10 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

We did hit the post 4 times. Split that and it looks a lot better

Two of which, Melk and Koz, just shaved the inside of the post (which by the by if i was AFL CEO for a day would count as a goal).

17 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

May is a big worry for mine. <snip> but I can't see him playing on next year at this point

he definitely will - he's re-contracted for 2026, at least

he'll turn 34 before the start of the 2026 season, but there's no reason to think that he can't stay as a significant performer for that year and potentially beyond - he remains one of the best key defenders in the competition

has he slowed down and looks like he creaks when he bends over? yes!

does he still perform to high expectations? absolutely!

1 hour ago, Adam The God said:

The last 6 weeks is a top 4 profile. Let's give it another 6 weeks, and if our profile keeps tracking like this by the end of Round 17, we'll be playing finals, and could do some real damage.

Agreed. We have knocked off Freo, Lions (at the GABBA) and now the Swannies. There's enough there to take some solid confidence into the 2nd half. A few more top 8 scalps though before you start cancelling your travel plans in September.

If we were 2-3 after 5, we'd be a game outside of top 4. Just shows how costly the losses against Bombers and Kangas were.

1 hour ago, Adam The God said:

Yep, I've been saying we need to draft one or two more elite ball users, but you're right, perhaps free agency is the pathway to those players.

The problem we have, I think, is I expect us to land LJ, so it's likely we'll have to give two future firsts and won't be able to trade into the first round this year.

Does Simmena have the capacity to play straight away next year? Because his ball use sounds like it's right in the sweetspot for us.

If Simmena can hold down a wing spot in 2026, Windsor can stay back, Langdon can keep playing the Nibbler role with Chandler/Spargo, and we can start rotating Lindsay and Langford more regularly through the midfield.

Likewise, I think we need another dynamic small to complement Kozzy. Could this be Prassad in 2027?

Sinnema to hold down wing in the AFL in 2026?

Getting out ahead of your ski’s here.

Just now, rpfc said:

Sinnema to hold down wing in the AFL in 2026?

Getting out ahead of your ski’s here.

Maybe.

3 hours ago, Adam The God said:

The last 6 weeks is a top 4 profile. Let's give it another 6 weeks, and if our profile keeps tracking like this by the end of Round 17, we'll be playing finals, and could do some real damage.

Yep and if we make finals, even in 8th spot and provided our players are health going into finals, we won't be making up the numbers we will be having a serious crack at the Premiership.

On 25/05/2025 at 19:24, Tracca said:

How’s the humble pie???

We haven't done anything yet! If we Don't make the 8 He STILL should be moved on at seasons end. No if's or buts!

2 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

If we were 2-3 after 5, we'd be a game outside of top 4. Just shows how costly the losses against Bombers and Kangas were.

Absolutely, losing those games was unforgivable and will make the run home so much harder.

We will see how hungry they really are

45 minutes ago, picket fence said:

We haven't done anything yet! If we Don't make the 8 He STILL should be moved on at seasons end. No if's or buts!

I don't think so.

It depends upon the game plan evolving. I've see the green shoots both at AFL and VFL level. We will have failures this season. It's the nature of the modern game. If both Tracc and Oliver have golden games post bye we might make the 8 but I see the first half of 2026 as being Goody's big test.

5 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

he remains one of the best key defenders in the competition

He’s still a handy player but I don’t think he is still one of the best key defender’s in the comp anymore.

I have to admit I had already considered Goody gone after the Essendon game. This is a guy who has been nothing but stubborn in his tenure, and always playing his favourites.

What him and the coaching staff have been able to do is pretty amazing. I'm not sure what meetings took place the week of the Freo game, but clearly there was a change in our playing style from that game onwards like what the data suggests (no team changes angles more than Melbourne the last 6 weeks).

My guess is that they knew that if we rolled out the same method, we'll get killed by Freo. The plan worked which has then given clear evidence on how much it can help us

I don't buy the 'teething issues' excuse to start the season. There was a fundamental change in how we played from round 5 onwards. It was bold, but it's bloody worked well.

3 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

I have to admit I had already considered Goody gone after the Essendon game. This is a guy who has been nothing but stubborn in his tenure, and always playing his favourites.

What him and the coaching staff have been able to do is pretty amazing. I'm not sure what meetings took place the week of the Freo game, but clearly there was a change in our playing style from that game onwards like what the data suggests (no team changes angles more than Melbourne the last 6 weeks).

My guess is that they knew that if we rolled out the same method, we'll get killed by Freo. The plan worked which has then given clear evidence on how much it can help us

I don't buy the 'teething issues' excuse to start the season. There was a fundamental change in how we played from round 5 onwards. It was bold, but it's bloody worked well.

