We'll miss Coop but our forward looks more potent with Frankie and Byrner - if the latter can bring what he showed in the practice matches.
Who plays all the midfield minutes that Lord was playing? Have to think Evans will play some....who else?
I would've brought someone like Acres in to allow our wingers to play more midfield.
Lord was basically our defensive or run with midfielder and I think that whoever has that role has to be set for it, rather than part timers sharing it. Of course, Melbourne's midfield isn't as strong as it was and we may not bother with a defensive mid other than Hewett doing his normal stuff.
Most of our general forwards are spending time in the midfield but I'd expect Lij and Williams to do the lion's share. Byrner could get a go too if he's coping with the pressure and tempo.
According to Taco, Iran "gave us a present, and the present arrived today. It was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money. I'm not going to tell you what the present is, but it was a very significant prize."
He then revealed “They said to show you the fact that we're real and solid, and we're going to let you have eight boats (sic) of oil, eight boats, eight big boats of oil. This was two days ago, and they'll sail up tomorrow.”
He provided more clarification, "They said, to show you the fact that we're real and solid and we're there, we're going to let you have eight boats of oil, eight boats, eight big boats of oil. I guess they were right, and they were real, and I think they were Pakistani-flagged... It ended up being 10 boats." He said that the two additional boats sent by Iran were "to apologise for something they said."
Unfortunately, shipping data for the Strait of Hormuz shows that five vessels have passed through the Strait since 23 March. Not ten, not eight, just five. And none of them are headed to the USA. Three are sailing to India, one is going to China, and the fifth is destined for Singapore.
If you're going to tell porkies, it's best if you don't embellish the story as you go and it's essential that they're not easily fact-checked.
With that in mind, cast your mind back to 4 March when Taco announced that the US International Development Finance Corporation would offer insurance “at a very reasonable price” for tankers and other ships in the Persian Gulf. He also said, “if necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible”. And, with his trademark caps lock, posted on social media, “No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD.”
It must be difficult to be the Bone Spurs in Chief of a complex military campaign with global implications when you have trouble understanding anything more complicated than a real estate transaction and find it hard to know what's real and what's imaginary.
Australia was one of the 52 nations that abstained and that has drawn criticism from the left. However, I think that there's merit in Britain's argument that it is wrong to "create a hierarchy of historical atrocities"...............................
I think we need to be wary, as per the Trump/Jacinta/Albanese comparison, of falling into the trap of false equivalence. The list of atrocities by humans is seemingly endless, but some are indisputable worse than others. The point that "all slavery is bad, why should slave trade x get the attention", has been discussed a lot. In scope, duration, contemporaneous and enduring trauma and devastation caused, and a whole bunch of other effects, the Euro American slave trade is without equal.
I'm not sure that it's quite so clear cut, and that's why I don't think that a hierarchy is appropriate.
It's estimated that at least 10% and probably as much as 25% of the Scandinavian population were slaves during the Viking age and the vast majority of those captured by the Vikings were sold on to slave traders from the Middle East. Mitochondrial DNA studies of the Icelandic population indicate that more than 60% of the initial colonising female population were Gaelic and most likely slaves. Then there's the Arab or Trans-Saharan slave trade that endured from the 7th to the 20th century and involved the enslavement of an estimated 9M Africans in the Middle East.
Interested to see the results of the recent vote in the UN to declare the Transatlantic slave trade "the gravest crime against humanity." 123 states voted in favour, 52 abstentions, and 3 states voted against.
The three nations that voted against the resolution were the USA, Israel and Argentina. The USA's vote is predictable in that sanitising slavery is one of MAGA's core objectives. Israel simply doesn't want anyone else to take the focus off the Holocaust and Argentina's foreign policy is virtually in lockstep with the USA and Israel.
Australia was one of the 52 nations that abstained and that has drawn criticism from the left. However, I think that there's merit in Britain's argument that it is wrong to "create a hierarchy of historical atrocities".
The Transatlantic slave trade was undoubtedly a crime against humanity. But so was the abduction and enslavement of more than 1 million Europeans between 1530 and 1780 in a series of raids by North African pirates that depopulated coastal towns from Sicily to Cornwall, and as far away as Iceland. Of course, the medieval Viking business model was based on the abduction and selling into slavery of whoever they could get and particularly Irish, Welsh, English, Franks and Slavs - and the word slave is derived from Slav. Slavery in all of its forms is a crime against humanity and the belief that humans can be owned is an abomination.
A friend and former colleague is involved in the Western Australian Legacies of British Slavery Project that has looked into slave wealth and culture as a significant and ongoing historical force. You can look at their research here:
One thing that I didn't realise was that when the British Government abolished slavery in 1833, it granted £20 million of taxpayers' money to be paid by British taxpayers to former slave-owners in compensation for their loss of property.
Compulsory work for those serving prison sentences is a legitimate part of judicial punishment. It's not slavery as there's no legal ownership of prison inmates by governments.
Didnt see Albo and crew volunteering to cut the fuel excise to help Australians or say they would return all that extra GST they will make on inflated petroleum product prices to farmers and the agriculture sector etc...Trump isnt the only one who can exploit or take advantage when it suits...
Morrison temporarily reduced fuel excise but no Australian government has ever refunded GST.
Of course, later analysis revealed that Morrison’s excise cut almost exclusively benefited high income households. Targeted relief to low income families would have been a more equitable and effective measure.
The thing is that it’s virtually impossible to predict what Taco is going to do and that makes it hard for any government to get on the front foot.
