Leaderboard

I love Viney. He always gives 200% on the field. He bloody loves the club and his teammates and is the first one to step in every time. He leads by example on the field and never takes a backward step. I can't talk to his leadership in terms of how he talks to players on the field and instructs, encourages and inspires them verbally. The one aspect that I find Jack lacking is in his communication skills particularly when fronting the media. This is not an easy skill to master and you either have it or you don't. I don't know how important that is for a captain but your captain is the face of the club. A captain has to be a promoter of the club. It's a role that encompasses every aspect of the football side of the club and that includes communication. Max is the perfect person for this role at the moment. Trac or Lever would be my next choices in that order.

Current leadership structure seems to be working ok

Standing in a circle yelling obscenities at each other not having washed for days. I've sat in the Collingwood cheer squad before, they've been using this technique for decades.

Making Don Pyke lose his mind and walk around silently eyeballing players is one of the great, underrated MFC highlights.

I wouldn’t disagree and I know Sam quite well. What disappoints me is that I know there are people that would read all that and be like ‘so what, mate. Suck it up, it’s not like they hit you.’ They were disrespectful to his culture, betrayed his confidences in front of his colleagues, berated him, and his club thanked him for leading and standing up for his brethren by demoting him and pushing him out the club. What a culture. And not to say how great are we but we were close to going down this path and instead went down the path of embracing uniqueness, respect, and having trust in your teammates to let them be if they do the work. I’ll take our PC woke culture any day of the week and twice on the last Saturday in September…

Not a leader? I think he's been exceptional in his leadership role this season. He might not have the tag but his game the other night had leader written all over it. He could easily co-captain again imo, but I don't think they will go down that path.

The extra preseason needed to win an AFL premiership: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/the-extra-preseason-needed-to-win-an-afl-premiership/news-story/387b8adb9ca703a89701cf7e0569994f Some snippets: We were gluttons for punishment. We did an extra “pre-season” from Round 16 in 2007 - a preseason to get us ready for the finals. It was a pretty big ask when the idea was first raised. We had a new fitness and conditioning guy, and the idea was to split us up into three groups. Each group would rotate through a light week, medium week and heavy week...those in the light group needed to carry us on game day... They split it up so there were people from all different positions on the field in each group. We didn’t want to have all our forwards so tired they couldn’t sprint when it mattered. It was a big call to put us through that in the middle of the season, but in 2007 we were playing well, it gave us the confidence to do it. If we had lost a few of the games leading up to the finals we would still be at the top of the ladder, so there was less pressure. That extra preseason lasted only about six weeks...but the huge effort paid off. We were fitter than we had ever been come finals. And on that last Saturday in September we finally lifted the premiership cup. - Cameron Mooney

If you're planning on stocking up on footy snacks before going to the game or looking to buy some waterproofs or winter woollies, avoid the supermarket in Collingwood whatever you do. This is what happened to me when I popped in earlier this morning.

Sorry I’m ridiculously late. Just got home from an extended weekend in Perth. Went to the game (I now have someone to stay with there 😁) What a great game. Never once did I think it was in doubt. Led all game and never looked like giving it up once. Our boys were superb. Getting back in form at the right time. Only thing was the crowd was absolutely feral. They make Essendon fans look timid. Booed anytime they gave up the ball. Loud and abusive. Was called a few name by a few uncouth people (luckily I was defended by my man.) Other than that it was absolutely freezing. Got absolutely soaked. We had to go to the apartment afterwards and change. And what they said about the noise was correct. You can’t believe how loud it is there. But all in all, had a lovely long weekend. Hoping to go to more game here next year ❤️

Loading is not sexy...stirring debate and creating emotional responses keeps people dangling on the line. I watched a bit of the couch last night. Example..Tom Hawkins walking the length of the field to berate Tom Stewart & his fellow defenders was great leadership. When Steven May has a go then it's dissent in the ranks, they're not a happy club...it's all falling apart. David Noble didn't know how to handle the current generation, was too hard on the players. McVeigh, good on him for telling some truth, would love this level of honesty at my club. Any wonder I've been turning this stuff off, it's pure garbage wrapped around the idea they are doing cutting edge analysis. Healy's departure has hastened the demise of a once ok show...it's really poor now.

