hemingway

Footy at risk of selling its soul. What’s left of it. We think it’s bad enough now with rule changes and TV friendly fixtures. The more dough the AFL heavyweights can extract from the streaming services the more influence and power will reside with the streaming services and the AFL will be a patsy. Beware the devil is dressed up nice suits and ties and/or pretty dresses. The entertainment industry is upon us.

Not the way Goodwin was speaking at the presser.

Yep they are Melbourne like. A seriously good side that will give the flag a shake (based on last nights performance).

AFL Footy has lost so many people for all the reasons we are aware of. This could be just another nail in the coffin of footy as we know and love it. Fans in their thousands have stopped attending matches. In this case, the risk is that fans in their thousands will turn off their TV sets. Here in the country most folks don’t use streaming services because they can’t afford it. Pensioners, the elderly and low income folks will suffer. No longer footy but entertainment with a bunch of companies, organisations and individuals enriching themselves.

Interesting history (often forgotten) and great comments.

They may be next level down now Picket, but perhaps not in 2-5 years. Not applicable to Jacko but Trac and Clarry are hitting their straps after a few years in the system. We have a number of kids that have heaps of talent and could be great players in a few years. Concern yourself with the present but always with an eye to the future.

A lot of intelligent posts here. As mentioned an amazing turnaround in team fitness and attitude. I was one of thousands of Dees supporters that groaned in the stands as we watched players stand and watch their opponents run away with the ball. Lacking fitness, application and attitude. Even teams like the Giants would brush our players aside and run away. Now we have gone past all other sides like a Formula One race car. What has happened ? Great coaching. Not just in coaching application but in building a great culture. Great recruiting with a focus on experienced players and youngsters that fill a roll. Not just look for the best, but look for players that play a role. Building a team based skill set. A total commitment from coaches and players to effort, to the contest, to improving skills, to playing team first football. A total commitment to individual and team goals. Individual and team effort are indivisible. Training, training and more training. Training with purpose, but training in an intelligent and consistent manner. Importantly training as you play so it seems perfectly normal to transfer this method of training to match day. You turn up and play exactly as you train. Understanding that success can only be maintained by singleminded effort day after day , year after year. If you get complacent or tired then someone will knock you off. Reaching a point where the individual player and the team have confidence that their fitness, skills and game plan are the best in the competition. Understanding that continued success means that these things need to be maintained. A win at all costs attitude. Strong bodies and strong belief. In this regard, I recommend a read of Kevin Sheedys book on Aust sporting icons. It tells you everything about application, attitude and effort. An understanding that the development of these things take years not weeks or months. There is where you need to pick the right people and support them in times of disappointment and failure. In many cases, coaches become great coaches when they have been supported in the bad times. Likewise players. So you need a strong united Board with the same goals and without ego or pursuit of opportunistic outcomes. Goodwin understands all this. Even after losses, he talked about building not just a great side but building a great club with a great culture. Clearly, it’s not just Goody but everyone in the club. There is an alignment of purpose and application. Hopefully, all these things will be remembered when challenged and threatened after a bad loss or string of losses.

The competition for spots is great for the team and testimony to our depth of talent. I have no strong views on selection but for me Hibberd should give up spot for a younger player. I love Hibberd but he is at the end of his career. However, you have to think that there are going to be a number of players who will get frustrated at the lack of opportunity to secure a regular spot and don’t see their future playing with Casey and will seek opportunities elsewhere.

I like Weed. He wanted to remain a Demon which warms my heart. And his body language on the ground confirms his desire to play in this team. However, I do find his second efforts or lack of them, frustrating. At times, he reminds me of Jack Watts. Weed can be only metres away from an opponent with the ball but does not put any effort to attack the contest. It is noticeable compared to his team mates who keep chasing. A tall forward cannot rely on marking alone or relying on the one contest. That’s what impresses me about BBB. His chasing and pursuit of the contest when the ball hits the ground is exceptional. Always 100 per cent effort. Weed still has a future and we should persevere with him. However, at the moment and probably for the rest of the season BBB is our best option. And TMac still offers more versatility and effort than Weed.

Agree on night games. They are a significant deterrent for country fans. There are a lot of Demon fans in the country. Until I moved to the country I had not realised how many committed Dees fans live in central Vic. For most, home is a minimum of 2 to 3 hours from the MCG. Meaning that if you go by car, it’s a 1am return to home. So that’s a problem. The second problem is that public transport/trains is dodgy/unreliable. Most don’t have any faith in the train service. I understood why when at the end of the Doggies game I walked back to Southern Cross only to find that the last train had been cancelled and there was no replacement bus service. No service, no warning, no apology just an empty train station. Fortunately, I was able to find a billet at a friends flat for the night but incredibly frustrating and inconvenient given my plans early the next day. Most country fans have given up. They love the club and are probably more passionate than city dwellers but it is all to hard. The TV and the armchair have to suffice.

