#him and jake collins levy

[words-read-words-unsaid]

Multicultural Children's Book Day Part 2

This year, I was also gifted The Jake Show by Joshua Levy! The book was published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishing (harpercollins.com). Joshua is Jewish Florida native who has written several middle grade books. Jake is a TV-loving kid who is being pulled between two different worlds: The devout "yiddishkeit" of living with his mother and the secular, STEM encouraging of living with his father. Shuffled from school to school and between these two worlds, Jake has mastered the art of masking, but with the guidance of some excellent friends (and a few close-calls along the way), learns that he can't be both the person his mom wants him to be and the person his dad wants him to be at the same time (let alone himself). I really connected with Jake and the need to perform differently for different groups of people. I also remembered the feeling of starting in a new school and feeling like it would only be temporary. While adjusting to the Jewish vocabulary in the beginning was a little difficult for me (Jake did a great job at providing subtitles for things a few chapters in), this book was a great read! Jake's story will resonate with readers trying to parse out who they are/who they want to be. I'm so excited to add this book to the shelves in my library! Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2024 (1/25/24) is in its 11th year! Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative; they are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural diverse books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

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[thewomanwhowatchedchristmas]

Richie Rich's Christmas Wish (1998)

Ok, so I know that like, objectively, this is not a good movie. But wow it is campy fun. If you read my review last year of Jingle All the Way, this was also a favorite of at Nana's house because that was her taste, so I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Richie Rich (David Gallagher) is sick of all the responsibilities that come with his family's wealth and fame that prevent him from playing with his friends Gloria (Michelle Trachtenberg) Freckles (Blake Collins), and Pee Wee (Austin Stout). His attendant Cadbury (Keene Curtis) is patient with him, and Mr. Rich (Martin Mull) and Mrs. Rich (Lesley Ann Warren) are both loving parents and responsible community members, but things go south when the Van Doughs come for tea. Mr. Van Dough (Richard Fancy) is trying to shut down factories because he doesn't want to pay the workers. Mrs. Van Dough (Marla Maples) has no time for charity work because of all her spa treatments. Their son Reggie (Jake Richardson) is mean to all the waitstaff and is jealous that Richie gets to be on TV. Reggie doesn't want to do the charity work; he just wants to be the richest kid in the world instead of being second to Richie. So Reggie sabotages Richie and then blames Richie for ruining Christmas. Richie thinks everyone believes Reggie (they don't) and is distraught. He goes to Professor Keenbean's (Eugene Levy) lab and wishes that Richie Rich was never born. This triggers Professor Keenbean's wishing machine, but the world isn't quite what Richie was expecting without him in it.

This was really fun for me. I guess if you're not a fan of the "so bad it's good" kind of movie, this is not for you. But that's my personal favorite kind of movie. Overall, I have no notes, just 5 stars.

[fatalgames-archived]

[harritudur]

(｡^‿ ^｡)

[bearterritory]

Bears Overwhelm Illinois 35-20 for Bowl Win

Garbers Is MVP - Throws 4 TD Passes, Rushes For Another

Redbox Bowl - December 30, 2019

SANTA CLARA – Included among the things the Cal football team earned tonight was the right to expect more. The Golden Bears used an efficient and balanced offense and limited Illinois to a singular second-half touchdown in a 35-20 shellacking of the Fighting Illini in the 2019 Redbox Bowl at Levi's Stadium. The win gave Cal (8-5) its second eight-win season in the past four years and a three-game winning streak to finish the year. After finishing second in the Pac-12 North and with every offensive starter returning in 2020 (and most key players back on defense), the Bears are already thinking where their next steps might take them. "It's an exciting time for us," said Cal head coach Justin Wilcox, who has improved the team's win total in each of his first three seasons in Berkeley. "We talked in the locker room about the 2020 team. The expectations should continue to rise. There's no reason why we can't expect more of ourselves." If quarterback Chase Garbers and the rest of the Cal offense continues to perform as it did against Illinois, bigger and better things seem inevitable. Garbers carved up the Fighting Illini defense, completing passes to nine different receivers and throwing four touchdown passes while rushing for another. He finished 21-for-31 for 272 yards. Garbers missed four games and parts of others this season because of injury, but the Bears went 7-0 when he played at least half the game. Cal is 12-2 in those games dating back to last year.

"We had a pretty good game plan going into the game," Garbers said. "We knew there would be a lot of opportunities out there. The receivers did a great job running the right routes and catching the ball. I just had to put the ball where it's supposed to be." Garbers was named the game's offensive MVP while running back Christopher Brown Jr. rushed for 120 yards and caught a 3-yard touchdown pass. The teams traded scores throughout the first half but the game turned after halftime. Cal held Illinois to a three-and-out on the first possession of the third quarter, including a strip-sack by defensive MVP Zeandae Johnson. The Fighting Illini recovered, but the Bears took over with excellent field position and scored on a seven-play drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Garbers to tight end Gavin Reinwald to give Cal a 28-13 lead. The Bears followed up with a 12-play, 88-yard scoring drive, with Garbers finding Nikko Remigio on a 6-yard scoring pass. Cal led 35-13 with 11:06 to play. "Our offensive staff did a great job putting a game plan together and trying to dial it up," Wilcox said. "I thought the whole offense in general did a great job." It was an especially productive game by the Bears' tight ends, as Reinwald, Jake Tonges and Collin Moore combined for five catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Moore's 4-yard scoring catch in the first quarter was the first touchdown of his career.

All-American linebacker Evan Weaver finished with a game-high nine tackles to give him 182 for the season, the fifth-highest single-season total in NCAA history. While the Bears will miss Weaver and other key defenders such as safeties Ashtyn Davis and Jaylinn Hawkins moving forward, several impact players on the defensive side of the ball return in 2020, including Johnson, nose guard Brett Johnson, linebackers Kuony Deng, Cameron Goode, and defensive backs Camryn Bynum, Elijah Hicks, among others. "The stats go with it, but all I've really cared about this season is winning as many games as we could," Weaver said. "We fell short in a few of them, but I'm happy with eight wins. It's the most I've ever had in college. These guys will do a great job piggybacking off of that." The Bears open the 2020 season Aug. 29 at UNLV, and the team is well-aware their 2019 performance will result in increased attention from the outset. "It's a big, big win for our program for a lot of reasons," Wilcox said. "We have high expectations for ourselves moving forward. If you're not trying to win every game, what are you doing here? We can talk about it, but what it takes is a lot of hard work and investment by the people in the program."

[endlessflame]

Choices LI Tag Game

Thanks for tagging me, @stillafictosexual!

Across the Void: Meridian; also hooked up with Zekei once; also romanced Octan in fanfic and headcanon that my MC ended up with him; Lyra for Eos; Holmes for Pax

America’s Most Eligible: romanced Adam McIntyre (hispanic) for most of the series, then dumped him and married Slater Dominguez (who I also romanced in Book 2)

Baby Bump: Clint Covington (Asian), but may also hook up with Myles Dixon (not really into either of them that much)

Big Sky Country: Sawyer Oakley

Bachelorette Party: Ash Tanaka, and had a one-night stand with Stoli Magnusson in fanfic

Blades of Light and Shadow: Mal Volari, and hopefully Tyril too

Bloodbound: Jax Matsuo, but also hooked up with Adrian Raines (white) in Book 1 and the Book 2 threesome, and had a one-night stand with Dracula

The Crown & the Flame: Raydan Lykel 💛🖤; Sei Rhuka for Dom

A Courtesan of Rome: married Cassius Longinus, but slept with everyone (she was a courtesan, after all!)

Desire & Decorum: Ernest Sinclaire

The Elementalists: Griffin Langley

Endless Summer: Jake McKenzie

The Freshman series: Zig Ortega

The Haunting of Braidwood Manor: Victor

The Heist: Monaco: Fabien Ahmad

Hero: Only had eyes for Caleb, and romanced him in fanfic

High School Story: Aiden Zhou

High School Story: Class Act: M! Rory Silva (white)

Home for the Holidays: Wyatt Hart

It Lives in the Woods: Connor Green

It Lives Beneath: Tom Sato

LoveHacks: Mark Collins and Ben Park; picked Mark at the end

Mother of the Year: Levi Schuler

Nightbound: Cal Lowell

Open Heart: Bryce Lahela; Rafael Aveiro on the side

Passport to Romance: Elliot Langdon

Perfect Match: Damien Nazario

Platinum: M!Raleigh Carrera

Red Carpet Diaries: Matt Rodriguez

Ride or Die: Logan (hispanic, long-haired)

The Royal Masquerade: M!Kayden Vescovi (hispanic)

The Royal Romance: Liam (white) at first, then dumped him for Drake Walker, then married Bastien in fanfic

Rules of Engagement: Prince Leo; Blake Yasuda for party twin; Audrey for bookish twin

Save the Date: Simon Hendricks

Sunkissed: Nate and Samson, but at the end broke up with Nate and stayed with Samson

Veil of Secrets: Flynn O’Malley

Wishful Thinking: Jaime Lewis

Tagging @queen-of-effing-everything @endless-vall @boneandfur @endlesshero1122 @krishu213 @the-unconquered-queen @ritachacha and anyone else who wants to do this!

[itsalliepg]

Choices Love Interest Tag Game

List down your love interest(s) for each series! (you can also write none if you do not have an LI for a particular book or havent read that book yet.)

Thanks for the tag @thequeenchoices ♥ Some books I have two MCs (I have one account with my Facebook and another with my brother’s) and when has a / it’s because I wrote my two LIs

Across the Void: Meridian(MC), Holmes (Pax), Lyra (Eos)

America’s Most Eligible: Mackenzie/Derek Bianca/Slater

Baby Bump: I don't know yet, maybe M!Myles

Bachlorette Party: Ash Tanaka

Big Sky Country: Sawyer Oakley

Blades of Light & Shadow: Mal Volari/Nia Ellarious

Bloodbound: Jax Matsuo/Lily Spencer

The Crown & the Flame: Dominic Hunter

A Courtesan of Rome: Syphax but I slept with literally everyone LOL

Desire and Decorum: Prince Hamid/Ernest Sinclaire

Endless Summer: Jake McKenzie/Estela Montoya

The Elementalists: Griffin Langley/Shreya Mistry

The Freshman: Zig Ortega (I miss him sooo much😢)

The Haunting of Braidwood Manor: Eleanor

The Heist: Monaco: Uppercut Jones Rye

Hero: Kenji Katsaros

It Lives Anthology: Lucas Thomas/Ava Cunningham (ILITW) / Tom Sato (ILB)

High School Story: Aiden Zhou/Michael Harrison

High School Story - Class Act: M!Rory Silva/Skye Crandall

Home for the Holidays: Wyatt Hart

LoveHacks: Mark Collins

Mother of the Year: Levi Schuler

Nightbound: Cal Lowel

Open Heart: Bryce Lahela/Rafael Aveiro

Passport To Romance: Ahmed Khabbaz/Marisa Pires

Perfect Match: M!Hayden Young

Platinum: M!Raleigh Carrera/F!Raleigh Carrera sorry Avery LOL

Red Carpet Diaries: Seth Levine

Ride or Die: Colt Kaneko/Logan

Rules of Engagement: Dean (Katie)/Carter (Jess)/Audrey (Nicole)

The Royal Masquerade: M!Kayden Vescovi

The Royal Romance: King Liam/Maxwell Beaumont

Save the Date: Simon Hendricks

Sunkissed: Samson

Veil of Secrets: Flynn O'Malley

Wishful Thinking: Jaime Lewis

Tagging: @scalpeljockeybrycelahela @zigortega4life @mangoruby @bobasheebaby

[kathillards]

things we learned from dimensions in danger

rpm and dino charge are in their own dimensions

time force has made dimensional travel easy & possible & for some reason given this power to wesley collins, the stupidest not-time force officer they’ve ever had

gemma can breathe the mainverse air because she is the most powerful rpm ranger of all time

tommy oliver and kat hillard are MARRIED and have a SON and his name is JAKE but they call him JJ and they all live in REEFSIDE i love the hillards

hayley wants to go to koda’s world called ‘dino charge dimension’ where dinosaurs are not extinct because she’s an intellectual who wants to meet the queen of dino charge dimension, shelby watkins

there’s also a dimension called the anti-verse which is just where monsters chill out i guess. valid.

TOMMY AND KAT ARE MARRIED AND HAVE A CHILD 

gia was meeting tommy for lunch because she and emma were on a double date with tommy and kat

antonio and levi became best friends who play guitar and write songs together and levi is gonna open for antonio’s band we stan golds of color

trent was babysitting TOMMY AND KAT’S SON WHOSE NAME IS JAKE because they live in REEFSIDE with the DINO THUNDER RANGERS because thomas knows where his best season was

tj stans the ninja steel team and for that he is the most valid ranger of all time

rocky saw brody and immediately adopted him we stan brody’s second real father after mick THE FIRST AND LAST RED RANGERS

ok hang on sorry now i’m thinking about rocky being brody’s real dad and it makes so much sense like he’s a red ninja??? hello??? 

gemma and koda are BEST FRIENDS who meet up between dimensions and shittalk the mainverse rangers and their white teammates together ASIAN SOLIDARITY IS REAL AND ITS OUT THERE

I LOVE POWER RANGERS SUPER NINJA STEEL

[gaysparklepires]

11. The Two Things At the Very Top Of My Things-I-Never-Wanted-To-Do List

Read on AO3 Tip the Author

Sam started moving the others into formation while I was still on the ground. Embry and Quil were at my sides, waiting for me to recover and take the point.

I could feel the drive, the need, to get on my feet and lead them. The compulsion grew, and I fought it uselessly, cringing on the ground where I was.

Embry whined quietly in my ear. He didn’t want to think the words, afraid that he would bring me to Sam’s attention again. I felt his wordless plea for me to get up, for me to get this over with and be done with it.