Travelling down from Brisbane for the game - first game for the year and I can’t wait….

The power of positivity. We’re renaming @binman Positive Binners. #PositiveBinners

No excuses next week, just get there Demonland. I’d like to hear crowd predictions, if Carl v Haw can get 67k earlier in the season, this game can get a crowd close to 80k.

Max Gawn is the best captain in the AFL. Modern leadership is about a lot more than just performance. Gawn has the empathy and ability to connect with all types of people, which makes him the perfect leader. He has a unique ability to relate to and inspire everyone, from 18 year old rookies to 30 year old veterans. Viney is a great player and someone you would love to run out with every week. He would die for his teammates and he never leaves anything out on the field. But his personality would not be everyone's cup of tea, and that is absolutely fine. He is a hard man to please, and it makes him a great player and good leader, but for mine he is not the sort of captain you want in 2022. I think Lever is our next captain. Incredibly well spoken, well loved by his teammates, great footy brain, and has that same fatherly type figure about him.

Oh god no, I hate watching on TV, nothing worse. I feel much more in control at the ground, you can see the mistakes coming 😄

Loading is a secret European tradition. On the way home from work I stop in at my nonna’s for dinner, before heading to my mums for dinner, and then finally home for dinner. I feel wonderful, just not quite seeing any results as yet.

Well, we won't be accepting magic beans...

Oh ol! This will upset some people! And that was 15 years ago!! Think how much sports science has developed since then. A key point being that they could push things to the max, because they had games up their sleeves. Clearly something they wouldn’t have done if a 50/50 for top 4 or top 8. Interesting also that it comes out 15 years later. I look forward to Trac talking us through the 2021/2022 loading programs around 2037

If you have to force stats to make a player look good by pointing out that your key forward had ‘3 spoils’ then you’re really clutching at straws .

When it comes to buying clothes my first preference is Yves Saint Laurent, which I like to obtain from their Australian distributor, the Brotherhood of Saint Laurent.

You might well be right. But one of the things I really dislike about not factoring in the impact of training regimes and preparation on a team's performance is how, in the absence of doing so, often the footy media's and fan's default explanation ends up a variation of mental weakness/soft/got ahead of themselves/didn't turn up type rubbish. It's just so mind numbingly simplistic and lacking any nuance.

Bugger.. Was hoping for Wu-Tang brand personally.

Definitely not. A massively strong brand owned by a South African company now that also owns Witchery, Mimco and a few other brands. This is a great partnership for all the MCC high brow fans of Melbourne and also for those of us who enjoy 20% off… If you don’t own their towels you’re missing out 😂

Absolutely. In elite Olympic sports my understanding it has been in use since the 1970s. Given the aerobic demands it makes perfect sense that it would become standard practice in the AFL. And the timing of it starting to be uded in the AFL, which i think was the late 90s (starting in 97 with the crows) makes sense too given it probably wasn't until then the AFL really became an elite, fully professional sport (that transitiion probably started in tbe early 90s?).

I like the question. I do feel that Jack would be undoubtedly more prepared and better in the role the second time round but having Max as the sole skipper seems to be working a treat for the moment. He's the spiritual leader for me and you don't need the title to be that.

Well that flopped.. lol

Ah yes. I would have put those gifs in the same post but that is fine.

This is their Grand Final :) Last time we were hamstrung with injuries to Gawn Petty, May was out no TMac. We kicked the first 5. We were still ahead 5g to 2g early in the 3rd when Petracca fumbled in the goal square and a few other fumbles cost is big time. Umpiring was shiite as per usual. Cox feasted on our lack of talls. Even MBrown was shifted to defence. We have got this.

Not by me it wasn't. I said we would struggle. You might remember the reason why. Rhymes with foreboding. Which is appropriate, given the pies fans will be approaching this game with a sense of foreboding, which is defined as 'a feeling that something bad will happen'. We will smash them.

Pretty confident we will find a way. Plenty of punters agree it would appear given we are currently 1.45 favourites - which is pretty remarkable given they have won their last 10 games and it is second v third.

Bindicated

The problem is people looking to equate loading with results rather than performance. Your performance can lead to poor results but it's more about how you perform on the day (ie noticeable fatigue, sluggishness, inability to cover ground, inability for repeated efforts etc)

They would have started with six. That's how many cockroaches have.

