FarNorthernD

Watching the Prelim with the SEN commentary. Gerard Healey calling non free kicks for Geelong whilst frees the we get are lucky. I can’t work out if he dislikes Melbourne more than I dislike him

"They (Melbourne) were obviously the best in the competition at doing that with their defence and we're looking to emulate that in the way we're playing."said Crows Ruckman, Reilly O’Brien First time I’ve ever heard of a team wanting to emulate us. It feels good

This will do for me too

Pearce, Zanker, Hore, Bannon, Parry, West have collectively done 2/5ths of FA. Oh and Mithen too

Just skipped through to see if you had Robbie at #1. I’ll have a proper read now. It has been a great series of threads. Probably one of the best in my decade plus of being on here. Thank you Deespicable. Awesome work

5. Hanks 4. L. Pearce 3. Harris 2. Birch 1. Hore

Bang, bang, bang, bang?

Harris!!

Parry had better improve in the next 3 quarters or she will be a doubtful starter next week

Early days but I reckon on current form Adelaide would be flag favourites atm Freo will be stuck out of home for a while and perhaps that may work against them? Reckon that whilst our girls will be playing todays game on its merits, they will already have one eye on next weeks clash against the Crows in Adelaide.

Aside from Mithen it’s a strong line up we will put out. The two ex Demons playing for the Saints - Cat Phillips and Bianca Jakobsson - are going to have their hands full. It should be a regulation win for Melbourne over an undermanned Saints outfit Then off to Adelaide to play the undefeated Crows. That’ll be big

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