There was fear in the pack, not so much for self but for the whole. We couldn’t imagine that we would all make it out alive tonight. Which brothers would we lose? Which minds would leave us forever? Which grieving families would we be consoling in the morning?

My mind began to work with theirs, to think in unison, as we dealt with these fears. Automatically, I pushed up from the ground and shook out my coat.

Embry and Quil huffed in relief. Quil touched his nose to my side once.

Their minds were filled with our challenge, our assignment. We remembered together the nights we’d watched the Cullens practicing for the fight with the newborns. Emmett Cullen was strongest, but Jasper would be the bigger problem. He moved like a lightning strike—power and speed and death rolled into one. How many centuries’ experience did he have? Enough that all the other Cullens looked to him for guidance.

I’ll take point, if you want flank, Quil offered. There was more excitement in his mind than most of the others. When Quil had watched Jasper’s instruction those nights, he’d been dying to test his skill against the vampire’s. For him, this would be a contest. Even knowing it was his life on the line, he saw it that way. Paul was like that, too, and the kids who had never been in battle, Collin and Brady. Seth probably would’ve been the same—if the opponents were not his friends.

Jake? Quil nudged me. How do you want to roll?

I just shook my head. I couldn’t concentrate—the compulsion to follow orders felt like puppet strings hooked into all of my muscles. One foot forward, now another.

Seth was dragging behind Collin and Brady—Liam had assumed point there. He ignored Seth while planning with the others, and I could see that he’d rather leave him out of the fight. There was a paternal edge to his feelings for his younger brother. He wished Sam would send him home. Seth didn’t register Liam’s doubts. He was adjusting to the puppet strings, too.

Maybe if you stopped resisting..., Embry whispered.

Just focus on our part. The big ones. We can take them down. We own them! Quil was working himself up—like a pep talk before a big game.

I could see how easy it would be—to think about nothing more than my part. It wasn’t hard to imaging attacking Jasper and Emmett. We’d been close to that before. I’d thought of them as enemies for a very long time. I could do that now again.

I just had to forget that they were protecting the same thing I would protect. I had to forget the reason why I might want them to win....

Jake, Embry warned. Keep your head in the game.

My feet moved sluggishly, pulling against the drag of the strings.

There’s no point fighting it, Embry whispered again.

He was right. I would end up doing what Sam wanted, if he was willing to push it. And he was. Obviously.

There was a good reason for the Alpha’s authority. Even a pack as strong as ours wasn’t much of a force without a leader. We had to move together, to think together, in order to be effective. And that required the body to have a head.

So what if Sam was wrong now? There was nothing anyone could do. No one could dispute his decision.

Except.

And there it was—a thought I’d never, never wanted to have. But now, with my legs all tied up in strings, I recognized the exception with relief—more than relief, with a fierce joy.

No one could dispute the Alpha’s decision—except for me.

I hadn’t earned anything. But there were things that had been born in me, things that I’d left unclaimed.

I’d never wanted to lead the pack. I didn’t want to do it now. I didn’t want the responsibility for all our fates resting on my shoulders. Sam was better at that than I would ever be.

But he was wrong tonight.

And I had not been born to kneel to him.

The bonds fell off my body the second that I embraced my birthright.

I could feel it gathering in me, both a freedom and also a strange, hollow power. Hollow because an Alpha’s power came from his pack, and I had no pack. For a second, loneliness overwhelmed me.

I had no pack now.

But I was straight and strong as I walked to where Sam stood, planning with Paul and Jared. He turned at the sound of my advance, and his black eyes narrowed.

No, I told him again.

He heard it right away, heard the choice that I’d made in the sound of the Alpha voice in my thoughts.

He jumped back a half step with a shocked yelp.

Jacob? What have you done?

I won’t follow you, Sam. Not for something so wrong.

He stared at me, stunned. You would... you would choose your enemies over your family?

They aren’t—I shook my head, clearing it—they aren’t our enemies. They never have been. Until I really thought about destroying them, thought it through, I didn’t see that.

This isn’t about them, he snarled at me. This is about Beau. He has never been the one for you, he has never chosen you, but you continue to destroy your life for him!

They were hard words, but true words. I sucked in a big gulp of air, breathing them in.

Maybe you’re right. But you’re going to destroy the pack over him, Sam. No matter how many of them survive tonight, they will always have murder on their hands.

We have to protect our families!

I know what you’ve decided, Sam. But you don’t decide for me, not anymore.

Jacob—you can’t turn your back on the tribe.

I heard the double echo of his Alpha command, but it was weightless this time. It no longer applied to me. He clenched his jaw, trying to force me to respond to his words.

I stared into his furious eyes. Ephraim Black’s son was not born to follow Levi Uley’s.

Is this it, then, Jacob Black? His hackles rose and his muzzle pulled back from his teeth. Paul and Jared snarled and bristled at his sides. Even if you can defeat me, the pack will never follow you!

Now I jerked back, a surprised whine escaping my throat.

Defeat you? I’m not going to fight you, Sam.

Then what’s your plan? I’m not stepping aside so that you can protect the vampires at the tribe’s expense.

I’m not telling you to step aside.

If you order them to follow you—

I’ll never take anyone’s will away from him.

His tail whipped back and forth as he recoiled from the judgment in my words. Then he took a step forward so that we were toe to toe, his exposed teeth inches from mine. I hadn’t noticed till this moment that I’d grown taller than him.

There cannot be more than one Alpha. The pack has chosen me. Will you rip us apart tonight? Will you turn on your brothers? Or will you end this insanity and join us again? Every word was layered with command, but it couldn’t touch me. Alpha blood ran undiluted in my veins.

I could see why there was never more than one Alpha male in a pack. My body was responding to the challenge. I could feel the instinct to defend my claim rising in me. The primitive core of my wolf-self tensed for the battle of supremacy.

I focused all my energy to control that reaction. I would not fall into a pointless, destructive fight with Sam. He was my brother still, even though I was rejecting him.

There is only one Alpha for this pack. I’m not contesting that. I’m just choosing to go my own way.

Do you belong to a coven now, Jacob?

I flinched.

I don’t know, Sam. But I do know this—

He shrunk back as he felt the weight of the Alpha in my tone. It affected him more than his touched me. Because I had been born to lead him.

I will stand between you and the Cullens. I won’t just watch while the pack kills innocent—it was hard to apply that word to vampires, but it was true—people. The pack is better than that. Lead them in the right direction, Sam.

I turned my back on him, and a chorus of howls tore into the air around me.

Digging my nails into the earth, I raced away from the uproar I’d caused. I didn’t have much time. At least Liam was the only one with a prayer of outrunning me, and I had a head start.

The howling faded with the distance, and I took comfort as the sound continued to rip apart the quiet night. They weren’t after me yet.

I had to warn the Cullens before the pack could get it together and stop me. If the Cullens were prepared, it might give Sam a reason to rethink this before it was too late. I sprinted toward the white house I still hated, leaving my home behind me. Home didn’t belong to me anymore. I’d turned my back on it.

Today had begun like any other day. Made it home from patrol with the rainy sunrise, breakfast with Billy and Rachel, bad TV, bickering with Paul... How did it change so completely, turn all surreal? How did everything get messed up and twisted so that I was here now, all alone, an unwilling Alpha, cut off from my brothers, choosing vampires over them?

The sound I’d been fearing interrupted my dazed thoughts—it was the soft impact of big paws against the ground, chasing after me. I threw myself forward, rocketing through the black forest. I just had to get close enough so that Edward could hear the warning in my head. Liam wouldn’t be able to stop me alone.

And then I caught the mood of the thoughts behind me. Not anger, but enthusiasm. Not chasing... but following.

My stride broke. I staggered two steps before it evened out again.

Wait up. My legs aren’t as long as yours.

SETH! What do you think you’re DOING? GO HOME!

He didn’t answer, but I could feel his excitement as he kept right on after me. I could see through his eyes as he could see through mine. The night scene was bleak for me— full of despair. For him, it was hopeful.

I hadn’t realized I was slowing down, but suddenly he was on my flank, running in position beside me.

I am not joking, Seth! This is no place for you. Get out of here.

The gangly tan wolf snorted. I’ve got your back, Jacob. I think you’re right. And I’m not going to stand behind Sam when—

Oh yes, the hell you are going to stand behind Sam! Get your furry butt back to La Push and do what Sam tells you to do.

No.

Go, Seth!

Is that an order, Jacob?

His question brought me up short. I skidded to a halt, my nails gouging furrows in the mud.

I’m not ordering anyone to do anything. I’m just telling you what you already know.

He plopped down on his haunches beside me. I’ll tell you what I know—I know that it’s awful quiet. Haven’t you noticed?

I blinked. My tail swished nervously as I realized what he was thinking underneath the words. It wasn’t quiet in one sense. Howls still filled the air, far away in the west.

They haven’t phased back, Seth said.

I knew that. The pack would be on red alert now. They would be using the mind link to see all sides clearly. But I couldn’t hear what they were thinking. I could only hear Seth. No one else.

Looks to me like separate packs aren’t linked. Huh. Guess there was no reason for our fathers to know that before. ’Cause there was no reason for separate packs before. Never enough wolves for two. Wow. It’s really quiet. Sort of eerie. But also kinda nice, don’t you think? I bet it was easier, like this, for Ephraim and Quil and Levi. Not such a babble with just three. Or just two.

Shut up, Seth.

Yes, sir.

Stop that! There are not two packs. There is THE pack, and then there is me. That’s all. So you can go home now.

If there aren’t two packs, then why can we hear each other and not the rest? I think that when you turned your back on Sam, that was a pretty significant move. A change. And when I followed you away, I think that was significant, too.

You’ve got a point, I conceded. But what can change can change right back.

He got up and started trotting toward the east. No time to argue about it now. We should be moving right along before Sam...

He was right about that part. There was no time for this argument. I fell into a run again, not pushing myself quite as hard. Seth stayed on my heels, holding the Second’s traditional place on my right flank.

I can run somewhere else, he thought, his nose dipping a little. I didn’t follow you because I was after a promotion.

Run wherever you want. Makes no difference to me.

There was no sound of pursuit, but we both stepped it up a little at the same time. I was worried now. If I couldn’t tap into the pack’s mind, it was going to make this more difficult. I’d have no more advance warning of attack than the Cullens.

We’ll run patrols, Seth suggested.

And what do we do if the pack challenges us? My eyes tightened. Attack our brothers? Yourbrother?

No—we sound the alarm and fall back.

Good answer. But then what? I don’t think...

I know, he agreed. Less confident now. I don’t think I can fight them, either. But they won’t be any happier with the idea of attacking us than we are with attacking them. That might be enough to stop them right there. Plus, there’re only eight of them now.

Stop being so... Took me a minute to decide on the right word. Optimistic. It’s getting on my nerves.

No problem. You want me to be all doom and gloom, or just shut up?

Just shut up.

Can do.

Really? Doesn’t seem like it.

He was finally quiet.

And then we were across the road and moving through the forest that ringed the Cullens’ house. Could Edward hear us yet?

Maybe we should be thinking something like, “We come in peace.”

Go for it.

Edward? He called the name tentatively. Edward, you there? Okay, now I feel kinda stupid.

You sound stupid, too.

Think he can hear us?

We were less than a mile out now. I think so. Hey, Edward. If you can hear me—circle the wagons, bloodsucker. You’ve got a problem.

We’ve got a problem, Seth corrected.

Then we broke through the trees into the big lawn. The house was dark, but not empty. Edward stood on the porch between Emmett and Jasper. They were snow white in the pale light.

“Jacob? Seth? What’s going on?”

I slowed and then paced back a few steps. The smell was so sharp through this nose that it felt like it was honestly burning me. Seth whined quietly, hesitating, and then he fell back behind me.

To answer Edward’s question, I let my mind run over the confrontation with Sam, moving through it backward. Seth thought with me, filling in the gaps, showing the scene from another angle. We stopped when we got to the part about the “disease,” because Edward hissed furiously and leaped off the porch.

“They want to kill Beau?” he snarled flatly.

Emmett and Jasper, not having heard the first part of the conversation, took his inflectionless question for a statement. They were right next to him in a flash, teeth exposed as they moved on us.

Hey, now,Seth thought, backing away.

“Em, Jazz—not them! The others. The pack is coming.”

Emmett and Jasper rocked back on their heels; Emmett turned to Edward while Jasper kept his eyes locked on us.

“What’s theirproblem?” Emmett demanded.

“The same one as mine,” Edward hissed. “But they have their own plan to handle it. Get the others. Call Carlisle! He and Esme have to get back here now.”

I whined uneasily. They were separated.

“They aren’t far,” Edward said in the same dead voice as before.

I’m going to go take a look, Seth said. Run the western perimeter.

“Will you be in danger, Seth?” Edward asked.

Seth and I exchanged a glance.

Don’t think so, we thought together. And then I added, But maybe I should go. Just in case...

They’ll be less likely to challenge me, Seth pointed out. I’m just a kid to them.

You’re just a kid to me, kid.

I’m outta here. You need to coordinate with the Cullens.

He wheeled and darted into the darkness. I wasn’t going to order Seth around, so I let him go.

Edward and I stood facing each other in the dark meadow. I could hear Emmett muttering into his phone. Jasper was watching the place where Seth had vanished into the woods. Alice appeared on the porch and then, after staring at me with anxious eyes for a long moment, she flitted to Jasper’s side. I guessed that Royal was inside with Beau. Still guarding him—from the wrong dangers.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve owed you my gratitude, Jacob,” Edward whispered. “I would never have asked for this from you.”

I thought of what he’d asked me for earlier today. When it came to Beau, there were no lines he wouldn’t cross. Yeah, you would.

He thought about it and then nodded. “I suppose you’re right about that.”