Crap weather. LOL. Not directing this at you FTB, but if crap weather is what’s stopping ppl attending, that’s disappointing. It’s a winter sport ffs.

They did, very true. There's been a lot of great examples out there. I think what I meant with my original comment is that it never seems to be in the week to week discussion of the experts as to the effects that loading can have on a team's performance. For instance with relentless pressure running and spreading in a game. If a team was way off in that area, instead of bringing it up as a possible factor like we do and Binman has numerous times, they usually just criticise the lack of effort and say it needs to be better etc. I'd be hard pressed to find an episode of say First Crack this year where Kingy, Joey and whoever else has just once raised this topic or even considered it as a factor for a team's performance.

II remember studying periodisation in training for my level 2 coaching some time around 1990. The concept has been out there for a while now.

clint, if you really want to troll the freo wanchors, go back there and suggest that freo are considering a swap of andrew brayshaw for dogga. naturally you heard it from a good source close to the club.

Since Jack overcame his foot injury and is now playing pain free he has become a much more rounded player able to run and provide drive with ball instead of bullocking and getting caught. He is a much better contributor to the team. But still doesn't offer what Maxie offers as captain. An on field leader, great speaker and promoter of the club, imposing figurehead and all round good guy makes him the perfect choice at the moment. Oh, nearly forgot, Maxie is still the best ruckman in the league. Impressive credentials.

Hunt provided a contest and run and carry. His pace is something we might need in the next 5-6 weeks. If he can keep his head, I’d be in favour of retaining Hunt. Bowey lost several one on one contests and his usual assured kicking was strangely disappearing. He’s a ripper but time in the VFL was warranted.

I’m sure we all remember the Filth booing Oliver when he got BOG against the Pies (40 odd possessions, great many contested) and that little piece of excrement Ginnivan, mouthing off at Gawn when he got injured, not to mention how all he seems to try and do is drop his knees and milk the free kicks. Business end of the season now, bring it on. Our lads said they looked forward to try and get the job done in front of big crowds this year and are fulfilling their end of the bargain. We have one job to do, turn up and make some bloody noise GO DEES!!

I’m coming back to Australia for the first time in 4 years . Last melb game I went to was the semi final win over the hawks. What’s the weather forecast like Friday? Tempted to go see the pies game. I’ve got a seat in the MCC for the blues but this week could be a cracker

Thank you to all of our listeners, posters & callers that provided questions. It really has been a great way to cover all the issues and get everyone involved. Thank you to @Stu, @Engorged Onion, @deanox, @whatwhat say what, @DemonWA, @1964_2, @Singa, @Deeminion, @Lefty, @WalkingCivilWar, @raDeelaide, @layzie, @Rhino Sorry @layzie & @Rhino - I left you out of the thankyous at the end of the show. Thank you to callers Michael from Prahran and Kieran from Canberra and thank you to John our Voicemailler. Thank you to @george_on_the_outer & @binman

It's not so much the frees they receive, but all the ones that aren't paid against them for holding the ball and throwing.

Yes, l recall that vividly, it was the night my son was born and my wife held on long enough for me to see the whole game after she broke her water ...

Sure it's hard to forget, but that doesn't mean you have to talk about it!

Highly underrated and hard as nails. The left boot and drive off half back is outstanding, on top of his ability to win a contest

There's no doubt in my mind that part of Weideman's role in this game was to restrict Pearce from getting to contests and taking intercept marks, and he did a good job in that respect. But for a guy who is clearly low on confidence to be so reluctant to tackle and chase and generally impact the game is just bizarre. The easiest way to get involved in the game is to lay a tackle or make a block that helps a teammate.

That's a great stat. If we boil down, the output is all about points scored vs points against. Aesthetically it feels different from last year- but perhaps that's a little subconscious need for the replication of the end of the 3rd quarter of the GF weekly... We've had to play against more contenders as part of our draw in the second half of the season. We've had our spine severely depleted in different ways, injuries, injuries in game, which have made as easier to score against, and potentially harder to generate scores. So all that context , lends itself to a belief from me that we are tracking better than last year. 😎

It was fun beating Essendon. The only problem was losing nine games before it and about 200 after.