Lucifers Hero

Not flawed at all. If he had thrown a punch there is clear evidence of threatening behaviour. I have yet to see clear evidence that Toby's behaviour was verbally of physically threatening. Anyway, I've said my piece and will now bow out of the discussion and wait and see what happens.

Love your optimism, od. Agree with your assessment. PF is ours to lose and I don't think we will.

If the umpire hadn't stepped aside there would have been body to body contact. But he did. To me it looks like no body to body contact was made. Brushing of arms is about it. Toby wasn't in his face yelling and screaming like Neale was. Neale showed clear disrespect verbally and physically and got a fine. Toby's 'incident' looks much more tame than Neale's and should get the same or a lesser penalty.

Close inspection of the vision shows Toby's hand (and therefore his arm/shoulder) moving away from the umpire and it looks like the umpire voluntarily moves the angle of his body slightly backwards to let Toby pass. At worst Toby's forearm or upper arm brushed that of the umpire. Unless there is conclusive vision from the other side showing contact Toby should play on. Crikey, Neale got off with a fine a few weeks ago for angrily yelling at and slapping the umpires upper arm. Where was the hue and cry from the commentators then. Crickets.

Does that man ever stop whinging! He is a clever man but doesn't he realise everyone including opponents, can see his constant carping is that he doesn't have confidence his team a fit enough to make it through to a GF. Opps will think: be ahead or stay with them until 3/4 time then run them off their feet will be opp strategy. Anyway, on what grounds can he demand their finals are in Perth? The winning Qualifying final team always gets a Home Prelim. Without covid they would have still played Port in SA. Returned to Victoria for the second semi at the G (now go to Perth). If Lions win tonight Geelong would be flying to the Gabba for the Prelim. Covid has changed very little for them given where they ended up on the ladder. Ha, Ha! Geelong supporters will be barracking for us tonight so they can stay in Perth! The irony.

I think finals tickets for this week started at $35. Maybe those low priced ones are sold out and all that is left are the more expensive ones. Could be wrong.

Silly b-ggers! Glad they aren't taking the accolades too seriously. They have a big job to do tomorrow night. Taking the micky out of school boy blazers perhaps? Or maybe they are ACDC fans! Would they be that disrespectful to the occassion... Must admit the blazers remind me of the Cameron Schwab days. From mfc instagram. Wonder where May and Lever are. The location doesn't look very salubrious!

If umpires follow the coaches we should know if Oliver can win after round 19 votes. Bontempelli will be in front but he scored once in the last 4 rounds with 7 (4+3) votes so unlikely to get BOG. Oliver's votes in the last 4 rounds: 9, 3, 0, 10. Possibly two BOG's? Wines will be close @19 and his votes in the last 4 rounds: 6, 2, 2, 8. I just hope the umpires didn't buy the media hype all year of how fantastic Bontempelli is - bit of a media darling. Oliver won the coaches award by quite a margin. Lets see if the umpires do the same.

Just goes to show how meaningless statistics can be. No Steven May in either team makes the whole rating thingo a joke. Are they serious with the backline of the second team 😲

Good insight into how things work in WA. Thanks. What makes me sad about 'no families' is that players will have no-one special (other than club folk) to share the finals experiences with especially for which ever team wins the GF. I wrote earlier today in this thread that MCG aside, I'm happy to have our finals at Optus as I think we have an advantage over other finalists at that ground. I've painfully come to terms with not seeing our team play finals but if we win the flag I will be at the G crying and screaming when we unfurl the flag. I've had a GFG membership for over 20 years and it really hurts that I can't use it because covid restrictions prevent travelling. I would be equally happy to use it in Perth as I would in Melbourne. I had an elaborate plan to get to Perth and quarantine until the latest round of lockdowns here. Not to be. Enjoy all the games 'Pennant'. Scream and shout for the rest of us.

Interesting there is no Max in our MVP. May, Petracca and Oliver are also very worthy candidates. And others in the AFLPA award nominations: Most Courageous player: Angus Brayshaw Best First Year player: Jake Bowey. Well done to all nominees. Great recognition from team mates. Rapt for Bowey. He must be on cloud 9! RS nomination, this nomination and about to play finals. Doesn't get any better than that for a new draftee. Its always interesting to get a bit of an inside view. Anyone who wants Gus traded needs to reflect on the above.

I was counting this magical win in 2017: Edit: Just saw the subsequent discussion re this being at Subiaco so you are right it is two wins at Optus. Probably still better than other finals contenders.