I sighed heavily. Well, this isn’t the first time that I didn’t do it for you.

“Right,” he murmured.

Sorry I didn’t do any good today. Told you he wouldn’t listen to me.

“I know. I never really believed he would. But…”

You had to try. I get it. He any better?

His voice and eyes went hollow. “Worse,” he breathed.

I didn’t want to let that word sink in. I was grateful when Alice spoke.

“Jacob, would you mind switching forms?” Alice asked. “I want to know what’s going on.”

I shook my head at the same time Edward answered.

“He needs to stay linked to Seth.”

“Well, then would you be so kind as to tell me what’s happening?”

He explained in clipped, emotionless sentences. “The pack thinks Beau’s become a problem. They foresee potential danger from the sickness. They feel it’s their duty to remove that danger, and they feel we’re in violation of the treaty for considering changing Beau to save him. Jacob and Seth disbanded from the pack to warn us. The rest are planning to attack tonight.”

Alice hissed, leaning away from me. Emmett and Jasper exchanged a glance, and then their eyes ranged across the trees.

Nobody out here, Seth reported. All’s quiet on the western front.

They may go around.

I’ll make a loop.

“Carlisle and Esme are on their way,” Emmett said. “Twenty minutes, tops.”

“We should take up a defensive position,” Jasper said.

Edward nodded. “Let’s get inside.”

I’ll run perimeter with Seth. If I get too far for you to hear my head, listen for my howl.

“I will.”

They backed into the house, eyes flickering everywhere. Before they were inside, I turned and ran toward the west.

I’m still not finding much, Seth told me.

I’ll take half the circle. Move fast—we don’t want them to have a chance to sneak past us.

Seth lurched forward in a sudden burst of speed.

We ran in silence, and the minutes passed. I listened to the noises around him, double- checking his judgment.

Hey—something coming up fast! he warned me after fifteen minutes of silence.

On my way!

Hold your position—I don’t think it’s the pack. It sounds different.

Seth—

But he caught the approaching scent on the breeze, and I read it in his mind.

Vampire. Bet it’s Carlisle.

Seth, fall back. It might be someone else.

No, it’s them. I recognize the scent. Hold up, I’m going to phase to explain it to them.

Seth, I don’t think—

But he was gone.

Anxiously, I raced along the western border. Wouldn’t it be just peachy if I couldn’t take care of Seth for one freaking night? What if something happened to him on my watch? Liam would shred me into kibble.

At least the kid kept it short. It wasn’t two minutes later when I felt him in my head again.

Yep, Carlisle and Esme. Boy, were they surprised to see me! They’re probably inside by now. Carlisle said thanks.

He’s a good guy.

Yeah. That’s one of the reasons why we’re right about this.

Hope so.

Why’re you so down, Jake? I’ll bet Sam won’t bring the pack tonight. He’s not going to launch a suicide mission.

I sighed. It didn’t seem to matter, either way.

Oh. This isn’t about Sam so much, is it?

I made the turn at the end of my patrol. I caught Seth’s scent where he’d turned last. We weren’t leaving any gaps.

You think Beau’s going to die anyway, Seth whispered.

Yeah, he is.

Poor Edward. He must be crazy.

Literally.

Edward’s name brought other memories boiling to the surface. Seth read them in astonishment.

And then he was howling. Oh, man! No way! You did not! That just plain ol’ sucks rocks, Jacob! And you know it, too! I can’t believe you said you’d kill him. What is that? You have to tell him no.

Shut up, shut up, you idiot! They’re going to think the pack is coming!

Oops! He cut off mid-howl.

I wheeled and started loping in toward the house. Just keep out of this, Seth. Take the whole circle for now.

Seth seethed and I ignored him.

False alarm, false alarm, I thought as I ran closer in. Sorry. Seth is young. He forgets things. No one’s attacking. False alarm.

When I got to the meadow, I could see Edward staring out of a dark window. I ran in, wanting to be sure he got the message.

There’s nothing out there—you got that?

He nodded once.

This would be a lot easier if the communication wasn’t one way. Then again, I was

kinda glad I wasn’t in his head.

He looked over his shoulder, back into the house, and I saw a shudder run through his whole frame. He waved me away without looking in my direction again and then moved out of my view.

What’s going on?

Like I was going to get an answer.

I sat very still in the meadow and listened. With these ears, I could almost hear Seth’s soft footfalls, miles out into the forest. It was easy to hear every sound inside the dark house.

“It was a false alarm,” Edward was explaining in that dead voice, just repeating what I’d told him. “Seth was upset about something else, and he forgot we were listening for a signal. He’s very young.”

“Nice to have toddlers guarding the fort,” a deeper voice grumbled. Emmett, I thought.

“They’ve done us a great service tonight, Emmett,” Carlisle said. “At great personal sacrifice.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m just jealous. Wish I was out there.”

“Seth doesn’t think Sam will attack now,” Edward said mechanically. “Not with us forewarned, and lacking two members of the pack.”

“What does Jacob think?” Carlisle asked.

“He’s not as optimistic.”

No one spoke. There was a quiet dripping sound that I couldn’t place. I heard their low breathing—and I could separate Beau’s from the rest. It was harsher, labored. It hitched and broke in strange rhythms. I could hear his heart. It seemed... too fast, too weak. I paced it against my own heartbeat, but I wasn’t sure if that was any measure. It wasn’t like I was normal.

“Don’t touch him! You’ll wake him up,” Royal whispered.

Someone sighed.

“Royal,” Carlisle murmured.

“Don’t start with me, Carlisle. None of you get it. Beau thought he had more time as a human. He wanted more time. Yes, he was willing to change one day but this sped everything up too quickly. We should do everything we can to make him comfortable and help him through this, I think if we’re going to damn him to this existence we owe him at least that.”

I didn’t like Royal much, but I appreciated him a little more in that moment. It was a small glimpse into the insanity that was Beau’s decisions.

I paced quietly in front of the house. Each pass brought me a little closer. The dark windows were like a TV set running in some dull waiting room—it was impossible to keep my eyes off them for long.

A few more minutes, a few more passes, and my fur was brushing the side of the porch as I paced.

I could see up through the windows—see the top of the walls and the ceiling, the unlit chandelier that hung there. I was tall enough that all I would have to do was stretch my neck a little... and maybe one paw up on the edge of the porch....

I peeked into the big, open front room, expecting to see something very similar to the scene this afternoon. But it had changed so much that I was confused at first. For a second I thought I’d gotten the wrong room.

The glass wall was gone—it looked like metal now. And the furniture was all dragged out of the way, with Beau curled up awkwardly on a narrow bed in the center of the open space. Not a normal bed—one with rails like in a hospital. Also like a hospital were the monitors strapped to his body, the tubes stuck into his skin. The lights on the monitors flashed, but there was no sound. The dripping noise was from the IV plugged into his arm—some fluid that was thick and white, not clear.

He choked a little in his uneasy sleep, and both Edward and Royal moved in to hover over him. His body jerked, and he whimpered. Royal smoothed his hand across Beau’s forehead. Edward’s body stiffened—his back was to me, but his expression must have been something to see, because Emmett wrenched himself between them before there was time to blink. He held his hands up to Edward.

“Not tonight, Edward. We’ve got other things to worry about.”

Edward turned away from them, and he was the burning man again. His eyes met mine for one moment, and then I dropped back to all fours.

I ran back into the dark forest, running to join Seth, running away from what was behind me.

Worse. Yes, Beau was worse.

[soccerdrawings]

8 Advantages Of Transfer Centre And How You Can Make Full Use Of It | Transfer Centre

Queenslander Welch looked set to accompany Parramatta afore adversity his additional season-ending knee abrasion in aboriginal August and has now taken up his advantage to abide with Melbourne for 2020.

Transfer Centre - transfer centre | transfer centre Stream over 50 sports alive & anytime on your TV or favourite accessory with KAYO SPORTS. The better Aussie sports and the best from overseas. Aloof $25/month. No lock-in contract. Get your 14 day chargeless balloon >New Zealand Test second-rower Kenny Bromwich and Fiji all-embracing prop Tui Kamikamica, who are advancing off career-best NRL seasons, accept continued their deals until the end of the 2022 season.Tongan adumbrative Albert Vete, who was off contract, has been accustomed a one- year extension.The Storm attending set to lose centre Curtis Scott to Canberra, which is alike added of a draft accustomed Will Chambers’ abandonment to rugby abutment in Japan.MORE NRL NEWSLATRELL THE TIGER: Mitchell appears set for Concord afterwards Cowboys talks stallCOMING HOLMES: Val set to canal NFL dream for Townsville returnSAYONARA, AU REVOIR: The NRL stars branch across for 2020Meanwhile, the Wests Tigers accept accustomed a addition advanced of the 2020 division with advanced backpack duo Alex Twal and Luke Garner inking new deals.Both players accept continued their affairs with the club until the end of the 2022 NRL season.Twal, who abutting the Tigers amid through 2017, becoming alternative for Lebanon at that year’s Rugby League World Cup, starring in the Cedars’ memorable run to the knockout rounds.The 23-year-old, who didn’t absence a first-grade bold in 2019, said it was a absolutely accessible accommodation to re-sign.“This club gave me my admission and I’m absolutely blessed with area the club is activity and what administration (coach) Michael Maguire has us activity in. I’m aloof aflame to be a allotment of it activity forward,” Twal said.“I’m still a continued way abroad from the amateur I appetite to be in the NRL but I’m absolutely blessed with my progress.”MORE NRL NEWSMEETING MITCHELL: Cowboys spotted dining with adopted Roosters centreBURNING ISSUES: The affair your club needs to fix advanced of the 2020 seasonDEALBREAKER: The key amateur in the action for Jai Arrow’s signatureElsewhere, Canberra has appear the re-signing of Sam Williams on a two-year accord befitting him at the club until 2021.“I was consistently adequate about accepting the accord done and its an agitative time to be complex with the club,” Williams said.“We’ve got a acceptable band and we’re in a position now area we can abuse for a appellation abutting year.“I’m blessed to comedy whatever role I can in accepting the bays bottomward to Raiders HQ.”St George Illawarra has appear the signing of Issac Luke on a one-year deal.FULL NRL CONTRACT LISTPO = amateur option, CO = club option, MO = alternate optionBRONCOS

WATCH: Transfer Centre Extra - Seria A - 8 August 8 8 .. | transfer centre 2020 squad: Jess Arthars (2020) Jack Bird (2021/PO), Darius Boyd (2021/PO), Patrick Carrigan (2022), Xavier Coates (2021), Thomas Dearden (2021), Herbie Farnworth (2020), David Fifita (2020), Thomas Flegler (2020), Payne Haas (2024), Jamil Hopoate (2020), Jamayne Isaako (2022), Jordan Kahu (2020) Richie Kennar (2020), Rhys Kennedy (2020), Matt Lodge (2022), Andrew McCullough (2020/PO), Anthony Milford (2021/PO), Corey Oates (2020, PO 21, 22), Joe Ofahengaue (2022), Cory Paix (2022), Tevita Pangai Jr (2022), Keenan Palasia (2020) Izaia Perese (2020), Sean O’Sullivan (2020), Gehamat Shibasaki (2020), Kotoni Staggs (2020), Jake Turpin (2022) Ilikena Vudogo (2020)Gains: Jordan Kahu (Cowboys), Jesse Arthars (Titans), Ilikena Vudogo, Keenan Palasia, Jamil Hopoate, Xavier CoatesLosses: Troy Dargan (Rabbitohs), Matt Gillett, Shaun Fensom, Sam Tagataese (retired), George Fai, Alex Glenn, Patrick Mago, James Segeyaro.Coach: Anthony Seibold (2023)RAIDERS2020 squad: John Bateman (2021), Luke Bateman (2020), Nick Cotric (2020), Jarrod Croker (2020), JJ Collins (2020), Emre Guler (2021), Siliva Havili (2020/PO), Josh Hodgson (2022), Corey Horsburgh (2022), Sebastian Kris (2020), Joey Leilua (2020), Dunamis Lui (2021), Jack Murchie (2020), Michael Oldfield (2020), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (2023), Josh Papalii (2022), Aidan Sezer (2020), Bailey Simonsson (2023), Sia Soliola (2020), Ryan Sutton (2022), Joe Tapine (2023), Elliott Whitehead (2022), Jack Wighton (2020/PO), Sam Williams (2021), George Williams (2022), Hudson Young (2021).Gains: George Williams (from Wigan), Tom Starling, Harley Smith-ShieldsLosses: Brad Abbey, Ata Hingano, Royce Hunt, Jordan Rapana (Japanese rugby union), Reuben Porter.Coach: Ricky Stuart (2023)BULLDOGS2020 squad: Jake Averillo (2020), Dean Britt (2021) Jack Cogger (2020), Christian Crichton (2021), Adam Elliott (2020), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (2020), Kieran Foran (2020), Corey Harawira-Naera (2022), Morgan Harper (2020), Kerrod Holland (2020), Will Hopoate (2020), Josh Jackson (2020), Lachlan Lewis (2021), Sione Katoa (2021), Jeremy Marshall-King (2021), Nick Meaney (2021), Marcelo Montoya (2020), Dylan Napa (2021), Ofahiki Ogden (2021), Jayden Okunbor (2021), Chris Smith (2020), Reimis Smith (2021), Joe Stimson (2021), Sauaso Sue (2020), Isaiah Tass (2020) Aiden Tolman (2020), Renouf To’omaga (2021), Brandon Wakeham (2020), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (2022).Gains: Joe Stimson (Storm), Sione Katoa (Panthers), Dean Britt (Rabbitohs), Isaiah Tass, Jake Averillo (upgraded from lower grades).Losses: Connelly Lemuele (Cowboys), Michael Lichaa, Danny Fualalo, John Olive, Nu Brown, Kaiyne-Lee Kalache.Coach: Dean Pay (2020)SHARKS2020 squad: Blayke Brailey (2022), Jayson Bukuya (2020), Josh Dugan (2021), Andrew Fifita (2022), Wade Graham (2022), Braden Hamlen-Uele (2022), Shaun Johnson (2021), Sione Katoa (2020), William Kennedy (2020), Billy Magoulias (2021), Josh Morris (2020), Matt Moylan (2021), Ronaldo Mulitalo (2021), Briton Nikora (2022), Matt Prior (2020), Jesse Ramien (2023), Cruz Topai-Aveai (2020), Chad Townsend (2020), Connor Tracey (2021), Brayden Trindall (2020), Braden Uele (2022), Teig Wilton (2020) Jack Williams (2022), Aaron Woods (2021), Bronson Xerri (2021)Gains: Connor Tracey (Rabbitohs), Jesse Ramien (Knights)Losses: Jayden Brailey (Knights), Sosaia Feki (Castleford), Kyle Flanagan (Roosters), Paul Gallen (retired), Kurt Capewell, Aaron Gray, Scott SorensenCoach: John Morris (2021)TITANS2020 squad: Jai Arrow (2020), Shannon Boyd (2022), Tanah Boyd (2021), AJ Brimson (2020), Bryce Cartwright (2021), Dale Copley (2020), Anthony Don (2020), Darius Farmer (2021), Moeaki Fotuaika (2021), Keegan Hipgrave (2020), Ryan James (2020), Brian Kelly (2021), Leilani Latu (2020), Tyrone Peachey (2021), Nathan Peats (2020), Kevin Proctor (2020), Mitch Rein (2021), Tyrone Roberts (2020), Phillip Sami (2022), Treymain Spry (2020/CO), Sam Stone (2020), Ash Taylor (2021), Jarrod Wallace (2022), Kallum Watkins (2021), Jai Whitbread (2021)Gains: Darius FarmerLosses: Michael Gordon, Will Matthews (retired), Jesse Arthars (Broncos), Ryley Jacks, Brenko Lee, Jack StockwellCoach: Justin Holbrook (from 2020)SEA EAGLES2020 squad: Morgan Boyle (2021), Daly Cherry-Evans (2023), Cade Cust (2020), Kane Elgey (2020), Brendan Elliott (2020), Manase Fainu (2021), Addin Fonua-Blake (2022), Tevita Funa (2020), Reuben Garrick (2021), Jack Gosiewski (2021), Albert Hopoate (2020), Sean Keppie (2021), Api Koroisau (2021), Luke Metcalf (2020), Brayden Musgrove (2020), Haumole Olakau’ata (2021/CO), Brad Parker (2021), Taniela Paseka (2021), Toafofoa Sipley (2021), Curtis Sironen (2021), Samuel Smith (2020), Moses Suli (2020), Jorge Taufua (2021), Martin Taupau (2020), Joel Thompson (2020), Jake Trbojevic (2026), Tom Trbojevic (2026), Corey Waddell (2020), Dylan Walker (2021), Tony Williams (2020)

