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Windy, even the Yarra has waves, warm and humid. They are doing plenty of warm ups, then a game of soccer, now run throughs. I think keeping it simple. May, ANB, Hore, Max. TMac, Billings, Sestan, on modified programs. BBB, Spargs, Turner, McAdam (own program, talking to Whelan) in rehab process. No Hunter, Melky, or Verrall. Max, TMac, BBB, Spargo, Billing, left the field early. May, Sestan, ANB, Hore, all running. Sestan last man running, and Alex practising goal kicking, the rest of modified group have left for the sheds. 26 full training (Petty as well), the drills are close kicking and handball, one with low ball gets and an element of competition. 30 minute run and they are back to the sheds. Those who did not play Sunday are running laps, all 7 of them.

Just kick him apparently that’s ok now

For @binman NSFW (from 59 secs)

Great news for the young backman. Adams signs on for two more years

Has slotted in nicely. Goes to show the value of being patient with youngsters. They come on at different rates and it looks like blake needed a little longer to get ready for AFL footy. MFC development philosophy and approach vindicated again.

I've now been able to watch the entire replay. I felt our defensive structure was just so good and was the catalyst for the win. They had plenty of reasonably good looks only to find May, Lever, Howes, TMac and Hore impassable. Their forward line is talented and is going to rip other sides apart at various points this year so holding them as well as we did, particularly in the middle two quarters, was excellent. We clearly moved the ball differently to 2022-23, too. The marks figure shows that, but there were a number of times players took marks, looked to reset, but then changed tack and played on instead. Most of the time it worked. And it felt like we kept out forwards deeper and didn't have them all pressing too high up the ground. I loved Billings' game. Yes, it wasn't full of contested ball. I don't think it needs to be. His gut running to create options and his (generally) good kicking is a missing part of our transition play. Brown did everything he would have been asked and on a better day would have kicked all 4 of his shots. We kicked goals at least twice due to him making up ground on his opponent to bring the ball to ground in a marking contest and his mobility was as good as it's ever been. As I've said a number of times though, the test with him is whether he can do it for multiple weeks/months in a row but we clearly have an option that many thought we didn't have with him.

I've made a mental note for next time we lose a game

This is an area that I think many supporters want to see improved, but few truly understand the value of. As someone who has been in product and brand management for almost two decades, the value of social media, communication and brand marketing in this day and age is enormous. Getting this area right will go a long way to sustained membership numbers and engagement in our club, especially for our younger demographic which IMO is poorly represented amongst our supporter base thanks to decades of poor on field performance. I look forward to seeing this area of our club improve not just our brand, but also the bottom line.

No, you clearly don't get my point. And I'm confused as to what the disconnect is. It honestly feels as if you are arguing for arguing sakes jnr Of course the recruitment of lever and May wasn't a tactical innovation. I didn't say it was. It was a recruitment decision. And bringing in two AA quality players is hardly rocket science. His tactical innovation was developing an incredibly effective all team defensive sytem that is now the template, the Gold standard, in the AFL. A model the best teams are implementing (with tweaks), for example the giants and the blues. Carbon copies of our sytem (Note: I made clear goody didn't invent zone defence, or even all team defence, but it is unarguable he took both to a new level and developed a new and improved defensive system - one based on an incredible amount of all team running and demanding a new level of aerobic fitness. Which is why he brought Burgess in. His model doesn't work without that elite level fitness across the whole team. It is a model that has changed the way the game is played and is a big part of its evolution in the last 8 years - for example fitness is more important now than it has ever been. If you think otherwise then we are never going to agree on this topic. And we see the game very differently) That is a considerably more complex exercise than simply 'fixing our leaky defence' by recruiting two gun defenders (something that is as old as the game -ie recruiting good players). As i said port and the dogs have tried to fix their 'leaky defence' by bringing in Alir and Jones respectively. But neither Hinkley or Beveridge have also developed an innovative defensive system (though the dogs appear to be trying to implement a version of ours). And so despite attempting to fix their 'leaky defence' by recruiting guns, their defensive issues remain unresolved. Recruiting May and Lever, particularly Lever (no coincidence he was recruited first given how key intercept marking is to goody's system) enabled goody to fully realise his vision. They were targeted not merely because they were so good, but so they could be the foundation of his system. Both had to have the nous, and desire, to play the role goody needed them to play, They wouldn't have bene recruited if goody thought they didn't. By the by, i think the reason Tomo is not going to be a regular best 22 player (he'll come in for specific roles no doubt) is that he struggles with the complexities of the defensive system, in particular when to zone off and leave his man to impact a contest or intercept. If it was just about bringing in AA quality key defenders then goody wouldn't have waited three years after trading in Lever to get may. And yes, he has done other tactical innovations - though none so influential and impactful on how the game is played (which is why I picked it as an example). WHICH WAS EXACTLY MY POINT - GOODY DOESN'T GET THE KUDOS HE DESERVES FOR HIS TACTICAL INNOVATIONS. I'm really not sure why this conversation has landed where it has - I would have thought the para above is pretty uncontroversial. But as you say, each to their own. Tapping out now.

