Ouch!

Until the AFL can get it's rules into order, umpiring will continue to weighted toward subjectivie decision making, as opposed to objective decision making, subjectivity in turn is influenced by external factors such as the crowds screaming for free's to be paid etc. If our rules were more defined and clear cut, you eliminate or at least reduce the bias that occurs in games.

Totally agree, Free agency is really all about salary space... also crucially it is something that you need to be decisive when the club sits in that window of being a 'destination' club. A destination club sells the future (and presumably premierships) to prospective free agents as along with the contract. Non-destination clubs really only have the contract that they can offer to free agents. They also risk having to pay overs as well. Lesser known free agents may be lured by the appeal of more game time, or a specific role in the team, but the bigger free agent names already get that!

I would have liked him to have knocked the door down re form. Question for me will be whether Hunt is the only change this week.

.... Gawn walking laps is still more training than Buddy has managed this year apparently!

This whole thing is very emotive, even Pavlich and Ross Lyon are being a little 'expansive' with the truth, both saying that the hit was 100 meters off the ball, blah blah.... You can clearly see it's only about 20-30 meters in front of the ball. Media and Journos seem to be getting carried away in the hype,... Can't recall an AFL season with so much going on this late in the season!!!

I read on news.com.au that Gaff has flown to Melbourne to attend the tribunal hearing in person tonight.

Shocking act, AFL needs to make an example of it BUT. I don't think for a minute Gaff intended to strike him in the face, in my opinion the action is reminscent of what a lot of players do to strike the arm/chest etc in order to break a tag or run off their opponent, but Gaff in this case misjudged his aim very badly, and the resultant injury is horrific and he's done for the year... and possibly then some. The hysteria on social media and by all and sundry is getting too much however. Let the tribunal judge him, and lets see where it goes from there. The talk about criminal charges ... dunno bout that, it's not condoned, and was a brutal hit on Brayshaw, but I don't think that these lawyers are helping anyone (except for their own profiles) by making comment. Leigh Matthews is even worse, he was a known thug in his playing career, I don't remember how many people he hit whilst on the field, but he should just shut up and stay out of it. What the AFL needs to come out and say as a result of this incident is that any striking actions (jumper punches etc) are going to be treated with a lot more severity. They cracked down on it last year.... for all of three weeks,.... and then let it go again, players get a fine at most. Don't fine the players, suspend them from games, that hurts the club AND the player. EDIT: Oh and if they are mates off field (including Hamish) it does add another level of intrigue to the whole thing. Won't change the impact of what has happened, nor the outcome, but I suspect the family will accept the apology knowing the person behind it a little moreso than it would from a stranger!

The main thing I took away from the game is that he was able to adapt to the pace of the game which is great. Often a lot of players (Trenners is one I recall) struggle to pick up the pace of the game, Vanders seemed comfortable in that aspect of the game!

You would have to wonder at the Dockers chosing to take him more than anything else. He might have survived in Melb for a bit longer... who knows. There are always players that people are astounded at why they never get drafted..... or seen as a 'steal' when in fact the mental aspects of playing in an elite sport as you say, is becoming more and more focused upon and impacting their place int he draft.

I don't mind the idea of expanding the competition, but certainly the timing is critical. This year and the next couple are going to be crucial for both the WBBL and AFLW. They have both received a massive step up to being a premium women's sports products in Australia, and they have to continue to show growth and interest from spectators, membership etc... Other more 'traditional' womens sports haven't had this opportunity for media spotlight as easy as it has been for Cricket and AFL, although netball is getting some publicity through it's F2A deal on TV. Why Daisy is 100% right is that traditionally AFL is seen as a men's sport and for the AFL to treat it as anything other than the showpiece and pinnacle of the sport for women, shows they aren't serious about it's success. They can't afford to allow it to lose momentum and fall away. Give the girls the chance to prove themselves in a competition that is equitable, i.e play each team once with finals. Sheesh, they can't even manage that with the men's comp currently!

Can I just add, that Daisy is probably only a shade behind Maxy in terms of being the MFC's best media performer. Insightful perspective on the game, and comes across extremely naturally on Radio and Television. Also agree with her, it's a total joke to have a 6 week competition for 10 teams... Especially if they have plans to add a further two teams in a couple more years. Women's football is perhaps one of the greatest growth areas for the AFL, I believe it's a massive part of why we have record membership numbers this year, and locally here in Tassie, it's very noticeable that the game has taken off for women's footy.

Maybe a little harsh, I think having Kent, AVB and Bugg in the wings is actually quite decent in terms of depth. Hannan is another that could have been an option, but under his own injury cloud.

He obviously didn't look at the Rnd22 fixture. The comment was more focused on Friday night's game is the showpiece game, and that the GWS v Dees game on paper looks like the best game of the round.

sounds like it depends on the player too. NicNat took close to 18 months to recover, not sure of if he had complications, but they indicated that heavier players take longer than midfielders...

