deanox

I feel if TMac comes in, it's this week. We have a double chance so the risk of carrying an unconditioned player is lower than the next 2 weeks. It also gives us more games to adjust tactically. I couldn't see us bringing him in cold for a preliminary final if we win comfortably this week without him, for example.

Adding to this, due to the fixture there are some teams that we play around the same time each year (ie Collingwood on queen's birthday). So how much of the timing of matches could factor into this ie different loading programs for top teams vs bottom teams?

I think that Sydney, Collingwood and Geelong are the only teams we haven't beaten this year. It's quite possible that those three will be the three we come up against.

Does Sydney try similar manning up tactics that Carlton did a couple of weeks ago? I'm also thinking we're likely to play our game our way, without adapting to counter Sydney too much. However we do have a penchant for picking 1-2 key opposition players and countering/ negating their influence. Interestingly we have often been a bit left field in our choice of target: Bailey not Neale last week was an example. Will we try to unexpectedly seek to curtail the influence of a 2nd tier but surprisingly important cog? If so, who? And for Heeney, could we try an option like Hibberd because Heeney plays high and will drag Hibberd to the ball where he can use his kicking to our advantage?

Honestly, If it's the end of the VFL, it isn't a big deal, given it is currently a joke of a competition. Putting it out of its misery would be a good thing. The SANFL and WAFL have survived as state based Tier 2 competitions with only 1-2 AFL reserves teams. So if they really wanted to relaunch the VFL as the primary Victorian state comp, equivalent to the SANFL and WAFL they could. Positioning the VFL as the top tier of Victorian football (tier 3) rather than the AFL Reserves is realistic, but something would need to be done to ensure it is better than the "local leagues" like the EFL, and country leagues (tier 4). Perhaps it could be a promotion/relegation to the VFL from those competitions? Who knows. At the moment I think the Tier 2 players are diluted across too many competitions, meaning the standard of all is lower. We don't really have a tier 2, we just drop straight to Tier 3. (I'd like to add that no disrespect is meant to Casey, Williamstown, Port Melbourne etc. Or any of the other clubs that have history. But the current situation isn't really a great one for them either.)

I honestly think this is one of the biggest issues in with the VFL (and the SANFL and WAFL). It is not a genuine "seconds" comp. It is just mostly an AFL kid development comp and holding ground for a couple of mature age players who live it. I honestly think they would be better off having an AFL reserves comp that had 18 teams, played the same fixture as the AFL teams and a non-AFL squad where the minimum payment was incentive enough to keep people around (comparable to the best local league payment). This would provide a couple of things: - a true one-step-down competition at a very high standard for viewing and would/could attract support - the higher standards is better for match fitness and conditioning, and for development (ie smaller gap in the step up to AFL) - a lot of 18 year olds who don't get drafted *could* use this as a realistic opportunity to develop for ~2 years in the hope of getting drafted at 20. I.e. less players lost to the system because they weren't quite ready at 18 but didn't have the support/pathway to mature - a delisted AFL player can genuinely have a second crack without a year out of the game causing problems like lack of fitness or competition - provides a meaningful pathway for mature recruits through PSD or mid season draft (and a higher chance of making it because of the playing standard) - increase the overall standard of AFL by retaining the best players in the system for longer. Plus if kids can develop at Reserves level, instead of AFL level, then it increases the standard of AFL It wouldn't be hard to do. Just have the "reserves list" draft immediately after the main AFL draft. Allow anyone who has been on an AFL list (reserves or seniors) to automatically be a free agent to sign to the reserves list. Allow auto promotion off your own reserves list. Etc.

My take on this is definitely grains of salt. If we are considering taking Grundy (and we have met with him) then we must have enough cap space to make it happen. So there are no concerns about a Jackson or Kozzy getting squeezed out. My thoughts are that the way we have managed all this is loading contracts front or back, or by managing very flat contracts. The long deals for Max, Viney, Truck, Salem, Fritsch, Clarry and Angus will likely all be to make sure it balances over the 5-6 year period. The are all contracted until they are between 31 and 34 years old. Petty and Spargo are contracted for 3 more years, and will be 25 when out of contract, ready for a big one perhaps. There isn't really much else to balance. Hunt and Jackson left out of contract this year. Kossie, ANB, Rivers and JJ are the only young/mid career players OOC next year. https://demonland.com/forums/topic/51814-2022-list-and-contract-details/?do=findComment&comment=2196036 I think this year was the big risk year, with lots of OOC name players. Get through this and we're set up nicely for 3 years.