We all care how you are WCW

If McAdam can get properly fit and string a couple of months of footy together he could prove quite the weapon in September. How’s me getting all excited after 1 win!! 😂

I wouldn't personally. I'd accept it and move on and tell the player to never kick someone again. I had no issue with Sicily knocking McGrath over given they were coming at him, but kicking in any form is a dog act. In my view biting, spitting on or kicking a player should be automatic suspensions. No place for them in the game.

But they loved the “blues bros” - couldn’t get enough of that tripe You hit the nail on the head the AFL and 7 would rather push that whole Maynard fiasco under the carpet I hope he cops it in every game he plays and I would love JV to run straight through him (legally of course) when he fronts up to us next time

his handball to Trac was gold.

If a Melbourne player got suspended for that this site would be in meltdown.

That was a glancing blow at best. McGrath goes the full hip and shoulder and gets floored. I’m on Sicily’s side here. You want to come at someone with force outside of play then cop your whack.

No changes. Give Petty at least one more week in the VFL.

How good to hear Clarry looks happy again. Hopefully he can keep killing it out of the field too!

Windy, even the Yarra has waves, warm and humid. They are doing plenty of warm ups, then a game of soccer, now run throughs. I think keeping it simple. May, ANB, Hore, Max. TMac, Billings, Sestan, on modified programs. BBB, Spargs, Turner, McAdam (own program, talking to Whelan) in rehab process. No Hunter, Melky, or Verrall. Max, TMac, BBB, Spargo, Billing, left the field early. May, Sestan, ANB, Hore, all running. Sestan last man running, and Alex practising goal kicking, the rest of modified group have left for the sheds. 26 full training, the drills are close kicking and handball, one with low ball gets and an element of competition. 30 minute run and they are back to the the sheds. Those who did not play Sunday are running laps, all 7 of them.

100% agree. The level of impact is irrelevant, kicking is just a shocking thing to do.

18.11 DELIBERATE RUSHED BEHINDS 18.11.1 Spirit and Intention Players shall be encouraged to keep the football in play. 18.11.2 Free Kicks - Deliberate Rushed Behinds A field Umpire shall award a Free Kick against a Player from the Defending Team who intentionally Kicks, Handballs or forces the football over the Attacking Team’s Goal Line or Behind Line or onto one of the Attacking Team’s Goal Posts, and the Player: (a) is greater than nine metres from the Goal Line or Behind Line; (b) is not under immediate physical pressure; (c) has had time and space to dispose of the football; or (d) from a Ruck contest, hits the football over the Goal Line or Behind Line on the full. ok, Good get. 8.2.4 Goal Umpire (c) Unless otherwise determined by a Controlling Body, if a goal Umpire is unsure whether a Goal, Behind or no score shall be recorded, the goal Umpire may consult with the field and boundary Umpires to determine the outcome. If a decision cannot be determined following consultation, the goal Umpire shall give the lesser outcome. . If a decision cannot be determined following consultation, the goal Umpire shall give the lesser outcome. If the outcome is no score and the football remained in play, the field Umpire shall throw the football up at the centre of the Kick-Off Line. Wow. That is cooked. And needs changing right away. At worst you would say 9m out from where the disputed ball was in play NOT the top of the goal square

I've listened to both episodes of Benny Gibson's podcast and it has been really good! Also won the signed Kade Chandler poster so that was also pretty cool 😆

I was at the game and was astounded by the decision. Is this what some ( obscure ) rule requires or did the umpire , for whatever reason, simply choose to bounce at that spot? Could one of our resident rules experts explain this please? @daisycutter ?

I wouldn't be calling for Sparrow to be dropped. From what I can tell he is doing enough execute his role without necessarily getting any rewards. Sometimes players need continuity of games to break through drops in form. Sending blokes to the VFL is not always the answer. Chandler on the weekend is a great example of that. No need to play around too much with a team that just beat the Dogs by 7 goals.

