That's it for today, folks, been very busy, and good fun, so thanks for all the questions and comments. Hoping to see you back here at 12pm next Monday. Cheers, RoCo signing off.
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Rohan Connolly will be here blogging live from midday on Monday, Jump in early and leave a comment now, or join the conversation from 12pm.
THE DECISION
Since Callum Mills was pinged for this deliberate rushed behind in round two, the rule's parameters have been set. Photo: Getty Images
Might be in the minority here, but I didn't mind the free kick paid against Richmond's Jayden Short for that deliberate rushed behind on Saturday night. Fact is the umpires set the precedent when they penalised Sydney's Callum Mills similarly back in round two, though Short clearly was running at a faster clip. Yes, he would almost certainly have been nailed in the tackle by Josh Green had he not rushed a behind. That though, is OK, provided the umpires are prepared to afford players in such situations a little more largesse than usual. There's a great good here, namely, in an era of low scores, putting the onus on defenders as much as possible to keep the ball alive and not offer them yet another safety net.
THE COURAGE
Demons skipper Nathan Jones lifted his side to win in Alice Springs with his toughness, but he wasn't the only one to show bravery on the day. Photo: Getty Images
Hats off to goal umpire Luke Walker on Saturday in Alice Springs for courage under fire. Walker copped one square in the face just two minutes into the Melbourne-Gold Coast game when the Suns' Sean Lemmens ran into an open goal. Walker was able to regain his feet, and his composure, to give the all clear and wave the flags, despite blood flowing from a nasty cut to the bridge of the nose before he was treated by trainers and eventually subbed out, replaced by Dylan Benwell. Which does raise an interesting question. Does any substitute in sport stand less chance of actually being called into action than an emergency goal umpire? Proof you can never completely count on a quiet day sitting on the bench.
THE OCCASION
AFL chief Gillon McLachlan at the Welcome to Country at the MCG. Photo: AFL Media/Getty Images
Hats off, too, to the AFL for another well-executed and highest-ever attended Dreamtime game at the MCG. But indeed the whole Indigenous Round was a stunning success, not just for the jumpers or pre-game ceremonies, but the attention focused on the occasion right throughout the week prior, some terrific reading and viewing in the electronic and written media about a variety of Indigenous players past and present. It was hardly puffery, either, the focus regularly on some of the institutionalised disadvantage and prejudice still faced by the Indigenous throughout the land. There's always plenty of cynicism about the AFL getting involved in social causes. But few, if any, have as much impact on people who mightn't otherwise be alert to the issues than this one.
THE RESOLVE
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick kept the faith, and the Tigers repaid it, finally clinching a close one. Photo: AFL Media/Getty Images
And still more dipping of the lid to Richmond coach Damien Hardwick for refusing to succumb to the gathering hysteria surrounding his side's second last-minute disaster in a row against GWS. It's easy to get caught up in the passion, and in this case frustration of the Tiger army, but Hardwick continued to accentuate the positive, which was that the Tigers had played very good football against some very good teams. Against Essendon, they finally came through, the result that Richmond are a smidge of percentage away from the top four. In a season where even the very best have had huge ups and downs, the Tigers have been steady indeed, just the one shocker against Adelaide. It's a trait not to be underestimated.
