Yeah I didn’t see much either. But then again I’m a Freo supporter, so my eye sight can be called into question.

Look as a Freo fan, it’s a loss in the books. Personally, think we need to kick way more goals, and smash this bloody blue money bag team of Melbourne town. Some time soon. They have the wood on us mentally, it’s above the bloody shoulders this one. As Don has said a lot here, Freo were bloody good, but not good enough. Motivation to see these bastards in the finals and wipe them from the floor is what I want to see from Freo in response. We need to learn to smash Carlton, not just beat them. Smash them.

Maybe if we could kick more goals Don, so we crush the blue bagging bastards. It’s what I’d like to see as a Freo supporter. Our Front half still gives me cause for concern. Looking forward to Mr Darcy coming back, and having one of our rucks up forward. Jackson preferably. Mr Darcy can kick goals too. So more goals Don, more bloody Goals.

As a Freo supporter I have to agree you can’t win flags is you don’t follow the coaches advise on this one. I still hate Carltons guts though, as a Freo support that is. For a lot of reasons really, so for poaching players we train up, beating us but less that 15 points for the last XXX years. And lets face facts, the blues suck the most of any Melbourne side. Damn, sorry, just hating on Carlton because the boys played well, and the ball mofo baggers win again. “Should have just got on with it”.

After the opening round, Brisbane will be desperate not to be 0-2. It does not seem equatable to me, to start a season with some teams having one more game. Why not have all the other teams in the competition play in WA or SA on the Sunday? All that said I put my money on Freo, as I do every week.

Finally! Yeah yeah last week, but a full weekend of footy – time to pay my VPN. Did you know it’s better to use a VPN and pay for sky in Aussie than sky NZ for coverage? It’s a bit of a sad joke really. That said so many games I’m looking forward too. Anyone else picking a draw this round, I went with Geelong v St Kilda or Melbourne and the Doggies. I’m hoping Richmond can get up, and of course my boys at Freo. Begs a hell of a question about opening round though – with sides desperate not to be 0 for 2 – is it a equatable start to the season?

Yes bloody great piece. Protect the head. I grew up knowing people who had one to many concussions, from the guys with shaky hands, to the guys who could not sleep without killer nightmares and everything in between. The memory loss at silly young ages, one mate from school had it hit in his 30’s, another had brain splinting headaches from his early 20’s till it go to much and he took his life. Concussion should not be played down, and is the main reason I’m no fan of Rugby. If we protect the head as much as we can – yes it’s a contact sport so lets be honest with ourselves, we can not rule out every accidental incident. But we can set boundaries to protect the head as much as possible.

Big ups to the Tigers grabbing Mykelti. Sheesh you guys are good at finding talent.

It’s so good to have another kiwi pacific Islander in the AFL. Looking forward to watching him play.

young gun cops week for incredibly soft incident
Glad Author said this. This is a pathetic decision. Was shocked after the game to hear it was one week. Plus Dee Heslop ruled out of finals for what looked like a OK tackle. Even in slow mo it looks like she did most everything right. Really not even sure high contact will stick. No one is arguing severe impact, but no intent of dirty play, nor was deliberate. Disappointed with the MRO, again.

Drugs are a health issue, and should be treated as such. But, the reality is cocaine is a fubar drug for anyone participating in professional sport. Should be a stupidity penalty associated with getting tested positive for it.

Agree, love watching those two.I thought we played well this last weekend, with so many young players in our team, up against a well drilled and experienced outfit. Our defense was pretty good, it will be better for the outing. Dana East is really starting to impress week in and week out.

At 38 have to say Phillips has been bloody marvel. From watching her destroy NZ in the basketball. To cheering her and the Crows on in the first Grand final, to the switch to her beloved Port it’s been a hell of an enjoyable ride.

Lets not forget all her appearances on the Front Bar, which have been bloody funny. As such I hope she goes into the media: Smart, Funny and a Great player who can read the game well – I think she would be a huge bloody asset to any outlet to do with ALF or AFLW.

Even though his comment was silly, that thumping by the Demon’s was ugly to watch. This weekend I worry for Freo, as we up against Melbourne. What makes it suck is we have had to effectively do a rebuild these last two seasons – what with losing so many players to the expansion process. That said, last was a good weekend last for WA footy. The win by Freo was a bloody ripper.

The draw, bloody bloody. What a game, arm wrestle till the end. Really enjoyed it. Well bloody done to the TOASTERS!! Great win, even if it was a grind, the type of grind I enjoy more on the radio than over on the picture box. Pies proving talent and self belief are better than talent alone. Cats got better as game went on though, when the weather improved.

I really like Port, almost started to barrack for them back in the day before Freo became the one. So it makes me very sad that Kane Cornes is such a dick. Oh I know who your talking about on and off the field with young leaders, it’s a real blessing to have such good ones at the club. The level of professionalism is amazing. Same in the women’s program.