That was so bizarre. I mean, they couldn't have picked a more advantageous spot for the dogs. I would have been ropeable if they had scored a goal from that stoppage. It would have been another way for the dees to get screwed by a review.

I know you come from the old school of "he doesn't play for us anymore", but I for one (goes with my username) was happy to see him getting a kick and continuing his career - I think we got the best from him, and moved him on at the right time. His kick to hit up fritta in the grand final was not only the best kick I ever saw, it was the start of a massive turnaround in that grand final.

Geez this place bounces wildly back and forth on Sparrow. I said this after the 2021 grand final and I'll say it again now. He's a great role player who has limitations with his disposal but absolutely busts his backside and always cracks in hard. He had 0 CBAs today so naturally his disposals are down. 6 score involvements is solid work though. And his effort is all over the tracker sheet. 2nd in sprint distance. 2nd in average speed. 4th in total sprints. 2nd in average speed in attack. Stop with this madness that he'd get dropped for a kid.

So once again the journos and numpties on Twitter spent yesterday having a go at Melbourne about the crowd - where were they? why do they play Melbourne games at the MCG if they can't fill it? They'll always be a nothing club, blah blah blah. We've heard it all before, right? Here's my perspective: - 44,000 is still higher than the 2023 crowd average of 35,000 - the crowd yesterday was overwhelmingly Melbourne, yet no one was saying "where are the Bulldogs fans"? Why is that? Oh, because they're the darlings of the league. - The TV was focusing on the Shane Warne stand, rather than the Olympic Stand which was pretty chockers from where I could see - Of the 9 games, yesterday's crowd was the 4th highest of the weekend. No one was criticising the other games that had lower attendances than ours. My take is this - the media and the meatheads couldn't pick on Melbourne, couldn't pick on Goodwin, couldn't pick on Oliver, so let's roll out the barrel on the usual rubbish. Because Melbourne. I'm sick of [censored]....

Brent Moloney once got rubbed out for missing a bloke completely. A kick is a kick. It's dirty and deserves a suspension.

I’d say a post containing such a list could be pinned at the top of the forum, and that list could be updated as new nicknames are discovered (or invented) or as new recruits join the club.

Looked like McAdam was doing a little work with Spargo. Both in the blue uniform of the rehab and were wearing runners. They just handballed the ball to each other for ten minutes. Spent about ten minutes talking to Whelan. It really wasn't much of a run for many of them. I reckon they were doing more work in the gym today, or working intellectually on their strategic roles. Last weeks session I saw McAdam, he was doing ball work for the first time in ages, and drilling using sharp change of directions. I believe they will be ramping up his work load now. If his body holds up, I can see him ready in 2 to 4 weeks. His aim will be to tick the boxes. Addit : To get my handle highlighted and for me to get notification, I believe after you type the @, the names in a box appears after you type a few letters of name. If you click the name you want in that box it highlights it in blue (profile name) and will notify me. Second Addit: He may have done the run throughs with the main group, as WCW alluded too, though I didn't notice.

Love your work, but can we please just use names rather then the nicknames. I live in NSW and get to a handful of games a decade, and any nicknames I know comes from here (and I'm pretty sure the players don't call each other Choo-choo or Trac attack). But on that if you want to ever do a team list with the guys names next to their club nicknames that would be awesome. Oh and PS that should have been the intro - so glad the boys are happy boys

Bloody hell, 4 years of media guesswork coming up.

AGREE 100%

Petty, full training,.

When I was traveling through the States, once the locals hear you are from Tasmania they invariably want to talk about the Devil. I would tell them you had to pay an separate insurance premium to cover your home against a Tassie Devil spinning through it Taz style. It was believed around 90% of the time, so this comes as no surprise.

Some more concepts that I think are better than the actual design.

I would be making a very loud complaint to the Umpiring department about that one. We are very lucky it didn't cost a goal. The umpires are now too scared to call obvious decisions like Lever's touched ball. Why did the Dogs get such a big advantage. As it was JUH got the ball and had a shot on goal which was smothered. And the number of goal reviews generally is now insane. As someone else mentioned maybe its an advertising thing. But its a terrible look for the game

I’m so glad we are going to have a Tasmanian team. It’s long overdue. Which brings me to the jumper. It feels older - like it was designed mid century. I like it. It feels like a middle finger to the AFL. A way to say ‘should have been done decades ago’. I also like that it’s associated with state of origin. Gives the club a really unified ‘us against the world’ attitude right from the start. Sport is tribal, and this really delivers on that. I personally can’t stand the devil motif. It’s far too over worked. They’ve got some time to refine that and get it right. The crows took a while to figure out how to make their bird feel premium, and iconic. It’ll come together. It’s all great for the sport, and for Tassie. I hope its success highlights some of the AFL’s poor decision making to chase ‘potential populations’, instead of delivering to established football communities.