Sky Sports Transfer Centre - transfer centre | transfer centre Gains: Luke Metcalf, Brayden Musgrove (Knights)Losses: Api Koroisau (to Panthers), Kane Elgey (retired), Trent Hodkinson (retired), Lloyd PerrettCoach: Des Hasler (2021)STORM2020 squad: Josh Addo-Carr (2021), Nelson Asofa-Solomona (2023), Jesse Bromwich (2020/PO), Kenny Bromwich (2022), Will Chambers (2020), Brodie Croft (2020/MO), Sandor Earl (2020), Thomas Eisenhuth (2020), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (2020), Dale Finucane (2021), Harry Grant (2020), Jahrome Hughes (2021), Cooper Johns (2020), Tui Kamikamica (2022), Solomone Kata (2020, Felise Kaufusi (2020/PO), Max King (2020), Cameron Munster (2023), Isaac Lumelume (2020), Justin Olam (2020), Ryan Papenhuyzen (2020), Curtis Scott (2021), Marion Seve (2020), Brandon Smith (2022), Cameron Smith (2020), Albert Vete (2020), Suliasi Vunivalu (2020), Christian Welch (2020)Gains: None.Losses: Joe Stimson (Bulldogs), Will Chambers (Japanese rugby union), Billy Walters (Tigers), Solomone Kata (Super Rugby)Coach: Craig Bellamy (2021)KNIGHTS2020 squad: Mitchell Barnett (2020), Bradman Best (2022), Jayden Brailey (2022), Phoenix Crossland (2021), Herman Ese’ese (2020), Beau Fermor (2020), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (2021), Tim Glasby (2021), Aidan Guerra (2020), Brodie Jones (2020), Hymel Hunt (2021), Josh King (2020), David Klemmer (2023), Edrick Lee (2021), Danny Levi (2020), Mason Lino (2020), Kurt Mann (2021), Sione Mata’utia (2021), Tautau Moga (2020), Mitchell Pearce (2021), Kalyn Ponga (2021/PO), Daniel Saifiti (2022), Jacob Saifiti (2020), Pasami Saulo (2020), Star To’a (2021), Enari Tuala (2020), Connor Watson (2020)Gains: Jayden Brailey (Sharks), Enari Tuala (Cowboys), Bradman Best, Star To’aLosses: Jesse Ramien (Sharks), Jamie Buhrer (retired), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Hull KR), Slade Griffin (retired), Zac Woolford, Nathan Ross (retired), James Gavet (Huddersfield)Coach: Adam O’Brien (from 2020)COWBOYS2020 squad: John Asiata (2020), Jake Clifford (2020), Gavin Cooper (2020), Reuben Cotter (2020), Scott Drinkwater (2021), Mitchell Dunn (2020), Kyle Feldt (2020), Thomas Gilbert (2020), Jake Granville (2021), Ben Hampton (2021), Coen Hess (2022), Peter Hola (2022), Corey Jensen (2020), Connelly Lemuelu (2021), Esan Marsters (2022), Josh McGuire (2022), Jordan McLean (2020/PO), Francis Molo (2020), Michael Morgan (2023), Justin O’Neill (2021), Tom Opacic (2020), Emry Pere (2020), Reece Robson (2023), Daniel Russell (2020), Murray Taulagi (2021), Jason Taumalolo (2027), Shane Wright (2020),Gains: Reece Robson (Dragons), Esan Marsters (Wests Tigers), Connelly Lemuelu (Bulldogs) Reuben Cotter, Thomas Gilbert, Daniel RussellLosses: Matt Scott, Scott Bolton (both retired), Jordan Kahu, Javid Bowen, Gideon Gela-Mosby, Enari Tuala, Kurt Baptiste, Carlin Anderson, Te Maire MartinCoach: Paul Green (2021)EELS2020 squad: Daniel Alvaro (2021), Waqa Blake (2023), Dylan Brown (2020), Nathan Brown (2020/PO), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (2024), Andrew Davey (2020), Haze Dunster (2020), Kane Evans (2020), Blake Ferguson (2021), Clint Gutherson (2022), David Gower (2020), George Jennings (2020), Oregon Kaufusi (2020), Shaun Lane (2020), Reed Mahoney (2020), Ryan Matterson (2022/PO), Mitchell Moses (2022/PO), Marata Niukore (2020), Junior Paulo (2022), Jaeman Salmon (2020), Maika Sivo (2021), Brad Takairangi (2020), Will Smith (2020), Ray Stone (2020), Peni Terepo (2020)Gains: Ryan Matterson (Tigers), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Panthers), Haze Dunster, Ethan ParryLosses: Tim Mannah (retired), Manu Ma’u (Hull FC), Tepai Moeroa (Super Rugby), Josh Hoffman, Michael Jennings, Greg Leleisiuao, Matt McIlwrick (all unsigned)Coach: Brad Arthur (2021)PANTHERS2020 squad: Caleb Aekins (2020), Dean Blore (2020), Shawn Blore (2020), William Burns (2022), Jed Cartwright (2020), Nathan Cleary (2024), Stephen Crichton (2020), Dylan Edwards (2020), Wayde Egan (2021), Kaide Ellis (2020), James Fisher-Harris (2022), Jack Hetherington (2021), Viliame Kikau (2022), Apisai Koroisau (2022), Moses Leota (2022), Jarome Luai (2021), Josh Mansour (2021), Liam Martin (2021), Tyrone May (2020), Braydon McGrady (2020), Brent Naden (2021), James Tamou (2020), Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (2020), Dean Whare (2021), Isaah Yeo (2021)Gains: Apisai Koroisau (Sea Eagles), Dean Blore, Shawn Blore, Stephen Crichton, Braydon McGrady

Transfer Centre - Football Transfers News & Rumours | Sky Sports - transfer centre | transfer centre Losses: James Maloney (Catalans), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels), Sione Katoa (Bulldogs), Tim Grant, Sam McKendry (retired), Wayde Egan (released), Frank Winterstein (Toulouse), Hame Sele, Paea Pua, Tyrell Fuimaono, Nick Lui-Toso (all unsigned)Coach: Ivan Cleary (2023)DRAGONS2020 squad: Euan Aitken (2020), Eddie Blacker (2020), Jack de Belin (2020), Matt Dufty (2021), Jackson Ford (2020), Tyson Frizell (2020), James Graham (2020), Jacob Host (2020), Ben Hunt (2022/PO), Josh Kerr (2020), Tim Lafai (2020), Blake Lawrie (2022), Luciano Leilua (2020), Zac Lomax (2020), Joe Lovodua (2020), Issac Luke (2020), Cameron McInnes (2021), Corey Norman (2021), Jonus Pearson (2020), Jordan Pereira (2020), Mikaele Ravalawa (2020), Jason Saab (2022) Korbin Sims (2021), Tariq Sims (2022), Paul Vaughan (2021/PO).Gains: Issac Luke (Warriors), Eddie Blacker, Jackson Ford, Jason SaabLosses: Jeremy Latimore (retired), Gareth Widdop (Warrington), Reece Robson (Cowboys), Steven Marsters (Rabbitohs), Mitchell Allgood, Jai Field, Lachlan Maranta, Patrick Kaufusi, Darren Nicholls, Lachlan Timm, Tristan Sailor (all unsigned)Coach: Paul McGregor (2021)RABBITOHS2020 squad: Corey Allan (2021), Tom Amone (2020), Sam Burgess (2023 – abased on bacon cap ruling), Tom Burgess (2023), Braidon Burns (2021), Damien Cook (2023), Joshua Cook (2021), Cory Dennis (2020), Kurt Dillon (2020), Adam Doueihi (2021), Dane Gagai (2021), Edene Gebbie (2021), Bryson Goodwin (2020), Campbell Graham (2021), Dean Hawkins (2021), Alex Johnston (2020), Liam Knight (2020), Keaon Kolomatangi (2021), Ethan Lowe (2021), Steven Marsters (2020), Cameron Murray (2021), Mark Nicholls (2021), Adam Reynolds (2021), James Roberts (2021) Ky Rodwell (2020) Bayley Sironen (2020), Jaydn Su’A (2020/PO), Tevita Tatola (2021), Cody Walker (2020)Gains: Edene Gebbie (Wynnum-Manly), Bryson Goodwin (Warrington), Troy Dargan (Broncos), Steven Marsters (Dragons), Joshua Cook, Dean Hawkins, Keaon Kolomatangi, Ky RodwellLosses: George Burgess (Wigan), Dean Britt (Bulldogs), John Sutton (retirement), Greg Inglis (retirement), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Billy Brittain, Jacob Gagan, Mawene Hiroti, Kyle TurnerCoach: Wayne Bennett (2021)ROOSTERS2020 squad: Mitchell Aubusson (2020), Fletcher Baker (2021), Egan Butcher (2021), Nat Butcher (2020), Lindsay Collins (2022), Boyd Cordner (2023), Angus Crichton (2021), Poasa Faamausili (2022), Kyle Flanagan (2021), Jake Friend (2020), Ryan Hall (2020/MO), Matt Ikuvalu (2020), Luke Keary (2021), Asu Kepaoa (2020), Lachlan Lam (2020), Isaac Liu (2021), Joseph Manu (2022), Latrell Mitchell (2020), Brett Morris (2020), Victor Radley (2023), Billy Smith (2021), Siosiua Taukeiaho (2020), James Tedesco (2021), Daniel Tupou (2021), Sitili Tupouniua (2021), Sam Verrills (2021), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (2020)Gains: Kyle Flanagan (Sharks)Losses: Cooper Cronk (retired), Bernard Lewis, Zane TetevanoCoach: Trent Robinson (2020)WARRIORS2020 squad: Bunty Afoa (2021), Leeson Ah Mau (2021), Gerard Beale (2020), Adam Blair (2020/PO), Lachlan Burr (2020), Josh Curran (2021), Wayde Egan (2022), Jackson Frei (2020) David Fusitu’a (2023), Blake Green (2020), Tohu Harris (2021), Chanel Harris-Tavita (2020), Peta Hiku (2020), Adam Keighran (2020), Eliesa Katoa (2020), Karl Lawton (2021), Sam Lisone (2020), Ken Maumalo (2022), Taane Milne (2020) Kodi Nikorima (2021/PO), Agnatius Paasi (2022), Isaiah Papali’i (2020), Hayze Perham (2020), Adam Pompey (2020) Leivaha Pulu (2020), Nathaniel Roache (2020), Jazz Tevaga (2021), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (2022)Gains: Wayde Egan (Panthers), Adam Pompey, Eliesa KatoaLosses: Ligi Sao, Tevita Satae (Hull FC), Blayke Ayshford (retired), Issac Luke (Dragons)Coach: Stephen Kearney (2022)TIGERS2020 squad: Josh Aloiai (2021), Luke Brooks (2023), Michael Chee-Kam (2021), Oliver Clark (2020), Matt Eisenhuth (2020), Luke Garner (2022), Robert Jennings (2020), Chris Lawrence (2020), Jacob Liddle (2021), Benji Marshall (2020), Sam McIntyre (2020), Chris McQueen (2020), Thomas Mikaele (2021), Moses Mbye (2022), Paul Momirovski (2020), David Nofoaluma (2021), Russell Packer (2021), Josh Reynolds (2021), Alex Seyfarth (2020), Dylan Smith (2020), Elijah Taylor (2020), Tommy Talau (2020), Corey Thompson (2021), Alex Twal (2022), Billy Walters (2021)Gains: Billy Walters (from Storm)Losses: Robbie Farah, Robbie Rochow, Ben Matulino (all retired), Mahe Fonua (Hull FC), Esan Marsters (Cowboys), Ryan Matterson (Eels)

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[cincy2france-blog]

Questioning the Bengals’ staff O-line evaluations

     Do you or have you ever questioned the Bengals’ talent evaluation when it comes to Offensive Linemen? The first time as an adult that I had any inclination to be worried about offensive line evaluation was when Rich Braham retired. it wasn’t a worry that the team would mess anything up. It was more about Rich Braham being the best and pretty much the only center I had payed any attention to. When he retired, I just trusted the organization to draft another great center. How hard could it be? Very. The answer is, very.

