Lucifers Hero

I'm pretty sure the $5m was to upgrade facilities at Casey as part of AFLW start up. The longer Bartlett is obsessed about our facilities being in the 'MCG precint' the longer it will take to get any proposal going and to get any funding. Geelong, Bulldgos and Saints have done very nicely. North not so.

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21 inside 50 to 3 and we trail by a point! Like other years we may kick ourselves out of finals/top 4.

That was rather selfish (by Zanka, I think?) trying to kick a goal form outside 50! Didn't even look for a team mate. Low percentage play.

Not sure how much of an advantage as not all teams play each other so the fixture depends on how the AFL manipulates it to help the teams they want in the finals. I've mentioned it before but Carlton is one such team. Since they lost their first two they have played newbie teams; Saints and Tigers. I would expect them to get a lot more of the low teams to help them to finals. On the other hand we will get Freo, Crows, Lions and GWS making it harder for us to finish up the ladder/top 4. How many of those 4 games are i/state who knows but we need to win i/state because of 'Home' finals. tbh, I'm not worried by the travel. I'm more worried by the AFL manipulating the fixture to favour teams and to help broadcasters with 'blockbuster' games. I will be filthy if we or one of the other 'top' teams' miss finals or the top four because a fixture 'fix' gets teams like Carlton in. The fixture is already distorted by not all teams playing each other. This week-to-week fixturing adds to the farce. Time for the AFL to set out the next five weeks and if covid lockdowns interfere then amend it at the time.

Am beginning to think North aren't as good as many thought. Track record so far is: Rnd 1: vs Cats. Win 11.5.71 vs 1.3.9 Rnd 2: vs Saints. Win 5.6.36 vs 1.4.10 Rnd 3: vs Mighty Dees: Loss 8.3.51 vs 9.6.60 Rnd 4: vs Pies: Loss 0.8.8 vs 4.4.28 I don't think they are as bad as the score vs Pies suggests (bad kicking) nor as good as the first two wins vs newbie teams. Are they becoming the 'flat track bullies' of the AFLW? Hopefully today's game gives more insight on where we sit in the comp. It is also a classic '8-point game'. Win and we go two games up on North, Bulldogs, Carlton and maybe Crows, if they lose to Lions today who are playing at home. I know it is early in the season to talk of '8-point' games but with 5 rounds after today a win gives us a foot on the top four of the ladder. I've now made myself more nervous about today's game.?

Hope things work out for you, fd.

If only it was the footy as the price being paid. The financial, physical and emotional price is extensive for many.

Maybe change the heading to 'The Football Impact of ...' as it is it invites frustration and the politically related comments.

Feel free to delete my post.

Steam is coming out of my ears at the bold bit. Lockdown 3.0: Panic, over-reaction, distressing, destabilising and unnecessary! If our quarantine management and contract tracing were really effective we wouldn't need a state-wide lockdown. Other states seem to manage it and are able to lockdown parts of the city - not the whole state. There will be other cases - we can't lock down the state or shut borders every time a case pops up. Get the processes right, Dan! I fear this post will set off derailing of the thread but need to let off the steam!

With Hore on the LT injury list we have 3 rookie list spots available. Room for Majak, Farmer and our NGA player (whose name I have sadly forgotten).

I agree it was the right outcome. He should have gone long ago for everyone's sake. Yet, I think it is poor, even cowardly that people are supporting him now that the dastardly deed is done. Had they spoken up earlier a bit of dignity may have been injected into his final downfall. As it is he had to suffer a humiliating end. For all his shortcomings he has contributed much to many in all walks of life and I would have liked him to go out with some dignity and respect. You raise a good point about his and his family's mental health. After all he is only human.

It s a bit of a cop-out to support Eddie now that he has gone. challenge-the-behaviour-support-the-individual-indigenous-leader-backs-mcguire It would have been far more courageous if it had come a week ago. Not necessarily to change the outcome but to put a bit more perspective into the media talk.

Garry Lyon is very close to the McCartin family and good on him for supporting the kid. I have only media knowledge of Paddy's concussion issues and what he went thru in 2019 sounded horrendous. He had no lifestyle at all. All credit to him for getting to a point where he could be recruited. I think he spent some time training with Sydney late last year. But he is a knock or two away from a life damaging injury if not now in the future. If he was my son I would encourage him to find another career. From an mfc view I don't think it is worth the risk in part because there is no way of knowing how many games he could play and we could easily end up with 3 tall fwds out for a large part of the season. I would hate for it to be like KK. We have T Mc, M Brown, LJ and cameos from Petty to play the tall fwd role(s). For years Richmond played and won a flag with only one tall fwd building a fleet of small players around him. With the recruitment of Bowey, Laurie plus Kozzie, Spargo etc we can have a high performing fwd line with our list, as long as the game plan maximises the talents we have. No from me.

Not the foot, it is the femur.

“Following some soreness in his hip region, the medical team decided to conduct a scan, which has shown a stress fracture in his femur. “We didn’t expect to find anything this substantial, but it’s better to get onto it now and prevent it from getting any worse. “We will take a conservative approach and an exact return to play date will be determined by how Sam responds to the on-going rehab program.” Doesn't sound good. Didn't he have injury issues prior to being drafted - can't remember where. Sam had hip issues two years ago which kept him out on and off for most of 2019 and he was in and out of the side. Cost him confidence and form. He had a very good 2018 but since then injuries have been a curse.

Thanks for the excellent report, Earl. That sloppiness/inaccuracy is rather concerning at this stage of the pre season and in near perfect, windless conditions.

Haven't read the whole thread so apologies if mentioned before. He may find himself a nice safe Labor seat (federal or state) or one where there are lots of Coll fans and go into parliament. Heaven help us if he does.

Stepping down immediately. He has made a lot of mistakes when it comes his biases on a whole range of issues. Nonetheless, it is a shame that someone who has spent 25 years in a volunteer capacity to make his club a success and made such a difference to football is going out on such a low note. Sure he has feathered his own nest along the way but still he has contributed a lot on so many fronts.

Congratulations to Tyla Hanks for winning the Rising Star nomination for round 2. Shared with BullddogJess Fitzgerald.

Some big percentages being built by North, Adelaide and Brisbane

Interesting that the AFL has not released the games for next week. Cynical me thinks it is waiting until the end of this round so it can create blockbusters among the top 5 or 6 and fixture to help other clubs rise up the ladder with easier games. Thinking Carlton here: Tipped to be Premiers. (Don't know why, as they fluked a GF in 2019 with the silly Conference system and last year were 'successful' but played few of the best teams. Current form line of 2 losses is closer to their real capability). Also, a fixture to help Richmond get their first win etc. It is a bit unfair to the players not knowing where they will play in a few days especially as they have jobs and families to organise. I know covid and borders make it difficult but surely they can do better than 5 days notice... Our first two games were against last year's newbies so I don't expect games vs low teams. However, the fixture favouring clubs could dramatically affect our position on the ladder. We just need to keep winning.

Interesting that some folks lack confidence in Charlie. In his first year he played 18 of our 25 games and iirc all three finals. Coaches showed a lot of faith in him. He had some injuries and for whatever other reason hasn't played a lot in the last 2 years. So not surprised at track watchers reports that he is becoming a very good footballer or that he will be in the starting 22. He has just turned 21 so a few years to go before reaching 'football maturity'. A lot to look forward to.

Excellent report. Well done for making the trek. If Laurie, Rosman and Sparrow play early in the season who do you think they will replace. Cheers.