Earl Hood

Boundary umpires need to lift their game this quarter.

Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty he is free at last!

But on this precedent you don’t need to actually injure the player. The act itself, if it doesn’t show a duty of care, is sufficient to be reported.

I suspect Gleeson was worded up prior, to back the MRO this week after some very poor outcomes in recent weeks. That’s how the AFL operates.

2 out 3 wins for the MRO is acceptable to the AFL for this week I guess.

Jonathon Brown, Nick Reiwolt and even Kenny Hunter, back in the day would be banned from the game these days. Going back with the flight into a pack to take a mark is just too dangerous! Where is the duty of care? Oh hold on Jono always kept his eyes on the ball, that would be totally different, that’s safe. I mean if you looked at your opponents before you polaxed them, that’s not upholding your duty of care. yes it all makes sense now.

Well the logic if it was followed through by umpires and the AFL is we have entered the era of touch footy! On this ruling you can’t initiate contact with a player in possession of the ball in any way as it could result in injury. Of course the AFL will ignore the logic and ignore similar collisions if it involves a high profile player or a big club in finals contention. And in the finals when the game gets really brutal the MRO will be looking the other way.

Unfortunately we are still on AFL welfare. Suspect we will get told to wear it or there could be ramifications. As soon as the Geelong guy went down I thought the Van was in trouble. Suspect the tribunal has been worded up to back the MRO after a succession of tribunal hearings overturning the MRO.

Yes I managed to make my way up to one of the spires to watch the second half on my phone between ceremonies. Big day, what with me riding in to the Abbey the King’s Cavalry and me holding the Royal Sceptre aloft!

6 Gawn 5 Viney 4 Oliver 3 Rivers 2 Brayshaw 1 Bowey

Only watched the last 20 minutes of a hard fought 4th Quarter where I expected the Pies to surge and the Crows to choke and sure enough. But what stood out in a quarter of numerous ball ups and throw ins, was Frampton in the ruck giving O’Brien a bath. He was belting the ball to space or palming it deftly to his mids at will it seemed. That made it tough for the Crows midfield. I checked the stats and O’Brien dominated the hit outs for the match but not in the 4th and really dropped his bundle I thought.

Yet they can be outplayed for significant periods of matches by average to good sides. It’s odd. Crows kick straight and the Pies would be almost out of the match.

Used to live near me in Fitzroy until last year I think. Why move from Fitzroy? I don’t get it.

I think you are right. I can’t work out what rule a number of these so called frees are awarded for.

Gee Dee fence, just noticed where you reside. I thought you might have a other priorities to at the moment rather than MFC’s draft strategy? But I agree with your thoughts. Good luck over there.

Backline not good but where is the midfield?

May is a barometer, if he drops a few easy ones early or is out bodied we may be in for a bad night.

Can’t believe that free to Hawkins in the ruck contest. He was in front looked for contact by stepping in front of the Swans ruck and gets a free because they tangled arms or something! Then goals. The Swans are getting done over by Geelong and the Umps.

Harsh! Too harsh.

6 Oliver 5 Viney 4 Petracca 3 McVee 2 Hunter 1 Petty

I think TMac needs to go back, maybe Petty forward or just play a small forward line. Whatever the midfield will have to get right on top if we are to win this.

What is going on with the backline? They are all over the place.

Is a smothered handball incorrect disposal?

He did handball it I thought

Yes but it’s OK their umpires are still going strong. Some of the tiggy touch woods for the Swans were embarrassing in that quarter.