hemingway

No Clint, not hugging every supporter.

He may be a little over the top but I like his level of dedication and commitment. As a coach, I would like it even more. Much easier to manage than someone without that commitment and ambition. At the end of the day the successful players all have a single minded commitment to get the most out of themselves, and training harder than others and looking after yourself off field are key drivers.

Bring back the hats, long white coats, and ties. Also the goalies always seemed like old men. Do you remember the footage of the goalie falling over and staggering around before he got to his feet and singled a goal. That was drama. Now we get video replays and conferences between field umpire and goalies.

Agree mate. Don't get me wrong, I still love footy and going to the game is the ultimate experience. Despite my nostalgia, I don't hanker for the past. When the ball is bounced at the beginning of every match I still feel nervous and excited. However, I do find all the distractions a pain, such as the incessant advertising, entertainment, noise and other marketing ploys. I also think that due to the saturation of the sport (extended seasons/fixtures/matches played 4 and 5 days in a row, media coverage etc) the sense of freshness and anticipation we have when we go to a game is now a little blunted. Its like obesity,. There is so much food that people eat more, when less is better. Our health improves and we live longer lives by eating less.

Maybe, but it’s not about image, they are actually quite practical as a means of keeping warm on a cold day.

Booing for some, indifference for others. But what does it matter. It depends on the mood on the day and whether you become part of the lynch mob that is part of the supporter psyche of the passionate or separate from the mob while you sit in the MCC enclosure, tighten your butt cheeks and remain detached, aloof and dispassionate. I know which mob I will choose.

please do. nostalgia only takes you so far. staying in the present makes you much happier.

La Dee-your a bit soft I reckon. Going to the footy and enduring the hardships was a bit like camping. It was a bit of a pain at the time, but we went home and felt....well great, like the exhilaration of a cold shower. In regard to half-time, you have to shout to make yourself heard against the non stop barrage of noise from the latest mike moron or politically correct MCC bureaucratic asking that you report any anti-social behaviour which I will not do as I never see BBO or Biffen at the footy. Just digressing, I regard this anti-social policing abhorrent and against all the time honoured values of spectating. Getting beer or claret pored down your back was always a time honoured ritual and right of passage. Players are fitter and stronger on average, but for the skills they now have, there are many others that have been lost. Let players today try and drop kick, torpedo, stab kick, mark a wet muddy ball, even handle cleanly a wet ball, blind turn, baulk etc etc. The skills of the best players were just as good as today although I concede that the fringe player is probably better skilled today. Yet we still see players that can't kick with both feet. I suppose that there is a half truth in everything or to quote someone wiser than me...""we are all embraced by the truth continually and sometimes we know it and sometimes we don''t."

who were your favourites ? now that will date you and me.

Daisy, love this photo. RDB glaring at the players, probably telling them that they are weak as p........ Yeah remember these terrible games under the great man when he must have been doubting the sense of his return as a messiah. No whiteboards or a myriad of hangers on, just a few trainers. And bring back the dressing gowns! They look good, keep the players warm, keep out the wind chill, and, for the psychologically insecure, make them feel secure and comfy. The simplicity of it all!

Agree. At the end of the day, you can have all the coaches, performance managers, and mentors in the world but the desire to work hard and improve comes from within. The athlete needs to have a driving desire, ambition and commitment to improve. It needs an almost masochistic drive to endure the pain of hard work and a single minded and at times selfish attitude to make the necessary sacrifices. Social life and sometimes personal relationships have to take a second place to the athletes sporting ambition and pursuit.

Its a bit like harking back to the days when umpires wore white and were not miked up, when the football did not have a sponsors name, and the ground was unmarked except for boundary lines and centre circle, when goalies wore hats and long coats, when boundary fences and stands only had supporter banners, when there were no migraine inducing flashing advertising signs for Chemist warehouse around the ground, when we had a marching band rather than over-hyped manic loud ground announcers, advertising and other ground entertainment blasting us out of our seats and to the bar, when we had no betting advertisement bombarding spectators, when we could sit at half-time with our thermos and fruit cake and discuss the progress of the game with our family, friends or bloke sitting next to us. When we had time, space and peace to reflect on the game and when our senses for the contest were heightened by the lack of distractions, when we had a reserves match or last quarter to watch to get us in the mood. You can't tell me that for those that love the game and the spectacle we are better off. The seats may be more comfortable and the toilets better, and the food and bar facilities better, but is our experience of the game better? Everyone says that its progress, that you can never go back, and that we are better off as spectators. In financial and materail terms, we are better off, but is the game and the spectacle better off?

Don't worry, the AFL and the media will come up with something to keep footy news on the back page and on Channel 7 (Tim Watson's) sport news.

Balanced comments. For me, Frost is best suited down back with his height and pace. However, that’s not to say he can’t be used in other positions if needed. Adaptability and versatility are important. Over the years, there have been plenty of players with similar attributes as Frost that have played on the wing. Two that come to mind are Gary Crazyhorse Cowton of North Melbourne and Wayne Scotchy Gordon of Collingwood and Melbourne. Both played on the wing in the 70s. They were tall and quick but with limitations regarding mobility and ball use. Also very common for blokes with spring being used as tap ruckman despite poor mobility and limited skills. Players can play a role even if they are not ideally suited to a position.

Most of the time, simplicity is best. Now its a talk fest.

nice riposte. you've won me over.

Gosh Ron, you must be falling in love all the time. Almost promiscuous. Love at first sight. Any other loves you can disclose?

A lot of forgotten names on both sides. Reynolds, Richards, Rugolo etc. Also, the number of traded players. And the daggy old style commentary. I like it. .

Your lucky to get a rise out of BBO these days.

A massive letdown.

In the old days, knees used to be the most common injury in VFL:AFL footy. Now shoulders. Harder grounds, high speed crash and bash footy, pile driving/gang tackling ?? It has to be a concern for the health and well being of players during their career and post career. It is reported but not commented on.

I looked at the pics and wondered why the jumpers looked so good. I pine for the days before marketing, advertising and entertainment.

unfortunately, the AFL and CA are killing the goose. just talking with my son about how much we used to look forward to the cricket and footy season having had a complete break from the other. one returned the next season feeling eager and fresh and enthusiastic. however, with extending seasons and game played, spectators are losing interest due to saturation of coverage. its the way it is and its not going to change other than provide further fodder for broadcasting and the media. anyway its all been said before.

Hallelujah Uncle, I can now understand you.

My poor wording. I meant that he was nearing the end in regard to his broadcasting career and that he should retire gracefully.