Being in NZ all I really get is Melbourne media, and I have to say I have fallen for some of the hype that comes with it. Is why I like reading your comments Don.

Don’t get me wrong I really like Sturt, and have watched some of his games for Peel online – and been bloody impressed. Just think more time in top league will be the making of him. Plus the injuries worry me.

Disagree with you on Mundy/Fyfe, thought Mundy’s influence on our young mids was first class. As shown in season 2022 and before.

Just want a fit healthy Fyfe 2024.

Johnno, great comment. I’m a kiwi, and a Freo fan, from my time living in WA many years ago. Yes I saw Freo play at the WACA, and always positioned myself near the drums when at Subiaco. It was, and still is a joy to support them. No flag, but damn it’s been a hell of a good ride.
What I don’t understand and can’t really understand about the trolls and some Freo supporters – is why they think it’s OK to force a player to stay at a club they don’t want to be at? If they want out, let them. A good example was the trading out of J Hogan – good for us and him. Do we really need to watch young men self destruct in the name of Footy? I love the club for making hard decisions which at times are hard to comprehend from so far away. But I do trust we will get it right, as we have a good crop of fine young men, who will play the great game to the absolute best of their ability.

Cocaine to me is a stupid, if not thee most stupid drug to take as an AFL player. You feel a boost in the first phases, but it stuffs with your endurance very quickly. Reduces overall physical strength shortly after the initial up. With the real kicker that, it makes it really hard to moderate body temperature. In a usual game played over a couple of hours this is not a winning combination. Indeed it is down right dangerous to take on game day. Not putting aside long term factors/problems as a professional athlete using this drug, especially in relation to the heart and cardiovascular system. Just a dumb to take this drug and try to play high level sport. Ban him for being a dumb ass, as an example to others – not to be a dumb ass.

Don your optimism is awesome, but as a fatalistic Freo fan. Banfield is not that great a player, he is a good role player at best. Sturt needs more time on the field at the top level to develop. Walters who is a bloody legend, is getting older and slower

If O’Driscoll gets more consistency (injury free for starters) I think he could be a bloody wonderful wing. It’s the yearly swapping of wings which is hurting us, game plan and game play wise. I thought Aish was doing quite good in the midfield. We suffered a lot from no Mundy, Mr cool calm and collect was a huge out and hurt us more than I thought it would.

Can’t see us making finals in 2024 – and yes we have a good trade hand next year – but where’s the win in that, if players keep leaving?

The miss matches this season have been diabolical to watch. In a couple of cases I just turned off and walked away.

Maybe a two tier comp until all side are up to scratch may be the answer.

As the difference between the good sides and the bad seems to be growing not shrinking.

Nat fits back in.

My hope is he does take his time to fit back in, and not play like a bull in a China shop. But the fact he went back to the WAFL shows he thinking long term, which is good. Because quite frankly, Freo desperately needs him come finals.

As for trading, not going to happen. Nat is going to be the one to lift the Cup for the first time for Freo. His dream, his drive and with Andy Co, it is going to happen. Maybe not this year, but it will happen – the window is open and purple is coming on.

“One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all. and in the darkness bind them.”
Oh wait, that’s not how the tribunal works…

Maybe it’s because I’m a Kiwi fan and live right outside the bubble. But I really don’t like drug enforcement with the AFL system for a few reasons.

1. The length of time coming to a decision.
2. Changing their minds on punishment. (Essendon case comes to mind)
3. Punishment model verse Health Care model in dealing with the drug use.
4. Drugs getting tested – time and time again I hear of players taking recreational drugs which pass through the body quickly and won’t show up on testing.
5. Pot – it’s not exactly a performance enhancing drug, like Alcohol it is worse for players to use it whilst preforming at the top level.
6. Footy is hard wired into a lot of these blokes and the no playing or training punishment is double whammy. We need to think about the fact these blokes love the game, and playing is a big part of what makes them who they are.

Personally, I’d prefer a very harsh financial punishment for players caught taking drugs. Very draconian, that their income drops to absolute basics. That they get health care they need, and that they are removed from the top tier of footy. But, that they keep playing and training. They have to face their fellow team mates on a regular basis, and they have to sit in the stands and watch their side play week after week in a bright orange jump suit. We have got to stop leaving this guys on their own to dwell and dig themselves more holes.

So Serong, first time tagging does less than stellar job. But he did learn what it is to follow an A grade player in Merrett, which I think will be good for the kid. Could he have been better – sure. Experience learnt, over all, a good tussle.

Each year the rules of professional sports start looking more and more the same. This reminds me what happened in Rugby Union many moons ago. A really good idea, so we, the paying public, get our spectacle.

Nothing worse than a side losing because it can’t really field a side. And it’s only one, with the rotations it will balance out quickly.

Will players try and game the system – well yeah. They like winning. Just punish the obvious idiots a lot for doing it. Like points or percentage off the ladder.