We'll wrap it up there for today. Thanks for all the questions and comments, some pretty astute observations (not necessarily from me!) Always a pleasure to interact, please keep it coming, and we'll see you back here next Monday at 12pm. Cheers, RC.
THE LAST WORD
The Farce
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How many unsatisfactory goalline reviews will it take for the AFL, the TV broadcasters and the various venues to get their act together and have the same technology available for every game? This farce has been going on for too many seasons now, and was underlined yet again at the Gabba on Sunday when Lance Franklin's shot for goal in the second quarter may or may not have been touched on the line by Brisbane's Claye Beams. Without the goal line shot, there was no way finding out, though. With the latest broadcast deal worth $2.5 billion, how can cost be an excuse? And even if it were, can we not afford a GoPro for a couple of hundred quid?
The Changes
Team selection can be a tricky task at times, and many might have thought St Kilda were taking something of a gamble against Melbourne by leaving emerging star Paddy McCartin out, "managed" the official explanation, along with Jack Lonie and Tom Lee. But the "ins" proved more than adequate replacements and reason for the selectors to be giving themselves a decent pat on the back afterwards. Tim Membrey kicked a career-best five goals, Blake Acres also found himself in the votes with a 28-disposal game and a couple of goals, and even Jade Gresham had some important involvements in limited game time, coach Alan Richardson praising his "physicality and want to defend".
The Bogeys
Melbourne are on the right track, despite another disappointing performance against St Kilda on Saturday. But boy, when the Demons get on the wrong end of a losing run, they sure know how to keep it going. If it's not Etihad Stadium, where they've now lost 23 of their last 24 outings, it's their opponents. Three of them, no less. St Kilda's win on Saturday was their 13th straight against Melbourne. Indeed, three of the game's four current longest winning runs by a team against another feature the Demons on the receiving end. Besides the Saints, Melbourne have racked up 15 losses on end to North Melbourne, No.1 in the streak stakes, and 12 against Hawthorn. That's what you call some horrible history.
The Rarity
Speaking of history, even the Hawks were on the receiving end of some unwanted historical significance in round six. Greater Western Sydney's imposing 24.14 (158) was the biggest tally any team has racked up against Hawthorn since Port Adelaide booted 29.14 (188) in round 13 of 2005, 12 seasons and 257 games ago. The 75-point margin was their heaviest defeat since losing to the Western Bulldogs by 88 points in round 14 of 2009, 163 games ago. They've now also lost their last two games against GWS, and won the one before that by just seven points. Interesting, seeing they've also lost three of their past four against Friday night's opponent, Richmond.
