Mega Thread Non-Freo AFL Discussion 2026

[Barnabus]

I find myself defending Gold Coast quite often because it's pretty clear at grass roots level over here they're doing wonders. One of the premier NRL schools (Palm Beach Currumbin) is now a premier AFL juniors school. They're definitely doing an incredible job and it will come for them off the field with generational change...

...but 4 first round picks even after giving away 3 for Petracca after making the semi finals? Yeah na, get in the bin!

Yeah but every club would do that if they knew they would get access to the best of those kids. That is the whole point. Gold Coast (the AFL) are allowed to put in the money because they will get the reward. If any other club did that it is more likely than not the kid would end up on the open market.

Think about WA footy ATM. It is a disaster but if Freo and WC were told they could have access to all WA kids between them suddenly the grassroot support would be worth it.

 

[Lach72]

I cringed at the time of that selection and its played out so far pretty much exactly like anyone would think it would have

Yep.
First round picks that high CANNOT have injuries like that. The risk is too high.

 

[The Feeder Club]

Sad to hear of the passing of Bill Dempsey https://thewest.com.au/sport/wafl/b...l-hall-of-fame-member-dies-aged-83-c-21948741

I dont' recall seeing him play, but I do recall the most common rejoinder I got from my late father in law when we discussed greats of the past I had seen play, like Stephen Michael, was "you should have seen Dempsey"

 

[rubydoomsday]

Sad to hear of the passing of Bill Dempsey https://thewest.com.au/sport/wafl/b...l-hall-of-fame-member-dies-aged-83-c-21948741

I dont' recall seeing him play, but I do recall the most common rejoinder I got from my late father in law when we discussed greats of the past I had seen play, like Stephen Michael, was "you should have seen Dempsey"

my old man knew him a little - i started primary school with his son Josh waaaay back in '79

 

[Mags98]

gulden out for a couple months at least, terrible, one of the best player to watch in the game at the moment missing out on a ton of footy!

 

[BREATHLESS_987]

gulden out for a couple months at least, terrible, one of the best player to watch in the game at the moment missing out on a ton of footy!

It's the best call though, get him right for tail end of the year. No good popping a shoulder constantly through the year.

 

[BStaff17]

Pav has already had a major stuff up and been at the Swans for 5 mins.

I think his taking the bullets here for a few people.

But still its a poor look considering

 

[Retzlaff]

Pav has already had a major stuff up and been at the Swans for 5 mins.

I think his taking the bullets here for a few people.

But still its a poor look considering

To be expected from the Sydney Swans

 

[Purple_Turtle]

Pav has already had a major stuff up and been at the Swans for 5 mins.

I think his taking the bullets here for a few people.

But still its a poor look considering

People talk about the AFL being scripted, but clearly they can't even stick to it for an afternoon without ****ing up....

 

[largebus]

What a nothing burger. There were non-jews killed that day as well but apparently their lives don't count. The Age even referenced how jewish leaders had praised the Swans.

In any case it was the AFL who "stuffed up" editing the script not the Swans

 

[Quazar2]

Probably NEVER ever happen, but this is why Chris Scott

Chris Scott

Age

49

Ht

182cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.6

4star

K

11.2

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.1

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.2

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

2.8

5star

G

0.4

3star

would #1 on my shopping list of next-coach-to-get.

This explains everything about how he is respected and how he funnels his tactical abilities, understanding and psychologies into the players to make them self-aware and find a way.

It's sore to lose to anyone and let alone against Geelong again. But I really respect and rate Chris. Some turn-around.

And cripes, now he's got Bucks there to bounce off as well. Have the Dockers really got a strong enough coaching group?!?!

I think he would elevate this team to that next level barring AFL corruption. I think he is the man that would do it, not sure Justin is. Pipe dream, but one I'm gonna hang my crumpled old hat on

 

[Purple_Turtle]

What a nothing burger. There were non-jews killed that day as well but apparently their lives don't count. The Age even referenced how jewish leaders had praised the Swans.

In any case it was the AFL who "stuffed up" editing the script not the Swans

It's not that their lives don't count. It's that the attack was clearly targeted at the "Chanukah by the Sea" event and was heavily motivated by anti-semitism. It's not inclusive to forget the targets of the massacre or motivation of it.

(It would be like if the Swans previously knelt for "All Lives Matter" because it's wrong to only note some victims of police violence.)

 

[Purple_Turtle]

Probably NEVER ever happen, but this is why Chris Scott would #1 on my shopping list of next-coach-to-get.

This explains everything about how he is respected and how he funnels his tactical abilities, understanding and psychologies into the players to make them self-aware and find a way.

It's sore to lose to anyone and let alone against Geelong again. But I really respect and rate Chris. Some turn-around.

And cripes, now he's got Bucks there to bounce off as well. Have the Dockers really got a strong enough coaching group?!?!

