MATTHEW RICHARDSON: Richmond’s Tom Lynch, Luke Davies-Uniacke and the weirdos who have unread phone messages

1. The most pointless thing you could do this season is the ladder predictor.

I did one last week and was confident I had nailed it. Then the Swans , Pies, Giants and Bombers lost. What a great season this is turning out to be.

2. Footy’s cult figures are a dying breed.

The AFL is a pretty sterile environment, as it should be in the professional age. We once had names such as the Flying Dutchman (Paul Vander Haar), Flying Doormat (Bruce Doull) and Galloping Gasometer (Mick Nolan). A big shout out to Sydney’s dashing defender Nick Blakey. The Lizard is flying the cult-figure flag

3. Couple of old school cliches come to mind after Fremantle’s season-making win over Sydney last weekend.

Talk about ‘throwing the cat among the pigeons”, I didn’t see that coming. The other is “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. Well maybe you can. Nat Fyfe did just that, playing a tagging role on Brownlow favourite Isaac Heeney

4. Just on this game, the Swans have to be getting a little agitated about their slow starts.

Not panic stations but a trend is there and you won’t get away with it in September

5. Spearhead Tom Lynch has been huge for Richmond.

Without him the Tigers don’t win the 2019 premiership. He had an enormous year. The Tigers need him more than ever but he only played four games in 2023 and has managed just four again this year. Currently on the sidelines with another hamstring injury, Richmond should put him on ice for the rest of this year and get him cherry ripe for 2025.

6. The article in the Herald Sun last week regarding commentator Brian Taylor and his position at Channel 7 was absolute nonsense.

I love working with BT.

7. Another quick one.

There is no doubt Marcus Bontempelli is the best and most complete player in the AFL.

8. Luke Davies-Uniacke has a big decision to make.

Stay at North Melbourne or take the reported big-money offers from rival clubs. St Kilda are apparently into him big time. I think it would be the wrong decision to leave. North are starting to click. The wins will come. There are young guns everywhere in Harry Sheezel, George Wardlaw and Colby McKercher, while Charlie Comden looks like the defender they need. Tristan Xerri is thriving in the ruck and they have a full-forward in his prime in Nick Larkey. LDU’s seen the hard times at the Roos and it could soon click at Arden St, just ask Hawks fans. I’d be staying at North.

9. It’s been a tough few weeks for the Melbourne Football Club.

Sitting out of the top eight and fighting to make finals. A season-ending injury to superstar Christian Petracca will make that hard and It’s even harder after the close loss to Brisbane last Friday. This is when you need your leaders to stand tall and Jack Viney could not have done any more at the Gabba. Lead from the front with a young team around him. Tough as nails. Gut-running, smothers, tackles ... he did all he could. If he continues to lead like that don’t right the Dees off yet.

10. I noticed a friend’s phone had more than 7000 unread emails and nearly 100 unopened texts.

This sent me into a spin. How can they shut their eyes at night? Then I realised there are two types of people. One like my friend and one like me. I can’t have any unfinished business on my phone. Which type of person are you?