Mega Thread Non-Freo AFL Discussion 2026

[LongSerong]

I mean.

From what I've heard from a few

If Butters didn't think he was in the clear I don't think he would've been so adamant on national tv - if he was guilty he would've taken that opportunity to give the ol "sorry i was in the heat of the moment, let my emotions get the better of me" spill

 

[ilikepotatoes]

If Butters didn't think he was in the clear I don't think he would've been so adamant on national tv - if he was guilty he would've taken that opportunity to give the ol "sorry i was in the heat of the moment, let my emotions get the better of me" spill

I don't know.

I think a bloke who's racked up over 50k in fines is probably not the best behaved or smartest player on the field.

The only similar report history is Toby Greene and he's not got the best track record with umpires either.

But we will find out soon enough that's for sure.

 

[LongSerong]

I don't know.

I think a bloke who's racked up over 50k in fines is probably not the best behaved or smartest player on the field.

The only similar report history is Toby Greene and he's not got the best track record with umpires either.

But we will find out soon enough that's for sure.

Fair play tbh, as someone in the game-day thread pointed out, they're all mic'd.

 

[E Shed]

Early days but I think the form teams of the comp are currently Sydney and Hawks.
If Sydney gets Gulden back before September they will go close.

Dogs are up there if they have their best team out but don’t have adequate backup for English.

GC are stuttering, GWS are only just getting started as players come back.

Brisbane is still the best list & it’s not close. Really it’s theirs to lose if they don’t have an injury run.

Geelong & Pies will still be thereabouts but not sure they can go all the way.

Adelaide has serious talent but it’s not clicking for them. Yet.

I still think Saints have the feel of us in 2012 as Ross gets it humming but I could be overrating their list.

I don’t think anyone else besides us is a serious contender at this stage. A few coming like North but not good enough yet.

I’m not sure we can go with the spread of elite talent Brisbane & Sydney has. The very top end players they can put out.

But this is the closest we’ve been to the very pointy end for a while.

Interesting year ahead.

 

[freo84]

Early days but I think the form teams of the comp are currently Sydney and Hawks.
If Sydney gets Gulden back before September they will go close.

Dogs are up there if they have their best team out but don’t have adequate backup for English.

GC are stuttering, GWS are only just getting started as players come back.

Brisbane is still the best list & it’s not close. Really it’s theirs to lose if they don’t have an injury run.

Geelong & Pies will still be thereabouts but not sure they can go all the way.

Adelaide has serious talent but it’s not clicking for them. Yet.

I still think Saints have the feel of us in 2012 as Ross gets it humming but I could be overrating their list.

I don’t think anyone else besides us is a serious contender at this stage. A few coming like North but not good enough yet.

I’m not sure we can go with the spread of elite talent Brisbane & Sydney has. The very top end players they can put out.

But this is the closest we’ve been to the very pointy end for a while.

Interesting year ahead.

I have Brisbane and Sydney as the top 2.

Us and the Hawks are the next 2.

Then you've got gold coast, Geelong Dogs.

After that throw a blanket over the rest.

 

[LongSerong]

No umpire audio from what Butters said..

Pretty convenient isn't it.

This is the same umpire that works for Sportsbet

 

[CakeEater]

No umpire audio from what Butters said..

Pretty convenient isn't it.

This is the same umpire that works for Sportsbet

 

[Clems Knee]

No umpire audio from what Butters said..

Pretty convenient isn't it.

This is the same umpire that works for Sportsbet

Is this for real? An umpire works for a Sports betting company?

 

[LongSerong]

Is this for real? An umpire works for a Sports betting company?

Yeah, he's on the payroll in the horse racing sphere as an analyst.

Can't have that imo though.

 

[Docker82]

Imagine if Bergman actually went to a Vic club. People would realise how overpaid he is. Constantly does the absolute bare minimum while getting paid a premium.

Escapes so much criticism for such a hugely overrated player

Think he'll jump ship in the next few years tbh. You might get your wish.

 

[Docker82]

Port a bit poop this year. Not so much smelling of roses when you have a new coach bounce, is it, Power fans..?!

Always been a poor balanced list held up by the top 9-10 players IMO.

In the last few years we've seen about half those players either retire or decline. They also traded out Houston for effectively Lukosius which is laughable.

Butters and Bergman about to jump ship too.

Even when they had those players they were playing hacks like Francis Evans and Quinton Narkle in finals. Two of the biggest hacks I've ever seen in finals. Terrible depth and development of younger players back a few years and we're seeing the result right now. They'll be down for while.

 

[ilikepotatoes]

Looking forward to Foot being silently dropped next week.

Or umpiring the Derby.

 

[toto95]

Yeah, he's on the payroll in the horse racing sphere as an analyst.

Can't have that imo though.

WTF

 

[gaskin]

The AFL are saying there is no audio of what Butters allegedly said to the ump. Funny that.

 

[Knees of Ben Allan]

Looking forward to Foot being silently dropped next week.

Or umpiring the Derby.

I would have thought there would have been calls made in the past week, to encourage four time John Worsfold Medallist, Dean Margetts, to wet the whistle again.

 

[Dump Truck]

The AFL are saying there is no audio of what Butters allegedly said to the ump. Funny that.

The AFL is trying to gaslight us all again like the Jordan Clark incident.

 

[Docker82]

The AFL are saying there is no audio of what Butters allegedly said to the ump. Funny that.

Apparently he said 'How much are they paying you?'

If that's all he said it's embarrassing that:
1. A fifty metre penalty was given and
2. He's fronting the tribunal.

How about recognising the umpiring isn't good enough in the opinion of players, coaches, fans and the media (ie ****ing everyone but the AFL) rather than make an example of those that call it out.

 

[ilikepotatoes]

Apparently he said 'How much are they paying you?'

If that's all he said it's embarrassing that:
1. A fifty metre penalty was given and
2. He's fronting the tribunal.

How about recognising the umpiring isn't good enough in the opinion of players, coaches, fans and the media (ie ****ing everyone but the AFL) rather than make an example of those that call it out.

That could be interpreted as either he's not good at his job or he's being paid to rig games. I imagine it doesn't go further if Foot thought it was the former.

Man I really hope the AFL has to justify the Sportsbet stuff at the tribunal. And I really hope Port goes hard at the AFL/Foot for the Sportsbet affiliation. There's a fair chance if Foot didn't work for a betting company this wouldn't have been said and even it was it wouldn't be interpreted this way.

 

[Taylor]

Maybe there's more than a casual belief that the AFL is pushing to have St Kilda be "more competitive" this year.

 

[swanny1234]

Apparently he said 'How much are they paying you?'

If that's all he said it's embarrassing that:
1. A fifty metre penalty was given and
2. He's fronting the tribunal.

How about recognising the umpiring isn't good enough in the opinion of players, coaches, fans and the media (ie ****ing everyone but the AFL) rather than make an example of those that call it out.

If that’s all he said then just move on seriously. Why are we going to have a tribunal hearing for this?

That’s a 50m penalty and that’s literally it. Geezus the game is actually gone if he gets rubbed out for that.

 

[serial_thrilla]

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

That sucks for the dude, seems a great bloke

 

[swanny1234]

Well I guess Serong might avoid a tag this week then.

Poor guy though, can’t take a trick.

 

[Kapow!!!]

Poor bloke, deserves a far better go of it than hes gotten. I hope he can still have a long career

 

[Spirit Level]

No umpire audio from what Butters said..

Pretty convenient isn't it.

This is the same umpire that works for Sportsbet

And there are smooth brains out there that still dont think the game is compromised