deanox

While I understand where you are coming from I think this is a bit harsh and he has a long way to fall before realising this risk. Oliver is super damaging in a less overt way. His extraction and creative, fast hands, means that he sets up a lot of past that wouldn't have happened otherwise. While Trac bursts through and kicks long, Oliver did under and squeezes out to advantage. To become "just an accumulator" I think he need to lose that ability and be more loose, uneventful outside touches. He is still one of the best and most creative extractors in the game, and is probably playing more well rounded footy than in the years he won the bnfs. He is averaging 25 disposals this year (4th in the comp), equal to 31.25 in full length quarters (he has a higher kick to handball ratio than Petracca this year too) and 5th in ave contested possessions. He is 7th in ave clearances (3rd in centre clearances) and 25th for tackles (only half a tackle off being 15th). His turnovers are up by one per game (2 when factoring in shortened game time) which is sight concern but it is also a symptom of kicking more, which we've asked of him. On those numbers he should right in the frame for AA discussion. Unfortunately he gets marked very hard by umpires and media for some reason (vs their favourites).

My assumption is that those types of supporters don't actually understand "emotion". To them you are either calm or violent/angry, and any subtly between them is lost. Those supporters don't want to see Goodwin smile, laugh or cry. They want to see him yell and scream and break things and lose control. Pretty toxic, if that is your only measure of "emotion".

An aspect could be time to tell people who need to know ie family before publicising something that sounds as bad as fractured cheekbone.

Cards, I agree with this (despite describing rotation above). What I was trying to point out was that in the situation where fatigue due to multiple, repeat, shortened gaps between games, is going to cost us games or injuries, we only need a small handful of players to throw in the mix and everyone can get a sightly extended break by bidding a round. Especially given we "already had our bye".

We're going to need to rotate, but I'd do it as little as possible. Rivers, Hibberd, Jetta, Lockhart, Salem to all miss one game each in the next 4. Out of Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Brayshaw, Harmes, Langdon, Tomlinson, and Jones, 2 miss each week. Out of Melksham, AVB, Bennell, Fritsch, Hannan, Pickett, ANB, and Bedford, 2 miss each week. If we keep Jackson in, we won't need to rest the rucks. It's unlikely we'll be to rest any of the KPPs but TMac would come in the mix for any except Lever, who Smith should cover. So that's only 5 and maybe up to 7 players rotating through over the 4 weeks as needed to cover, while letting every player miss a single game. Keep the core team as stable as possible, and try to only have 2 of the "rotating" players in at any one time, for consistency.

I don't understand when it is suggested this year has an astrix. In fact, this year is potentially the fairest year ever. You play everyone once. Everyone is travelling, moving, on notice. Interstate teams aren't disadvantaged with travel and advantaged with big home crowds. Vic clubs aren't getting cushy rides based on the crowds they draw to the G. The fixture is being drawn a few weeks in advance, so yes some clubs will have it better but it will largely be by chance not by design. All clubs will come up against it at some point. Winning this year proves you're the best in the comp over the season.

Clarry received 5 coaches votes this weekend, 3 from one coach, 2 from the other, making him the 3rd best player on field according to the two coaches. He could be *more* damaging but it is clear he is still very damaging. Trac standing up helps because he isn't the only one they need to worry about in the centre and he gets an extra milisecond off space.

It's almost like he isn't stubborn and in fact is willing to make tactical changes her thinks will help win?

Harsh. Was a very good player before his foot injury crippled him.

Even if Jones plays down back (which he won't because he is too slow) he would play a different role to Lockhart who is playing the lock down / nullify / tag role. Lockharts absolute commitment to the contest around the ground, hard two way running and throwing himself in and on any thing he can was fantastic. I think he'll get the first chance on Charlie Cameron next week, with Jetta being a bit more free. VDB was our "worst on" today but even he wasn't that bad. The options to replace him are Hunt, Spargo, Tomlinson so I think he gets another few weeks. TMac should be "best 22". But on form he isn't. Statistically and in impact, Jackon had a better game today than TMac has had all year. Given Goodwins reluctance to play 2 KPFs, I can't see him now playing 3, unless he employs TMac as a fulltime wing (the Tomlinson role). For me, no change unless forced.

