hemingway

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. .

Interesting comments Steamin. Personally, I’m a big picture guy and sometimes detailed analysis leaves me cold. However, in this case, there is something else. It’s Max. I’m sorry Steamin but I just can’t in any way, shape or form criticise or find fault with Max. It’s almost sacrilegious. If he has had a few off moments, after all his superhuman efforts over the past few years, in particular, last year, he has, well, almost earn’t them. He has more credits in the bank than anyone I can think of. No, I have had a good hard think about your comments, and I can’t come up with anything but praise, adulation, indeed love for our Premiership Captain one of the most remarkable individuals ever to don the red and blue. He is in lofty company with other Club legends and is getting closer to the sanctity of the Clubs spirit soul, the immortal Robbie Flower. And now I think about it, together with Robbie, a Yarra Park sculpture would be most fitting, a place of homage after his retirement.

It would seem to make sense for Jackson and the Club to agree on a 2 year deal. That’s assuming Luke wants to stay. It seems improbable the either party would want a long-term deal. Luke because he would want to keep his options open and the Club due to salary cap pressures. It’s a delicate balance. After another 2 years there may be further room for movement, maybe not. It’s would be terrible to lose Luke as it would be to lose any of our stars when their contracts expire. The thought of Oliver or Petracca in opposition jumpers would be real heart sink stuff. However, the Hawks lost Buddy and were able to maintain their list and reap further premiership rewards. How the Club manages all these complexities will be crucial to longer term success and the health of our playing group.

Please don’t use the word cull.

I think Jacko waving his arms in the goal square would distract our other forwards. The game has probably passed him by. Although as footy is now regarded as entertainment perhaps there is a role for him. He could always fight Barry Hall at half time. Either way the fight would only last a few minutes.

Every time I see the topic “what they are saying at.......”. I immediately think “I don’t care” or more profane thoughts. And I don’t care except I then read the comments. Perhaps just to confirm the idiocy of opposition supporters. At the moment Bomber supporters sound a bit down poor old things.

Agree with most of the comments here. He is one of our most improved and consistent players. A real team player. In fairness, he has always had potential. In his first few games, he showed talent. I remember thinking he had a few tricks but they were not on display often enough. From memory, he was dropped after a couple of games. It shows how coaching and player development together with team success and the confidence shared with team mates improves a players own game. When a team is playing poorly and losing, it’s very hard for a player to shine. And skills suffer. All of those who have played team sport have been there. Support of the coach is so critical to player self esteem and confidence. At the same time, the player has to grab the bull by the horns and ANB and others have done that.

Agree wholeheartedly MD. On the lights, my wife finds it hard to watch the game live because the flashing lights give her a migraine. This is apparently very common. The light show has got worse ever since it’s inception. Initially it was after goals or when play stopped, but now it’s during play as well. Just like ground commentary and announcements it makes a day or night at the footy less enjoyable and at times intolerable. It’s become a sound and lights show. Thank god, we still have a great game that in it pure form is sublime. And don’t start me on TV viewing. Some commentators add to the viewing experience but all to often that’s not the case. Did I mention Dwayne and Gerald ? They are insufferable.

Miking up the umps has been the worst innovation in TV broadcasting. So annoying and distracting. At times it can help to explain a decision but a lot of the time we have to suffer the running commentary that does nothing to enlighten us. It’s just twaddle. At least tone it down or use their comments selectively to explain a contentious decision. We do not need to hear the umps voices the whole time. They should be seen but not heard (most of the time).

Exactly. Once upon a time apologies meant something. Today, they are a dime a dozen and are simply a way at least at the public level of managing an issue or an indiscretion. Apologise and move-on has become the norm. Its better than nothing but in most cases holds little real value. As you say, it has to be sincere and also there needs to be serious contrition displayed. Although I don’t think the giver of an apology is going to bother looking up the meaning of contrition. Perhaps having a “duel at 20 paces” may bring about change.

Agree or as the late great Bobby Davis once said, “fair dinkum unbelievable” It really does make you wonder about the competency and objectivity of the decision makers. It seems to fly in the face of the AFLs commentary and actions regarding head high contact and the rolling uncontrollable snowball of current and future litigation which as others have pointed out is going to be “huge.” Peter Jess will be rubbing his hands.