IMV, this is a ridiculous position. We didn't change our game style after the Essendon loss. We just got better at implementing what we were practising all pre season.

Plenty of posters who watched pre season training closely have started to say that our ball movement in game now resembles our ball movement in pre season.

The idea that they've changed the game style in one week really just shows a lack of understanding of the modern game.

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

I see the first half of 2026 as being Goody's big test.

Yes. Good call.

Plenty of time to have watered in the new game plan; Windsor, Lindsay, Turner and Langford with a solid bunch of games under their respective belts; some healthy list turnover (not-quite-good-enough triers replaced); maybe a ready-to-go free agent or trade target to strengthen the best 22.

There are lots of variables - the biggest being Kozzie - but if we started 2026 like we started this season, I think even Goodwin rusted-ons would start to reach for the DW-40.

3 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

IMV, this is a ridiculous position. We didn't change our game style after the Essendon loss. We just got better at implementing what we were practising all pre season.

Plenty of posters who watched pre season training closely have started to say that our ball movement in game now resembles our ball movement in pre season.

The idea that they've changed the game style in one week really just shows a lack of understanding of the modern game.

Between Rounds 2-5 we had no game style. The White Flag was shown.

Something big happened before the Freo game.

7 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Between Rounds 2-5 we had no game style. The White Flag was shown.

Something big happened before the Freo game.

Not true at all. I don't believe you went to the GWS game. Our brand was clearly on show in that game.

Over Rounds 2-5, we showed brief glimpses in otherwise limp performances. Almost like we'd been smashed on the training track...

20 hours ago, binman said:

Two weeks ia a long time in football.

Cos sometimes it's 10 days...

2 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

Not true at all. I don't believe you went to the GWS game. Our brand was clearly on show in that game.

Over Rounds 2-5, we showed brief glimpses in otherwise limp performances. Almost like we'd been smashed on the training track...

I never mentioned Round 1.

Rounds 2-5 we were disgraceful, there is no other way to describe it.

Whether that is on Goodwin or the players is too hard to tell from the outside, but before the Freo game, changes were implemented.

Pity it took a month for the penny to drop….

The big change and it’s been noted by Goodwin is we’re back being animals at contest, partly due to the improved form of Petracca, Oliver and even Viney before he was injured. Also we’ve added our best players back to the field and are now largely uninjured. I think it’s fair to say we’ve changed considerably over the last 6 weeks although I’d agree those changes were thoroughly practiced in the preseason.

Since round 1 we’ve added Pickett, Windsor, McVee and Langford. On top of that Oliver has found his best form for 2 years.

1 hour ago, Adam The God said:

IMV, this is a ridiculous position. We didn't change our game style after the Essendon loss. We just got better at implementing what we were practising all pre season.

Plenty of posters who watched pre season training closely have started to say that our ball movement in game now resembles our ball movement in pre season.

The idea that they've changed the game style in one week really just shows a lack of understanding of the modern game.

Exactly what I was about to say the notion we turned this around in a flight back from Adelaide, a recovery session, 1 main session, a captain’s run and a few review and strategy meetings is laughable.

There’s a lot who don’t understand the background work which goes in over a sustained period to implement a plan and break ingrained habits is huge

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Between Rounds 2-5 we had no game style. The White Flag was shown.

Something big happened before the Freo game.

Just stop Swyl massive time and effort went into the changes from pre season

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I never mentioned Round 1.

Rounds 2-5 we were disgraceful, there is no other way to describe it.

Whether that is on Goodwin or the players is too hard to tell from the outside, but before the Freo game, changes were implemented.

Pity it took a month for the penny to drop….

they were disgraceful but the glimpses were there and we kept telling posters they were there, but you went with your standard

I have higher expectations than others nonsense

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I never mentioned Round 1.

You conspicuously left this out as it didn't suit your narrative...

7 hours ago, binman said:

Two of which, Melk and Koz, just shaved the inside of the post (which by the by if i was AFL CEO for a day would count as a goal).

Changing the topic just a little, some pundit over the weekend expressed the notion that successful attacking moves commence on the half back line . That was certainly the case on Sunday. Both sides commenced brilliant attacking forays with excellent passes from half back flanks. Hence the importance of McVee, Windsor etc

1 hour ago, At the break of Gawn said:

I have to admit I had already considered Goody gone after the Essendon game. This is a guy who has been nothing but stubborn in his tenure, and always playing his favourites.

What him and the coaching staff have been able to do is pretty amazing. I'm not sure what meetings took place the week of the Freo game, but clearly there was a change in our playing style from that game onwards like what the data suggests (no team changes angles more than Melbourne the last 6 weeks).