I didn't say they won't be able to apply for an entry premit. I said they won't be allowed in. See below. western-australias-cruel-requirement-for-hosting-the-2021-afl-grand-final That is the paper's heading, not mine. From the article: Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan says the AFL Grand Final could only be taken to Perth under “very strict guidelines”, As part of those guidelines, McGowan suggested that only essential personnel would be permitted entry into the state for the game and said families of players and coaches would not make the cut. “Our intention is that those sorts of groups wouldn’t be permitted to join players coming in. It’d be a very strict and tight regime,” he said.which would include barring families of players and coaches from entering the state". The last para is stated as a direct quote in the article. I haven't seen anything to say he has changed his mind.

I'm thinking we will have an advantage over other teams at Optus. It has similar dimensions as the MCG. We played a final there 3 years ago so have experienced the cauldron like atmosphere. iirc Jordan Lewis said he had never heard anything like it, not even at MCG GF's. We have played about 6 games there in recent years. We have won at least 3 times of those. No other finalist has anything like that to boost confidence and belief. So while we can't be there live I'm quite happy to have the remaining finals (after this week) at Optus.

Can't see Geelong making the GF. They have a few players who have recently come back from injury: Rohan, Cameron, Duncan, Miers and Atkins. Dangerfield was ill for part of the last qtr (or maybe rested?) and Selwood played only 64% of the game (carrying an injury?). So they aren't at great levels of fitness. After the Port game the rest of their finals will be on the wide open spaces of Optus. A challenge as they have played 4 of their last 5 games at the much smaller GMHBA. Just can't see them winning at Optus. Out in straight sets, I hope? And Scott's legendary finals records of losses continues.

Can't see us getting him cheaply. He is contracted for 2022. Won their BnF last year. Hawks were rumoured to want a high first round pick for him from Collingwood last year. This year Hawks are looking to boost their draft hand and generally want top 25 picks. Sure he has had injuries this year but doubt his trade value will be much lower than mid-2nd round. That is not to say mfc won't do it.

His wife is expecting twins mid Sept. It would be a tough call to stay in Perth while she gives birth and cares for their two young kids. I truly doubt he would do that being a real family man. If he comes back for the birth there may not be enough time to return to Perth and do his quarantine. And would his mind be solely focused on footy if his wife and kids are back in Melbourne? He is a true professional and pretty tough physically and psychologically but his readiness on both fronts may be too much of a risk. Sadly, there is some chance Nathan may not even be in Perth for the GF if we make it.

I would hope that part of Gill's deal with WA is that McGowan gives special exemption entry permits for our Board, VIP's and our sponsors, if we play. And for the love of God can they please include Barassi and Daniher. If we win one or both of those guys need to present The Cup. If I recall correctly the AFL booked out the whole Joondalup resort from mid August to end of September for teams and where, I assume VIP's will do their 14 day quarantine.

They may not. Mc Govern has made it clear player/staff families won't be allowed in and any VIP's must do the 14 day quarantine assuming they can get an entry permit.

No we can't. That is what I mean about needing an entry permit while we are classified medium risk. And McGovern ist giving those only in exceptional circumstances. I was gently alerting @Doug Reemerto the fact he needs an entry permit from Victoria which he may not have considered.

I think Victoria is classified as 'medium risk'. Does that not require an entry permit first then do the14 day quarantine?

Anyone have any 'smokies'? While not polling well with coaches Andrew Brayshaw has by some accounts had a very good year. Would laugh if he came 3rd!!

Next Year I'll do a running tally! Just for fun I plan to overlay the Brownlow results for above players and see how close the umpires are to coaches. If the AFL predictor is a guide then there will be a bit of divergence.

Here is Petracca and Gawn to round 21. Oliver is by far our best chance. Other Demon players to get a 10 for BOG are: May * 2, TMc *1, Salem *2, Fritsch * 1.

I had a closer look at the coaches votes and at the end of round 21 this is a summary: Oliver had 16 'minor' votes for a total of 104 and Bont had 4 for a total of 101. As umpires vote 3,2,1 these 'minor' votes are unlikely to feature in Brownlow voting so I have omitted them from the above. Bont has 5, BOG, and 4 second BOG. ie 27 Brownlow votes if umpires see it as per coaches. Oliver has 2 BOG and 4 second BOG ie 14 Brownlow votes if umpires see it as per coaches. I doubt Bont will get votes in rnd 22 and 23. Oliver may get 1 ca vote for rnd 22 and either BOG (which he deserves) or second BOG for rnd 23. If Oliver gets lots of 1 votes from the umpires he might get closer to Bontempelli but those 5 BOG's look tough to overcome. I haven't looked at Wines but he could pip Oliver and finish second. Edit: Did the summary for Wines up to round 21. He has 5 BOG's. 1 second BOG.ie 17 Brownlow votes. He has 33 'minor' ca votes which might be good for a few 1 Brownlow vote. He will probably be BOG in rnd 23 but not get votes in rnd 22. Again those BOG's will be tough for Oliver to overcome, if umpires follow coaches.