I can't believe you left Y out of that...... Don't you know anything about footy???

* Bower appeared to injury his shoulder (or perhaps elbow?) early in the last quarter. It didn't look good when he came off (he looked distressed and was holding his arm in his jumper like something was seriously wrong), but he made it back on the ground late in the quarter, much to my relief.

I just noticed that a poster on CSC said it was a hand injury. The way Bower was holding his arm in a 'sling' made me think it was a shoulder/collarbone or maybe elbow. Anyway, he came back on the ground so I think we can assume he's OK.

A good assessment Jim but I cant agree on Warnock. I thought his ruckwork was average and he seemed more intent on avoiding contact than feeding his on ballers. Scott Thompson sharked 75% of his hitouts. I thought Hampson won more ball in the middle and provided more mobility and physical presence around the stoppages.
A big step up from Hammer IMO.

81–82 premiership teams went pretty ordinary in the pre–season...

Just a few observations/comments from yesterday:

* The 3 players who brought a smile to my face yesterday were Yarran, Hammer & Duigan. Yarran looks a million bucks at the moment. His run out of defence and ball use was first class. Hammer carried the can in the ruck in the 2nd half after Warnock went off early in the 3rd term. I think Warnock might have suffered a minor injury and was kept off the ground for the rest of the 2nd half as a precaution (by the way, I thought Warnock was fairly dominant in the ruck in the 1st half - made one or two clangers with the ball, but he controlled the ruck contests well). We've been saying for a few years now that Hammer will be handful if/when the marks start sticking...well, he clunked a few beauties yesterday and his workrate was excellent. And Duigan....looked very determined to have an impact yesterday (obviously fighting for a spot in the Rd 1 team + I suspect he wanted to prove a point to the Crows...) and I think those that compare him to Andrew McKay are pretty close to the mark. Time will tell if he gets to the AA level that Macca did, be he certainly seems a similar type player to Macca. Pencil him in for Round 1 now.

* Bower appeared to injury his shoulder (or perhaps elbow?) early in the last quarter. It didn't look good when he came off (he looked distressed and was holding his arm in his jumper like something was seriously wrong), but he made it back on the ground late in the quarter, much to my relief. If we'd lost both he and Jamo (unfortunately, I think Jamo will get at least a week because the AFL won't like the photo in today's paper of the Crows' player's eyes rolling into the back of his head ), that would have been very bad for us...

* Although T-Bird did OK, I think we'll look a better side with Hendo at CHF (not to mention Kreuzer running around midfield/attack ).

* Tex looked to me like he was either carrying a minor niggle or was holding himself back a little bit.

* Newbies Curnow, Laidler and Collins all showed a bit. Curnow's kicking worries me though. Collins looks a bit like Hoops (but doesn't move as smoothly or appear as laconic). Laidler and Watson (who didn't play yesterday) are probably competing for the same spot and I'd say Laidler will get the first opportunity early in the season.

* Murph didn't reappear after half time, hopefully there's nothing more to that than he was given a rest. And I would feel reassured if someone can confirm that JR will be back next week...

Jim I reckon we woudl be asking too much from Thornton to be our CHF, most seem to acknowledge that T-Bird as a defender was preferred as the third defender (this is despit ehim playing some really good footy as KPP down back).

As a fwd, he could pinch hit as a CHF, but would be best suited as the third marking option.

His game on Friday was good in this role, particulraily the first and third quarters.

Jim I reckon we woudl be asking too much from Thornton to be our CHF, most seem to acknowledge that T-Bird as a defender was preferred as the third defender (this is despit ehim playing some really good footy as KPP down back).

As a fwd, he could pinch hit as a CHF, but would be best suited as the third marking option.

His game on Friday was good in this role, particulraily the first and third quarters.

Shit,i knew i forget something............Thornton.Thought he played really well against the Crows.Far from washed-up as a senior player IMHO.Reckon Thornton provides a terrific versatile option.Got plenty to offer as far as i'm concerned.Fully aware you cant play 'em all Bomba,but reckon Thornton will be more than handy to have around the place.Wont play 22games,but will get plenty of game time in the one's.Far too good for the Ants.

He hit the guy in the chest, and bending down into the movement only exposes his head to contact. He didn't hit the head on initial contact, and Henderson's head then snapped into him after that initial blow. That's not head high contact in the sense of a reportable offence. It's an unfortunate accident. Next you'll think blokes who get a concussion on landing are automatically deserving of head high frees.

And also, the only level left is for Murphy to elevate himself to one of the best players in the comp (ie. top 10). He already shreds teams regularly.