Jaded No More

Ed was having an easy day with only 87% TOG tagging sooky lala. He is probably cycling all over Melbourne to burn off all that extra energy.

I’ve seen toddlers take bigger hits at the playground and cry less than Nicky. Goes down as easily as an OF star.

But so is footy. If you paid umpires well and made them full time Professionals you would get more kids getting involved in umpiring at the lower levels, and hence more opportunities to get good umpires at the top level. Right now being an umpire is not a viable career path. It’s a part time hobby. Make it a career that people can easily get 15+ years out of and make good money, and you’ll see how the standard rises. If we can grow umpires at lower levels, exactly in the same way we do players, the standard will lift. We train them from under 13s or whatever, and they work on their craft 5 days a week once they get to the big leagues. Umpires can’t even bounce the [censored] ball these days! Most people don’t stay in one career forever. Umpiring is something you can do for many many years at the top level if you keep fit, which if you’re a full time professional you can absolutely achieve.

1000% this. I watch maybe one game a week outside of our game now. Between the shocking umpiring and the shocking standard of some games, I find footy hard to watch.

May probably told him “it’s ok big fella, I can’t hit that kick either” 😂

I thought Langford made some uncharacteristic mistakes early on. Looked a bit overawed by the occasion. But he worked his way into the game. It’s an enormous responsibility that we have given both him and Lindsay in playing the wings. It’s a big ask, especially in big games. And it’s going to reap the rewards down the line, but it does come with risks. Sidebottom had a monster game, because he’s got 5000 more years on those two. But imagine what Langford learnt today playing on one of the best wingers in the game. The sooner we get more of the footy in the hands of these two, along with Bowey, Howes, Turner, Chin and Windsor, the better. They are all very good ball users with a lot of composure, and unfortunately that’s something we lack in our very best players right now. Gawn, Trac and Oliver are some of the best players in the league at winning the footy. In fact, we smashed them in clearances and contested possessions, and that’s why we were able to stay in the contest. But unfortunately these guys are also not great ball users, and their lack of skills can really hurt you in a really tight game where every mistake matters. Couple that with Pies missing like one set shot to our 10 or so, and that’s the game.

Diabolical fixturing not to give us a bye now, but instead a road trip off a 6 day break, followed by two more road trips.

Brown should shut his mouth. McCreery is very very fast and Kosi was chasing him for 40 goddamn meters! Kosi was completely correct to expect a free for him running too far. Just as in the last Pies were paid marks that travelled at best 10m. In a game decided by a bloody point, a side having nearly 30% more free kicks is diabolical.

Nothing to see here

I think that like all of us, he wasn’t thinking he was just upset! He played his guts out and watched us lose by a stinking point. If we are full of adrenaline post game, and I’m telling Pies fans that they forgot their brain cells at Centrelink, then I can only imagine what is going thru the mind of players who just killed themselves for 2 hours and watched their season end.

Two bloody senior players who give as good as they get. It’s not like May was having a go at Lindsay or Langford for gods sake. Grown competitive men. A non issue.

Melky hitting the post too 😭

I know exactly what Max wanted to do. I just wish that he knew what we all know, which is that he can’t make that kick happen. Max is a champion, but he has to know his limitations. Kicking is his. As for May, I don’t know what he said so I won’t judge him. He was BOG for us and he is a passionate guy. I watched Clarry punched the ground when Max kicked it. They all felt it. I really don’t think Max would take it to heart. They’re big boys who care deeply. And thank god for that. If they didn’t care I’d be worried.

[censored] this corrupt joke of a [censored] competition. And Daicos you are a soft [censored]. Should be ashamed of your carry on like you’re a ballerina. FUUUUUUUUCK

These umpires need to GO AND GET [censored]

Lever is out here warming up. Yet to spot Clarry but it’s very hard to tell as not everyone is training on the ground.

Petty has proven himself at this level 100 times over Jefferson, and gives us the flexibility to send him down back if one of their talls gets off the leash, or we want to swap him and Turner around. Unfortunately Jefferson has no versatility. He can’t ruck or defend, which is unfortunate, because on form the last two weeks he deserves a game.

JVR is in ahead of Jefferson because he can ruck. End of story. It’s not that deep.

Howes was earmarked a while ago as someone who can play wing. So possibly wing or perhaps half back and Windsor goes back to wing. I think Howes was sort of pushed into a backline role out of necessity, but it’s not necessarily where the club wants him to play long term. He is a beautiful user of the footy, and good overhead. So actually wing is a role he would be well suited to. Of course the other option is he replaces Turner down back and we play Turner Roo and Petty up forward, which has been my dream all year!

Turned this game on and then immediately off No thank you

The goal kicking

Trac filming this riveting game. Hot tip Trac: this won’t get many likes on TikTok.

Laurie really enjoying the conditions

Sestan a late out… debut for Monday??

Watching Brisbane kick 900 behinds to lose the game