Lucifers Hero

Wouldn't want you to miss the game.

Not sure. I didn't notice the umpire but you could be right.

A 70,000 crowd. Was in the Ponsford stand and from MCC Reserve all the way round to the AFL Reserve it looked like 60% Rich 40% Dee fans. Obviously couldn't see into the Ponsford stand. 70,000 would be close to the highest crowd this year. People are getting used to digital ticketing and more confident re covid and public transport. It was a phenomenal effort for so many Dees fans to turn up for an away game.

Sitting at the Ponsford stand end, many of the 13 points in the 1st and 3rd quarters came from old selfish habits with speccy kicks hoping for the 'hero' goal. Just didn't look for a better placed teammate. Often there was little pressure. Some poor decision making didn't help like when Fritsch marked about 30 mtr from goal at an ok angle and swung round for a snap at goal. It should have been a regulation goal for him. The play wasn't so easy to detect when we kicked to the Punt Rd end so others might comment on the missed shots in the 2nd qtr. Hopefully, they get a bit of a rev up about team play.

Dockers have a good defence. In their 5 winning games they have given up scores of: 82 (Crows), 47 (Eagles), 54 (Giants), 59 (Ess) and 62 Carlton. That is very similar to our goal since 2020 of keeping the ops to about 60pts a game. Freo are September bound. Not so sure about Saints and Carlton. Saints (and some other teams) could get in on a 'Bradbury' basis. Bulldogs have very slim chance as they need to win at least 11 of the next 16 games to be certain. I watched the second half last night and Carlton were like witches hats. So many easy possessions by Freo without anyone chasing or pressure. I look forward to when the newbie clubs in the top 8 start playing some of the stronger defensive clubs in the top 8. Then we get a real gauge on how good they are.

Hope they have fun!

This report of Brayshaw and Jackson, suggests Jackson will sign until his FA year ie an additional 5 years until end of 2027. luke-jackson-offers-western-australian-clubs "And while the Demons are believed to be confident both players are close to signing extensions — in Jackson’s case, until his free agency year — Browne reports the pair remain happy to wait it out". Not sure where all the doubt comes from and the talk of big offers doesn't seem relevant. Click bait, I suppose. Woo Hoo! Jackson for another 5 years!!

In addition to the ducking, tilt of the head, dropping knees that lead to the 'head high' there are the 'holding' frees where a player lets go of the ball as the tackler touches him and leans back ditto when going for a mark a player leans back. Then there is the allowing of 'throws' when players scoop the ball out double handed - they are not hand-balls, which is a real skill. Buckley recently talked about 'dropping his centre of gravity' when commentating a Pies game. Generally that s 'dropping the knees, so no free. He also said players are training to use two hands when close to the ground ie scoop/throw the ball. Players are becoming very adept at these tricks. The genie is out of the bottle and there is no going back. If the AFL don't stop the Weightman's of the world (and we have a few players who are also guilty) dubious frees will take over the game. We will end up with a lot more of them and a lot more 'dissent'.

Hardwick: Clever? Subtle? Can't see it, tbh.

If clubs want to rest a player I doubt they would play the covid card, it is just too serious an issue and what if they really got in a few weeks? If they wanted to keep an injury a secret they could say hamstring tightness or something equally nebulous.

Unbelievable that a player openly admits he 'creates' the free.. Surely the AFL and umpires should take note. It is not a skill! It is cheating. It is staging or exaggeration and not in the spirit of the game.. The amount of staging for frees is out of control. Coaches are openly talking about training players on how to draw free kicks. Now we have Hardwick saying they will go to umpires to learn how to draw free kicks!! hardwick-says-tigers-must-learn-how-to-win-frees The playing for frees is spoiling the game as a spectator. Surely, the AFL realise all this is making a mockery of the rules.