In spite of some frustrations with the center position, the first time I actually yelled at my TV because I felt that the team did not know what it was doing with it’s o-line personnel was when they had Nate Livings and Evan Mathis on the team at the same time. Coincidentally, that was also my introduction to Twitter. Yes, I was that late to the twitter game. I’ve been trying to catch up ever since

Following the end of the 2010 season, Mathis, in response to a Reggie Bush tweet, tweeted, “It hasn’t been fun Cincinnati. Deuces.” Usually I would have bashed anyone who talked down to my city and my hometown team, but he was so justified in feeling the way that he felt. Mathis was far and away the better Guard than Livings was, and it wasn’t close. Yet for some reason, the Bengals continued to trot out Livings over Mathis.

Back then, Khaled Elsayed of ProFootballFocus.com wrote:

One of the most surprising things is how the Bengals rotated their left guard position when both were fully fit. Evan Mathis is the better run blocker and is leagues ahead of Nate Livings when it comes to pass protection. Mathis ranked in the top 10 and Livings finished just outside the bottom 10. Mathis played more than 100 additional snaps but gave up no sacks throughout the season, compared to the three Livings allowed. This makes you wonder why the Bengals featured Livings more when both were fit; it’s something to watch heading into free agency and the offseason.

As a free agent, Mathis went on the be regarded as the best guard in the NFL during his stint with the Philadelphia Eagles earning two Pro Bowl appearances and one First Team All Pro award. Meanwhile in Cincinnati, Livings had nightmarish 2010, and ’11 campaigns. The Bengals did not re-sign him and he went on to become the bane of the Cowboys fans’ existence for one year. They quickly realized what Bengals fans had known for years. In 2013, just one year after Dallas signed him to a five-year, $18.7 million contract, the Cowboys decided to cut ties immediately with the guard whereas the Bengals previously preferred to hang on to him for two more years, because…?

Ever since the Mathis-Livings affair, I’ve had heavy skepticism when it comes to the team’s selection of O-linemen. I’ve learned to listen more carefully to what NFL experts have to say when hit comes to o-linemen the Bengals draft.

Since 2011, they’ve lost players like Evan Mathis, Bobbie Williams, Anthony Collins, Andre Smith (only to return in 2017), Andrew Whitworth, and Kevin Zeitler. In that same time frame, the Bengals have drafted Tanner Hawkinson, Reid Fragel, Kevin Zeitler, TJ Johnson, Russel Bodine, Cedric Ogbuehi, Jake Fisher, Christian Westerman, and J.J. Dielman. In other words, with the exception of Zeitler, they haven’t exactly hit the jackpot recently when it comes to replacing o-line talent. And, I still wonder if the team really thought they would get David DeCastro when they traded back in the first round, but that’s a story for another time. 

I remember when the Bengals drafted Levi Jones in the first round of the draft. That was the most upset I had ever heard Bengals fans be about a draft pick. It turned out to be a good move from the team. Unfortunately, his time with the bengals was cut short because of injury. Not only did the drafting of Cedric Ogbuehi in 2015 not cause any of the backlash that the drafting of Jones did, it was almost seen as a good pick. I credit this on the excitement that o-line coach Paul Alexander showed at his press conference. You would have thought that he’d just witnessed the birth of his first child. I mean, he was so happy! He made really difficult to second guess the pick. Difficult, not impossible.

My personal favorite moments from the press conference were:

Q: What do you like about your new guy? A: I frinkin’ love him?

And that was just the first question!

Q: Is he the best pass blocker in the draft? A: Oh yeah, easy.

Easy! Wow! OK, um, well, see, what had happened was…

At one point, Coach Alexander said, “When you watch the film, you say wow a lot.” Can’t say I disagree with this statement.

Near the end of the press conference, Dave Lapham, ex Bengals o-lineman and current radio announcer, asks Coach Alexander if he has any question about Ogbuehi’s technique. Looking back on it now, it was as if Lapham was trying to give Coach Alexander an opportunity to walk back some over the top praise of the first round pick. Still caught up in the obvious euphoric state of drafting Ogbuehi, Alexander ran past all the exit ramps provided to him by Lapham and said, “I have no, zero. Ask as many questions as you want Lapham. I got zero reservations.”

I’d like to know, in a honest moment, what that answer would be in 2017.

Some scouting services and mock drafts had Ogbuehi as a “2-3” round pick due to his injuries. To be fair, in 2014, before his ACL injury, Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated had Ogbuehi as his number one overall pick. When he was drafted, the on air analysts at ESPN and The NFL Network said, among other things, “bad back,” “weak,” “reach,” “injury prone,” “gets pushed around,” etc. There were some positive comments, but they paled in comparison to the negative ones.

There was also the fact that Cincinnati had just come off of another playoff loss and should have been looking to select someone to help push the team over the proverbial hump rather than someone who was destined for the PUP list.

Going back through the 2016 season, I realized that Ogbuehi, at times, played really well. However, we didn’t have time to celebrate that fact because Russell Bodine was getting manhandled allowing pressure up the middle. Both Bodine and Ogbuehi were benched at different points during the season. Bodine’s temporary benching was just as deserved and needed as Ogbuehi’s. Bodine quickly returned to the starting lineup whereas Ogbuehi never did. Now, we are asked to suspend disbelief and hope that he is ready to replace the best pass blocking LT in the league.

After the week 16 loss to the Houston Texans, Pro Football Focus’ Matt Claassen wrote:

Offensive line woes sink Bengals

Cincinnati used its first two draft picks in 2015 on offensive tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher, and both players have been disappointments to this point. Ogbuehi and Fisher were the starting offensive tackles in this game, and each earned below-average grades for both pass protection (two sacks, one hurry allowed by Ogbuehi; one sack and four hurries allowed by Fisher) and run blocking. The Bengals’ run blocking was completely ineffective throughout the game, as running backs Jeremy Hill and Rex Burkhead combined for just 50 rushing yards on 19 carries, despite forcing five missed tackles.

Here’s to hoping that Ogbuehi and Fisher turn into the starting bookend tackles the Bengals hoped they would become when they selected them in rounds one and two of the 2015 draft, respectively. There’s still hope, but I’m skeptical, just in case you couldn’t tell.

[footyplusau]

The full injury list: round 12

The Pies will miss star forward Jamie Elliott yet again

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Luke Brown Fractured cheekbone 2-4 weeks Ben Davis* Foot Season Cam Ellis-Yolmen* Knee Season Curtly Hampton Ankle 12 weeks Jake Lever Ankle Test Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Small defender Brown will miss up to a month with a fractured cheekbone. Fellow defender Lever is expected to overcome a minor ankle sprain to face St Kilda on Friday night. Forward Mitch McGovern (hamstring) and Paul Seedsman (groin) are set to return in the SANFL from long-term injuries. – Lee Gaskin 

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Claye Beams Hamstring Test Allen Christensen Shoulder Season Josh Clayton Ankle Test Jack Frost Concussion Test Mitch Robinson Foot Season Tom Rockliff Shoulder Test Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Rockliff has missed two matches with his dislocated shoulder, but the bye last weekend has given him enough time to get right to play the Dockers. Claye Beams should also be available, although he’s likely to play in the NEAFL. – Michael Whiting

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Ciaran Byrne Knee Test Liam Jones Ankle Test Sam Rowe Knee Season Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Byrne is expected to make his much-anticipated return in the VFL against Coburg this Saturday. The Irishman, who has been sidelined since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in round 15 last season, has been in full training for about three weeks. He will be on limited game time when he resumes and build up gradually. Jones, who injured his left ankle late in the Northern Blues’ win over Sandringham on May 20, should also be available. – Howard Kotton

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

James Aish Fractured cheekbone Test Jamie Elliott Ankle TBC Alex Fasolo Mental health TBC Tyson Goldsack Shoulder TBC Levi Greenwood Leg TBC Adam Oxley Groin/hip 7 weeks Ben Reid Quad 1-2 weeks Ben Sinclair* Hamstring 3-4 weeks Travis Varcoe Hamstring 1-2 weeks Daniel Wells Calf TBC Jesse White Hamstring Test Rupert Wills Calf Test Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Elliott, Wells and Goldsack appear set to for stints on the sidelines after suffering injuries in the courageous win against Fremantle. Fasolo could return after battling a mental health issue, as could Aish, while Reid and Varcoe are expected to be available after the Pies’ round 13 bye. Sinclair is still eyeing a return in the second half of the year. – Ben Collins

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Patrick Ambrose Quad 6 weeks Mitch Brown Ankle 2-3 weeks Jayden Laverde* Ankle 4 weeks Darcy Parish Calf 1 week Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

The Dons suffered a blow when Ambrose re-injured his quad at training last week. The defender will be out for another six weeks having not played since the Bombers’ win over Collingwood on Anzac Day, with his absence felt in the Essendon backline. Parish will miss one more week with a minor calf strain but should be back after the Bombers’ round 13 bye, while James Kelly is expected to be available for Saturday night’s clash with Port Adelaide. – Callum Twomey

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Michael Apeness Knee Season Hayden Ballantyne   Hamstring  Test Harley Balic Personal leave Indefinite Harley Bennell  Calf  4 weeks Zac Clarke*  Knee  TBC Alex Pearce   Leg TBC Aaron Sandilands Hamstring Test Matthew Uebergang Hamstring TBC Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Ballantyne is on schedule to return, most likely for Peel, from his latest hamstring setback. If he plays in the Thunder’s clash with South Fremantle on Saturday it will have been three weeks since he hurt his hamstring in his comeback game from tendon surgery. Bennell is still about a month away from a long-awaited return to the field. The plan was for him to be available within the next fortnight. Star ruckman Sandilands is a test for the trip to Brisbane, but Ed Langdon isn’t on the injury list despite struggling coming back from a sore knee last round. – Travis King

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Jed Bews Ankle Test Josh Cowan Achilles soreness TBC Cory Gregson* Foot TBC Jack Henry Appendix Test Timm House Collarbone 6-8 weeks Lincoln McCarthy Groin 4-6 weeks Brandan Parfitt* Hamstring 4-6 weeks Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

The Cats were unscathed after the win against Adelaide however the players were keen for the break. Cowan is seeing specialists to determine the best action for his troublesome Achilles while Gregson remains a long-term prospect. Bews was unable to move off the straight line due to his ankle injury and was ruled out after the final training session for the week. He hopes the bye will give him enough time to be available for selection. – Peter Ryan

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Callum Ah Chee Back Test Sam Day Hip Season Jarrod Harbrow Club suspension TBC Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

About as healthy as the Suns’ list has looked all season, with Michael Rischitelli to return in the NEAFL after 11 months out with a ruptured ACL. Ah Chee should play in the same game after missing three matches with a back problem. Harbrow has been suspended for at least one week by the club after he was caught drink driving. – Michael Whiting

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Matt Buntine Knee Season Stephen Coniglio Ankle 8 weeks Brett Deledio Calf TBC Ryan Griffen Ankle 12 weeks Nick Haynes  Hamstring  2-3 weeks Jacob Hopper Finger 2-3 weeks Steve Johnson Knee Test Adam Kennedy Knee Season Rory Lobb Groin Test Will Setterfield Ankle 2-3 weeks Devon Smith Knee 4 weeks Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Griffen suffered a disappointing setback at training on Saturday and has already had surgery on his troublesome left ankle. Johnson and Lobb will train on Thursday to test themselves for Sunday’s clash with Carlton in Melbourne, with Hopper, Haynes and Smith all a chance to get back in the next month. – Adam Curley

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Grant Birchall Knee 1 week Jonathon Ceglar* ACL Indefinite Jack Fitzpatrick Concussion Indefinite James Frawley Turf toe 5 weeks Kieran Lovell Shoulder Indefinite Jaeger O’Meara Knee Indefinite Jonathan O’Rourke Hamstring 4-6 weeks Cyril Rioli PCL 5-7 weeks Ben Stratton Bone bruising (knee) 2-3 weeks Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Birchall is back doing ball work and will return for Hawthorn’s trip to Adelaide to play the Crows straight after the bye. Stratton is running again and should be back within a week or two after the bye period. Fitzpatrick is a suffering lingering effects from a concussion for the second straight year and won’t play for at least the next two weeks. Fellow ruckman Ceglar will be back playing footy, at least at VFL level towards the end of the season. – Ashley Browne

