Lucifers Hero

One wonders why they didn't negotiate some outdoor time before leaving Perth. They had the same restriction in Brisbane but before leaving Launceston they negotiated a trip to an oval on landing in Brisbane and then free movement between their floors in the hotel. As it is they get no fresh air for nearly two days: Perth hotel, Bus, Plane, Bus, Hotel. Game time. As much as I dislike the Bulldogs this is pretty rough on them. I wonder if it was an oversight to negotiate something like Brisbane.

Beveridge needs to stop whinging. He is now 'warning' Port to not target Bontempelli's knee or their will be 'retribution'! Why flag the severity of the injury. If he isn't fit to withstand a bump or two, targeted or not, then don't play him. He is beginning to sound as rattled as Scott does.

Scott is a bit like 'the boy who cried, wolf'. He has a late change for nearly every game so it surprises no-one when he pulls that trick. It is a silly game he plays. I still think there he will make a late change announced just before final teams are confirmed: about 6pm today.

Yep, on the back of GST they get from the Eastern States. McGowan's smugness knows no bounds: "They will be wildly angry and they will want to undo the GST deal," he said. abc.net.au.wa-budget-5-point-6-billion-surplus-but-no-border-reopening-date

I hope you are right that a state can open up internationally when it reaches 80% regardless of other states. I have a niece, her husband and two gorgeous little boys living in Hong Kong, who can't come home to visit. Hotel quarantine just isn't feasible for boisterous 5 and 7 year olds. All along I've felt it is outrageous to lock Australians out of their home state. Hope your mate gets back soon.

Agreed a hub over here would work. But who knows. How much of a fight will the AFL raise? Just look at how McGowan bragged about having the GF on his terms and didn't pay the AFL a single cent!

The urgency isn't just around catching covid. It is about opening our borders locally and internationally so people OS can come home, visit families, labour shortages can be filled, universities can ramp up their campuses with international students etc. etc etc The longer it takes WA to vaccinate and open borders the longer it will take the rest of the country to effectively open up. McGowan is stretching the National Cabinet's agreed dates of Oct/November to March/April.

It isn't statistical but there are increasing reports that the WA system is under severe pressure without even a single covid case: elective-surgery-postponed-wa-hospital: - Elective surgery cancelled for a month, dramatic increase in ambulance 'ramping' hours and chronic underfunding of health system for several years. So, I am of you view that the WA Premier has reasons to not vaccinate quickly and to keep upping the ante; the latest being 90%, an almost unachievable figure.. His latest is they open their borders in maybe March/April next year. So every likelihood afl teams will still need to go over and quarantine. The problem for the rest of us he makes it harder to reach a national figure of 70% or 80%. Other states will need to go beyond those figures to compensate for WA vaccination shortfall. There are reports suggesting that Qld health system is also stretched. Interestingly, they also have low vaccination rates. I'm not sure they want the country to open borders either.

Have disliked Scofield intensely since he dropped Oliver with an 'elbow upper cut' at a break, was reported, appealed and got off. Media claimed Oliver took a dive. I find that article extremely unpleasant and tbh disrespectful. We were naive on and off the field but what is the point to be dredging that stuff up now. Chest beating, ra ra by yesterday's heroes.

Geelong have named Darcy Fort as an emergency. It was reported he rucked at their training yesterday while Stanley didn't. Tuohy and Henderson also reportedly 'sore'. A late change coming up?

This might be their achilles heel: easy wins so may take a while to wind up to high pressure football in a GF.

Just noticed this in The Age: “There is no doubt that it comes down to execution, but sometimes there are some benefits in not knowing what is in front of you, not having some of the scars that are associated with prelim finals,” Goodwin said. Goodwin now playing mind games! Very subtle. Adding to their mental pressure. Not usually his style. But, love it!! Dees by 3-4 goals!!