I haven't checked all the states. The pattern seems to be Vic and NSW act in lock-step re covid rules then other east coast states gradually follow. Gil has said the game will go on and clubs use top players if necessary. He has walked this talk when Eagles couldn't field an AFL team. Yes, WA will and have had lost more players to covid protocols. I assume that if there is an east coast player who is a close contact and his team play interstate the player will have to follow its iso rules. Other than that most teams will only lose a player when he tests positive.

Now that close contacts will no longer need to isolate, at least not in Vic and NSW, we are less likely to lose a player for covid protocols. Only a matter of time before other east coast teams follow suit.

Very clever bbtb. Ironically, his arms at training are in the same spot as when he was called for 'dissent' vs GWS, roughly waist height.

Good to see Petracca training without knee strapping. Played a very good game vs Giants so can expect more of the same in the coming weeks.

Sometimes, umpires struggle to count the 50m correctly so too many penalties might generate a different sort of umpire outrage from fans. I like your first suggestion best: 25m and 50m.

Not to mention moving his toe when told to 'stand'! Or following opponent who has led you near the no-go zone of his teammate ready to kick. You make a very good point. If there was a 25m penalty their would be less outrage over these 'lesser' sins even if there is a rare 'slippage'.

Agreed. And what happens when that is replayed on the big screen at the ground, which broadcasts will do as it is part of the theatre. The next time a player on that field 'dissents' what is the umpire to do. Damned if he penalises and damned if he doesn't.

My favourite Umpire abuse?

The arm raising is in the 'dissent' part of the rules rather than the 'abuse' part. 'Abuse' is relatively clear. 'Dissent' needs to be defined, communicated and then applied consistently. Laughingly, the AFL term for penalising Andrews, Oliver, Mitchell et al and not other and more demonstrative arm raising/glaring at the umpire this weekend, is saying it was 'slippage'. Grammatically correct but it just looks like more AFL excuses. LOL, AFL call it for what it is: The 'dissent' rule isn't working and its application is badly affecting the 'optics' of the game both the on-field play and off-field enjoyment/perceptions. The mistake isn't that of umpires and to say it is 'slippage' is making it their issue. The problem is lack of definition and communication by the AFL to umpires and to players.

Must now be seen to support his twin bro; the AFL rule maker.

This prompted me to see how the current top 8 sides have fared this year against each other: Of the 40 games so far only 10 have been between current top 8 sides. Games played vs each other, In order of the current ladder: Demons: 0 Lions: 1 (Beat Magpies) Dockers: 1 (Loss to Saints) Saints: 2 (Beat Dockers; Loss to Magpies) Swans: 1 (Beat Cats) Blues: 0 Cats: 3 (Beat Lions and Magpies; Lost to Swans) Magpies: 3 (Beat Saints; Loss to Lions and Cats) It looks like there will be a bit of a shakeout coming when these teams start playing each other (and some play each other twice). Saints, Blues, Dockers and Magpies would have expected 'easier' fixtures this year but given the 2021 ladder is a bit upside down that may not be the case. The top 4 are still likely to be Demons, Lions, Swans and Cats. Roll a dice for the rest and who might replace them.

From 22 lists, I reckon the priorities are Jackson, Brayshaw, Spargo and the two most recent draftees Laurie and Rosman and contracts will happen in due course, if they choose to stay. For the others it will be a case of wait and see and take their chances getting into the best 22 or look for another club. Would dearly love for Hunt to stay but fear he is not on the priority list. Chandler will be upgraded to the senior list. Not sure about the rest of the rookies.

Ha, ha. Just saw your post but a tad late as I waded through the now 26 pages on bf to find a dozen posts relevant to our game. Such a grind. If people thiink we whinge a lot they could try the tigers bf post game pages, altho I don't really recommend it. So, the 'What Did They Say' thread is open.