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Angus Brayshaw Concussion Indefinite Lochie Filipovic Hip flexor 3-4 weeks Colin Garland* Knee Season Max Gawn Hamstring 1-2 weeks Jesse Hogan Cancer Indefinite Pat McKenna Hamstring 10-12 weeks Joel Smith Shoulder 3-4 weeks Jake Spencer Shoulder Test Aaron vandenBerg* Heel Indefinite Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Hogan is extremely unlikely to play against Collingwood on Queen’s Birthday and could still be a couple of weeks away from a return. However, the Demons expect Spencer to play. Fellow ruckman Gawn is still a fortnight away from a return, while rookie defender Smith is making solid progress in his rehab from a shoulder injury. VandenBerg is having season-ending heel surgery in Sydney on Tuesday. – Ben Guthrie

Paul Ahern* Knee Season Oscar Junker Broken tibia 1-2 weeks Ben McKay Groin/hip 1-2 weeks Jy Simpkin AC joint 3 weeks Lindsay Thomas Suspended Available round 13 Corey Wagner Ankle 2-4 weeks Sam Wright Ankle 1 week Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Taylor Garner (leg), Nathan Hrovat (calf) and Marley Williams (hip) sustained various ailments in the loss to Richmond, but none seems serious, especially with North having the week off. It will be interesting to see whether Wright, after multiple setbacks, can make his belated season debut in the VFL for Werribee next week. Thomas will be eligible to return next week, but will almost certainly resume where he left off: in the VFL. – Marc McGowan

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Karl Amon Knee 3-4 weeks Cameron Hewett Groin Test Dan Houston Hip Test Chad Wingard Calf Test Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Power coach Ken Hinkley is hopeful Wingard will return for Saturday night’s game with Essendon at Etihad Stadium. Amon suffered a fractured patella in the two-point loss to Geelong and has been ruled out for up to a month. – Lee Gaskin

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Reece Conca* Foot Indefinite Nathan Drummond* Knee Season Todd Elton Shoulder TBC Jack Graham* Ankle 1-2 weeks Ben Griffiths Concussion Indefinite Shaun Hampson* Back Indefinite Callum Moore Ankle 4-5 weeks Nick Vlastuin Shoulder Test Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Elton did not require surgery on his dislocated right shoulder, but the Tiger will need a period of rest and rehab. Moore, who also escaped surgery for an ankle sprain, will be moving out of a moonboot to start building up to weight-bearing rehab. Vlastuin is expected to return after the bye. – Nathan Schmook

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

David Armitage Groin 6-7 weeks Ed Phillips Ankle 3 weeks Bailey Rice Ankle Test Nick Riewoldt Knee 1 week Jimmy Webster Hand Test Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Riewoldt is expected back for next week’s game against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium. Bone bruising in his troublesome left knee is keeping him sidelined. Webster could make the trip to Adelaide after suffering a broken right hand against Carlton and will be tested at the main session on Wednesday. Armitage will start running in a couple of weeks. – Dinny Navaratnam

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Harry Cunningham Foot 4 weeks Kieren Jack Hip Test Alex Johnson* Knee Indefinite Jake Lloyd Concussion Test Jarrad McVeigh Hamstring Test Sam Naismith Knee Test Sam Reid Concussion Test Daniel Robinson Fractured jaw 1-2 weeks Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Jack and Naismith are available to take on the Bulldogs on Thursday night if they can get through training on Tuesday and pull up well, but McVeigh looks unlikely. Given McVeigh’s soft tissue history he won’t be risked, while Lloyd and Reid are right to go after copping head knocks against Hawthorn before the bye. – Adam Curley

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Matthew Allen Foot 4 weeks Josh Kennedy Calf 2 weeks Nic Naitanui* Knee Late 2017 season Willie Rioli Hamstring TBC Simon Tunbridge Knee 2 weeks Jake Waterman Foot 5-6 weeks Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Dual Coleman medallist Kennedy is aiming for a comeback in the Eagles’ clash against Geelong next Thursday after the bye, while Sharrod Wellingham should also be available after missing the past two games with an ankle issue. Scott Lycett has been reinstated from the long-term injury list and might also be in the mix after successfully returning from shoulder surgery for East Perth on Monday. Rioli’s electric display for the Royals was over at half-time due to tightness in his “good” hamstring during his second game back from hamstring surgery, and a club injury update will be released on Wednesday. – Travis King

Player

Injury

Estimated Return

Matthew Boyd Shoulder Test Stewart Crameri Hip Season Josh Dunkley Shoulder 9-10 weeks Patrick Lipinski Collarbone Test Brad Lynch Hamstring Test Robert Murphy Knee 3-4 weeks Josh Prudden Hamstring 1-2 weeks Clay Smith Calf 1-2 weeks Roarke Smith Knee Season Updated: Tuesday, June 6

Early prognosis

Boyd should be fit to face the Swans on Thursday night after missing the past two weeks with a shoulder injury. Youngsters Lipinski and Lynch are likely to play in the VFL after spending several weeks on the sidelines. – Ryan Davidson

*Placed on the club’s long-term injury list

• Who’s hanging up the boots? 2017’s retirements and delistings

The post The full injury list: round 12 appeared first on Footy Plus.

from Footy Plus http://ift.tt/2sBzmAV via http://footyplus.net

[harritudur]

x

[harritudur]

tagged by the lovely and talented @misshoneywheeler (THANK YOU ❤) to list my six major crushes *BUT* as you said, it is pride month and i will do like you and go to bisexual this list :D 6 men + 6 women

let’s start with the men, in no particular order:

70′s robert deniro (he is just... *sigh* look at the fluff!)

jacob collins-levy (our fav aussie)

mahershala ali (this talented sunshine <3)

santiago cabrera (in love with him since HEROES)

70′s roger taylor (QUEEN’s tiny blonde drummer of my heart)

jake gyllenhall (the only man i have no shame to call daddy)

NOW THE BADASS LADIES:

jessica chastain (she honestly looks like a living classical sculpture)

50′s audrey hepburn (i admire her beauty and her strenght for what she went through)

saoirse ronan (THAT FACE)

lucy liu (smart and artsy and cute <3)

eva green (the haunting french beauty, in love with her since THE DREAMERS)

jodie comer (a talented dork, and... did you see her body???)

so voilà! it was fun :D

of course, FEEL FREE TO IGNORE ME, but i tag @feuillesmortes, @lyannas, @thefairfleming , @tsaritsaofstory, @tudoraddict, @flymetooasis, @rhythmsectionbros... and anyone who wants to do it :D

[harritudur]

rpf . jodie comer/jacob collins-levy . 3 155 words . rating M

note: as I promised, here my Jodie x Jacob smut. I tried to not turn this into a gratuitous smutty fic and so, I decided to add some fluff as well lol :) For @thefairfleming​ who gave me the courage to write and to post this shit fic (again, i apologize for the typos and my bad english)

-

Jodie couldn’t remember why she had ever thought it would be a good idea to start in the first place. Sometimes she blamed it on drink, on the nice French Rosé. And then, the annoying voice in the back of her head that sounded a little like her Mum telling her to stop being such a naive fool. She should have been enough of an adult to admit to her mistakes.

The thing was, she couldn’t find it in herself to stop.

-

Two weeks before, Jodie’s computer began to ring with the sounds of a Skype call from Jacob. Her former co-star whom she hadn’t made the least attempt to contact when she was still in the UK and he, in L.A. -or Australia maybe? They were not been in touch often recently. “Hello, Miss Comer,” he said, and then checked his watch. “It’s almost 7pm in L.A.! What are you doing up at such an ungodly hour?” “Working!” she replied proudly, showing to the camera the recent script she received for a new play in London. “What about you?” “Well, I am keep selling my soul in Hollywood for the sake of my career”. There was a hint of something in his voice that she can’t decipher, and yet it made her nervous. "I heard you were in the US recently and you didn’t even call me?” “Well, I wasn’t technically in the US,” Jodie said, taking a sip of her nocturnal tea. (British habits die hard) “I was in New York.” “East coast superiority problem,” he snorted, and he got this unreadable expression on his face. “How is England?” “Damp. And lovely,” she said, smiling brightly. “I will be there soon. To visit my father’s side of the family. It’s been a while… Can I come visit you at some point as well?” Jodie was slightly taken aback. He’d never asked if he could come visit. They’d been mostly cut off from each other since he’d gone to Los Angeles. “Yeah, Jake. Sure. If you felt like it.” “I will,” he said. “You mark my words, I will.”

-

To be honest, she wasn’t expecting him to show up. But, Jacob had always been hyperactive, a touch unpredictable and adventurous (she liked to call him Crocodile Dundee on set, just for the tease), so she was only about sixty percent surprised when he called her from Heathrow. “Jodz,” he said, “why aren’t you here to pick me up?” “Probably because you didn’t tell me you were coming! But I’ll come now.” She grabbed her keys and ran out the door before she could even think about what she was doing. Luckily for him, she moved to London the last week –a better decision for her career. “Finally,” Jacob said as she burst through the door at the airport, scrubbing a hand through his hair like he had just woken up from a long nap. “Finally, she shows up.” “Do you have any idea how far Heathrow is from London, Jacob!” Jodie said, trying to ignore the conspicuous lump in her throat and the way her heart rate sped up a little when he stepped forward and gave her a massive bear hug. “Missed you, Jodz,” he whispered in her ear, and suddenly, yup, there they all were, all those crazy feelings that she hadn’t let herself express for all those months she’d co-starred with him. “Missed you too, Jacob,” she said, and now she regretted not calling him while she was in the US.

-

True to form, he had no interest in actually sitting down for a proper meal, so they managed to navigate the interminable Tube of London for some takeaway Indian food that didn’t look like it would give them food poisoning. They sat on the floor in Jodie’s flat she just rented, cardboard boxes everywhere (and Jacob couldn’t believe how much of an improvement it was over any flat for a comparable -or even more expensive- price in Los Angeles) and chewed down. Just like old times in their trailers.

She brought out from her fridge a bottle of cheap French Rosé and they’d swapped stories about friends, family, one-night stands. He’d let her listen to a few songs on his ipod. She’d teased him about his Californian tan. She’d talked about Glastonbury Festival. He’d regretted to not have been there with her. They’d drunk the bottle dry.

Jodie hadn’t felt much nostalgia or sadness for her many former co-stars, realizing she’d gone off and lost touch with many of them. And more important, she’d had the possibility to meet them in London when she wished to. But now, she was nostalgic and sad -she didn’t know how much she missed him and how much she hated suddenly the Atlantic & the Pacific Oceans (and the Indian one too!). Jodie wasn’t aware that Jacob had been staring at her the whole time as she looked contemplatively in to her rice. “Jodz,” he said, “are you okay?” She exhaled, and looked back up at him. “Yeah, I’m alright. Just… missing the old days, you know?” There was a beat of silence. He smiled wistfully, which was an ability Jodie didn’t believe that people could develop before the age of thirty. “Yeah,” he said. “Me too. That’s why I’m here, I suppose.” “So you came all this way to sit on my floor and eat curry with me, and I suppose you’re flying back tomorrow in time for… your family right? Or an audition maybe? An event? Or a romantic dinner with whoever you are hooking up with?” The twinge of bitterness that Jodie heard in her voice was unintended, and she almost apologized to him right there. He laughed, harsh and bitter, like she’d never heard him laugh before. “God, we’ve been out of touch, haven’t we Jodie? No one is waiting for me in my cold cold bed.” “I’m sorry…” and instinctively, she reached out for him and grabbed his hand. Jacob sighed. “I miss you.” “Same, Jake.” “You’ve done an awful good job of hiding it.” “Oh come on,” Jodie said, reeling. “We’ve both been busy. I’ve been doing auditions and some new projects are in the coming. I’m an actress. It’s my job! I could say the same about you.” “I just thought… I just thought we were…” Jacob said, struggling to finish. Never once in her life, she had seen him at such a loss for words. If it weren’t for the emotional gravitas that she suspected the situation deserved, she would have whipped out her phone and taken a video. “Friends?” Jodie supplied, trying her best to be helpful. “Friends?” Jacob practically yelled back at her, his hands shaking. “Oh, sod it.” He got up and made his way towards the door. “Jacob,” she said, popping up and running after him, stopping him just short of her front entranceway, “what the hell?” “Friends, huh Jodie? Right, because I’m going to fly all the way across the goddamn Oceans for someone who I like as a friend. I don’t understand how you could possibly be so thick!” Quieter, he continued, his sharp blue eyes on her. “Did you really just want to be friends this whole time?”

A pause.

“No…” Jodie just managed, and finally, here, she was being perfectly honest; she was addressing the feelings that Jacob gave her, and everything that she missed about the last year and him most of all. “No, I didn’t not want to be just friends, but I felt that our hands were a little tied. There was this whole unspoken rule about not dating your co-star, and I had commitments in the UK and you had your life in Australia and then… then I just wasn’t around anymore, and you deserve more than a girlfriend half a world away, and you deserve to have a great career as well, and… it’s like life just kept getting in the way. Bad timing or whatever it is. But, yeah, the way I dreamed about you or us or… the things I managed to think up… it was just, you know? Just a dream…”

Based on the look Jacob was giving her at this exact second, Jodie could’t decide if he was going to kiss her, or storm out her flat door. But the next thing she knew he is crushing himself against her, arms wrapped around her waist and lips against hers. She felt his tongue prodding her lips, and she opened her mouth to him and mentally fist-pumped, and then shivered when he ran his tongue across hers and gently slipped his fingers under the hem of her t-shirt. The feeling of his fingers on her skin made her mind spin with anticipation. He pulled away, looked at her kind of funny, and said, “Is someone else dropping by tonight?” What? Oh yes, we are in London, she realized, and a Saturday night, and I have friends in the city. “No. No Jake… there’s not anyone coming, if that’s what you’re implying…” “Good,” he whispered, “because I am taking you to bed and we are not leaving there for a while.” “Oh,” Jodie said, and hoped that she wasn’t making too much of a dopey happy face. Then she was the one kissing him. An impulsive action –and she thought that she still had some part of Lizzie in her head when she did it. They had kissed so many times before. But this, this felt different from the working-friendly snogs they had shared in front of the crew ~for the job. The kiss tasted of darkness and the metallic hint of danger and excitement. It tasted new. She’d say that the drink had made her just the slightest bit reckless, but it wasn’t true. Not entirely.

