 22 to 26 which got us Rivers (after dropping back a few more spots) In summary we got an out and out bargain

In the phantom drafts Knightmare had Howes at 15, Twomey at 19, the Sporting News at 19 and The Age also had him at 19 stating “He is known for doing ‘extras’ at training and is strongly fancied by the premiers” Blake completed his 2km time trial in 6.08 (elite) and also runs a sub 3 second 20m (elite). That combination is rare. He has great hands above his head and plays taller due to a above average vertical leap. The main knocks on him seem to be his contested ball abilities and not having a defined position. Perhaps he was overrated by the pundits but it does look like we got a bargain.

Bailey has never had problems getting the ball and having shots on goal. This year though his accuracy was infinitely more reliable. His GF spilt speccy over Gawn, cat-like and Robbie-like regather and goal is one of my all time favourites