Undeeterred

Well, yes. But Frawley 1 premiership. Melbourne 0.

Right! I've watched four I think and not even noticed it... Haha

This umpiring is disgusting. And the new deliberate rule is an utter stinker.

Really? I completely missed it! Seems like a cheap advertising stunt that creates an uneven playing field.

What's with this 'Tissot' clock on the boundary fences, showing the time left in the game? Have I missed something? Why should these two teams get a count down clock if nobody else does??

As much as I'm glad we are rid of Frawley, gee it grates watching him play in a winning team.

You usually are pretty intelligent, but you've obviously misread my post. I've said very little negative about Watts, probably ever. And I've certainly never questioned his disposal. I'm questioning people who pretend now that he's come out of his shell that they have always kept the faith and been supportive of him, when in fact they tee off at him every chance they get.

Such aggression! No need for shouting mate. Talking louder is no way to refute an argument.

Humphrey has clearly made an impression in his 10 years in the league...

At least a few weeks away, I would think. He won't play until after Collingwood at the very least.

Double edged sword, I reckon. A couple of times he stops playing the ball and whinges at the umpires - that has to stop. Also had a couple of cracks at the delivery yesterday, which is fine, but not a great look when you're screaming at your teammates and throwing your arms in the air....

Sure, but you also take every opportunity to sink the boots in when the opportunity arises, then cloak it in the pretense that you've always thought he was amazing. You're not the only one, don't get me wrong.

Complete peanut and always has been.

I love how many people who are just unrelentingly anti-Watts always pipe up with something like 'oh, well, I've always maintained he has elite disposal' when he plays well. Get your hand off it and stop having two bob each way.

And after the coaching team had given him a rocket by sticking him in midfield so he would be forced to break out of a jog. If he led hard today, he could have kicked 6 no troubles.

I find that extremely hard to believe.

He won't be dropped but he was awful today. Just a terrible decision maker and is starting to be shown up by others who will eventually pass him by. That is such a shame because he is a great mark and can be a beautiful kick.

Great game to be at today... My take aways: If we are going to push up that high against fast teams, we have to keep the ball in because once it's out the back, we are stuffed. Watts should never have been moved out of the forward line. More importantly, he knows exactly where to kick it to Hogan's advantage and Hogan dead set loves him for it. Hogan will tear a few teams a new one when he finally clicks into gear. Pressure goals too, and never in doubt. But they need to give him more space! Also, pushing him up the ground (including into a centre bounce at one point) was a master stroke and got him involved in the game. Tom McDonald was immense and has changed his kicking action I reckon. He keeps his hand on the ball much later into the drop and kicks it much lower to the ground. Made some sensational play today. Oliver. Wow. Takes the extra half second to make a great decision. Tyson, Bugg and Frost will be the first three out after Harmes. Funny that they are the ones GWS didn't mind letting go. Vince looked old and slow today, but will bounce back, Vandenburg is hugely underrated and incredibly important to us. A great mark. There's a place for Matt Jones, much as I hate to say it. Didn't put a foot wrong today. Kennedy was an inspired pick up.

And Collingwood are down by 90 points. Could this day get any better?

Yeah, ok, fair point. I thought you were more heading down the fines/charges route (which basically doesn't happen). Ben Cousins was charged with other stuff like avoiding breath tests etc, not using per se.

Not really. Users are not targeted for consequences in reality.

Why the hell do we care? This testing was done in the offseason and in players' private time. It's just none of anyone's business what they do provided they are not taking anything performance enhancing. I'd venture a guess that if you randomly drug tested any batch of 25 year old Australian men, around a quarter of them will test positive to illicit drugs. it's an issue for society at large. Total non-issue for the football world.

I'm not sure about this philosophy - I would have thought a Round 1 is pretty bloody important for us this year.

What's the word around the place? Are they waiting to see how much Jesse wants before working how much is left for everybody else? Or is everybody else waiting to see what Jesse will do before committing?

That Pedersen video is hilarious. He literally throws him horizontally - it's not even really a tackle