Not sure where I picked up the tactical change as I don't watch First Crack. I recall mentioning it somewhere on DL but it didn't take off in the discussion - so many other exciting things to talk about. Agree, Geelong would be acutely aware of what happened. It isn't easy to out coach Scott but Goodwin and co did. I would say that could be a little bit of why Scott sounds rattled, clutching at straws, deriding the good doctor Larkin etc.

Their tagger is Connor and usually goes to Oliver. But by the end of the game he is moved off him. I agree they won't try too hard to tag us, after all who can they use. It will be like robbing Peter to pay Paul for them. They have only a few fully fit mids and will need them to attack. Petracca and Oliver will destroy an unfit player who tries to tag or go with them. Talking of tagging. In the Brisbane game whenever there was a secondary ball up in the middle Zorka guarded Oliver and Viney would stand right behind Zorko. Literally breathing down his neck. Sometimes Viney did it as soon as the ump went to bounce the ball. Zorko had no chance to impacting the game from the middle. I like all these subtle moves (structure/positioning) we ae making during games.

I think we can deal with those challenges and the likes of May and Brown will keep their young charges calm. And, Geelong comments this week make them sound rattled. The round 23 commentary is interesting. Geelong say it was one bad qtr. We know it was a 20 min bitz. iirc we were tried something new in the first half: an extra at stoppages and one less in defence. They walked straight thru our defences. Late in the 2nd qtr or at 3/4 time we reverted back to our normal structure: extra behind the ball, even numbers at stoppages. They weren't ready for the switch and we ran them down. Their scoring dried up and we went on a scoring spree. Scott was out coached but no one will say it publicly.

Agreed. They tried to start fast vs GWS by playing Selwood for 91% of the first quarter in the hope they would get a good lead. But they kicked 2.5. They got an unassailable lead but GWS were easy prey on that day. Selwood's TOG dwindled during the game. In the last 2 games he has been voted among the very worst on the ground. After Danger and Selwood will themselves in the first half I don't know they will have enough spark in the team to keep the momentum going.

They are looking like a team of the walking wounded. Miers, Tuohy didn't train Henderson and Stanley on light duties. The first 3 have not long ago returned from late season injuries. Dangerfield has broken fingers. Rohan and Cameron came back not long ago from hamstring issues. Work them over early, on the bigger Optus Stadium and see how fit they are or are not.

They have picks 10, 29 plus future 1st (likely to be 8 - 12 range). However, they are opting for the draft rather than trade in players. They need to rejuvenate their list. My point was that Freo is the only party potentially interested.

I had heard it was a life sentence. Good to hear you are up to no good again! What about your mate @MoonshadowIs he still locked up?

GFG is priority 1 so holders will get first option. Then p2, p3 and then public. When you buy the tickets you can choose seats or have the system suggest seats. The earlier you get in the more options there will be. To speed things up make sure you have an account set up with Ticketmaster beforehand. Then all you need is the barcodes. If you want to sit with someone buy the tickets on the same transaction so you will need all their barcodes ready.

So is this parole or permanent release...🙃

Silly of Scott to get so wound up about someone's opinion - just ignore it or take a 'straight bat' approach. The pressure is getting to him.

Maybe it is the REAL Mazer and he has already figured it out and if he is true to form on these puzzles, his most recent post is really a cryptic clue...

I know but most things about him annoy me so I was just venting, with a bit of hyperbole.

Strange messaging from Geelong. Scott claims Optus oval helps their game style? Hmmm. Trying to convince the players? Isaac Smith says Lever and May made them look like fools in round 23they-made-us-look-like-fools-cats Guthrie doesn't quite agree: "They are pretty strong comments. I'm surprised Isaac does feel that way. In the end it was a quarter of footy that cost us," Guthrie said. "Personally for me reflecting on the game, those kind of comments, I don't know if I necessarily agree with. "They're quality players and they're going to give us a tough night. Not sure that 'team' are all on the same page. Whereas our messaging is really in sync be it about Jones' opportunity, our readiness, respect for opps etc. Has anyone at Geelong even once spoken of respect for their Ops. I may have missed it. I just see arrogance and smugness from the coach and captain and just about anyone else from there that gets air time.