Ouch!

Given the way TMac is playing, could Carlton see him as an upgrade in their forward line? it would extend his career further than might be possible with the Dees. He's definitely a better player than Casboult and McGovern, and would provide McKay the support he is sadly lacking at the moment.

I suspect TMac will be the most vulnerable based on BBB having a 4 year contract, and Weid and Jackson being the future of the club. Or we have to be prepared to trial having the three of them playing tall, and sacrificing the Gawn/Jackson experiment which isn't going to happen either, unless we think Jackson could cover Viney's absence ?

That they have salary space? They would have freed up a lot with the debacle of last year (even though they still are copping A big chunk of Treloar's salary) Pretty sure that they will be free of Beams contract payments at the end of this year too, and I can't see how they will not offload at least one more of Sidebottom, Pendles or DeGoey this year, not to mention a few players like Cox, Mayne, Greenwood & Hoskin Elliot. Weid won't be a huge salary, but they are better placed to throw 500-600k or whatever it might take to keep him than we are with our recent signings. If we can sell Weideman on premierships and success then Nth and Collingwood won't have a shot, but if he chases games and money then we are not as strongly placed.

I reckon Nth and Collingwood would definitely be two of the four clubs, thinking Geelong and Gold Coast could be the other two. He's out of contract and Nth and Collingwood are not going to rise too much further up the ladder this season. I'm as scared about him walking to the pies through the PSD on a big salary as anything here. People should not kid themselves that it might not happen, they have the space, and I suspect that they will offload a few more poorly thought out contracts (De Goey, Sidebotton) and this might be Pendles last year as well. Aiden Corr and Jack martin both went through via the PSD I think, and Collingwood have stuff all to 'trade' with picks or players. As much as Goodwin is trying to say he's not going anywhere, the media will whip this up as a frenzy until he gets into the team. Great to see TMac for playing well at the moment, but he wouldn't have even been in the side at the start of the year if Brown and Weid were not injured. Why else did the club look to recruit Majak Daw as coverage? I suspect they were pretty nervous about TMac holding up the forward line. But we managed very well without BBB and Weid. Gut feel here is.... which of the 3 tall forwards in TMac, BBB and Weid have consistently shown that they are capable of kicking large bags of goals in a match. To me BBB and the Weid have shown themselves as being more likely to do that. TMac's strength and value at the moment is that he is very good structurally for us up forward, but at best he's good for maybe 3 goals. I don't think that value is there with him on a wing... especially when we will favor run off Langdon ad Hunts side of the ground where possible.

which is a hard one to claim as a priority when we can't even get him into the senior team. But I agree I see him as a priority signing for the club's future. Would be nice to sign at least one of Bedford or Chandler by the end of the year too. I think both have a future at the club, and will play a role this year given the chance!

Interesting that we are appealing, as I think there are a few here who think this warranted a 1 week ban, but because Dangerfield didn't get one why should we. Which I guess is a fair argument, however, technically the mistake was made not giving Danger the ban in the GF rather than the fact that Fritsch is up for a 1 week suspension, so it will be interesting whether the tribunal actually agrees with the precedent. I remember seeing that hit from Bonar on Fritsch at the game and thought it was a high hit off the ball, also saw Gawn copping a bit behind play too, but its a valid call that the media coverage of the hit seems to play more of a role in what Christian focuses on rather than reviewing all game footage.

What was scary was the bit before that as he was coming back into the dug out, he obviously still had his boots on, and looked like he skidded on the studs as he was walking on the concrete, almost looked like he was going to do his other knee the way he started to fall!

I didn’t think, appealing at the tribunal risks extra weeks any more does it?

Sad news for Tommo, has been a key part of the back 6 this year, and cannot be underestimated in allowing May and Lever to play the roles that we need of them. That said I think between Hibberd, Petty and TMac we have options for covering him.

Their next month sees them playing 17th, 16th, 15th and 14th on the ladder, so now is their best chance to snag a win, they barely have a list to chose from though...

I agree 100% he's played well this season, and I love his pressure up in the forward half, but competition for spots will and should put him on notice when he has an ordinary game like that. If our listed players in the VFL continue to play and train strongly, you don't get too many chances. ... unless you are Melky ?

Ins: Weideman, Sparrow and Harmes Out: Tomlinson, Baker and Jones. (Petty in if Fritsch is rubbed out) Baker and Jones didn't play badly, but I think Baker coming in for Viney affected our midfield, Sparrow & Harmes can play in that role. Jones was being dropped, and again didn't play badly but wasn't great. ANB on notice.... Chandler and Bedford looking ok in the VFL to put pressure on his place in the team.

