Jaded No More

It would make no difference to next week if this game is cancelled. Just like when our game against Essendon was cancelled, the following weeks went ahead as scheduled. They will likely play this game during the bye or in the week prior to finals if no other game is impacted during the season.

Well firstly I assume the AFL can organise a special charter flight like they did last year. Or alternatively they could get off the plane and then board another one immediately to Tassie. The risk of them getting infected is so minimal given they are coming to play, so are off the plane, on a team bus, into the hotel etc. They could quite easily have their movements limited. I suggest the game in Perth will go ahead but potentially with no crowds. Basically like last year.

Sounds like it will be a 3 day lockdown. I suggest North will travel straight down to Tassie from WA and our game should go ahead as scheduled. Also [censored] Covid and the endless [censored] coming out of these returned travellers and these quarantine hotels. 18 months later and we still can't get it right.

What an ordinary collection of players. ?

Yes, yes he is. Back pocket flankers with speed, good defensive skills and exceptional ball use are worth their weight in gold in the modern day. Look at the sort of money Saad and Hill commanded, and they are not as good as Salem. Salem sets up so many of our counter attacks, while also shutting down his opponent. He is for me in our top 6 most important players, and is one we have no replacement for. Absolute gun.

Christ these footballers are super human. They sustain serious injuries and bounce right back. It's pretty unbelievable. I would retire immediately if someone broke my eye socket.

Jordon cannot be dropped. Clearly he is the lucky charm.

Five years is an excellent result. He is best mates with Trac and Oliver, both of whom will come out of contract during his 5 year contract.... fingers crossed Salem staying put will go just a tiny way to swaying those two to also sign on.

There is no doubt that of these two, Fritsch is the better player, with more recent runs on the board who will give the team a lot more output. However I can't see them dropping Melksham after kicking 3 goals last week, and he probably deserves a run of games before we put a line through him. Unless Fritsch is 100% fit, there is no point risking him when we have so many other options.

Gawny is gold ?

Explains a lot about what is happening with Oliver’s hair. Thankfully Salem cuts his opponent better than he cuts hair.

If we win 3 flags in 4 years, I too will turn into an arrogant [censored]. I promise. Just give me those flags!

Depends on the severity. Laurie might have a proper fracture. May might only have a hairline crack. Also why rush a first year player from such an injury?

Used my free barcodes from my digital membership to get Junior tickets to sit in M51 #winning Sorry to the 10 Richmond fans who now get to miss out because I got waaay too many tickets ??

I swear that didn’t come up. I’m so annoyed because I grabbed whatever tickets I could thinking maybe the allocation will be exhausted. I wonder if M14 is also a home team allocated bay as it’s coloured the same as the M50 bay I generally sit in Melbourne Cricket Ground Seating Map (MCG) Austadiums.pdf

I didn’t get given that option. I just picked level 1 wing which is where I sit and got given M14

I’m so annoyed. I got allocated some [censored] seats behind the goals on level 2 when every other week we got to sit in our M50 bay. I ended up getting Junior tickets in M14 as well, because I refuse to pay so much for a reserved seat and end up stuck in a crap seat for a home game. I hope we don’t end up surrounded by Richmond supporters because I won’t be happy! No idea why we didn’t just get our normal bay allocation! ?

If May plays I think May takes Dusty when he goes forward. I am not really that fussed about tagging Martin. It's like tagging Trac, pointless. If we tag him he will just play up forward and cause more headaches. A whole team defence is the right approach when playing Richmond. Even if you stop Dusty, they have plenty of other players to win them the game.

Also lets be happy that finally, after Jones carried rubbish teams on his back for a decade, he can finally be carried by his teammates to 300 games. He sure has earnt that right!

May and Fritta, when fit, are walk up starters in our best 18 (hell May is probably first selected each week). I would say Ben Brown is too. All three are too important for us to risk, even if they are only a little bit off full fitness. Given the side is playing beautifully, and given we have other forward options, I think the only player they will rush in even if he's a little underdone, would be May, as with all due respect to Petty, May is irreplaceable, and Richmond have some serious fire power up forward. I would not be opposed to playing May and not dropping Petty, as May could quite easily play on one of Richmond's smalls, or on Dusty when he goes forward. If we could fit May, Petty, Lever and Tomlinson in the same backline, this week would be a good time to do it. On a side note, I think Petty will be a player, and I worry he will try to leave for greater opportunities elsewhere if he can't get games in our jam-packed backline and forwardline.

If this week was a grand final, I would definitely raise the option of dropping Jones on current form, even if it was his 300th game. But this week, the negative impact on the team of dropping Jones, would far far outweigh the positive impact it would have on the entire club when he plays. Losing to Richmond this week would firstly, not be a disaster or a missed opportunity we can never get back (like playing in a grand final), nor would it come down to Jones playing or him being replaced by another marginal player from Casey.

The second best thing for me about attending the footy (after watching us win), is that it is sometimes the only time in my busy life that I get to spend 1 on 1 with my dad, something I will always treasure. Now we have to scream over the music just to have a conversation at the breaks. It has definitely gotten worse this year. As has the 'entertainment' at the breaks. I understand the need for sponsored events, but they used to be so much more fun and interactive. Now they are just dull and loud.

I don't think he can't be a forward, I just think that he would be wasted there as a permanent stay at home forward. He is too agile and creative, and his ruckwork is already so good, that with Gawn being 29, I can see Jackson becoming a true ruck rover in the future. As Gawn slows down, having Jackson play more minutes as first ruck will help us to extend Gawn's career. Already I put down Gawn's extraordinary form this year to finally having real support in the ruck from Jackson.

I also think he’s getting overshadowed by Kosi who is just so exciting and created a buzz. But he, and let’s add in Rivers holding down a defensive spot like a 27 year old!, are just as impressive.

I’m not convinced he’s ever going to be a forward. He will spend a few minutes there like Max does, but his strength will be playing as an extra mid. He does a great job currently at ground level and also bringing ball to ground in the air. Once he starts nailing his marks around the ground, watch out. He can be an amazing winger.