Jaded No More

I don't think he'd be available for selection at any level if they thought he's at risk of further injury. VFL or AFL, you would not take chances on your best forward 2 years running if you suspected his foot might blow up. We have enough players with dodgy feet thanks.

I would suggest all of Tmac, Gawn and Ben Brown will get rested at various stages throughout the year. We play North and Hawks twice and West Coast. While no game is an easy one, you can take your chances against lower sides to rest your best and oldest players.

I will bet my bottom dollar that he doesn't fly to Perth in round 4 and JVR gets to make his debut in front of family and friends. Fairly surely we can take on West Coast without TMac and still win.

I agree with this. I think if we hadn't lost Kosi we might play Fritta at Casey, but because Kosi is out they might play him closer to goal just for some added goal kicking power. We did get 4 goals out of Kosi on Saturday, and IMO only Fritta is capable of consistently producing those numbers. Viney will then replace Kosi's midfield minutes. If Tommo had a stinker you would rush May in. But given he had such a wonderful game, and that Brisbane play two talls who are hit and miss, I would leave him in and give May another week and avoid the long flight. Salem needs time the VFL. We have no need to rush him. Bowey is a gun, you got Gus down there helping out and McVee deserves another game based off that debut.

No chance all 4 play. Salem will have to go thru the VFL for mine. We have 3 interstate games in the next month. That’s a lot of travel. I wouldn’t risk May.

We could play May and Tomlinson together because May can play small. I still wouldn’t risk him though. Tomlinson would be a good match up for Daniher I reckon (who might have to do some rucking anyways against the Tap Brothers).

That’s not bulky, that’s chunky

It's Oliver. Always Oliver. Sorry kids.

Don’t worry, Ebay Petracca will get himself into trouble sooner rather than later.

Come finals Viney is very important because defensively he’s the best of the lot. And he gives Trac and Clarry a lot of protection to get first use of the ball. People really underestimate him.

I’m not suggesting that we should rush him. Never have, nor have I ever questioned the club’s management of him. I’m just saying that it seems like something far more sinister than a bruised foot. As you say perhaps a stress fracture. Which is very concerning for our best forward. Especially when TMac and BBB are also not exactly the pillar of health.

Sack him immediately 🙃

Channel 7 said it was a standard scan post off season surgery. Channel 7 also said Viney and May more likely to return this week than Salem and Fritta. Must have been the foot of a giant that stepped on Fritta... 6 weeks off for a stomped foot sounds like someone is lying.

Where did it say he going back to Adelaide?

I agree. Although I thought it was pretty rich of him to get stuck into McVee when he got done for HTB. Gawn obviously agreed and gave him an earful.

Wow I am shocked Gawn only got 5 votes. Thought he was brilliant and the most influential player on the ground.

Might be important to note that Gawn did 2 knees in that period.

Fritsch and Viney completed most of the pre season, so if they are deemed 100% fit they should walk straight back into the side. I think Salem needs time in the VFL to get some fitness and touch back. He has missed a big chunk of the pre-season and his condition is not so easy to manage. He was also in and out of the side last year with injury, and his form was pretty poor by his own high standards. A couple of weeks to gain confidence at Casey will do him a world of good. He is an A grade player, and at his best he makes us a better side. Would be fantastic to get him back to that level prior to finals. As for May, wrap that golden egg up in cotton wool and protect it from all evils. Far far too important to risk in round 2.

I think we all agree that what Kosi did was poor and that if he hurt Smith, he'd be spending 4-6 weeks on the sidelines and rightly so. I LOVE Kosi. Everything about him is magic, including the way he plays on the edge. He scares the living daylight out of the opposition for so many reasons, and it makes him that much more of a special player. But like Viney, playing on the edge sometimes comes with consequences. I didn't like Viney putting a GC player in a choke hold 2 years ago, and I don't like seeing Kosi leave the ground to bump someone high. If Smith did that Kosi, I'd also want him suspended, regardless of outcome. I am sure Kosi knows what he did wasn't right, and he will learn from it. Unfortunately for him, the days of Uncle Byron are long gone. You must have duty of care, and when you see what someone like Gus (and many other Melbourne players, especially Daniel Bell) have gone through with concussion, it is absolutely correct and necessary. What gets me riled up is the absolute disgraceful 'superstar tax' that keeps getting applied to the likes of Buddy. While Kosi's action looked worse, the consequences of Franklin's actions WERE worse. Both deserve the same penalty, but one is the darling of the AFL, and one is a Melbourne player.

The Dogs are a very bitter club and I think it starts at the top with Bevo. Always with the underdog, us vs them mentality. Their carry on post grand final was borderline insane and did nothing for their season.

I wonder if they asked Kosi what he wanted to do and he said he's happy to accept the penalty, and doesn't want to front the tribunal and deal with the media. While it isn't ideal that he misses the next 2 weeks, Viney and Fritta coming in will certainly ease the pain, and it means Kosi gets two weeks to spend tied to an office chair by Tim Lamb being forced to sign a contract.

Very disappointing that we aren’t contesting it. Maybe we didn’t want the media circus around Kosi. edit: two weeks to rest the hands for a signature on a long contract 😂

You could bring May in and keep Tomlinson and have May play on Charlie Cameron. Not sure it's the best rehab for old man calf though...

I don't like Smith, but massive kudos to him for not overplaying it, jumping straight back up, and giving Kosi a pat on the bum. He might not be able to hit a target, or get a haircut, but he is one tough cookie.