The heart beats true

The fitness was glaringly obvious at the ground. Honestly they clung to that win for the last 10 minutes. It was an admirable effort, but they were shot, and we looked much fitter. Why I’m disappointed not to win the lesson for our boys is obvious. We have the legs, but we need a better plan for pulling teams out when they flood back - especially when we don’t have more contested marking players ahead of the ball. We also would be furious at the centre clearance goals we gave up to start the 4th. One less of those and we win. I’d be really surprised if Carlton can keep this up for another 6 weeks. They had 7 scoring shots to 10 after half time, but managed 6 goals (we went 5.5). That game goes for 1 minute longer in either the 3rd or 4th term and we would have won. Also, just to be clear, we did win. I still can’t believe there was ‘insufficient evidence’ that the ball was touched. If the ARC weren’t told of the umpires call they’d say that was a clear goal. They had their opinion swayed by the goal umpire because the angle that shows the ball wasn’t touched was the angle the goal umpire saw. If you showed that goal line footage to 10 people and asked them to say where was it touched all 10 of them would say it wasn’t. That the ARC is made aware of the goal umpires opinion is a clear fault in the system.

I don't think that's fair. Kane Cornes really rates us.

That was it! When you went did Tom Browne doorstop you for an interview, so you pretended to be on the phone?

This place looked very different to me. It was in a tight street - but Max could have gone to the regular place and just got a [censored] park.

The way I’ve heard what they are currently attempting to develop (and this was discussed by football journos, so take that for what it’s worth) is that it’s essentially 2 data points tracked at either end of the ball. The theory being that they then can measure the rotation of the ball through the time it could have come into contact with a player and evaluate if the trajectory shifts at all off the expected path. I imagine it’s similar to the ball path technology they use in the DRS for the cricket. So, if I understand it correctly, last night they would have been able to see if the ball deviated less than .01% of its expected path in the time it could have come in contact with a hand. If they get it right it’ll be a huge improvement. I also imagine it’ll help predict where the ball is when it travels high and the goal umpire asks to check - and all we have is vision from a camera 200 metres away at a weird angle.

No. History tells us that the ladder is a very good indicator of premiership credentials by August. It specifically tells us that finishing in the top 4 makes you 95% more likely to win the flag compared to other top 8 teams. We will finish top 4, hence we are in an excellent position. On top of that equation 2 of the other top 4 teams have very poor records at the MCG. So basically we are second favourites for the flag. But don’t just take my word for it. Shockingly there’s actually an independent industry filled with football mad people who wage money on what they see each week. They also have us second favourite. Hold your breath, because this might be hard to hear - we are a really good side, and have been since round 1 2021.

Channel 7 said it was a routine follow up appointment this afternoon (after reporting on it earlier in the day). Possibly a follow up knee scan to see how it’s looking. They specifically said ‘nothing to see here’. It did make me wonder how the cameras knew to go to the exact scanning place on a Sunday morning at 11am.

Any idea how they do this? I sat near the boundary for the first time in years last night and the abuse was wild. I know we did some chant stuff before we paid Collingwood, but I’d be fascinated to know how they prepare for that noise and abuse if anyone knows.

It’s all your fault! Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

This is horrible from GWS. They’ve choked.

That was the kick. Salem looked set to be in the top 20 players in the comp 2 years ago. His injuries and illness have crippled him.

I often wonder how in Australian culture ‘Muppet’ became a derogatory term? The Muppets are some of the best entertainment ever, and Jim Henson is a creative genius. Muppet is far too good a word.

My call for next week, based on watching Casey, is that Hibbo starts, Smith goes forward, Spargo comes in and JJ goes out. Spargo was really good, and was actively trying to put his hand up today. With that set up we get a few weeks to look at a more agile forward line, and Melk and Smith get to fight out a spot before Fritta comes back. I also think if we are smaller forward of the ball, we need elite kicking and more players running at the kicker - Spargo.

Watching the Richmond game and they took 90 seconds to decide if Riewoldt took a mark on the line or not. Last night they made a game deciding call in 35 seconds.

Look, no one wants to hear it now, but this Port game is why we shouldn’t sell games to NT. Why would we give up home ground advantage in such a tight race? Lost that by less than a goal. If that was 4 points we are second. Its a losing mentality selling games.

Fair enough. When I watch the video of the goal line angle he clearly doesn’t touch the ball. I feel like the ARC didn’t take the necessary time. They are now sacrificing decision making for time efficiency, because everyone was getting annoyed with the process mid season. There’s no evidence that the ball was ever touched. It was a mistake, which I can live with. What I can’t live with is that the system is designed to mitigate errors, and in this case I think all it did was highlight its own inabilities. I also think the argument that it was clearly not touched, and that the technology isn’t good enough aren’t mutually exclusive. The tech isn’t designed for our game, and it isn’t uniformly incorporated at all games. We should expect a better system. The AFL expects players to make split second decisions correctly or miss games, yet it can’t design a decision making system for goals that does the same thing with the luxury of a lot more time. Thom Browne said this morning on Seven that the AFL is working on ball trajectory tech. Hope that’s the answer.

If this isn’t definitive then nothing is. He missed the ball by a foot. Why have the ARC if it doesn’t overturn a clear mistake?

Exactly. I still haven’t seen any footage that shows he touched the ball. 4 angles. None show a touch. How is that insufficient evidence? What, they needed a 5th camera angle to make a decision.

Carlton don’t deserve to win this. Sound familiar?

Spargo will play seniors next week. Disposal forward is more critical without 2 contested markers forward.

Ok, and which key forward was on the market last year?

That was Dogga Browns son.

I reckon he’s a 2025 prospect. Might sneak in for a late game next year.

‘Starship Jefferson’ is the kind of brilliant nickname supporters love, and 19 year old players think ‘I don’t get it’.

Matty Jefferson is developing really well. As the year goes on he seems to be figuring out his role.