The mid-terms aren’t all that far off and it seems inevitable that GOP will lose control of Congress and Taco will be history. JD could be worse, but he will have impeachment to temper his excesses.
Trump admin lifting sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil, if only temporarily. Good to help your enemies make a small fortune while prices are sky high. A very generous administration, led from the top obvs.
Everything is transactional in the world of a dodgy real estate developer!
And why not send a couple of dodgy real estate developers to act as your envoys? They might be able to stitch up a juicy deal
Cerra and Newman will not be considered due to lack of match fitness. Fair call
Newey had only played limited minutes in VFL practice matches before his brain fade and suspension. Both need a run in the VFL to demonstrate whether they're ready for a recall.
It seems that the lawyers are feeling their way with the concussion case. Eight players have now joined Max Rooke as plaintiffs and the AFL and eleven clubs have been named as defendants. However, it’s likely that Rooke’s case against the AFL and Geelong will proceed as a pilot.
I have no doubt that Stevens has a legitimate basis for joining the action; the lawyers wouldn’t touch him without solid medical evidence. Furthermore, his defence in the swimming pool case is that he never intended to rip people off. No mention has been made of concussion issues.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t lower than shark sh1t as a convicted woman basher and, on the evidence presented in the current case, ripping families off.
Kevin Sheehan's AFL footballers' key attributes: 1. Clean hands (as in ball handling rather than hygiene). 2. Good disposal by hand and foot on both sides. 3. Sufficient athleticism - at least one of speed, agility and endurance. 4. Footy nous. 5. Positive attitude - great teammate, great self-belief and having great fun playing footy.
No one is negative about the boys. Lucas pushed himself to the edge against hawthorn and ben hasn't even had a chance yet. Pressure is off them this year. Next year they'll need to be establishing their credentials, they just have to show they can compete at the level this year for mine.
I agree with all that except the "pressure off" aspect, I think the alleged expectations of their old man pile on the pressure unnecessarily. Of course the rumours might be bullsh1t, but if they aren't he's calling for a position of privilege that demands a level of performance.
I'd much rather they are eased into it, which is another good argument for bigger lists, but if the rumours are true he probably wouldn't accept them getting a lower paycheque.
Scott is an experienced coach who would fully understand the pressures on young players and the intense competition for spots in an AFL team. I’m pretty sure that he would also understand that parental interference and/or commentary won’t help.
Understand the point you are making DJC & LP re how other recruiters rated Ben & Lucas for them to fall to picks 43 & 45, although I wonder if the fact that we held F/S rights wasn't a factor.
Not sure why they should be better suited back here at Port EB. Guess you are saying they are the type of player Port needs in their mix with Boaky gone. However, hopefully if given a reasonable chance we will find they are a "need' here!
Sometimes I wonder why as supporters we have to be so negative on young players who have hardly been looked at. These guys, their family members must sometimes read this negativity. If so you we shouldn't be surprised if they do decide to go back from where they have come. Why poke the bear with a stick? As has been said "Carlton supporters devour their own", if true not very smart. As supporters we are part of the fabric of a football club and need to play our part for the club to have success.
Well I guess I got that off my ...back !! cheers AB
I think that it's more a matter of patience and realism than negativity AB.
I'd much rather see Ben and Lucas taking their time, building strength and endurance, and learning the ropes than being dropped in at the deep end. Lucas has had a taste and showed that he wasn't out of place. Ben would have had his taste but for a suspension and his time will come.
From their changed physiques, training footage, and their teammates comments, they've both worked hard over the off-season. Let's see how they go when the VFL kicks off,
Can't understand all the negativity on Ben and Lucas Camporeale. Come on guys give them a chance.!
The fact that their dad Scott Camporeale, an accomplished footballer for Carlton went off to Essendon near the end of his playing career, is no reflection on the boys and their potential. Good luck to Scott, he only did what many on this site have been suggesting for Paddy Cripps, ie. we should trade him back to a Perth club. Also, I don't hear many ethical complaints when we trade in players from other AFL clubs.
Both Ben and Lucas were good under 18 players for SA with Ben making All Australian. Ben Camporeale was unlucky not to have played a game or two last season. The moment Paddy Cripps goes down with an injury, Ben could be just the guy we need in midfield imo.
If Carlton FC can't develop these two guys to reasonable AFl players, we haven't much future as a football club.
You can’t “develop” players to run faster, think quicker, and execute better. We can make them fitter, teach them positioning, and eliminate bad habits.
Ben and Lucas were picks 43 and 54, and that doesn’t guarantee a successful career, regardless of any development.
I think that both Ben and Lucas have the potential to be decent AFL players, they wouldn’t have been drafted if they didn’t. Their success will depend more on their attitude and determination than anything the club can do, other than offering them opportunity and guidance.
They’ve got the capacity, but there’s more than a few ahead of them at this stage.
Don't get carried away with the media hype about ONP. It boils down to around 140,000 voters moving from centre-right to right and far right and that gives Labor a virtually unassailable majority.
The SA Electoral Commission is incredibly slow given the relatively small size of the electorate and it seems that it will be a while before the final results are known. In the commission's defence, three-cornered contests always make it harder to determine which candidate's preferences are distributed. At this stage Labor has a whopping 32 seats with eight seats still in doubt. Such a puny opposition isn't really conducive to good government but Premier Malinauskas and Treasurer Koutsantonis both made the right noises about hubris and arrogance. Time will tell.
It will be interesting to follow the Liberals' response. On election night there was talk of reclaiming the centre, doing more to counter the rejection by female voters, and reducing the influence of non-parliamentary powerbrokers. Again, time will tell.
