OK, that's it for today, pretty busy on here! Thanks for all the questions and comments, always happy to answer, and appreciate the feedback. Another big weekend of footy coming up, hope it treats you and your team well! - RC
THE CASUALTIES
Clubs campaigned en masse for the abolition of the much-loathed substitute. They got their way. Already, though, we've heard a few voices now lamenting its demise. Could they gather some steam after Collingwood's injury-inspired collapse against the Western Bulldogs? Hopefully, few teams will be left in as dire straits as were the Pies, without a bench at all for the final quarter of a game they'd looked like winning. The sceptics will also point to Carlton's efforts across town with a bench of just two men for the bulk of their game against Geelong. And that the reduced rotation cap has limited the extent to which the numerical disadvantage can be exploited. But this might be a case of not knowing what you're missing till it's gone.
Winged: Alex Fasolo was one of the injured Pies who lost to the Bulldogs on Sunday. Photo: Getty Images
THE RAFFLE
We've said it before, we'll say it again. This premiership is anyone's, once again a couple of flag front-runners coming to grief just as their tyres were being pumped up. North Melbourne lost the midfield battle against Sydney and lost the war. Geelong stumbled for a second week in a row. GWS came to grief on the road, their cast of kids suddenly looking not quite as intimidating. Adelaide's stocks rose, and Hawthorn ain't going anywhere just yet. Behind the top dogs are a group of teams, the likes of Port Adelaide, Melbourne, Carlton, Richmond, all far less reliable, but very capable of bringing anyone to grief on their day. No developing narrative about season 2016 seems to last longer than a week. And we're loving it.
Geelong stumbled again this week. Photo: Getty Images
THE TORTOISE
Three wins on end now for Richmond and clearly gathering some steam. But what do the Tigers do during the summer? Their slow starts are becoming de rigeur under Damien Hardwick, their best early going just 3-3 after six rounds of 2013. They were 3-10 two years ago, 2-4 last year and this season 1-6. Once again, the parts are starting to come together, on Saturday night Dustin Martin, Brett Deledio and Trent Cotchin playing their best as a trio all season. Richmond are quite capable of winning what becomes a huge game on Friday night against North Melbourne. But you do wonder how much energy has been expended just getting to the top eight these past few seasons come the business end.
Rejuvenated Richmond? Tyrone Vickery celebrates a goal. Photo: Getty Images
THE RECORD
Fremantle's nightmare season continues, the Dockers now official joint holders of the most dramatic drop by a top four team in football history. But the head-scratching continues, too. For a bottom side still winless after nearly half a season, the Dockers are strangely competitive, only one of their defeats, the first against the Western Bulldogs, by more than 41 points. Again on Saturday, two-thirds of the line-up were players who played in last season's preliminary final. And against St Kilda, Freo dominated the middle stages, booting 10 of 12 goals, only to concede eight goals to zip in the final term. That screams effort and commitment issues far more than structure or personnel.
What's going on at Fremantle? Photo: Getty Images