Isaac chose Geelong for lifestyle reasons. That was the primary reason. To state that Isaac did not think he would cut the mustard at Melbourne is absurd. He wanted to escape the city. He also has family connections to the Geelong area. In footy terms it worked out for Isaac, the Cats and the Demons.

Blessings Uncle. The wisdom of Job.

I really don’t know if Gill has done a good job or bad job or a mediocre job. I guess the truth lies somewhere in the middle. What we do know is that the industry will paint his time in a favourable light particularly in terms of revenue streams and Covid management. He has managed to keep most of the key stakeholders onside. No mean feat. He is a good negotiator and has an ability to achieve acceptable outcomes. And sometimes doing a good job is measured by what you don’t see or hear rather than what you do. I tell you what I don’t like about his tenure. The AFL jumping into bed with the gambling industry. They have sold their soul and changed the nature of footy. The long term ramifications and corruption that comes with gambling will be felt for years to come. I also don’t like the constant rule changes and interpretations that frustrate fans, coaches and players. I don’t like rule changes that are simply designed to increase the speed of the game, the scoring rate and the attractiveness of the fame. Often the changes do not bring about the change desired. Most of the time I hear myself saying over and over in my head, just leave the bloody game alone. It is such a great game that you don’t need to do to much to improve it. I don’t like the fact that footy Tv ratings dictate the fixture. I hate weeknight games and the fact that it discriminates against families, working men and women, school age kids. In fact everyone that likes to attend live footy matches. Whilst recognising that umpires need the support of the AFL, I hate the way umpires have become centre stage actors in the drama of the game. Thats enough for now. This could go on for ever!

This has been a problem for AFL for the past 30 years in the city and suburbs. When my boys went to school back in the 90s and early to mid 2000s most kids passed on footy. Very few Asian kids or their parents wanted their boys to play footy due to its physicality and injury risk. Also playing sport was not part of their culture. They were at school to do well academically. In addition, there were many parents with an Aussie/Anglo heritage that were concerned about injury. This view was confirmed by many of the bigger boys mimicking the physicality and behaviour of AFL, together with very poor umpiring in which umpires took no action against kids being hammered by aggressive and bigger opponents. Footy training was hindered by the small numbers. Many kids did not want to attend training on cold wet nights particularly when their mates were playing other sports. Hence the majority of kids played soccer and basketball. And they followed teams in Europe and USA. And Sat morning Auskick was hampered by small attendance and the thing being run by a few Dads who were well meaning but not exactly inspirational. In the country there is greater grass roots footy but again many boys play basketball. And as we know, junior and senior clubs are struggling and many have gone by the wayside, merged or struggle to survive from year to year. Whilst TV ratings may be healthy the condition of the body is distinctly unhealthy and participation is haemorrhaging. The long-term future of the game is limited. The AFL must spend its money at the junior development levels but at the same time spend money in the suburban and country regions. There is not much point playing footy if there are no teams to join.

Absolutely Frog. He is a leader. He brings heart and soul. Players like Gus are the glue that keeps the whole together. His role may be replaceable but his value to the team should not be underestimated. Of all the players he is the epitome of team first. Gus leaving would result in a huge hole in the bow of the ship. As you say, a must keep.

Understand where you are coming from Dazzle. I guess we should be happy that the coaches/selectors have these options.

Team balance and game plan. We have more flexibility with TMac and Ben Brown. TMac’s height, tank, and experience forward and back make him valuable. Looking at the last game only you would select Weed over Tmac. Like most traditional forwards, Weed is a confidence player and requires a string of games. I like him. But despite TMacs form or lack of it, his inclusion is better for team balance. Having all three in the team throws that out of whack.

Your serious side Uncle? Just your dual persona?

Enjoy the moment and enjoy each win. After a lifetime of playing and watching sport, I follow the old adage of not getting too far ahead of oneself. Injury and other unforeseen variables can change the picture very quickly. And we have had 3 rounds. Lets just enjoy now.

Through to the keeper, bowled Shane, and bowled Uncle.

Definitely a yes from me. He was well past his best but he instructed and lead others on the field. His leadership on the ground was akin to Jake Lever today. His move to the Demons was also one of those small steps that started to change people’s perception about the club. That others viewed us as an up and coming team, no longer the basket case that players would avoid. We suddenly had Melksham and Hibberd, and then Lever etc. Lewis also talked us up helping to create a positive image of an improving club. From a marketing perspective a win win.

And the umps inspection before the game in the rooms to make sure there were no nails sticking out that may result in nasty tetanus laden gashes on lovely soft pink skin. Not likely to apply to BBO whose skin was already coarse.

Bloody hell. Wheres the cotton wool.

The physicality of both Petracca and Oliver makes them great but it does heighten the risk of injury and their longevity in the game. Every time I watch these champs play I think, how long can they keep doing this. Also Maxy as well. But I guess it’s not a tap you can turn on and off.

Prefer triage or anything to cull. Rest of post very thoughtful and well reasoned. There are posts that are gems. This is one. .