hemingway

Agreed

Agree. A sensible and realistic contract extension. Everyone has their use-by date. We just don’t know when that will be for Goodwin. I just hope when that comes, both parties can agree to the parting in a decent and gracious manner and we don’t see a repeat of the debacle we have seen with other coaches our own included. Despite all the rhetoric from the family club, their parting with Clarkson was a nasty tacky ending. Times will never be better than now. We have won that elusive premiership and we are top of the ladder and seemingly sweeping all before us. We may win more flags but the first is always the best like winning that first Gold Medal. You are right in stating that Max, Christian and Clarry are generational players. When it is all said and done, they collectively and individually are the difference between winning and losing. And we should probably throw May into that ring. If you took anyone of those 3 or 4 out of the ring, the Hawks would have knocked us off. We do have many great players and we have great depth. But the good times never last for ever. It’s always a thin line between winning and losing and the generational players and match winners are usually the difference. Just taking one of those players out of the team has a huge impact. Just think Melbourne without big Max. Think of Dusty at Richmond. Its when a Club needs stable and consistent leadership with development and succession planning being an on-going feature of the way it manages the ups and downs. I like that old saying that you are never as good as you think you are or never as bad as you think you are. However with intelligent recruiting, player development and a flexible creative and respected coach (and coaching staff), a Club can enjoy a longer period of success.

Loved it. The final seal on a dominant and magnificent win. Summed up the Dees attitude that day. Play hard until the siren. I mean seriously, who wouldn’t have had a kick for goal at the siren. Stamped the team’s dominance.

So true OD. It’s ironic. Or is it our Karma for finally being able to support a Premiership Club that has won 14 on the trot. The fixture is great for the Club, great for its revenue streams, but makes it hard for supporters to get to the games. It hurts. Almost like a punishment. The irony is that when we were down and out, there was no problem getting to see home games. The bitter/sweet of our footy life.

Sorry about the rant, I was in a particularly bad mood this morning when I checked my bank balance and my empty liquor cabinet. Also not helped by my current wife telling me that it was mother’s day on Sunday and that she had lined up brunch with the in-laws that conflicts with a pie and sauce at our home ground, The Melbourne Football Ground. On top of it all my guns and fishing rods have been stolen. What’s a man to do, OD?

I know we have a low opinion of the footy media. I avoid it as much as possible other than watching our matches when I can’t attend. For the most part, I avoid the opinion making, headline grabbing, entertainment making, boys club jokey stuff, self aggrandisement, ignorance and fickleness of 85 per cent of “the boys”. Most do not do their homework and rely on cliches and headline grabs. I reckon the fans on this site are better informed. I particularly dislike the pack hunting that occurs when one side or other is having a bad trot. If we actually lose a game or two they will be all over us like a rash. Despite the diatribe and rubbish most are articulate or perhaps, more accurately, understandable. However, Robbo plumbs the depths of footy media standards. He is an embarrassment to the rest of the footy media, to himself and the footy industry. He is foolish, ignorant, and inarticulate. You would think a commentator who commands a fair bit of air-time would need to speak the English language. Robbo does not achieve a bare pass, not even a supplementary pass. I don’t blame him, I almost feel sorry for him. He is clearly not a well man. However, there are basic standards. He does not meet any. It’s an indictment on the TV Network and the Producers of the program. Whether it’s work, family, clubs, friends or social groups we expect basic minimum standards. It’s what we call a civil society. It’s what holds a society or community together. Without it, we are predators in a jungle. Robbo does not make it on any level. His performance also reflects badly on Whately who I suspect is a jellyfish. Now don’t start me on our politicians!

Melbourne supporters are just as passionate as any other mob. In fact given our long period of defeat and negativity we have been more resilient and loyal than most. The measure of our passion is not measured simply by attendance at games. So much has changed on the footy landscape. Attendance at games has been hit hard by factors already mentioned. Despite some people’s laissez faire attitude the majority of folks particularly the seniors are still freaked by Covid. There are still so many people who will not attend activities involving large groups. As previously mentioned, late afternoon and night games are a huge deterrent to anyone living outside Melbournes urban fringes. Not helped by our poor and unreliable trains. For many older folks there are severe safety concerns travelling home by train at night. And games during the week do not help families and folk who take work seriously. There is no doubt that saturation TV coverage has conditioned fans to watching the game at home rather than the inconvenience of attending night games. Lastly, there is the issue of cost. Many people simply do not have the money for travel and incidental expenses. Particularly country people. The majority of people are doing it tough or at least have needed to restrict their spending habits particularly discretionary spending. I get annoyed with the simplistic notion that low attendances is a reflection on the passion or commitment of fans. Times have changed and for many (although not all) it has become much harder to get to a game.

There are some who suggest that Covid is no worse than a common cold. Like flus and other viral infections, there are differing degrees of severity and recovery. Most people avoid hospital. Footballers are fit strong young people and should avoid the worst of it. But the experience of many is that the after effects of Covid can last for weeks and sometimes months. A little like a severe flu or glandular fever. And we now have the medical diagnosis of “long Covid”. Although most can go about their daily lives without any trouble, on-going fatigue and aches and pains is extremely common. Footballers are supremely fit but like all top line athletes are always prone to infection (and injury). They push their bodies which compromises their resistance to infection. So the concern with Covid infection is the longer term impact on the body and its ability to cope with heavy physical demands. And most GPs will tell you that RATs tests are pretty useless. They will come back with a negative result but often test positive on PCR. The only reliable test is the PCR. For players who test positive it is important that they not be rushed back and are managed with the full season and finals in mind.

Matthew Lloyd might be right in stating that Weid is the more natural forward than BB and TMac. I would agree regarding TMac but not BB. However, we no longer have a game where teams rely on a natural forward a la Matthew Lloyd or a Full Forward of the past generation or 5. We have a game where versatility, two way running, contested footy etc predominant. Fritsch is successful because he is good in the air and on the ground, and can win his own ball no matter how the ball enters the forward line. And he kicks goals from limited opportunities. His skill set means he is difficult to match up and has the happy knack of being able to lose his opponent. Weid is the more natural lead to position and be the recipient of the well delivered ball. But we don’t play that way any more. It’s bomb the ball forward and have a group of versatile players create opportunities from a loose ball. Watching the matches so far it appears that the coaches and BB and Weid have not worked out how to play together without tripping over one another or their teammates. I just can’t see how we can have both players up forward as the season progresses. It seems out of balance. BB is harder to match up on, normally a reliable kick for goal and had also had shown terrific second and third efforts. He is footy smart and know where to go. I think we are better off going with BB rather than Weid. Weid does not seem to suit our game plan. Clearly Goodwin and others are prepared to persevere with Weid but he does not seem the right fit. The coaches see it differently and they are in a position to know. It just seems odd.

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.