Earl Hood

At training today when they split into the VFL group and the AFL group, Spargo was with the former so I don’t believe he is in the mix. Weids for Smith, Pedo if TMac doesn’t get up and Stretch in Vince out.

I asked Tom at training how his chest was going and he replied that he wasn’t doing any contact work today but he felt really good and reckoned he would be OK to play. Petty, Weid and Pedo training with the AFL squad may indicate one or more are options this week. Petty looked impressive in the drills I saw. Jetta trained well I think he copped a few hits last week. Great to see Vanders and McKenna finally getting to train and Kent was moving well.

Exactly what Jimmy Bartel was saying after the match, the crash and bash contested possession ethos was great but further success will require a bit more composure and strategy to set up scores and absorb opposition attacks.

I see Greg has been promoting nude golf recently. I have always been keen to get the gear off and enjoy playing the fairways of our nation’s best golf courses in total freedom. Does anyone know what clubs are offering the nude option? Although I will have to wait till the weather picks up a bit locally before I get out on the first tee while starkers. I just have to work out where to put my ball marker!

It is interesting that we don’t hear more about some of these decisions, not to smash umpires but to understand the interpretation and at times to admit mistakes. There were at least 2 mystifying ruck frees against Max vs Grundy last week, but we still don’t know why; then we have the Melk blocking decision this week. I would have thought all forwards need to know they now can’t hold their ground in a marking contest, before there are more poor unfortunates who ignore a whistle, thinking they have the free and give away a 50.

Anyone know if the club or anybody of substance has asked for clarification from the AFL umpiring officiondos on the Melksham one on one blocking free and resultant 50 meter penalty for a goal down the other end? Hmmm 12 point decision!

You are right Macca it is impossible to umpire perfectly. But some areas for improvement in my eyes would be to review the push in the back rule. Going back to the original intent, the rule was created to stop a player pushing out the man in front in a marking contest. Fair enough. I don’t believe it was intended to punish someone who falls onto someone on the ground or who tackles someone and they both go forward. Play on unless it is Malicious. As for the high tackle, if the tackle starts correctly it is legit, irrespective of whether the hands go high or low due to the player ducking or throwing their arm up. Base your decision on severity, was the tackle potentially dangerous to the players head. As for the incorrect disposal rule I don’t know where to go. I want to reward the ball getter, not the lurker waiting to strip someone of the ball running past. So I would be lenient on the ball getter myself. But let us be brutal on any player on the ground in a pack that does not try to release the ball, if they grab the ball with no hope of moving it on they are gone. That is a player on the ground should be out of the contest, like rugby union. Forget nominating ruckmen and third man up just throw the ball up ASAP and same with boundary throw ins, don’t wait for the ruckman to line up. And finally only pay the frees that actually disadvantage a playmaker. So no twiggy touchwoods, or technicals.

Everytime you play in SA or WA you concede 3 to 4 goals before the first bounce. Similar to the old days playing the Pies at Victoria Park I think. Not sure how you change that bias. Just even up the FIXture somehow.

Gil in frantic phone calls to MRP, looks like accidental, high contact, low impact, fine only! It was the hard ground surface that knocked him out, not the elbow?.

Out Vince in Petty depending on the Saints forward line setup. Not sure how tall they will go. in Stretch and Garlett out Tyson, Harmes or ANB in Weids if TMac doesn’t get up. I just think we have to try and play Garlett into form as he provides speed and can make something out of nothing up forward and didn’t we need that last night! Stretch has done everything asked of him and we have to reward effort in the magoos to keep pressure on the firsts. The coaching panel’s obsession with hard, contested footy types is commendable but the last 2 games show we also need some X factor, silky skills as well. Jimmy Bartel spoke about this last night on CH7, he loved our contested endeavour but said there are more layers to success than see ball get ball stuff. OMac needs help with the bigger guys so looking longer term maybe Petty is the answer to losing Lever and allows J Smith and Hibberd to rebound more until Hunt is fit and shows something. The obvious choice down back is Frost but I, like many others worry about his decision making, he is not a natural footy player, but a great athlete. He needs more time to work on his game at VFL level.

Weids and Stretch putting their hands up for consideration but that doesn’t resolve the backline issues.

He put it back to the journos what did they think, then trotted out the diplomatic line about it being a tough job etc and it wasn’t the difference....

Powell pepper was good though, 17 tackles and 29 kidney punches is a club record apparently.

Yet clean hands was the thing that stood out when I first saw him at training and later in his first games. Clean in the air and clean with ground balls, what has happened? Confidence issue?

First break go our way in 4 World Cups. I will take it.

Can we check the online betting records, something smells.

Ratsnest Island as the Dutch called it, I suspect Uncle. Forget the quokkas I am very perturbed about the poor coffee, that is a disgrace and in my new role as national Australian Coffee Standards ambassador I can assure you there will be ramifications!

FoxFooty saying Hawthorn in the box seat if Rory decides to move on. Is there some way to kill off these zombie sides, Hawthorn and Geelong?

They may have put the cue in the rack for the season, chasing some early picks in a draft with some good local talent.

Its the World Cup after all when have we not been dudded against the top teams? They bought in the VAR but we still get dudded!

Shyte!

It’s one all!

Strewth nearly got a goal!

Great to see Kyle Cheney out there for the Crows. There is an ex demon who has made the most of his talent. Third club and 10 years since he was drafted by us with pick 53. Always liked him as a player, dependable type but didn’t have enough speed. Delisted by us in 2010 when we thought we had a star studded list of young talent.

Sorry I can’t listen carefully to something you have written, I can only read it. But no matter, you refuse to recognise the false premise of your argument. Oh FGM is practised MORE in Islamic communities than others. Is it? I don’t know the absolute numbers but for umpteenth time I am not defending the practice, but I suspect you are too wedded to a side, the wrong side by the way.