Diamond_Jim

There is little doubt that the next deal on broadcasting rights due for negotiation this year will shape football for the next ten years. It may not be pretty. Amazon with Thursday night. Paramount has Friday night with the rest split between Kayo and FTA. Hell for the viewer ..but it's a possibility. And I didn't even mention Stan and Optus who will be anxious to disrupt Could a streaming service even get the rights to telecast certain clubs. Then there's the mobile app rights It begins.... A good article from today's Age to kick it off https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/streaming-companies-want-to-broadcast-afl-as-players-seek-huge-pay-rises-20220419-p5aeip.html Two of the world’s biggest streaming companies are bidding for the first time to broadcast AFL games, at the same time as the league requires significantly higher broadcast revenues to pay for the salary claims of male players and a near doubling in pay for the AFLW. The Age can reveal that global streaming platforms Amazon and Paramount have both expressed interest in being part of the AFL’s broadcasting deal beyond 2024. Both companies have responded to a letter sent out by the AFL to gauge interest from prospective buyers.

Scoreboard flattered GWS. Should have been an 8 goal plus win to the Saints. Their set shot kicking from close range was atrocious

I think we saw the end of the GWS window tonight. What was one of the best free flowing sides in the comp is now but a shadow of its former self.

There'll be at least two hold over emergencies plus the medi sub to come out of that side I think

Saints are being written up as a possible flag winner. GWS massively underperforming. Pity that Hogan is out. Adds a little more interest to the game. Of course there is Preuss who I don't think I've seen since he played for Casey. If GWS kick straight (ratio of around 80%) they might surprise. Hopefully we're not switiching to netflix by half time

Need to know a little about his parents 😎

Heard a snippet on the radio that AFL are not following the Victorian close contact rules on the basis that they give Vic and NSW clubs an advantage over other States. Not sure I agree if that is the case

There are two realities and it seems that with different line ups on the AFL site to that listed by the MFC we are between those realities. In a strange way it perfectly reflects the world at present. Reminds me of one of the Coodabeens most famous sayings.... When two big men fly only one will find Nirvana

Many argued for this at the start of 2021 with TMac tending towards a forward/wing role. As you say the verdict is now well and truly in.

That does make it interesting not only for the sub but for the emergencies PS A Saturday 2:10pm game at Punt Road for the Reserves.... noice Not much room these days at Punt Rd but may attend

Is there 9 on the extended bench these days. I assume Melksham is there as replacement for Harmes and ANB or is he your Fritsch replacement. No Tomlinson but you have Smith. (Even the extended bench is hard to get a seat on these days)

For those who like to play the guessing game who will make up the interchange bench as announced on Thursday night. It will be a squad so there'll be 8(?) on the bench

The ticketing reminds me of when Docklands was first opened. It was all pre-ticketed and the then ground manager said this is the way of the future and football followers will need to adapt. Few people came and the manager was sacked within a few months followed by the introduction of walk ups. Some never learn from history

No Sparrow.... interesting

Big call but I suppose if either of Weid or TMac don't deliver it's on the table

Sounds logical but it does mean Jordon has to deliver over the next 4 weeks. Just uneasy having Brayshaw and Salem playing similar roles in the backline

No one seems to laud Hunt's ability to defend or lock down on a small forward. Does he even that ability. If not hard to see him keeping his position

you've already got Rivers on the bench from the backline so you can't have Jordon as well unless Sparrow or a forward is removed from the bench Interesting that you have Hibberd in the team

Over the next six weeks one or two of Bowey, Hunt, Brayshaw, Jordon and Hibberd will be playing to retain their spot when Salem returns. In the case of Brayshaw and to a lesser extent Bowey it will be about postion rather than best 22. For Jordon Hibberd and Hunt it is about best 22. Hunt is the obvious choice but does he offer defensive skills not matched by others. Similarly does playing Brayshaw and Saelm in the back six work. If not where to Jordon? A markedly different conundrum to that being presently posed up forward but perhaps far harder. My guess is that Jordon's form is the key. How good does it have to be to keep Gus off the wing? Does Jordon go into the midfield at the expanse of Sparrow? Interested in how others think the next 6 rounds pan out

Have now finished a reasonably detailed watch of the replay paying particular attention to Weidemans's game. It wasn't great but there were probably ten times when he put himself in a marking position and failed. Now if he could have taken half of those grabs the debate would be over. On the other hand TMac seemed to have less chances and made a better fist of marking when the opportuntiy arose. I'm sure the coaches will be playing the tapes of each player against the other. My guess is that Weideman will be given the nod simply because he offers more upside. How may weeks will he get to show form. I don't know but it will probably be at least two but I suspect that he will be given a few non negotiables if he wished to keep his place

Another strange contrived fixture next week. Only two matches in Melbourne. Ours on Sunday night and the game at the MCG on Monday

You have to remember that Round 1 was contrived to be a battle of relative equals so that skewed the results. This together with Port's amazing fall from grace. Nice to be on top going quietly under the radar

Interesting game in the context of the top 4. You would think that we and Brisbane will be there but the other two spots are wide open

Come on Hawks !!

Hard to think that in years gone by Easter Monday was probably one of the biggest home and away games of the year