Editor
Joined October 2016
3.97m
Views
959
Published
11.5k
Comments
I love cricket so much I once had a dream I was timed out. It was the worst nightmare I've ever had. I also support the Western Bulldogs, which, much like dressing like clowns on the street and scaring people, was weird and depressing for a very long time, briefly became amazing in late 2016 and then swiftly went back to being weird and depressing. I also occasionally tweet about things at @timejmiller.
Published
Comments
Round 9 is done, and I feel like with every passing week, we learn less about the season we're having. GWS are back in…
It would be silly to do any analysis of Sydney's season, nor their eight-point loss to Essendon, without noting the injuries that have cruelled…
Carlton fans would have been forgiven for thinking they'd seen this movie before. A white-hot start featuring slick ball movement, a dominant midfield and…
Collingwood's tally of 34 inside 50s on Thursday night against Fremantle is the equal second-lowest by any team this year. It's the same amount…
The AFL might be the VFL in disguise, but there's one game that never fails to stop the nation - the rivalry to end…
The reigning premiers are on top of the ladder, the previous year's champions sit second, and West Coast, North Melbourne and Richmond make up…
With eight minutes to go on Saturday night at the MCG, Collingwood led Geelong by a solitary point. With four minute and 40 seconds…
Two years and 11 days ago, Fremantle took on the Western Bulldogs in Perth, were expected to win ... and were crunched by 49…
If you're a North Melbourne fan, you're probably feeling rather conflicted about Thursday night's loss to Essendon. On the one hand, this was a…
As the nation prepares to head to the polls on Saturday, Round 8 of AFL action brings with it its own share of rivalries…
They say Round 7 is when the ladder has begun to take its proper shape - but I bet whoever came up with that…
Back in March, Port Adelaide lost to Essendon in a match I thought would be unbeatable as the worst 2025 had to offer. The…
Sometimes, the greatest players of our game find their hype outmatching their own performance. Commentators gush over every simple moment, their name is mentioned…
There was optimism heading into Thursday night (I refuse on principal to call it Anzac Day Eve) that Melbourne and Richmond, off the back…
Lest we forget. Anzac Round is upon us, which means plenty of time to mourn our fallen heroes, reflect on the horrors of war...…
If you're a Hawthorn fan, there are two ways of looking at your side's thrilling, chaotic seven-point loss to Geelong in the latest Easter…
The round isn't over, but Round 6 has already thrown up yet more imponderables as a season that was just taking shape gets thrown…
You could see the relief etched into Simon Goodwin's face. You could see the delight on Max Gawn's face at a first AFL win…
North Melbourne's 82-point loss to Carlton on Good Friday was only their fourth-biggest defeat since Alastair Clarkson took the reins. The 152 points the…
This has been coming for a long time. Since last year's epic September run, Brisbane have become one of the most dominant comeback teams…
Thanks guys! 😊
Footy Fix: Yze's masterpiece, Blues blunders and a truckload of heart - how Tigers pulled off best win since the flags
That’s all fair! I think a first-year player, even one as good as Levi Ashcroft will be, is a rung below the likes of Cameron, Daniher and especially Neale and Dunkley when it comes to moving the needle for a team.
Brisbane will be a fascinating watch this season either way, as so many reigning premiers are.
Premiers to fall, Goodwin gone by July: 19 crazy, fearless predictions for AFL season 2025
Comments have been turned off on this article.
Eagles investigating after vision emerges of star in street brawl
This refers more to Sam Walsh being the obvious No.1 draft pick in his 2018 draft year – which he absolutely was.
Leave it up to the beholder to decide his value, but I’d still have him as the No.1 player in that year’s draft, albeit with Zak Butters closing fast!
Special Talents: The best AFL Draft prospect for every position - and who'd be perfect for your club
Good point! Not a great last few months for Freo fans eh – at least they have Collingwood’s first-rounder
AFL Oracle revisited: Grading my pre-season predictions for 2024
I don’t even rely on my tips anymore
AFL Oracle revisited: Grading my pre-season predictions for 2024
Fully agree with this, and imagine Port supporters would too – Geelong get pick 15 and Port pick 16!
AFL Oracle revisited: Grading my pre-season predictions for 2024
… this is true of anyone saying anything, isn’t it?
And I’ve genuinely never claimed to be an expert!
AFL Oracle revisited: Grading my pre-season predictions for 2024
1. Geelong 2008 – ridiculously dominant except in the third quarter of the grand final
2. Daylight
3. St Kilda 2009- lost two H&A games all year, both by less than a goal
4. Collingwood 2011 – literally were only defeated by one team all year
5. More daylight
6. Hawthorn 2012 – second half of 2012 most dominant period of Hawthorn’s whole era
7. Richmond 2018 – most dominant team of the 2000s to not make a grand final
8. Adelaide 2005 – elite all year, snatched top spot with win over West Coast in Perth in last round
9. Adelaide 2017 – tapered off but probably the last properly high-scoring team we’ve seen
10. Fremantle 2015 – first half of the year best in Freo’s history but weren’t great by the end.
Every grand final of the 2000s, ranked first to 25th: Which classic is 'the most underrated decider in footy history'?
Kennedy was ridiculous that day. One of the best grand final performances I can remember, certainly for a losing side.
Not a big fan though of giving the Norm Smith to a player from the losing team, though – rare enough that it’s not worth changing but feel like it dilutes the joy of the medal quite significantly.
Every grand final of the 2000s, ranked first to 25th: Which classic is 'the most underrated decider in footy history'?
Got it wrong – happy to put my hand up!