It seems Tiger fans have turned their attention to the next game. From 'Punt Road End': The gloomy: Can we forfeit this game. How did the VFL game go today? Could be a smashing on the cards, particularly if they open Richmond up early in the game. The Dees will obliterate us Along with the green flogs loving them so much. Might break the free kick count record next week. Rolling Jesus of the bench won't help next week. The MC have to take the bull by the horns and start blooding more of our kids as it is obvious some of our established stars are currently not up to it. We also want players who can play four quarters and not cameos I didn't see the game yesterday so have no idea. Except to say God help us against the Dees Sorry I can't watch this....I have to wash my hair It's a toss up whether I'll watch the grass grow or the paint dry. Melbourne will be a formidable opponent to combat. It could get ugly for Richmond. Out: Rnd 6. In: Bye Most satisfying aspect of this year would be to see the Dees denied a B2B. Three key midfield suppliers for the Dees, Langdon, Trac, Oliver.Tackle hard and make them pay. Again, we must always have one defender zone behind Fritsch. He marks from behind, he is similar to Dogs' Picken in the 2016 GF. Miller running through Fritsch would lift the young fella's confidence. The Dees are my most hated team this year. Dees and daylight. Some optimism, sort of: Actually, I think the underdog has won every one of our games this year. We might be a chance. This time last week I was confident. Last night I doubted. Now, ableit a few drinks deep, I am confident. Let's do these xxxxx on the big stage. Max Gawn is obviously huge for them , so I’d bring back in Soldo , the tag team has been great in the past against good rucks. How hilarious would it be if we turned em over tho Response from another poster: Not sure about "hilarious" though, craig. Reckon I would drop dead from surprise if that were to eventruate!! My absolute favourite: Aside from us winning it, there would be nothing better than seeing Melbourne beat Geelong in the Grand Final. Can you imagine it? It would do C.Snott's head in. Geelong losing another GF to a side going for back-to-back ... a side who has been no-hopers for much of his footballing life. Make it happen. From Bigfooty After being fixated with the lop sided free kick count on Saturday they have turned their attention to our game. They seem to think the free kicks were AFL payback on Dimma and Dimma didn't say anything about the umpiring as they think he's been muzzled by AFL after choice comments like: past anti umpire comments, not wanting to play at Marvel stadium, blaming Dan's close contact rules for having one player out, etc. The gloomy: I can’t see how Reiwoldt plays next week He’s a dinosaur now and the ball just pinged out of our forward line. dees look [censored] tonight if they bring that next week we'll beat em We will lose next week because Melbourne are too good, but should have won today. Not sure the team will give a fu** enough to fight back from 2-4 after the [censored] they had to deal with today. The minute silence won’t be just for the Anzacs but our season. Could get ugly lol We’ll lose by 100 next week gws won the free kick count 24-18 tonight against the shemans at the G. that will be corrected next week by the umps Am I the only one that still does not rate Melb? Lol ... ...Yeah I don’t think they really have a weak spot over the whole ground , there not even out of second gear and they won by 70 points Paint the picture. Dees win 24 straight. Unbackable shortest odds in history entering the GF and then half their team out with....well you know health and safety protocols. Oh the outrage from the cough,cough AFL boys club. They would postpone the GF for one week just to let them play I reckon. Well good luck at least half filling the G next week. Constant anti-tigers umpiring, poor selections, [censored] timeslot, who would even bother considering who we are playing. Some optimism: dusty back next week. sauce? can't reveal my sauces they just said dees haven't lost in 267 days we're gonna win next week they have beaten dogs by 26, suns by 13 , bummers by 29 , port by 32 and gws by 67. we'll get em imo Next week's going to be a very interesting match. Watched the ski brigade beat GWS after our game and it was their first really ominous performance of the year, they were very good. Prior to that, I would have said we were a red hot chance to knock them off. As things stand, I still believe that back at the 'G we're a chance, but we'll need to play far better and hope a few things go our way. This bigfooty part shows why it is really good that DL keep the 'post game' and the 'next week' threads separate. I had to wade through 26 pages of whinging!