He's not a finished product, but Jones wasn't either at ANB's age. Always thought early on Jones used to bomb the ball without thinking, just rushing the kick into the forward line. He's never going to be one of our stars, but he's a role player and does what is asked of him by the coaches. He's the type of player that will rarely get the accolades in a win, but is the first to be picked out in a loss.

The guy is a legend already, and it's growing even more. AFL needs more characters, and I'd be amazed if he is not in the top 3 marketable players in the game, ... he's well past being on the cusp of the top 10.

.... wait for the replay and watch it again!

won't be done though Gonzo, media commitments require x number of games, the cost hit to revenue would be massive. Unless they sell a pre season comp, but no-one wants to see AFL-X. Still need to guarantee a fixture of 23 rounds plus finals... Actually AFL-X has not been mentioned in the 2019 fixture has it? just the JLT??

I'd still like to see the change to 17 games home and away against the other teams, alternating home and away across two years, then after round 17 splitting the teams into the groups of 6. We aren't going to get a 34 game season, this seems the fairest, providing that they can work out what happens with: Who gets home and away fixtures after round 17 (more a logistics and stadium management issue I suspect) How the positions on the ladder at the end of round 23 impacts draft position. It's pretty clear how the top 12 would sit... but you need to incentives winning in the bottom 6, without disadvantaging the basket cases at the bottom of the ladder. Managing any fallout from double headers (QClash, Showdowns etc...) and placating the bigger clubs who insist on having double headers. I think you can still facilitate Anzac Day, Queens Birthday clashes, and the marquee games easily enough... If the AFL wants to have a fixture that is equal and unbiased, I can't see anything else out there that is anywhere close to this. I'd hate to see conferences introduced.

Similar feeling here Nasher, The game has a huge impact on whether we play finals or not, i think our last 3 weeks has been pretty good, we should have beaten Port other than a misfiring effort into our forward line, and the last two weeks albeit against bottom teams has been good. I am confident our team has the ability to beat Geelong. But I am not equating that to being confident about winning. First quarter will be the telling part for me, within a goal or leading.

I thought that all players were supposed to report even the most minor of niggles to the medicos? With that being the case, I suspect Viney didn't inform the club that his foot was sore, which after the time it has taken to heal earlier this year seems really odd. I guess that part of it is trying to work out what 'type of soreness' we are talking about, ie general wear and tear or stress/load related. Either way... disappointing outcome for Viney and the club going into finals. I know the club is saying it will be conservative this time round, but I'd prefer they hold out and try and get him ready for the GWS game. Sydney might be a game too soon, and Optus Stadium is still quite a hard surface isn't it?

Great end to the season coming up, I agree with a lot of comments here stating that we could win or lose 5 of the 6 games remaining depending on who turns up. However I think that is because there are still a lot CURRENTLY in contention. For instance if Adelaide lose to Brisbane this week, which could occur given Brisbane's form. If that happens expect to see a few players put into cotton wool. Adelaide are very keen to get the best outcome from the draft this year. If they are out of contention next week,... suddenly the game against us is easier. It's definitely a season where you can only focus on one week at a time. 2 games covering 3rd to 10th.

I agree with your comment if we are measuring as 'ultimate success' i.e in terms of premierships. However if we are talking in terms of a team and their likelihood to front up to a game ... or a season and not have any hope except for the following seasons draft.... all supporters want a premiership, but we are sustained by watching our teams play week to week. Fronting up knowing that the odds see you getting flogged by the opposition .... sustained periods of that scars clubs and supporters! I haven't got a lot of doggies supporters as mates, but how would they feel at the moment, on one hand they got a premiership, but the success was so short lived that the premiership might actually feel bitter sweet. They are now seen as 'one hit wonders' and every subsequent season to that premiership has been deemed as a massive disappointment... and it's not like built towards a premiership at their peak, they fluked it on a 4-5 week hot streak!

Yep, When a team is down, you expect to see the wheel turn, however it took a very long time for our club to turn things around, Carlton arguably are taking even longer than we did. Gold Coast and Brisbane similarly, although the Lions look ok in the next couple of years. Free Agency has not helped the plight of supporters at the base of the ladder, one bit! But again it's not easy for the players to be smashed for so long either. It's a key reasons why the MFC has to take on some opportunities with Free Agency (like Gaff etc) because they are the free hits that we get whilst we are seen as a destination club on the way up... and it's why your list managers are probably the most crucial member of the football dept.

I can see the Saints smashing Carlton tonight. Harry Mckay having a strong game, which just piles more pressure on Bolton. Carlton are in a horrible state. Its so bad that it's not even amusing to make fun of their supporters anymore ? ... and we've been there!