Finals Fix: Port came with a plan to take down the Swans - and it backfired spectacularly
Comments have been turned off for this post.
'Know my name will be cleared': Addo-Carr maintains innocence as fresh details of second positive test emerge
Port were terrific (and will be mentioned prominently in Six Points tonight!) – but surely it can’t be disputed that when the minor premier loses by three figures after a month and a half of steadily deteriorating form that’s the bigger talking point, right?
Footy Fix: The Swans are officially in freefall. Here are the painful questions that must be asked... and answered
To be honest I think this is a consequence of all those incidents you mention getting overturned.
The AFL tightened its rules around prohibited contact when Cripps had his ban overturned – remember, they WANTED him to be banned and Michael Christian did initially suspend him – and did the same for Maynard. Heeney would have got off under last year’s rules, it’s only the change to off-the-ball hits being graded as ‘intentional’ and not ‘careless’ conduct that got him.
The ridiculous thing in my view is that Heeney’s hit was only graded ‘low’ impact because of Jimmy Webster’s blood nose, whereas Zak Butters and Jesse Hogan earlier this year had far more deliberate strikes to the head but their opponents were both fine. Basically becomes ‘as long as you don’t whack them too hard on the nose specifically you’ll be right’.
AFL News: Simpson knocks back farewell game offer, Swans to take Heeney ban to Appeals Board
“It’s important to be careful about what I have to say next, because to suggest the Melbourne doctors were derelict in their duties is a huge claim and an irresponsible one to make without knowing the full process behind what went on in the Demons rooms and on the interchange bench as Petracca was cleared to return.”
Thought I was pretty clear in giving the doctors the greatest benefit of the doubt – but either way, letting him back on with the injuries that he’s now confirmed to have sustained is a shocking look in my view.
COMMENT: The Dees failed Christian Petracca on King's Birthday - and questions must be answered
A player was clearly injured, sent back out there, was clearly and visibly troubled, and has now been hospitalised and needed surgery on major internal injuries.
How on earth is it unfounded to say that’s a horrendous look?
COMMENT: The Dees failed Christian Petracca on King's Birthday - and questions must be answered
That’s precisely my point, though – if the reason Petracca was sent back out there was because they weren’t aware his ribs were cracked, then that should be publicly disclosed.
Otherwise it remains a horrendous look to have sent him out there with such severe internal injuries.
COMMENT: The Dees failed Christian Petracca on King's Birthday - and questions must be answered
“It isn’t sacrilege to ask informed questions of the medical team but that won’t stop the media idly speculating about the course of events whether they have the full facts or not.”
If you read the article you’ll be aware that’s exactly what I want – informed questions of the medical team being answered openly and honestly by Melbourne.
If the AFL doesn’t demand it as they did with Port Adelaide, then they’ll hide behind the ‘we trust the doctors implicitly line’, and the Petracca incident will remain the horrendous look that it is.
COMMENT: The Dees failed Christian Petracca on King's Birthday - and questions must be answered
Big difference between a sore player going back out there and a player with four cracked ribs and a punctured lung, I’d have thought!
If there needs to be an ‘outrage line’, maybe it’s having literal broken bones protecting vital organs?
COMMENT: The Dees failed Christian Petracca on King's Birthday - and questions must be answered
“Especially when there has been no objective investigation to establish all the facts.”
Angela, that’s exactly what I’m calling for – the Dees need to be open and honest with exactly how they came to the conclusion that Petracca was right to go.
They’ve already been criticised by all and sundry for letting him back on, and the extent of his injuries today makes that decision a really, REALLY bad look – or would you disagree with that?
COMMENT: The Dees failed Christian Petracca on King's Birthday - and questions must be answered
Yeah I agree on the DV social media post point – I think it would have been better to ask all clubs to come up with something themselves, almost came off as them just reading from a script which defeated the purpose a little bit.
I have the argument on the suspension based on outcomes thing every week with my dad – his point (as a lawyer) is that the punishment is significantly bigger for any crime if someone is significantly hurt. I wish the AFL didn’t work that way, but I think we’re sort of stuck with it (& also think three weeks for Brown’s bump is probably about right which I expect won’t be a controversial take at all…)
Six Points: Bevo's Bulldogs reach breaking point, dangerous tackle loophole must be closed, and 2024's worst coach-killer
I think that’s a bit unfair to St Kilda and based on a Ross Lyon stereotype – the Saints moved the ball pretty quickly consistently against GWS, they were just let down by some wayward kicking inside 50 until the last quarter. It was a close game, but far from a low-scoring scrap that you’d associate with ‘defensive-minded coaching’ imo.
Six Points: Why Dogs' disaster isn't all Bevo's fault, Eagles on their way, and 2024's biggest beat-up
I think there’s reasonable criticism to be made of his tactics and team structure, and Kornes was really close to getting it when he questioned a disconnect between list management and coaching (Harmes being brought in as the defensive midfielder and then stuck playing VFL top of the list for me), but almost none of it is getting airtime beyond ‘why no play Macrae’ and ‘Sanders sub grr’
Six Points: Why Dogs' disaster isn't all Bevo's fault, Eagles on their way, and 2024's biggest beat-up
Hi guys, this has been fixed & correct points awarded for the weekend. Our tipping comp processor REALLY hates golden point!
Reds rue missed 'moments' as Hurricanes get up in golden point to deny Australia another Super Rugby win
Fixed! Good spot – glitch in the system
The Roar's AFL expert tips and predictions, Round 2: Wait... one of us is picking NORTH MELBOURNE?