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Joined July 2021
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I could probably make a case both ways on this. Mick Malthouse, for example, was very much of the “don’t need a big-name ruckman” philosophy. During West Coast’s first two premierships he used Paul Harding who was a useful player but really had more the build of a KPP than a ruckman.
He tried the same approach at Collingwood with some success, but in both Grand Finals against Brisbane they were well beaten at the centre bounces by Clark Keating.
I think you are definitely right in the sense that more than one ruckman can make the team top heavy.
Don't waste the time or money - ruckmen are the most overrated stock in the AFL
Regarding the commentators, I’m really disappointed that no-one has gone with “Precocious Lukosius.” Where is Cometti when you need him.
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I think you’re probably right (and I’m an Eagles man). Years of top ten draft picks, even if some don’t star and some leave or get injured, still amounts to a talented list. And it is a young list too, who are still finding their feet. I think when they break out it will be a quick rise.
Another thing I believe will benefit Dockers and some other teams in their position is that apart from Melbourne there is some sort of question mark against every team in last year’s top eight.
AFL 2022 Radar: 'Fremantle are known for utter mediocrity'
Your reference to the three witches from Macbeth certainly got my attention. You must know something. Although it is a matter of debate if the witches predicted the future events, or caused them to happen by planting the thoughts in Macbeth’s mind.
It seems lazy to name last years grand finalists as the top two, but I concede it would be hard to leave Melbourne out of top spot given their finals series last year and the age of their list.
My own side (West Coast) will struggle even without a hub life. I know their game plan cops some flack, but I think it was their lack of hunger that was the biggest problem last year. I would have preferred them to have a real clean out and spend a few years on the bottom accumulating draft picks. At least my WAFL team (Swan Districts) looks to be on the rise.
'Double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble!' My 2022 AFL ladder predictions
A big call indeed, although Freo has been accumulating top ten draft picks for many years and I think we should at least consider the possibility that they will click at some stage and surge upward suddenly.
(The Covid/hub factor is the big wild card, but I suspect that it may only affect the early part of the season.)
'Double, double, toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble!' My 2022 AFL ladder predictions
The two weeks off makes this one even harder to predict than most.
Usually one team is more affected than the other by a tough lead-in, tiredness, bruises and so on. But with both teams cruising to big prelim wins and then a fortnight off they should be jumping out of their skins.
Off course the other side of the coin is two weeks for the nerves to build up, for freak training injuries, for players to be caught in night clubs and any number of other hypotheticals.
Personally, I’m predicting a blow-out by one team or the other, based on absolutely nothing other than a neutral watcher preparing himself for a disappointing spectacle.
'A sense of destiny': Demons to finally deliver a flag after 57 years
A couple of things. If the WA mining industry had to close for a while it would be a huge blow to the nation’s finances, so the state has been taking what many think is an over-cautious approach from the start.
Is it too much of a stretch to imagine, with the 1,000 kilometre long border, that some diehard eastern state fans (perhaps unknowingly infected) might sneak across to attend the game.
I believe the WA Government would like the publicity and the excitement of hosting the Grand Final, but I don’t think they will chase it too hard for the above reasons.
WA's premier blasted for not showing enough excitement at potentially hosting AFL grand final
Probably a bit unfair on Hickey to call him an Eagles reject. I think they would have loved to keep him if they had the room. It’s just that they were a bit over-supplied with ruckmen and top heavy with height in general. They possibly saw Bailey Williams as a longer term ruck prospect.
'Historically spectacular': The AFL's most improved players this season
Tough call for West Coast on draft day. The theory is that they could swap Reid for two first round picks, but might then drop down to the point where they miss Daniel Curtin.
If it pans out I would probably prefer they nabbed Curtin and Riley Hardeman, being both WA boys who could be another Ginbey and Hewett and help build depth.
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