I think he would elevate this team to that next level barring AFL corruption. I think he is the man that would do it, not sure Justin is. Pipe dream, but one I'm gonna hang my crumpled old hat on

Eagles had Sam Mitchell as an assistant in 2018. Outside of that we're up against it to get really high quality assistants.

 

[gaskin]

Probably NEVER ever happen, but this is why Chris Scott would #1 on my shopping list of next-coach-to-get.

This explains everything about how he is respected and how he funnels his tactical abilities, understanding and psychologies into the players to make them self-aware and find a way.

It's sore to lose to anyone and let alone against Geelong again. But I really respect and rate Chris. Some turn-around.

And cripes, now he's got Bucks there to bounce off as well. Have the Dockers really got a strong enough coaching group?!?!

I think he would elevate this team to that next level barring AFL corruption. I think he is the man that would do it, not sure Justin is. Pipe dream, but one I'm gonna hang my crumpled old hat on

My biggest what if for the club is what if we sacked Harvey a year earlier and gave the job to Chris Scott while he was here as an assistant before he took the Geelong job. I fully believe we have at least 1 flag by now.

 

[Quazar2]

Eagles had Sam Mitchell as an assistant in 2018. Outside of that we're up against it to get really high quality assistants.

I appreciate that, and I feel bad that the post made it seem like I don't rate Justin, I actually do. What he's done for the club, the culture and how he's steadied the ship and harnessed things, he's done a terrific job in that sense. But....Chris just has that magnetism about him that perhaps J-Lo does not. Of course, we could argue he's a more experienced coach and been at Geelong as long as Odysseus has had a beard now; where it's probably easier to get what you want, than it is at Freo.

So I respect there's other aspects at play too. But it's a ruthless industry to make it all the way to the top just once, let alone multiple times. If I could swap out Justin for Chris I'd do it in a heartbeat, but it's just 'Fantasy Footy' type stuff. Hopefully Justin has a Premiership brewing inside him like a hungry beast. He needs to show it real soon if that's the case:

"tiger tiger burning bright, in the forests of the night".

Man, I'm really rambling now. Who knew you could get drunk on water...?!

 

[Piggy Smalls]

It's not that their lives don't count. It's that the attack was clearly targeted at the "Chanukah by the Sea" event and was heavily motivated by anti-semitism. It's not inclusive to forget the targets of the massacre or motivation of it.

(It would be like if the Swans previously knelt for "All Lives Matter" because it's wrong to only note some victims of police violence.)

I think its just an excuse to push an agenda personally.

 

[Purple_Turtle]

I think its just an excuse to push an agenda personally.

What agenda is Gerard Healy pushing?

 

[Piggy Smalls]

What agenda is Gerard Healy pushing?

I'm not sure of your point? He pointed out that all of the victims and responders were honoured. The intent was to be more inclusive. The outrage and calls for them to be referred to the royal commission are so ridiculously heavy handed, yet so entirely predictable at the same time. That's the agenda.

I don't want to say anything else on this thread about it.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

I'm surprised Pendulbury got off on account of being such a gentleman across his distinguished career.

Oh wait, he plays for Collingwood. Nothing to see, then.

 

[ubiquitous226]

I'm surprised Pendulbury got off on account of being such a gentleman across his distinguished career.

Oh wait, he plays for Collingwood. Nothing to see, then.

While everyone would agree he's a great player, it's literally confirming that not all players are treated the same.

 

[King Huskii]

While everyone would agree he's a great player, it's literally confirming that not all players are treated the same.

Proof of AFL corruption

 

[BStaff17]

I think everyone knew Pendles would have gotten off the moment he was charged.

He was never getting suspended

 

[Taylor]

I'm not sure of your point? He pointed out that all of the victims and responders were honoured. The intent was to be more inclusive. The outrage and calls for them to be referred to the royal commission are so ridiculously heavy handed, yet so entirely predictable at the same time. That's the agenda.

I don't want to say anything else on this thread about it.

We live in a world where the political climate is being curated into a victim and an oppressor/aggressor and everything is being shoehorned into that lens - such that the mention of a victim group will, to some people, imply an opposed oppressor or aggressor group.

We live in a world where public facing organisations are being called to take sides on issues they can't control and are not involved in directly, I think the AFL chose a path to not be taking a side there - except that of humanity.

We are all human first.

 

[ignoramus]

We live in a world where public facing organisations are being called to take sides on issues they can't control and are not involved in directly, I think the AFL chose a path to not be taking a side there - except that of humanity.

We are all human first.

Typical of the AFL to side with the most voracious and destructive species on the planet.

 

[TimN2]

I think everyone knew Pendles would have gotten off the moment he was charged.

He was never getting suspended

It's NOT the good bloke clause. Apparently.

By process of elimination I can only assume he avoids suspension via the Collingwood Get out of Jail Free card.

BTW, not saying that he deserved a week, but surely they're taking the piss by saying it's not the good bloke thing.