I was at the game yesterday and Baker played a pretty serviceable game, wasn't out best, but was far from our worst. I was surprised at the calls in the post game thread calling for him to be dropped based on his performance yesterday. I suspect that is going to be dropped due to the team bringing in a player like Harmes or Sparrow to cover the role that Viney plays in the team which wasn't something that was possible with the emergencies we took to Hobart. The criticism of his game here is off base and feeks like it's based on 'Match Highlights' or the Kayo Mini rather than the actual game itself. He ran hard all game, doing so on the non preferred wing where we have Langdon tearing it up.

https://www.metrotas.com.au/alerts/travel-advice-for-afl-north-melbourne-v-melbourne-sunday-2-may/ This might help? Free bus service in and out of town for the game

Boon Bay 13 here Nasher, taking my daughter so nothing too rowdy if you don't mind? Mate @ work got offered some tickets via a local basketball club, they gave him the code and it was good for 20 tickets ? I suspect the basketball club was affiliated with North Melb!! hehe.

I am comfortable if he is being managed, but it feels like if we drop him after his 300th that he was 'gifted it' somewhat which isn't a great look. Just a simple comment that we might manage him through interstate games and it was all part of the plan should suffice as an answer if it comes to that. (but managed should be not playing @ Casey either)

Was impressed with what I saw by Deakin Smith too, very lively down back.

I have barely heard anything from training reports about Joel Smith, only thing I can say is that he's not on the injury list? Anyone able to say if he's been training back or forward? if he's training forward then he or Melk are the closest 'like for like' to cover Fritsch for the next week or so, Don't see us needing another tall to replace Fritsch, who is a strong marking creative medium forward that plays tall and small. Making him a hard match up for a defender ... or we change it up and bring in another small like Bedford or Chandler, who seem to be going ok at the moment from all reports.

Just cos this is the membership thread, Anyone know our current 2021 membership total? Surely after a 4-0 start we should be going ok, and we had over 40k before round 1 didn't we?

Ummm, not to derail this conversation, but no you are incorrect there is ‘more equity’ but there is not gender equality here or in most western societies, but don’t worry there are going to be several more people explain that to you in the next few posts I assure you ?

I agree, about maybe being reckless, May had him by the jumper and was slinging/bringing him to the ground, Hawkins flung his arm up after disposing the ball, which might be partially balancing himself, but he seemed to know where May was if you watch his eyes. Match review won’t cite Hawkins, but these things happen a *lot* with Hawkins! Just sayin...

Know any more on this game Clint? My Daughter and I are both members and am keen to go, is the 75% capacity thing an AFL thing or a Vic Health thing? Wasnt sure what the restrictions in Tassie currently are... Hoping the interstate memberships do provide access to the game, but wary that even as members my daughter and I could very easily be separated which is still not fun/ideal.

Gah that GST argument has bugger all bearing on this... the views of the 'larger states' who resent how the feds split up the GST revenue over the 'COMMONWEALTH'. SA, ACT and NT all receive more from other states than they put into the GST pool and it's more a factor of population (baring WA and the mining revenue) SA has two clubs and a population of 1.6-1.7 million? so what makes Tassie so completion unviable with 500k for one team? Over the last 2-3 years Tasmania was the best or second best performing state in the country, factoring in stats like unemployment, business and housing growth... How many clubs currently are completely self sufficient from needing income from the AFL? Tas looking at adopting a module similar to Geelong is what has been suggested in Tasmania with regards to stadium size etc. Geelong has a population of approximately 200k doesn't it? Hobart is about 250k. I still question what the 'improved' TV income from growing into GWS and the GC markets? There are markets there, but has it translated into bigger TV audiences? I suspect that some of the perceived growth is offset by a lack of interest in VIC, SA and WA when their respective teams are playing those teams in empty stadiums. Problem is, ... it's not a good product to watch! The AFL says they are playing the long game in those markets, but they need strong teams, GWS has had success but if they slide down there would be concern from the AFL, as they still bleed heavily with players wanting out. Both of those clubs are owned largely by the AFL underwriting it, and have tiny membership bases to support them. I agree on the current environment argument that you have made, but Tas Gov isn't after an immediate inclusion, they are after a commitment that says that a license is available in 4-5 years. Not unreasonable as a request if the business case has been shown to be sound TBH, and COVID has actually forced the clubs to operate on a leaner more streamlined budget. I like seeing senior coaches actually doing training drills rather than going off to harvard to study in the pre season and leaving it to one of 10 or more development / assistant coaches.

Not true to say no one wants a 19th team, most of the interested parties in Tassie do. I don't have a problem with a 19th team, we have 3 reduced 'bye' rounds now through the course of the year, list sizes are being reduced which should in a limited way assist with the dilution of talent across having more teams, and having more teams in the competition takes us closer to an equitable fixture. current roster (not factoring in COVID)= 9 x 22 rounds = 198 (minus finals) equitable roster for 20 team comp = 10 x 19 rounds = 190 games (minus finals) Its a comparable product to sell for the media, it also allows the AFL some more flexibility in scheduling, and probably is attractive to the AFLPA for the reduced number of games. There are plenty of positives when extending the number of clubs.

Looks like the work experience kid posted something accidentally! That's a weird list, then again Champion Data's definition of Elite has always been .... curious.