I rewatched the game last night and TMac's performance was absolutely sublime. He's far ahead of Tomlinson imo.

It began with a review from Finland, and then ironically seemed it was never going to Finnish.

In another life I reckon Ed would be a koala

At 2hrs, 35 mins and 32 seconds we have a new epic on our hands. Gone with the Win?

Then they bounced it at the top of the square!!! Madness

From Hawks big footy site… plenty of comedy gold left there, they went from very cocky to bronzing themselves after the doggies match, tbf, plenty of respect for Gawn though. The fact they argue about Frost the way we used to had me in stitches. ‘Frost was probably on our top 3-4 players today, absolutely no way he gets dropped. Even suggesting it is laughable and shows you are letting your pre conceived notions about Frost take over.’ and I'd argue that Frost has the best weapon out of any dour stoppers in the league. He's lightning quick and can kick the leather off the ball. The only problem is he's a weapon that often cuts both ways! and The Dees demise appears overstated and Max was bloody awesome today. An extra mid. Ominous signs. My personal favourite Gawn just demolished English. Get the vas. … you think Sicily just misunderstood Mitchells instructions on how to cork an oppositions players leg?

A pleasing response by the club against the Doggies after the game in Sydney. It was a club wide response lead by the coaches and the selectors, the players as individuals and the team response. The reaction of the coaches to the first 10 mins of the game where the doggies came out firing was quick and decisive. They worked out what the doggies forwards were doing, adjusted the matchups and the positional play and the results were immediate. very good to see. Defence. I was one that doubted the decision to drop Tomlinson for Tmac. The decision worked out well with Tmac doing his job well. The rest of the defensive make up worked very well led by May in his '[censored] off' mode. Howe and Hore worked well as did McVee and Rivers. The defence has skill, structure and personnel depth that makes it a great rock to build on. The success of the defence on Sunday was also partly the result of all team pressure that was brought to bear all over the ground. I loved the pressure on the ball and also off the ball on the next kick/receive. An excellent game in defence. Midfield. Nothing to complain about in this area of the team. Petracca, Oliver, Viney and Salem as our main men in there at the feet of Max. It is a daunting task for the opposition midfield to line up against. The rotations and mixes that we can run through there must be a nightmare to coach and play against. Sparrow, who did not really get a run on the ball on Sunday, Pickett, ANB and Rivers all offer differences when used at stoppages. Langdon and Windsor on the wings look to be in form and I loved the run down by Windsor. Chop out for Max by JVR worked as well as expected. The midfield is now purring along as is the Defence. Forwards. I have said a few times that I will not write off any player on our list. I loved seeing Brown out there doing 'Brown' things. He is such a valuable addition to the team and the forward structure. He not only popped through a couple of goals but he also allowed JVR to have a bit more freedom to move and position himself in better places. The structure of the forward line also helped to bring the smaller forwards into the game. It did help that the positional play of the smaller forwards was a hell of a lot better than last week with Chandler in particular working hard at the drop of the ball at the contest. The other ting I enjoyed watching the forwards was the application they brought to defending the forward 50. I expect the same team to line up against the Hawks as played against the Doggies [censored] long as they have all pulled up ok. Might be temped to brin in Sestan or The Kolt as sub to give Taj a full VFL game. Next up is Hawthorn at the G. would like to see the team carry on where they left off against the Doggies. An all team performance with pressure and decisiveness on the turnover. I look at this as a fairly critical game with some tough travel and games in the next three rounds with a trip to Adelaide to play both Port and Adelaide with just a 5 day break between the two followed by Brisbane at the G a week later. A big ask of the team. A couple of good things re the Brisbane game is that they will have one less day to prepare and will be travelling back to Melbourne after their game in Adelaide. Go Dees

Let's hope Goody doesn't go back to fielding a side full of smalls - the balance of bigs and littles was just so much better than against Sydney, not to mention that we have a better balance of quicks and slows this year with Windsor complimenting Kozzie, Langdon etc. This week the Hawks are likely to have Lewis, Chol and either Gunston or Kossy, which means we can again go big down back. Personally I don't see how anyone could drop Brown after his game, but if they are desperate to play him, then happy for him to be the sub.