Happy to receive the compliments about the GF but have always believed in staying humble. Say less but make a comment like “they play for each other” or “play for the coach” or “it’s great having a group of young talented match winners.” If you want to have a diplomatic dig, I find something along the lines of “enjoy the journey” or “ it can take years for a team to rebuild” or you “need patience for all the stars to align to win a flag”

Maintaining standards is a fast disappearing notion. We now live in a era where we have a 24 hour 7 day week news cycle. We have social media and the vast majority of folks connected to the hourly news cycle. Compare this to the old days with two newspapers per day excluding Sunday, and radio and TV news updates once or twice a day. We have a society addicted to news. We have a deterioration in standards across the board be it political, business, organisational and personal. There is an unyielding quest for success (whatever the cost) and a quest for personal gain. This plays out in the footy industry. The monster that is the AFL is driven by executives on monster salaries whose KPIs are centred around commercial and advertising deals and revenue. And marketing. Of keeping footy in the headlines 12 months of the year. We have clubs operating in a pressure cooker environment where sponsors, coaches, players and fans are driven by the need for success. We have reporters and journalists operating in this environment whose jobs and salaries rely on scoops and competitive advantage. There is an increasingly blurred line between real and fake news. No one cares half the time given that folks have the attention span of a gnat and ignore stuff that does not directly affect them. What is my point? I feel sorry for Bevo and I can understand his outburst. Coaches are under enormous pressure and it is aided and abetted by the pack hunting footy scribes. Bevo is a decent human being. From reports, he takes time out to talk with footy fans old and young. But in the pressure cooker environment of the media circus he cracked. Unwise but understandable. As we all know, the best way to manage your anger is by silence. Angry responses always result in a backlash. Bevo let himself down but I have no doubt he has higher personal standards than most footy scribes. To call most of them journalists lowers the calling of the profession. The incident shows how important it is for those in the limelight to act cautiously. The media can be a strong ally but it can also be your worst enemy. The knife in the back will come faster and with more intent than the pat on the back. The Goodwin story is a good example how irrespective of your success there are plenty of people who will try and take you down.

Gee whiz, Rioli could have killed Matt Rowell. Seriously dangerous to life and limb with deliberate intent to take him out. Rioli is incredibly lucky not to have seriously injured or maimed Rowell. One week your joking.

Watching the game on Wed night, you realise what an important player he is. For both our structure and his individual brilliance. A must keep.

Well Daisy that would be ok. No?

It takes a lot for Ernie to be moved, to become emotional. Well it happened last night. i took a country train to Spencer Street. A few stragglers but no one like I on a mission, a pilgrimage. No scarfs, no jumpers, no colours. To the point that I was thinking of hiding my antique scarf in my dilly bag. This changed upon arrival at Spencer Street. The ghosts of the past were emerging from every road, intersection, from every direction. Risen from the dead in colours of red and blue. Old men, middle aged men and women, families with kids. Yes, kids. All decked out in jumpers, T shirts, and garments stating that the MFC were premiers. No embarrassment, no modesty, but out and proud. There was a feeling of invincibility , of a new dawn, a pride, a feeling that it all mattered. We were all marching together, with comments like “nice T shirt” and the ever present” go Dees”. Were there any Dogs fans? They were hard to see as they crept along in a way that suggested loyalty rather than celebration or revenge. Like going to a funeral. Still the awakening that yes we were Premiers. God, we felt proud. But the kid made me cry. Expectant and joyous in their gear, their flags, their face paint. Sharing with Mum and Dad their happiness and excitement. That for thousands of people this mattered. Not quite life and death but close to it. Arrived at the ground. Initially disappointment on the turnout. Was this going to be a huge flop. No one present for the unfurling of the flag. Then the multitude arrived, the stands filled and expectation built. This was a religious experience. Well at least spiritual. It did matter. Fans of all ages, gender, race and type were connected and joined together in a mass homage to this club, it’s past and present players, coaches and the special place it held in our hearts. And we were all connected. Did we expect to see a flag in our lifetime? In most cases, no. We sat and watched a confident young group of men that had created their own history. A group that had arrived. Started like a dream. A period of indecision and Dog fightback. Did we think we were gone ? Did we have the heart sink of past decades ? I don’t think so. We felt that they would come back and when they did, we expected it. That’s our boys. Our Demons. Our joy. Thank you to this Club for restoring our faith. To make the past pain evaporate. To feel that it had all been worth it. Whether the success is long lived or not, we have been to the holy grail and feel saturated with the joy of its attainment. And for the future.