It's only a watershed moment for the people who were saying tripe like "he shows no emotion" "he talks in coach speak instead of real terms" etc. He hasn't changed. Their perception of him has.

Average but not terrible. And id probably go 6/10 because he hasn't lacked for effort

I wouldn't pick him next week.

Does TMac get back in?

Should have been htb to lockhart then

He doesn't get it much but doesn't get beaten often

I think he really goes in hard, chasing, throwing his body around etc. He isn't playing a possession needing position, so it's very hard to judge on tv.

At the 'G I usually sit Level 2 behind the goals which gives such a clear view of the tactical set ups and battle. The subtle shift of a zone left or right, the spare man at the contest and the positioning of the loose man. Defensive/ offensive positioning on the far wing, etc. None of this is apparent on tv. The wider shots help a bit, but not a lot. I'd love to see the tv change to behind the goal views more often, maybe with a close up inset of the play.

Zone defence was introduced which meant those forwards no longer had space to dominate on their own. Instead teams need to work hard around the zone, making individual scorers more valuable.

I would agree with this. He was the reason we were able to experiment with ideas like the 4 man "diamond defence". He does a great job of leaving his man at the right time to hit the next contest, covers ground quickly and he spoils high in the air well. Hw is also a reliable kick in defence. He isn't great in a muscle fight. But not many defenders are in 2020, because then they probably aren't great at zoning, closing, chasing etc. The reason he has been whipped is because of tv viewing angles: -When he is caught one out, and out marked, that's usually because the ball has come in too easy. -Beaten on a lead? Often because his opponent had too much space and there was no pressure on the ball carrier. -"His" opponent gets an easy goal out the back? Oscar has left to cover another loose man and the mids didn't work hard enough to get back. Is he perfect? Nah. But a lot better than he gets credit for.

Smith is young, developing, versatile and has good attributes that serve him well across the ground, but hasn't baked it at AFL level. I think primarily, he provides us great back up to Lever, who has had injury issues. Following that he also potentially can fit in as a KPD if one of Oscar or May go down: you always need back ups on your list. And, given his pace, he could potentially fill a Hibberd style role as well, offering competition to Rivers in that space. I don't see how he fits up forward. He will never be a KPF and we have a lot of mid forwards with some runs on the board, so he is down the pecking order in that space bit could fill it if AVB and Hannan got injured and Melksham was dropped. I think he represents depth/coverage for now. Hibberd and Jetta are 31 by the end of this year and Melksham will be over 30. So I think Smith has a role to play over the next 2 years as a more mature body filling some of those roles so that we aren't plugging kids in immediately. If he steps up the position could be his for 4-6 years. If not, he will be a reasonable stop gap until someone overtakes him. Right now he isn't best 22. But we have no injuries either.

No worries: it was a mistake I made for years after hearing TJ described that way and I was surprised to learn I was wrong!

I think quietly deleting and releasing a statement has been the go to move for years and it hasn't worked. We are now at a stage where: a) public shaming is considered a reasonable outcome (how many people write these things thinking they will remain anonymous?); and b) showing the exact tweet or comment draw attention to how even something small is racism. It doesn't have to be a long offensive statement. I think this helps define what isn't acceptable better than ever before.

I know people used to call TJ "laconic", but I'm not sure it is for the same reason you think they did. Laconic means "using very few words" Perhaps languid ("very slow and relaxed") would be a better choice?

Successful clubs playing finals allow players to get there a bit easier. An average of 2 finals a year over a 15 year career (this is Jones' 15th season) means a possible 360 games.