deanox

Chandler looking great here.

In case anyone would like to read some additional context regarding why paying respects to Queen Elizabeth II is a complex conversation, please see the attachments. At the Melb v Bris game I was actually quite shocked at the way it was handled, moving straight from the Welcome to Country to the minutes silence without any context or meaningful segue. At the time I found it quite confronting and confusing. I do understand that the Queen was the political Monarch of the Australian state and therefore is acknowledged at such events. Whether or not that is a good thing, and whether or not we need to continue to advance the relationship between the first nations people and the current Australian state is irrelevant of the fact the ceremony lacked cultural tact. I do think that something needed to be said to link or distance the two cultural moments, to avoid the very uncomfortable and tone deaf situation that occured. The rendition of an old tape recording of God Save the Queen, complete with lights turning on and off at the wrong moment demonstrated how poorly thought out the situation was.

If PA are keen, they go all in with Kozzie this year, talk high salaries, tour facilities, and all that courting. Knowing full well nothing happens, but enough to try to delay Kozzie from signing next year. Personally I don't think he'll go. He will absolutely be the priority of the out of contracts, and with Jackson gone there is plenty of money.

Do you mean "Clarry is tough in the game, especially in contested packs, but he doesn't pretend to be a hard man when people hit him out of play or off the ball"? Clarry goes as hard as anyone in field. No one should need to cop hits, or knocks or punches etc once the whistle has gone and you aren't expecting contact. Expecting players to be braced and ready to absorb assault at any moment when on the field is ridiculous.

All of these are incorrect. It's been King's Birthday before and it will likely be again. http://demonwiki.org/Queens+Birthday https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/31398244 In Australia it was originally on the birthday of the monarch (starting from George III) and until George V who was born on 3 June. After that it changed to just be on the first Monday in June. Other Australian states celebrate different dates today. So it was originally King's Birthday, and it has been both.

I definitely agree that Geelong and Sydney should be odds on, but although they've got a good record against us, I can't see the pies getting up in 3 more finals I think this is something that's worth highlighting too. Yeah we've got a poor record against those teams this year but it is also a bit of a sliding doors moment in a lot of those games. We've got a strong defensive structure meaning teams need to play their best to beat us. I think most of us agree that rounds 11-13 we were outrun by Freo, the Swans and Collingwood, however this hasn't been an issue the last few weeks. In round 17 Geelong beat us comfortably. We got back within a goal, yeah, but I don't think we ever looked like deserving to win. To me this was the worst lost of the year. In round 19 the dogs kicks 17.8 to beat us by 10. In round 21 Collingwood had to kick 15.6 to beat us by 7 points. Last week the Swans kicked 14.7. In none of those games was fitness a factor, and I really think that a few luckier breaks in any game and we win. To me this means that come Prelim and GF (if we make either or both) it's still a genuinely open contest. Don't rule us out yet.

I reckon we are genuinely treating the situation with compassion. He is young, he is uncertain, so we are treating him well and supporting him rather than pressuring him to sign. A hard sell might push him further away.

I'm particularly interested to see: -Uncontested possessions down from 223.9 to 217.3 -One-on-one contests down from 17.3 to 15.3 -Metres gained up from 5542 to 5814 -Metres gained per disposal up from 15.2 to 16.2 -Marks on lead down from 7.9 to 7.3 This implies less handballs/short kicks to free players as well as less kicks to one on one contests. Probably more long kicks to bigger contests/packs. I don't know if these changes represent an overall shift in AFL gamestyle or are just within the margin of error.

@binman and @george_on_the_outer I was surprised that you thought Papley would be the focus rather than Heeney given on paper at least, Heeney has been more damaging this year: Papley: 26 goals (ave 1.6), 14.9 disposals, 2.1 tackles (0.8 in f50) Heeney: 46 goals (ave 2.1), 17 disposals, 4.4 tackles (1.6 in f50) Their other stats are all pretty even (intercepts, score involvements, clearances, marks, metres gained, inside 50s). Papley is ahead on GAs but overall score involvements are the same so didn't highlight it.

In a way, TMac as medi sub is having a bit each way, which is a great outcome. If he isn't used, it doesn't matter who the sub is. If he is used, it's probably for a shorter period of time and let's him adapt to the pace a bit and get some real match conditioning. Given he can play multiple positions, I don't think his height/size vs being a runner as sub will matter.

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.