Diamond_Jim

Now it's AFL owned that deal is not a requirement any more. Just an excuse

They carry on about servicing their Melbourne supporter base as well. Mind you a few MCG games against GWS would see them saying we can no longer cater to that base. Geelong have for a while carried a lot of clout at AFL headquarters

I really thought North would be more competitive this year given their drafting, Larkey etc. Something is amiss perhaps

Two reasons: They make the same with a crowd of 70k plus at the MCG The football dept wants exposure to the MCG (The answer is for Essendon and Carlton to make the MCG their exclusive home venue and then there would not be room for Geelong)

They'll never do that simply because the AFL can't handle a bad news story. Ten years or so ago they had the opportunity to lay down minimal solvency rules etc. for clubs to meet ten years later. The problem was GCS and GWS would have failed them. Melbourne clearly has at least two teams too many as evidenced by the need of four teams including us to sell home games interstate. Docklands with its roof closed policy due to TV coverage has become a dark hole for daytime football Nah they'll admit the 19th team and then say supporters are clamoring for a 20th team so as to eliminate constant byes

Definitely.. In the USA foundations/investment funds are enormous. We just have to resist the temptation to dip into capital as distinct from income. Magpies have a decent investment fund as well

If we also beat GWS we will be flag favourites

A must read article for those who have an interest in football administration and finances. It's a relatively frank interview with Carlton CEO Brian Cook on the subject of non football income and in particular business support. As a person who grew up in an era where more deals were made in the Carlton Social Club than in Collins Street it brings back memories. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/billionaires-and-business-deals-the-money-machine-delivering-big-benefits-to-the-blues-20240425-p5fmj9.html

It's Geelong who put in the requests for who they play at the MCG. They need a crowd of 70k to make what they can make off 45k at Taxpayer Park Not sure what the answer is as only 4 of the ten Melbourne teams can guarantee that crowd and we're not one of them

been thinking on McAdam.. it's a ten day break. They may up his training load and take a chance. Given the subsequent 5 day break this is a risk but Goodwin does like unexpected selections and leaving players in the VFL is not one of them.... vide Petty this year and Salem in 2022

back from the heat of Asia after a few months I have watched a few games in 4k on kayo. A wonderful experience which just makes one lament that the prime games are still in the old HD format. For a game that makes almost all of its money from TV you'd think they would insist on a decent standard

This is the reality. Same with the Suns. No one cares if they win a flag unless you're playing them in the GF

No Jamarra interesting to say the least

Going forward perhaps not a bad result. Essendon will falter and Collingwood are just that little more off the pace

a couple more to the Bombers could make for a nice last quarter

Nothing worse than a Pies comeback At least it is isn't the last quarter Back to last night's replay... we weren't that bad in the first quarter on re watch

Mihocek is their Fritsch. An under rated player by most but usually good for a couple of goals. Ignore him at your peril

IF... Petty goes and Jefferson doesn't come on we may have little choice. Dogs to pay 40% of salary or similar may be worth looking at if no one else is around Not a tempting outlook though

Have you watched Casey recently. Tomlinson probably gets slower each week

Not the worst of ideas. If Windsor could hold a position at half back he could be a real rebounding weapon. On the other hand that's one less player delivering quality ball into the forward line

Looks like the salary cap issue is close to being resolved. Not the greatest result for us but it could have been worse AFL clubs will be able to exclude from the salary cap a larger percentage of the wage of a player medically retired due to concussion in the initial years following their retirement than they would be in any later years of an outstanding contract under the soon-to-be-finalised “Brayshaw Ruling”. It means long-term contracts that extend beyond five years could carry greater risks for clubs if they lose a player to concussion early on in their deal..... One club boss, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak freely, suggested the ruling could mean a high percentage of the payments due in the first year or two after a player’s retirement sits outside the cap, then 50 per cent is included in years three and four, and then a greater percentage after the fourth season. This would mean clubs signing players to long contracts would need to consider the risk of concussion in their dealings with player managers, just as they may if there was a history of other injuries. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/there-s-salary-cap-relief-in-brayshaw-ruling-but-more-risk-attached-to-long-term-deals-20240424-p5fm7h.html

Fritsch has very similar goal numbers to Mihocek. (Fritsch slightly better by a few goals) Both players are perhaps not really given credit for their consistency

If Fullarton was to be trialled the opportunity was last night. Funnily enough you may see Verral as the second ruck based on Casey performance

We have almost zero midfield these days at Casey so it's not exactly a place for a forward to regain form. We also have a number of competing NQR forwards at Casey. (Fullarton, Jefferson BBB) plus McAdam who's going ok. If you really insist that he go to Casey he'd be better at CHB from a practice viewpoint

It's time to see these games through the red and blue glasses. Even so they are hard to select. Geelong v Carlton (a draw perhaps and if not a thrashing of Geelong) Giants v Lions... I'm going for GWS in hope that Lions remain in the 9-12 group Freo v Dogs... Dogs please which should send Freo into a crisis of confidence Port v Saints ... Port which will end the Saints season The others I am less concerned about. Unfortunately someone has to win between Bombers and Pies