The heart beats true

Imagine putting in a poor performance for us with Salem, Viney, Lever, TMac, Hibberd, Tomlinson, Melksham, Bedford, Chandler, Majak, and Mitch Brown ready to come in. In all seriousness that is half of an AFL quality side ready to go.

These numbers are out. Richmond should have one more ‘free kick’ courtesy of Cotchin. In all seriousness had there been better vision of that incident, and had it been Alex Neal Bullen kicking Joel Selwood, ANB would have been rubbed out for 6 weeks. Do the media do anything any more? Clearly not report on incidence in the actual games.

This entire thing is a classic example of how the AFL ignores it’s stakeholders. They sent out a memo to clubs after round 3, but did absolutely nothing to inform the millions of people who watch the game about how the rule was going to be adjudicated. It seems incredibly arrogant. Seeing a smug Scott brother explain to us that we should have known it was going to be like this only makes it much, much worse.

I think, as others have mentioned, it should just be a stringent return to the ‘abuse’ ruling. Players putting their hands out in confusion feels like an overreaction - but any player uttering anything to the umpire is an instant 50. It often feels like things go too far before they settle at a place that the AFL community learns to live with. I think we are in that stage, but it’ll calm down.

I don’t think we are traveling that badly in terms of supporters. It was a terrible time slot against a team with literally zero local support. Membership and sponsorship is where the money is, and I think we are on track to have a record breaking year with both. No need to wring our hands over everything. We’re going well.

She paid a free kick for a push that wasn’t at all a push and would result in 300 free kicks a game of that’s what counts as a push.

I agree. ‘They’ are an absolute disgrace as an umpire and have zero game sense. Some of their decisions in that quarter were just in complete disregard for the way the game is played.

Terrible day for the AFL. I think Good Friday is a free hit in terms of entertainment, and they serve up this garbage.

This Good Friday ‘blockbuster’ is taking the theme of penance too literally. I don’t know what we all did wrong, but it was obviously really, really bad.

It’s going to be a long night for you.

Congratulations to Jeremy Howe - who after 100 games as a Demon went to Collingwood so he could finally be a forward. That lasted 2 games and he’s played the last 98 in defence - to bring up his 200. Meanwhile all his mates got a flag sticking with the Dees.

Living up to your name Franky.

Petty in, Tomlinson out

Im not sure why some folks continue to think Petty would ever play forward given we’ve spent the last 4 years developing and playing him as a defender. It’s not exactly Goodwin’s playbook to swing the magnets on the board - in fact I’d say it’s the antithesis of his coaching philosophy.

There is one glaring omission - The AFLW didn’t complete. So it’s a kind of paradox of quantum superposition given that this argument both proves and disproves Gil’s value.

If I had to work with Dwayne Russell I’d have a lot of ‘other commitments’ too.

I somehow seem to have caught a bit of Jordie speaking on various shows over the last few weeks. I find him knowledgeable without being sensationalistic. I’ve noticed that his relationship with Melbourne seems very immediate. He’s nostalgic about Hawthorn - but there’s very, very few players left from that era, and he watched as many of his mates left (some of them in circumstances that we now know were less than ideal). He has a lot of the older brother vibe with our players. I think they treated him with a bit of reverence in his time at the club and he appreciated it. He’s genuinely happy with where the clubs at, and he seems proud of his contribution - as he should be.

Yep, purely from a spectators perspective you can explain the stand rule simply. The ruck rules are like alchemy with a touch of reiki thrown in. It’s impossible to understand what’s going on. I’d also back up your argument for the deliberate rule - simply because the umpire justifies it by saying ‘insufficient intent’. So now he’s a mind reader?

Having done a bit of work with Disney over the years I’d suggest that it’s a very different role. While there are similarities with licensing and marketing that’s where it ends. Disney is renowned for the strictest orders coming down from global HQ, where as the AFL gig is a moving feast that plays out in the court of popular opinion on a daily basis. The Disney job is incredibly difficult, but it doesn’t have the same level of exposure, and the diversity of stakeholders. It also depends on how the AFL perceive the job role. Is it about growth in talent, or growth in market? Kylie would most definitely have her finger on the pulse of kids, and bring some new ideas to getting them engaged (both as participants and viewers) - which most of us will probably hate. I’d be backing the bloke on the inside all the way. The AFL probably perceive it as best for their internal culture too - everyone steps up etc.

I think Bedford is clearly doing a lot of things right in the eyes of the coaches. His intensity seems to have really lifted, which is a credit to him. Im not sure I agree with the idea that you need to dominate at VFL level. Bowey looked handy and clean at that level, but certainly never dominated. Brown looked out of form last year in the VFL and then came into the seniors and looked clean and assured. The system at VFL level is quite different because of the experience of the players, and that a 3rd of them aren’t able to be full time footballers. Forward of the ball you don’t get the pressure you would at AFL level, but also not the clean delivery and consistency of team structure. I think that works against all the boys mentioned here and the role they play. Ultimately Laurie was rated highly in his draft year with skill and poise. On bigger grounds and with better system he’s got the most upside for mine.

Bulldogs have no defenders. They really might struggle to make the 8 if they don’t get better behind the ball.

Mitch White is a fantastic servant of our footy club. He’s only 25 but it feels like he’s been around for 15 years.

Collingwood are still Collingwood.

I really can’t get excited for a Geelong win. I just find them to be 4 good players and 18 who drift in and out - all propped up by a considerable home ground advantage. Although Brisbane is starting to look the same.

Right into the danger zone.