Earl Hood

I watched Jeremy against GWS. I was sitting close to the boundary on the forward pocket where ran forward and one of our players running down the wing just lobs the ball in the air to his advantage. Howe goes up vertically, takes the mark and the defender had no hope. He kicks the goal in front of me and I think why couldn't that scenario happen three times a game? All Howe has to do is start running to space and our mids lob the ball high, very few defenders can spoil when he leaps. I still believe he could be a very productive wing/half forward in a team with a competitive midfield.

A finger yes but I can't imagine how you could do a toe "dating" but then I have had a rather sheltered life.

There is the "Please don't recruit him" thread!

Crikey.com?

RTG I would reply in detail but I am too busy tonight writing a comment piece for Epicure on the dearth of good fish and chip shops in the inner north, thanks very much!

Freo look like a rabble against an undermanned Sydney. Too much handball to players a metre a way, no forward pressure. Fyfe playing injured? Can Lyon pull something out of back pocket?

Well now at least the finals got interesting. The Dawks will now have to really earn it, if they make it. Let's hope they don't.

Dunn was a bit stiff to have only 18 odd votes I thought. And Jimmy getting more votes from not a lot of games?

Don't write them off yet as much as I would like it to be all over. Something will happen to turn it around it always does for the Dawks. That said the Weagles look good but they will need to keep the pressure on big time.

Priddis out and Smith to play for the Dawks, not a lot goes wrong for this lot does it. Every other team is missing a few key players. My advice to Nic Nat is to stay away from Sam "the corker" Mitchell if he can.

BBO no I didn't catch up with Special. I did a complete circuit of the lower level to see if I could spot Bob but the only people I saw seated backwards were dressed in orange and apparently were GWS tribal types who had no idea where to look! They are very new to our game apparently. Unless Bob decided to dress in orange to throw me off the scent?

Gary Baker boy could he play. I forget which year he was BOG game after game and of course did his knee, and stopped him winning a Brownlow but that was so MFC. Great player. I can remember vaguely a game in the 70's where Hardeman gave Royce Hart a bath or 3 and 3/4 quarters but then Royce gets loose for 5 minutes and finally has 3 possessions which turn into 3 goals and the Tigers get over the line. Votes Hart 3 Hardeman 0 if I remember correctly. Such is the lot of a backman.

BB it has to be done according to the secret PP formula or the Commissioners would arc up surely? Although that said I always assumed the formula was reasonably simple, with standard variables like win/loss ratio and points for/against percentage over x (think of a number) seasons but perhaps there a couple of constants in the equation as well such as geographic location and maybe even jumper colour?

I understand your point Clint but as for your comment "they....assume all players can just walk to wherever they like". Well the AFL is doing a good impression of just that. Ever since St Kilda played hard ball with Luke Ball but he still got to Collingwood by blatant draft tampering, any players with currency seem to be walking when and where they want to go. I think FA is redundant really, it is now just a vehicle for good players to get to top clubs and a proxy for the priority pick for bottom dwellers.

Biff Rigoni and Leoncelli were really flying under the radar back then. Rigoni would have been playing under 14's for Myrtleford in 87! Leoncelli in the same age group playing somewhere else.

I think we are all hoping fingers crossed that Trengove recovers perfectly and is running without hindrance so he recovers his early form and speed. Which was pretty good.

How about Rioli versus Garlett, both play as small forwards with occasional runs through the midfield. One has kicked 35 goals in a side that has more inside 50's than anyone and has smashed most sides and has registered the most points kicked in the comp, the other has kicked 40 goals for a side with the second least inside 50's, that has been regularly beaten and occasionally smashed and kicked the second or third least in the comp. one is drooled over every week, sometimes for an eight possession game, the other politely complimented for his good work and the odd mercurial goal. Does Rioli get the nod due to his goal assist activities which are amazing but it is easier when the ball is coming in so often, so fast and into a usually disorganised defence. What is their criteria for selection, is it just the stats that accompany each player in the list of 40?

A couple of marks of the year (Jurrah and Howe) is all I think

What do I want? A Sam Mitchell centre clearance mid type, an Isaac Smith outside runner clone on one wing and a Lewis Jetta type on the other wing. A creative half back with a laser like boot. And throw in another smart 192 cm plus forward and I reckon we are up for finals next year. So can Taylor make it happen?

I saw half of that game and gee Adcock looked good. Clean hands, good kick, knows where to run to. Has another two years in him looking at that game. Caveats are that the game was very open and attacking, not a typical match and do we have his role covered already as a smaller half forward, midfielder as in Garlett, JKH, Kent, ANB, Brayshaw etc?

6 Jones 5 Vince 4 Viney 3 Gawn 2 Salem 1 Grimes

And I thought it was me attending that broke the hoodoo. Glad I made effort although I usually like to sit up on the third level to get a better view but that was shut!

Que?

Come on Django get with it. I always wear an open denim shirt with jeans and a wide brimmed hat in Fitzroy when I am out and about, I just don't look quite as good as Christian what with my gut hanging out over my jeans. But I can still knock back a frothy!

I think Dunn can play a variety of roles next year if all goes well. If Frost and Oscar step up he can play off a half back flank instead of full back, he can swing forward when required as that is where he started and importantly as a member of the leadership team he should be able to go into the middle as a big body clearance player when we are getting smashed early if required.