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12
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by Milhanna13 -
Quote from: RiverRat – on
I like Heyward's mongrel but not the stupidity that yet again led to a dopey free kick for a late bump.

after shocking start to the season, hayward was really starting to find his form,  kicking goals, and working as that last kick into 50.   but the previous couple of weeks (prob since caroll went down),  he seems to be playing more wing, and getting a lot of ball at half back.   he may be good at this role,  but he is exceptional in the forward half.   they need to get him back to where he is most dangerous - kicking goals or creating them
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: LP – on
I know Florent has become a whipping boy for some fans, but he keeps doing the right things at the right moment.

More than once Florent was the one intercepting the CheatsFC attempts to go through the corridor, he left his direct opponent and took the risk for the team and it paid off. Furthermore, in the first half when much of the team appeared to be on holiday he seemed to be making an effort, effective or not, and it kept us in the game.

I can't say the umpiring made much difference either way, but it was contributing the low quality game. Sometimes having all those umpires just seems to make things murkier!

Apart from the dubious centre ball up frees Essendon got, I agree that the poor umpiring didn't really favour either side.  I don't really think that the umpires are at fault.  It's more about how and what they're asked to adjudicate ... particularly paying frees and 50m penalties for inconsequential actions.

Florent arrived with a spurious claim about turnovers and he does occasionally miss his targets ... but that's true for all players charged with aggressively transitioning from defence.  As I mentioned previously, having experienced, reliable defenders like Florent, Haynes and Newey in the back half gives the youngster confidence to take the game on, and that's why Derksen, Dean and Cowan led the team in intercepts.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by LP -
Quote from: cookie2 – on
Ever since I started watching AFL I thought the game, which at times is a great spectacle, was over umpired. I know that there are long established traditions but I think that a deep review to significantly lessen umpire involvement and intervention could be very beneficial for the game. I’ll probably get crucified now by the traditionalists! 🤪
I think they could easily go back to one umpire, and bring in heavier MRP review and penalties for infringements.

Sure, I get that one umpire might miss a lot, but I'm not sure that makes things worse.

If the MRP penalties for sneaky crap were heavy enough, the game would self-regulate.

I watch a lot of Ammo and local footy, most games only have 2 umpires, and they move the footy as fast as the AFL. Only two umpires is not a big deal, and in the local footy the umpires are not fit and do not get regular Ad breaks to recover!

Going back to 2 umpires cuts away 50% of the variability, and to me variability is the biggest frustration.

I'm not saying only two umpires per game, but perhaps just two umpires on the ground at any one time would be a big improvement. Why can't umpires interchange the way players interchange?
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by cookie2 -
Ever since I started watching AFL I thought the game, which at times is a great spectacle, was over umpired. I know that there are long established traditions but I think that a deep review to significantly lessen umpire involvement and intervention could be very beneficial for the game. I’ll probably get crucified now by the traditionalists! 🤪
17
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Vale Professor Richard Scolyer
Last post by LP -
Terrible disease.

Glial cell tumours pop up anywhere nerve cells occur, it's a pretty broad category and the big current problem is that there is no effective treatment for Glioma of any type.

My understanding it gets labelled glioblastoma multiforme because several neuroglial cell types can all be affected together in one glioma. Unlike tumors in other areas of the body not much progress has been made in treating tumors based in nerve cells, or even knowing why they occur, there doesn't even seem to be a strong hypothesis regarding the reservoir.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by LP -
Quote from: DJC – on
And that brings me to Dean and Derksen.  I was concerned about going in with two inexperienced key defenders but they were fine.  Having Haynes, Newey and Florent to organise the defence is a big help.
I know Florent has become a whipping boy for some fans, but he keeps doing the right things at the right moment.

More than once Florent was the one intercepting the CheatsFC attempts to go through the corridor, he left his direct opponent and took the risk for the team and it paid off. Furthermore, in the first half when much of the team appeared to be on holiday he seemed to be making an effort, effective or not, and it kept us in the game.

I can't say the umpiring made much difference either way, but it was contributing the low quality game. Sometimes having all those umpires just seems to make things murkier!
19
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Vale Professor Richard Scolyer
Last post by Lods -
Seems to be a little more widespread than we may think.
My son-in-law's father is currently battling the same condition.
Given 12 months, he's stretched that out by a few, but the decline is inevitable and very difficult for family.
Sympathies to all affected.
20
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by DJC -
Well, that was hard to watch but a win is a win!

Some of our play and decision-making was as poor as anything I saw earlier in the season.  On the other hand, we had some brilliant passages of play and individual efforts.

The development of the youngsters is continuing to gain momentum, although Jack Ison had a quiet game.  It was good to see the seasoned campaigners like Acres, Hewett, Haynes, Newey and Harry show the way, not to mention the Skipper.

The umpiring was hard to follow, particularly the ruck contest frees.  I completely understand the perplexed look on Pitto’s face when he’s penalised; I can’t explain the decisions, even with the benefit of replays.  RR suggested that the umpire who tosses the ball up shouldn’t be deciding ruck frees.  Apart from not having a clear view of the contest, their attention would be better directed to avoiding backing into players.

Essendon is well off the pace but their lowly finishes have enabled them to pick up some decent young players.  Ben McKay looks far more accomplished as a key forward and I think that he and Caddy will trouble more than a few defences.

And that brings me to Dean and Derksen.  I was concerned about going in with two inexperienced key defenders but they were fine.  Having Haynes, Newey and Florent to organise the defence is a big help.

Then there’s Billy Wilson.  Any doubts about his ability to have an impact at AFL level must be put to bed now.  He may not have Saad’s acceleration but he’s got some toe, his decision-making and ball use are good, and he can shut down an opponent.

I think that we’re ready to have a week off and refresh for the second half of the season.