She walked him back through her rented apartment. He stopped her somewhere in the middle of her living room not far away from their abandoned dinner (waste of good Indian food, she thought) and kissed her again, and something about how his hands were once again under her shirt and rubbing against her low back made her knees go conspicuously weak. Jacob took advantage of that and subsequently picked her up and carried her bridal style to her bedroom. She tossed her head back and laughed and was still laughing when he placed her down on her bed. “You literally cannot be serious about anything for more than five minutes,” she said as he climbed over her. “You’re about to be proved very, very wrong,” Jacob said, and Jodie had a snarky response forming in her head that died on her lips as soon as he kissed her again. And suddenly getting his shirt off was very high on her list of priorities. She gave up on the buttons and just ripped it, then mentally reminded herself to help him sew those buttons back on if they ever got out of bed.

He didn’t seem to care, but there he was, bare-chest, on top of her, with his lips on her neck and she moaned embarrassingly loud. She could feel him smiling against her skin, the bastard. She sat up briefly to aid Jacob in getting her shirt off, and her bra, and then he laid her back down and relieved her of her jeans and knickers. Not to be outdone, she started undoing his belt but he pushed her back on the mattress and settled over her, kissing a trail down her body. He slipped off the edge of the bed to kneel, kissed the inside of her thighs, and positioned his face between her legs. He looked up at her and opened his mouth to ask a question. She somehow (because she had no idea on how her brain would actually been working) intuited what he was about to ask.

“God yes,” half-spoken, half-moaned.

About a second later her head was thrown back as she felt pleasure course through her body as his tongue rolled against her clit. This simple motion made her gasp out loud. The sound seemed to please him, and he growled low in his throat before attacking her with tongue and lips and gentle teeth, until Jodie was biting her lips and forcing herself not to wrap her thighs around his head. One, then two fingers entered her and she literally gasped as they curled inside her. She dug her heel in to Jacob’s back accidentally, and as soon as he reached up and replaced her hand on her nipple with his she involuntarily pushed harder in to his back with her heel. That was probably going to leave a little bruise, she thought, but he didn’t seem to stop or mind, even when she threaded her hand in his hair. He started focusing intently on her nub, and next thing she knew she was arching off the bed and coming around his fingers. Pulling them from her body, he climbed up over her on the bed.  

Jodie wanted to move, to drag him down on her, to taste his lips once more and herself at the same time, and to return him the favor. But instead she watched him strip as he kept a safe distance between them. A part of her wanted to help, to shorten the torture, and to get rid of that satisfied smirk on his face –yet, another part wanted to enjoy the show, to savor each new glimpse of his skin and to memorize them for her lonely nights. But the impatience that curled in her low belly was hard to tame. Socks and shoes, then the belt and jeans followed, kicked off and the boxers flew somewhere and then he was naked, finally.

“Jodie,” he breathed looking down at her. Fuck! her name sounded so good on his tongue. His voice was broken, his Australian accent more marked, and his eyes were darker than anything she’d ever seen; she just wanted to kiss him absolutely senseless, “…do you have anything?”

Oh, that. How unfair that he should ask her where anything (especially something so infrequently used by her nowadays) was in her post-orgasmic haze. “Ummm,” she said to help, and flailed in the general direction of a cardboard-box by her nightstand. In vain. “One second,” Jacob said, and quickly dashed out of the bedroom, which at once was one of the most hilarious and sexy things that she’d possibly ever seen. She really hoped he didn’t trip over anything because she was not doing first aid on his naked… anything. She heard his suitcase unzip and zip and he came back with a fistful of condoms, swaggering triumphantly. “Bloody Hell,” she said, as he deposited all but one on the nightstand, “You totally planned this whole thing.” “The possibility crossed my mind,” Jacob replied. “Allow me,” Jodie said, with a wicked smile, and pushed him back so he was lying on the bed. She ripped the foil open with her teeth, tossed it aside, and rolled the condom on, never taking her eyes off of him. There was something extremely gratifying about the way that his head lolled back and his mouth fell open. Deciding that she relished the sensation of being in control, she straddled him and sunk on to him as slow as she could possibly manage. “God, Jodz… Jodie,” he sputtered out, “just do it already.” His hands moved to her hips and tightened. “Don’t know why you think this is any easier for me Jacob,” she sputtered out, but put on a veil of crazy confident feminine guile and started rolling her hips very slowly. She bit her lip hard, and looked down at Jacob whose pupils were blown out and just looked absolutely wrecked. His thumb found her clit and started rubbing it gently, and then harder, and then right when she was about to come, thanks Jacob, he rolled them over and started thrusting in to her. It was sinfully good to feel his skin against hers. She wanted everything, wanted to lose herself in the warmth of his skin, the taste of his lips, and to pretend that the world outside her flat didn’t exist. That they weren’t betraying any social convention for coworkers –or acquaintances? –or friends? Really? He was gentle, at first, one hand pressing her right wrist into the mattress, the other wrapped around her hip as he thrusts into her. Again and again and again and then he started to lose some of his control, and the hand around her wrist pushes down harder. It felt so good. They felt so good, fitted so well together and moved so in time with each other. Heat built in her and she could feel the rest of the world fading away into the background, and she wanted to close her eyes because there would be sparks behind her eyelids, but he wouldn’t let her out of his gaze. Just as she didn’t want to stop looking at the blue of his eyes. Jacob pulled almost all the way out of her and thrust into her again, deliberate and slow this time, and Jodie could feel the crest of her climax rising to meet his and she chased it eagerly, rocking her hips back against his. Maybe she was a little out of line, but the look on Jacob’s face told her she was doing something extremely pleasing. She buried her flushed face in the crock of his neck and bit down into the pale, pristine flesh of his shoulders and marked it hers. A low moan from him. And then, his hand at her hip loosened its grip and cupped her face instead and suddenly he was kissing her, all sweet tenderness and heat. Jodie kissed him back hungrily, whining into his mouth. So close. She was so damned close– “Let go,” he said against her lips, after pulling his mouth away from hers. “…you’re beautiful like this. So beautiful.” His accent, music to her ears. Then suddenly he was just hitting the spot, and then she was arching off the bed and seeing stars, and she was just barely aware of his hips stuttering and then giving one final prodigious thrust and collapsing on top of her. They just lay there like that for an indeterminate amount of time (Jodie wasn’t going to be counting anything, she knew that much) until he rolled off of her and dealt with the condom. She was still lying on her back when he got back to bed and he curled up beside her.

Taking this as her cue, she wound her arms around him, pulled him against her, felt his breath on her neck and shivered with post-orgasmic delight. He pressed a kiss to her collarbone, then to her neck, making her giggle, and then he kissed her so gently she could almost cry. Jodie wished there was more to this, more than just her London flat and previous stolen moments in trailers. More time. More of him. Her fingers ran through his messy hair and pulled him closer for another kiss. And then another, until she felt him stirring against her again.

“Fuck,” she stated as her hand moved down his body to cup the curve of his arse. “We’re screwed now, aren’t we?”

He didn’t even try to argue this statement. His hands cupped her face and before she could breathe he kissed her. “Oh yes, we are.”

For the first time in a long time, Jodie felt whole.

-

His return ticket had been booked for the next weekend, but he managed to worm his way out of further events and auditions (“My new agent will kill me later” he jested) so that he could stay two weeks. One morning, he disappeared for two hours, but re-appeared with red and white roses so she forgave him the minor heart attack. “Seriously? Jake?,” the reference obvious, but she accepted them anyway. He disappeared as well an whole day, but she knew it was to see an aunt or an uncle in Essex. Easy to forgive.

Later that month, she followed Jacob back to L.A. (“For work!” she had claimed to her friends who were not buying this shit). He was there, of course, waiting at the airport, and he took her to his flat without any questions. Unexpectedly, there was an extra chest of drawers waiting for her. “Thanks. It would make things easier,” she said in a smile. “I’m looking forward to this.” “Me too,” he said, and kissed her.

It was Jacob’s phone ringing that woke them, and Jodie blinked, the California sun already shining through the window. She didn’t realized she was so tired. The Hollywood way of life -and other private exertions. She was vaguely aware of Jacob groaning, his arms unwrapping from her as he stretched to pick up his phone. She turned back, spooning around him and scattering kisses over his shoulders and neck as he talked. “Hello? Oh, Emma, good morning. Yes, yes, I’m fine. I don’t know, we haven’t… Okay. Yes. Yes, she’s still here.” Jodie frowned. Even though she only heard half of the conversation, she knew he was talking about her. Telling Emma she had stayed the night might not be a good idea. “I’ll tell her. Yes. Thank you. Bye.” He hung up after this little talk and placed the phone back on his bedside table, before turning back and wrapping his arms around her. “Hello.” He kissed her nose and she couldn’t help but smile. “Hello. Hmm, what did Emma want?” “Oh, nothing, just be sure everything was alright. She is planning a dinner this week so, we could go? And she says hello.” “Jacob…” She tried to be serious but it was difficult with his hands on her hips, just upon her ticklish spot. “Why did you tell her I was here?” “It’s true, isn’t it?” “I’m not sure she had to know…” “Oh. She already knew.” “What?” He shrugged. “Said it was obvious and that we should have realized before.” Jodie turned pale, her blood freezing as she wondered what she meant by obvious, and who else knew. And then she remembered the many smiles and teasing and eye-rolling from her friends. Was the great actress Jodie Comer so easy to read? “Are you okay?” he cupped her face and brushed her cheeks gently, eyes full of affection. Oh shit. She was in love with this man -maybe she hadn’t realized it all quite yet. Or maybe she had, and this sudden understanding was like letting out a breath Jodie didn’t know she was holding since months. “More than okay,” she sighed, and let him kiss her, and more.

- -

[footyplusau]

Danger signs: What your club should look out for

THERE are plenty of things that can wreck a club’s season. Danger signs that, if they are not heeded, can put finals completely out of the question.

Our writers take a close look at the problems for each club that are keeping coaches and players awake at night – the on-field and off-field issues that need a quick fix … or a long-term solution.

Stop Rory Sloane and you stop the Crows. Sloane averaged 29.5 possessions per game in the club’s six straight wins to start the season. But he’s since dropped off to 14.5 disposals in the past two games, with North Melbourne and Melbourne applying an old-fashioned tag to limit his input. The Crows have struggled to right the ship when things don’t go their way. They conceded 10 straight goals in an incredible first quarter against the Kangaroos, before the Demons booted nine in a row (and 15 of the last 18 of the game) to overturn a 28-point deficit. Along with shutting down Sloane, the Kangaroos and Demons successfully closed off the corridor to the Crows. Instead of going down the wings and keeping possession, the Crows persisted going through the middle at every opportunity, leading to intercept marks and turnovers. Away from their issues on the field, the biggest concern is the fact defender Jake Lever and forward Mitch McGovern are unsigned for next season. Lever wants to wait until the collective bargaining agreement is sorted before agreeing to a new deal, while McGovern’s focus is returning from a hamstring injury. – Lee Gaskin

While there’s been a lot of noticeable improvement during the first eight games of Chris Fagan’s era (conceding two goals fewer a game, and the development of Harris Andrews, Eric Hipwood and Ben Keays among them), the Lions’ inability to stop opposition momentum is alarming. In every game this season, they have conceded a string of goals that has (aside from round one against Gold Coast) cost them a chance to win. Eight straight from Essendon, seven from the Western Bulldogs, six from St Kilda and five from Hawthorn – all at times in matches where the Lions had a chance to win. They’re a young team and maintaining four quarters of consistent effort is going to be difficult, but usually the problems stem from the loss of contested ball. Since the opening two rounds, the Lions have lost that count by 21, 21, 27, 19, one and 17 respectively. There’s not much experience on the list, but most of it comes from the midfield, and that part of the ground has to arrest the momentum shifts when they start to occur. – Michael Whiting

The Blues are performing better than most pundits predicted at the start of the season, but there is plenty of room for improvement. Their backline has developed into a solid unit and the midfield, while lacking some depth, possesses plenty of class. The problem remains forward of centre, where much of the responsibility rests on the broad shoulders of big Levi Casboult. Under the expert tutelage of kicking coach Saverio Rocca, Casboult has improved his conversion to be the club’s leading goalkicker after eight rounds with 13, one ahead of Matthew Wright, who topped the goalkicking last season. Teenagers Jacob Weitering and Jack Silvagni are still learning their craft, while key playmaker Patrick Cripps could become a weapon in attack if he can improve his kicking for goal. Off the field, Carlton is seeking to secure at least 50,000 members and is well on the way with 46,755 signed at the moment. Supporters should be encouraged by the development of the team, particularly the Blues’ exciting batch of youngsters, which makes them an attractive proposition going forward. – Howard Kotton

The young Blues are getting their chance and thriving under Brendon Bolton. Picture: AFL Photos

The Pies’ two main problems this season revolve around a key aspect of the game: kicking. Their star-studded midfield generates ample possession, clearances (+4.25) and inside 50s (+4.4) but their good work has too often been ruined by poor decision-making or shoddy delivery, or both. It doesn’t help that Collingwood lacks a genuine key forward, with the enormously talented Darcy Moore still in development mode, so too raw American Mason Cox, while Jesse White and his unfulfilled talent are again out of favour. The next part of the equation is conversion – an area in which the Pies have failed miserably. In the last-gasp loss to Greater Wester Sydney last round, Collingwood scored more goals than points for the first time this season. They have fired just one fewer scoring shot than their opponents but have kicked themselves out of tight games against the Dogs, Tigers, Saints and Bombers, the chief culprit being leading goalkicker Alex Fasolo (12.16). Exacerbating the forward issues, injury-prone Ben Reid has suffered another soft-tissue injury, which again raises questions about the 27-year-old’s durability. Looming large over it all is the future of coach Nathan Buckley, who is in the last year of his contract and is logically believed to require a final-eight finish to save his job after missing the finals for the past three years. All hope is not yet lost but Buckley faces an uphill battle. – Ben Collins 

