rumpole

I don’t think it’s race related because Nev doesn’t seem to be the kind who would leave racism on the field. Probably nothing more than some nasty sledging.

With Oskar Baker’s injury, there are 17 MFC players remaining and available for selection in the squad tonight but once the final team is announced another 4 players go out. Then there’s the carry over emergency leaving 12 AFL listed players in the Casey team this week. My tip for the four to go up are Vince, ANB, JKH and J Wagner who is the replacement for J Smith. I favour the Weid as the emergency over Pedo.

Then a draw, it is.

Does it say whether they're talking about September 2018 or September 2019.

From the MFC website "... unfortunately for King, his day didn’t last long, as the ruckman succumbed to a knee injury in the first half. “We don’t know the severity of it,” Rawlings said. “He looked a bit lame when he came off but he’s to be assessed.” Oskar Baker also pulled up sore in the third term and failed to re-emerge after feeling tightness in his hamstring.

I'm told the standard of the food and amenities under the new management at the Bentleigh Club is much better these days. LeighOak also advertising new management but I haven't stepped in there yet either.

Recall Luke Parker gave us a bit of a touch up. Also, we had a few blokes in that unfortunately, weren't really up to it. Mitch White was unable to keep up with his opponent if I recall and this could have been his last hurrah.

So I've noticed.

6. Angus Brayshaw 5. Neville Jetta 4. Jesse Hogan 3. Max Gawn 2. Tom McDonald 1. Clayton Oliver

We have a 9 day break followed by the bye - absolutely no reason at all for anyone to rest on QB.

This is the AFL which means that anything can happen. There are so many factors that could play a role in the result including things like the extra two days rest enjoyed by the Bulldogs, the extra travel by the MFC from Alice Springs etc. We will start as the strong favourite but no game’s an absolute certainty.

Collingwood win the game by following one of its fundamentals after half time. They played in front and won the ball more often than not. It looked to me as if the Bulldogs were not scared to take the game on but didn't really have the will. The focus will definitely be on them next week as it was on Essendon after it lost to Carlton. Just another challenge that we will have to meet next week but there's another game to be won first.

As I recall the Grinter incident, it was Wallet who should have been sued for embedding his teeth into Balls' arm, thereby causing an almost life-threatening infection. He had a clear duty of care not to use his fangs in a manner that could cause harm to an opponent on the playing field. The vision shows that the ball was somewhere in the vicinity of one of the players, hence Grinter's action was justified. The Tribunal should have summarily dismissed the case against Grinter - it was a mere storm in a teacup.

If it was left to the US President to describe the Carlton Football Club then he would surely use the word "[censored]-hole" and for once, I would agree with him.

If Carlton gets preferential treatment by way of a priority pick at the end of the year it will be the final proof of corruption at the top of the AFL. We've already been lied to about clubs having to earn those coveted and valuable Friday night fixtures through good performances by virtue of the fact that Carlton has been given heaps of them this year despite finishing 16th in 2017. So if you have to establish a case with the AFL to get special consideration over a number of years then how can one club be considered favourably for draft assistance in the same year that it received the honour of a swag of Friday night games?

(albeit it wasn’t his debut)

Can Tom Browne play?

Nice story about one of our big improvers in James Harmes. Melbourne fans would notice a change in James Harmes this year. The hard-at-it Demon is still as tough as they come but he’s been doing it more consistently in 2018. Following a pre-season where the 22-year-old didn’t miss a session, it’s the second pre-season in a row where he’s done everything — Harmes has dropped a bit of weight — which has seen him slide into a midfield role so far this season. READ MORE: Confidence is key for young Dee

My info is that success has gotten to Judd’s head since his retirement and he’s not all that popular. Happy for Clarrie to emulate his success but not at the expense of a balanced life.

The curse of Nick Smith. Everyone is ultimately destined to be out 4 to 6 weeks.

Do they have a practice match today?

Selwood is the unbackable favourite with my bookmaker for the most free kicks of the round, slightly ahead of that jackass for Brisbane.

One word - "Robbo"

Great quality ? Thanks ?

Perhaps this is the vital clue in the Heritier conundrum? Lumumba is a complex character who inhabits a different astral plane to the others. Could it be that his feelings were so upset that his number was usurped by someone else at training that he had to have a few week's break consulting his spiritual self and contemplating its effect on his own universe. I'm tipping that he will return one day, even if only to collect his final pay out.