Unfortunately I didn't get to Tartu, but after a few days in Tallinn we did get down the coast to Haapsulu, Kuressaare (on Saaremaa, with visits to Muhu) and Parnu! I would definitely recommend a visit to Estonia to be on anyone's European adventure list!

I like Berlin but have always had a soft spot for Copenhagen. However based on my current travels Tallin has quickly earned a place right at the top. If you haven't been to Estonia (or Latvia) please do. Amazing place, great people, top shelf beer.

While it is exciting to hear about everyone's adventures and how widely supported the MFC is, honestly there was a pretty selfish reason as to why I started the thread: my current existential crisis about not being there after missing out last year and having attended almost every game since about 1998! But if this thread can help arrange even one local meet up, it will have been worthwhile. Supporting the dees over the last 50 years hasn't been easy and sometimes I think we need more emotional support during the good times than we do during the bad times.

I like that ruthless doesn't need to involve crossing ethical lines. A bit like how our field we play tough and hard but we don't snipe. I think we sledge and chat but don't seem to cross lines. Off field we trade hard for what we want but we don't seem to try to screw anyone over to score a win. To me ruthless doesn't need to mean cheating or being an (self censor) about it.

Absolutely correct sorry. I'm currently in Parnu, Estonia, and forgot I'm an hour behind!

For our overseas supporters or those travelling, how do you plan on watching the final? This thread can be a place to post looking for others to watch the game with, no matter where in the world you are! To kick it off I'll be in Berlin for work, with a conveniently scheduled late flight, meaning I'll be free to watch the game during the day (1250pm local time). Will any locally based supporters be meeting anywhere to watch it together? Or does anyone know any Berlin AFL haunts that show games so I'm not watching on my laptop in the hotel lobby?

Absolutely long term. The end goal from a supporter growth perspective is the second generation of migrant families in the west, and the generations of kids who grow up out there. It'll take 30 years, but if the AFL actually want to be a long term money generating national competition then they need to invest in the market there long term. The AFL doesn't care about crowds, they care about advertising and TV, that's where the money is.

I also think in the last few decades small forwards have often been seen to struggle in big pressure, physical, finals games. Whereas that doesn't seem to be the case with Kozzy who relishes the physical contest as part of his game.

To expand on this, it felt like we scored a lot from intercepts/ turnovers/ rebounds/ counter attack although I haven't seen that stat specifically. In the tough fought games (including our losses) we definitely struggled to generate scores fullstop. So are we too reliant on opposition mistakes (forced through our pressure, structure, zone etc or unforced?) without enough means of generating as scores ourselves? Or (as we saw in the opening minute with Kossies goal) is it just about whether we are on?

I tend to agree, except we've had plenty of other weeks where we could have done a similar thing (a relatively low grade injury that the player has played the game out on reduced minutes). I thought the evidence of potential "impact" was worth a highlight. Maybe not worthy of the pod, unless we do it again in finals week 1!

James Jordan only played 10 minutes but Telstra Tracker said he was our hardest working in attack for the match (obviously because he was fresh and could run hard). This use of the sub isn't something we've really seen from Goody this year. Will we see more use of the "super sub" in September? (Might be a question for next podcast)

I agree that Gawn might take votes off him, but when it comes to the coaches votes I think they often recognise unheralded players who played very well, including defenders, and those in opposition. Those guys don't get Brownlow votes, so as the 4th or 5th best player on the field Clarry might still get the 2 votes as the best midfielder in the winning side.

I'd like him to win the Brownlow though (and our BnF and AA of course). That would give him 4 Blueys, 2 AAs, 2 AFLCA awards, and a Charlie in only 7 years (and at age 25). And solidify his place as one of our greatest ever.

He is neck and neck with Petracca in the AFLCA champion player award with try games to go, and 2 votes behind Touk Miller and Lachie Neale. Neale shouldn't poll much in the last 2 rounds. No idea how Miller will poll as he was the GCS best when they got belted by Geelong, and a couple will take votes off him this week Sexton 6 goals, Swallow, Anderson both 30+ touches). Whereas id expect Clarry will poll a few both weeks. So it's tight there with both Track and Clarry probably finishing top 3.

Reminiscent of the Selwood/Headland incident. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/a-sledge-too-far-or-a-blunder-in-the-heat-of-battle-20070418-ge4orf.html

Could be distracted by the Petty issue or could be focused on finals because that is all that counts.

https://www.liveladders.com/AFL/ check here

Jordan covered 14.6 km last week, our 3rd highest, including 2.6 km at high speed (over 18km per hour), our 2nd highest.