My guess is that they knew that if we rolled out the same method, we'll get killed by Freo. The plan worked which has then given clear evidence on how much it can help us

I don't buy the 'teething issues' excuse to start the season. There was a fundamental change in how we played from round 5 onwards. It was bold, but it's bloody worked well.

It's my understanding the way we lost against GWS in round 1 collectively dented the boys' confidence. At the same time, the players had to implement the new game plan. A drop in collective confidence and implementing something new is not a recipe for success.

Before the Freo game, there was recognition the boys focused on the new game plan to the detriment of the strengths Goody and the players always valued - the stuff that wins grand finals - contest, total team defence... Goody was quite open in his pressers and he said as much at the time.

Going into Freo, the team galvanised behind embracing contest and total team defence, starting with pressure in the forward 50. Then it becomes a 'chicken or the egg' thing where was this re-embrace of the Dees historical strengths a catalyst for the improved form of our leading players or was it that the instruction to 'stop over-thinking the new game plan' resulted in freeing the players up mentally?

From there, confidence feeds on itself. The Gabba game was huge for their self-belief and belief in the new game plan.

There's truth in the old saying "Success has many parents while failure is an orphan". Goody would have been incredibly lonely when we were 0-5. And it was not obvious he had any support from others in the club, especially without a CEO or the President-in-waiting Steve Smith. Another wise old saying is failure never defines you, but how you respond to failing can build character and your destiny.

Goody's response through the 0-5 period and the last 6 weeks has been compelling.

Godspeed Goodwin

1 hour ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Exactly what I was about to say the notion we turned this around in a flight back from Adelaide, a recovery session, 1 main session, a captain’s run and a few review and strategy meetings is laughable.

There’s a lot who don’t understand the background work which goes in over a sustained period to implement a plan and break ingrained habits is huge

Exactly. Does my head in - particularly when such ignorance is the starting point for criticisms of goody and the club.

Just one tiny example of how long it takes to implement new strategies is our use of long handballs and handball chains.

I noted on the 2024 preseason pod that in our practice match against the tigers at Casey we seemed to be practising using really long forward handballs and handball chains. We used both a little bit in the 2024 season but they weren't a feature of our method.

Track watchers noted we were practising long forward handballs and handball chains this preseason, which I noticed too in the 2 preseason sessions i went to.

And now, after 2 full preseasons of practice, long forward handballs and high risk handball chains have become a key feature of our method.

Edited May 28May 28 by binman

1 hour ago, Dee in a Kilt said:

It's my understanding the way we lost against GWS in round 1 collectively dented the boys' confidence. At the same time, the players had to implement the new game plan. A drop in collective confidence and implementing something new is not a recipe for success.

Before the Freo game, there was recognition the boys focused on the new game plan to the detriment of the strengths Goody and the players always valued - the stuff that wins grand finals - contest, total team defence... Goody was quite open in his pressers and he said as much at the time.

Going into Freo, the team galvanised behind embracing contest and total team defence, starting with pressure in the forward 50. Then it becomes a 'chicken or the egg' thing where was this re-embrace of the Dees historical strengths a catalyst for the improved form of our leading players or was it that the instruction to 'stop over-thinking the new game plan' resulted in freeing the players up mentally?

From there, confidence feeds on itself. The Gabba game was huge for their self-belief and belief in the new game plan.

There's truth in the old saying "Success has many parents while failure is an orphan". Goody would have been incredibly lonely when we were 0-5. And it was not obvious he had any support from others in the club, especially without a CEO or the President-in-waiting Steve Smith. Another wise old saying is failure never defines you, but how you respond to failing can build character and your destiny.

Goody's response through the 0-5 period and the last 6 weeks has been compelling.

Godspeed Goodwin

The thing that is almost banned on here is discussion around fitness. Reversing the fitness program as posited by @binman on the podders, is very likely a large factor that is not seemingly taken into account vis a vis our first 5 rounds.

In game one, where we were full of new players and exuberance for the new season, we showed our game style that is now a more regular sight. Aggressive forward handball, scores from stoppage, fast transition, mixed with keepings off uncontested chipping at the back. We then ran out of puff in the last, although still should have won in the dying moments.

Round 2 against North was the strangest result IMO and points most clearly in retrospect to a heaving load management block. We looked sluggish but still should have been in front at 3/4 and dropped our bundle in the 4th.

Rounds 3 and 4 were even more sluggish. Round 5, aside from the 3rd quarter where we lifted our pressure rating and started to score, was another case of lethargy.

If you take this into account and add it to the context of trying to implement a new game style, it's got a high degree of difficulty.

The next fortnight IMV, will tell us whether Selwyn has got the program right and I need to create a new thread apologising to him.