From a game-style point of view, the Bombers are really struggling to get the ball inside 50. They are ranked 16th in the competition for inside 50 entries, and have lost the inside 50 count in every one of their games so far this season. It is fortunate their forward line has been able to score far better this season than recent years, in contrast to previous seasons when they could get the ball inside 50 but couldn’t convert. From a personnel perspective, Essendon’s list has an odd demographic, thanks mainly to the disastrous fallout of the supplements saga. More youth needs to go through the midfield as the season wears on, particularly as Jobe Watson, Brent Stanton, Heath Hocking and Ben Howlett are among the senior players out of contract at the end of the season and yet to strike form in 2017. The Bombers won’t want to shed too much experience or depth at once, so managing that situation is something they’ll need to be careful about when the end of the season draws closer. – Callum Twomey

Fremantle’s biggest concern is the welfare of troubled star Harley Bennell, who is struggling to deal with his latest calf setback. Bennell was intoxicated and asked to leave a flight from Melbourne to the Gold Coast last month while he was on leave from the club, and hit the headlines again for his unusual behaviour at Peel Thunder’s game on Saturday, which included pulling cousin Traye away from the three-quarter time huddle. Fremantle fined him $10,000 ($5000 of which was suspended for 12 months) and the 24-year-old has been challenged to gather himself and “reboot” by coach Ross Lyon. On the field, the Dockers deserve plenty of credit for their never-say-die attitude, coming from behind in all five wins and recovering from an 0-2 start to be on the verge of breaking into the top eight. However, at some point, Fremantle’s struggles to hit the scoreboard in the first half could come back to bite. Before last round, the Dockers were averaging the lowest score (29.7 points) in the competition to half-time and, despite being in front by five points, only booted 5.6 up until the long break against Richmond last Sunday. – Travis King

Harley Bennell remains a long way off playing senior football for Freo. Picture: AFL Photos

The Cats had been pulling wins from nowhere in 2017 through a combination of luck, individual brilliance and old-fashioned determination but three losses in a row have brought to the public’s attention the concerns Chris Scott has expressed all season. The main concern is the opposition’s ability to beat Geelong on the spread from a contest, with the Cats way down for uncontested possessions, uncontested marks and tackle differential, meaning they are not closing space, with leg speed more of an issue than attitude. The Cats will remain fighting for a long time because it’s in their DNA, but the fact is after three premierships and an unbelievable run of success, the system has dragged them back to the field. They have tried to trade their way out of trouble but it’s left their list with a few A-graders in Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield, some ageing champions in Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan, and a bunch of players such as Nakia Cockatoo and Brandan Parfitt still a year or two away. The biggest dilemma is not their coaching but their talent acquisition strategy in the next five years. – Peter Ryan

Prior to the season, many experts had lauded the Suns’ young spine as one of the best in the competition. But eight rounds in, and there’s question marks popping up everywhere for Gold Coast’s tall timber. Perhaps most worryingly is co-captain Steven May‘s lingering contract. May said prior to the season he was in no rush to extend his stay, and as the year drags on, the Suns get more nervous. His defensive sidekick Rory Thompson is tremendously talented, but like so many times previously has succumbed to injury in 2016, most recently making the trip to China only to withdraw with hamstring tightness in the warm up. Sam Day is out for the year with a horrific dislocated hip, so who knows how he’ll return, while perhaps the least of the long-term worries – but a headache at the moment – is the poor form of ‘Two Metre Peter’ Wright. The spine isn’t the only concern at Metricon Stadium as the Suns continue to yo-yo from week to week. They were horrible against the Giants in round two, brilliant against Hawthorn a week later, equally impressive against Geelong in round seven and then pitiful seven days later against Port Adelaide. None of this is helping alleviate the pressure on coach Rodney Eade, who is out of contract at season’s end and desperate to push for finals. – Michael Whiting

Much has been made of the amount of talent on the Giants’ list, but a shocking injury list means the club will be tested severely over the next two months. It started in the pre-season when gun recruit Brett Deledio suffered another calf issue, and the former Tiger still hasn’t played a game, and probably won’t until after the bye. Long-term ankle injuries to hard nuts Stephen Coniglio and Ryan Griffen has limited them five games collectively, and while Jacob Hopper stepped up his role onball, a broken finger added him to the rehab group. Draftee Will Setterfield (ankle, 5-7 weeks) and Tendai Mzungu (hamstring, 4-6 weeks) haven’t been able to get a run at it and would have been valuable backups. The GWS backline has also been hit hard, with Matt Buntine and Adam Kennedy done for the year with knee reconstructions, and Nick Haynes still eight weeks away after hurting a hamstring tendon. A two-game suspension for club champion Toby Greene didn’t help matters, but the positive is that the Giants are 6-2 and in second spot on the ladder. – Adam Curley

Nick Haynes is just one of a number of GWS defenders on the injury list. Picture: AFL Photos

Hawthorn’s injury list has slipped into dangerous territory – both in length and quality. Medium-term injuries to Cyril Rioli, Ben Stratton and James Frawley have the potential to leave the Hawks floundering and a finals appearance this year – already only a slim chance given the tardy start to the season – would now seem an impossibility. With three first-choice defenders – Frawley, Stratton and Grant Birchall out of the side – Hawthorn’s defensive depth will be tested like never before. It is a relatively new world for the Hawks. Many of the newer of the club’s 72,000 members are so used to the team being successful and it will be interesting to see whether the fans keep coming to games. Last Saturday’s game against the Brisbane Lions attracted the third-smallest crowd yet to Launceston. – Ashley Browne

Melbourne’s inconsistency within games continues to be a hindrance as it aims to make the finals for the first time since 2006. The 4-4 Demons have won 19 quarters for the season, the equal-fourth most in the AFL. Yet, in every one of the club’s four losses – to Geelong, Fremantle, Richmond and Hawthorn – a distinct drop-off in a particular quarter has played its part in the result. The Demons allowed the Cats to kick 40 points in the final quarter in round three, the Dockers to score 46 points in the third term in round four, the Tigers to kick 35 points in the fourth quarter in round five and the Hawks to score 34 points in the first term in round six. There have been contributing factors in those lapses, especially the loss of All Australian Max Gawn against Geelong and back-up big man Jake Spencer against Richmond, however it underlines the work Melbourne still has to do to be regarded as a finals contender. Despite being a combined -104 in the hit-out category over the past three weeks without a recognised ruckman, the Demons’ in-form midfielders have been able to successfully adapt to life without Gawn and Spencer and the club is a combined +27 in clearances over that span. – Ben Guthrie

Cam Pedersen is holding up his end for the Demons in the ruck. Picture: AFL Photos

Ben Brown‘s transformation into one of the competition’s most prolific forwards has presented an unusual problem – the Kangaroos’ overwhelming reliance on him. Brown carried a heavy burden in Jarrad Waite’s extended absence this year, with his North teammates targeting him a whopping 40 per cent of the time. They were targeted a combined 53 per cent of the time in their two matches together in 2017, and 43 per cent in the past two years. Waite returns from suspension on Sunday, after missing the Swans loss, where usual defenders Lachie Hansen and Sam Durdin were swung forward to help Brown. Drew Petrie‘s departure from Arden St at the end of last season, plus Lindsay Thomas‘ form woes, have created an interesting dynamic behind Brown and Waite. Mason Wood and Taylor Garner came back this season from torrid recent injury runs – although Garner (hamstring) has missed the past fortnight – to display their marking prowess. But the trust clearly isn’t quite there. Majak Daw was a popular target (18 per cent) in games Waite missed since last year, but injury and form issues have kept him to one AFL appearance in the first eight rounds. 2015 first-round pick Ben McKay is being groomed as Brown’s long-term partner-in-crime, while Nick Larkey is showing promising signs in the VFL. – Marc McGowan

One of the only knocks on the Power is they haven’t beaten a top-eight side this season. The Power were far too strong for Sydney (15th), Fremantle (ninth), Carlton (13th), the Brisbane Lions (18th) and Gold Coast (12th), but fell short against the top three sides on the ladder – Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney and West Coast. That adds extra importance to the Power’s next game after the bye when they take on fifth-placed Geelong at Simonds Stadium in round 10. Now that their historic trip to China has been completed, the Power can get to the business of re-signing several of their off-contract contingent. In total, 17 players on their senior list are out of contract at the end of this season. That includes midfield star Brad Ebert, key defender Jack Hombsch, half-back flanker Jasper Pittard and utilities Jackson Trengove and Justin Westhoff. – Lee Gaskin

There have been warning signs for the Tigers stretching back to their 13-point win against Melbourne in round five. That was their last win, but they won just one quarter and have now won only four of their past 16. So what has changed? There has been a definite drop off in their rapid ball movement, falling from eighth in mark/play-on percentage in the first four rounds to 17th across rounds five to eight. That, and the lack of multiple tall targets in attack, has seen them struggle to get quality inside 50s. In the last four rounds they rank 18th for inside 50 kick retention (44 per cent) and 18th for scores per inside 50 (40 per cent). The loss of Ben Griffiths (concussion) is hurting, with the lack of an in-form replacement leaving too much on the shoulders of Jack Riewoldt and the smaller forwards. In the midfield, the Tigers have been comprehensively beaten in the contest, ranking 16th for contested possession differential (-10.8) in the past month. With injuries to Reece Conca (foot) and Nick Vlastuin (shoulder), among others, depth is also being tested at Tigerland and turnovers are becoming more common. Perhaps the biggest warning sign, as losses mount, is the fact that free agent Dustin Martin has not re-signed. – Nathan Schmook    

The Saints have had a terrific run with injuries since the start of 2016 but their depth will be tested now. They have covered David Armitage’s absence well but losing Jimmy Webster to a broken right hand could be a bigger blow. The potential replacements – including Shane Savage, Daniel McKenzie and Bailey Rice – are unlikely to be able to replace Webster’s blend of toughness and accurate kicking. Meanwhile, Josh Bruce’s form as the primary target in attack hasn’t been stellar. He’s picked up seven disposals in each of the past two weeks and while he has kicked at least one goal in every game this season, Bruce has yet to show the form that saw him kick 50 majors in 2015. Back then, the former Giant snuck under the radar with Nick Riewoldt considered the primary threat. Riewoldt has looked hampered for the past couple of weeks by a right knee injury suffered in round one but the Saints are performing well despite his diminished output. Meanwhile, keeping Paddy McCartin happy while he languishes in the VFL poses a challenge. – Dinny Navaratnam

The Saints may struggle to cover tough defender Jimmy Webster. Picture: AFL Photos

Few would have predicted such a fall from grace for Sydney, and while they have missed some key personnel like Jarrad McVeigh, Isaac Heeney, Dane Rampe and Kurt Tippett at stages, their problems were more to do with the lack of ‘Swans footy’ being played. John Longmire’s star-studded midfield lost their hard hats early in the year and as a result the team plummeted down the rankings in contested possessions (first to ninth), clearances (second to 12th), and stoppages (second to eighth) compared to last year. Josh Kennedy (27.9 possessions per game, down from 31.5 in 2016), Dan Hannebery (24.8 from 30.8), and to a lesser extent Luke Parker (25.6 from 26.9) were all down on their output, but things are finally on the up, with Parker (66 touches and three goals), Hannebery (59 and two) and Kennedy (57 and two) back in form over the past fortnight, and it’s no coincidence the Swans have won both games easily. Rampe’s broken arm has also cost Sydney their status as the rebound 50 kings, dropping them from first to seventh in the rankings, with the League’s second be-t rebounder in 2016 playing just one game this season. – Adam Curley

Alarm bells were ringing after the round-five horror show against Hawthorn at the MCG when critics lined up to savage the Eagles’ perceived lack of toughness around the ball. But it has been a strong response from Adam Simpson’s men, who smashed Fremantle at the contest in the Western Derby, held on for a gritty win over Port on the road and then more than matched the Bulldogs’ hardness to notch three straight wins and move into third spot on the ladder. Intent has been the Eagles’ focus and they have delivered on that front, but the next issue for Simpson to solve is how to feed a hungry forward line. West Coast is ranked 13th for inside 50s, has lost the supply battle in three of the past four games (-38 differential) and had to rely on a rock-solid backline to hold on late against the Power and Bulldogs. It’s an unsustainable way to keep winning, especially if the Eagles’ forwards have an off day in front of goal – as spearhead Josh Kennedy did in booting 3.6 against the Dogs. From a glass half-full perspective, it’s positive the Eagles keep banking victories, but they aren’t getting carried away as they search for their best football. – Travis King

While the reigning premiers sit eighth with a respectable 5-3 record after the first eight rounds, they are yet to the hit the form of last September. Injuries have played a part in the sputtering start to 2017, but so has the Dogs’ inability to hit the scoreboard from ample opportunities. It plagued them for much of last season, but they managed to get it right when it counted most. The kicking efficiency going inside 50 of their prime movers has contributed to the scoring woes, with Jack Macrae (30 per cent), Lachie Hunter (31 per cent) Tom Liberatore (33 per cent) and Luke Dahlhaus (36 per cent) well below the AFL average of 50.4 per cent. Even gun playmaker Marcus Bontempelli is below standard at 47.1 per cent.  Out of the regular ‘delivery men’, only Norm Smith medalist Jason Johannisen hits the mark more often than not at 59.1 per cent of the time. – Ryan Davidson

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