Earl Hood

The deafening silence from Christian on this controversy is telling. After Pert sent out the club letter, not putting words in Petracca’s mouth but just stating that he is valued, contracted and going nowhere, the obvious confirming response should have come next day from Petracca. Then we could all move on. But no there has been nothing, just crickets, so Pert finds himself fronting the media again to explain what’s going on. That was this morning and still nothing from Tracc but a huge statement gameday by Viney, the kids and Max. Everyone is up north for the club song except Tracc. Not a great look for him and I reckon Pert & Co aren’t too happy.

I think it’s Freo that is vulnerable. They have to play Port next week, a loss leaves them on 50 pts. Pies win against us they go to 52.

Cameron Schwab always spoke well too.

Bailey Laurie must be well down the pecking order!

Don’t call us, we will call you.

Looks like the Club is going to go into an involuntary list rebuild in 2025. Brayshaw out, Smith delisted, now ANB traded, end of the road for BBB, Hunter, Schache, Tomlinson likely wanting out? Then there are plenty questioning Oliver’s future at the club and Tracc’s future, which I think is a beat up. That’s 7 and more assuming TMac and Melk want to go on, Spargo physically can go on and that there won’t be a few other fringe players like Sestan and FHW delisted. That looks like a rebuild. Of course this situation could be a fantastic opportunity for renewal, if we give JT maximum opportunity to draft in young talent through the Main and the Rookie drafts and minimise Lamb’s ability to trade away draft picks to get up the order or to bring in recycled, NQR players!

Yep I noticed Melbourne Storm are wallowing in ineptitude with their training facilities.

If we had managed to get Meek into the deal that would have solved our ruck problems.

Their recruiting of cheap, “not really wanted” players from other clubs has been amazing. Ginnivin, Choll, D’Ambrosio, Meek, Amon. And they have got most of their early draft picks right and still have some veterans, Bruest,Gunston playing their roles perfectly and importantly coaching the young brigade. MFC has mostly struck out on the cheap, recycled recruiting in the last 3 years. As a cohort they have added little in terms of improving our list, playing a role or providing on field leadership.

And what is scary is that if the Hawks get into the 8 they can go a long way. This is the greatest “gap year” we have seen for years. There is hardly a team in the 8 this year that is in form and deserving of a premiership. They all have significant weaknesses. I thought Sydney were the real deal but they’ve dropped away, Carlton, Geelong, Port, Freo aren’t great sides. Maybe the Dogs have finally clicked and with Brisbane are genuine, inform contenders.

I was there too, in the MFC reserved area on my lonesome. The regulars have really dropped off.

I am not a great rap for our coaching staff and our game plan but I think tonight in a tight game our on field leadership just isn’t there when we need it. Some terrible decision making by young and old players, especially when kicking into our forward 50 but then what else is new?

Thanks umpires we get a free that penalises US! You maggots.

Geez I am sitting on my own here. Big drop off. Go Dees!

I am here, not sure why.

Magpies first goal in the 4th from a free. Swans guy, no prior, gets stripped of the ball just as he receives it, no tackle just a hand on the ball and it’s a shot on goal.

That sucks. I see Darcknee Moore managed to get a knee into a Carlton bloke’s ribs there in the last minutes. Can someone line him up in our last game please.

There goes the Rising Star trophy.

If they sneak into 7th or 8th on this form, this year, look out, could be 2016 all over again. They are playing like the Pies last year. Full of confidence and running hard. They have a number of goal scoring midfielders and add the goal scoring small to medium forwards, all in form. With the Swans seemingly dropping away, this really is a gap year, with no genuine standout sides for the flag. The team coming into the finals, in form has a real chance.

I was at the game and caught up in the moment so I need to review the replay tomorrow when I clear my head. But I was screaming in the last few last quarter centre bounces. We had no one goal side for the bounce. So Max is running toward our goals and Briggs as usual coming from the side early to take up space, and twice the hit by Max goes towards our goal and straight to a Giant on his own, who then gets a clear kick forward. WTF is going on?

TMac is still in tracksuit top talking to staff on the sidelines during the warmup?

And Hipwood just after McKay and Curnow!

YEP!

Would love that “bit player” to come back. His exit completely destabilised our list management.

I don’t follow these things that closely so I am welcome to be corrected but are we doing to Sparrow what we did to Jordan? To me he has a lot of AFL level attributes. However he doesn’t have a set role, rather he is on the wing, down back, in the centre bounces, tagging mids or small forwards, blah, blah. Have I got that wrong? I think Jordan had no specific, permanent role with us and went off to the Swans to get a specific role and blossom from there.