hemingway

At the Demons for 5 years? That's almost a lifetime in today's marketplace. I'm sure he would feel that he has done as much as he can at the Dees in terms of teaching, instructing, motivating and passing on his knowledge.

Totally agree, half the time there seem more runners, trainers, and water carriers than players. Running hither and thither. Takes away from the spectacle. Also before the game, during breaks and at game end, there are more hangers on than participants. Of course, the Finals and the Granny are the worst. Take the number of Richmond people on the ground after the Granny. It's a bit like, "can anyone see a player out there ? "

Agree "blown away" was over stating it. Perhaps a better word would have been "impressed." Your opinions are well articulated. My main concern has been the overreaction from the AFL to the Collingwood / Carlton game. Perhaps more importantly, the women's game should be appreciated for what it is and should not be measured or compared to the men. For too long, men have put down women's sport as being second rate and not to be taken seriously. At the same time in many international sports people don't make the comparison. We don't compare a female 100m sprinter's time against that of Usain Bolt. Swimming, hockey, soccer similarly. I thought Daisy Pearce nailed it perfectly in her recent article in The Age.

A matter of opinion RJ. Appreciate the differences and just enjoy it for what it represents and the unbridled enthusiasm and joy of the players. Applaud the players and the game, don't stand on the sidelines and criticize the skill differences. Of course there are differences, but that is to be expected and understood. The game is in its infancy. What did you realistically expect?

Criticism of the women's game is a bit rich. Most of us were blown away by the competition last season and the skills displayed by the women. So far we are one round into the new season and most of the comments came from the Collingwood-Carlton game. Enjoy the game for what it is and accept there are differences between the men and women's game. There may be skill differences and less scoring opportunities but that does not mean the game is less enjoyable to watch. I have watched a lot of footy including the amateurs and country footy and despite the skill differences, those matches have for the most part been very enjoyable to watch. Low scoring games can be more exciting and interesting than goal feasts. We should celebrate the women's game as women have been a significant part of the game since its inception, both as spectators and later as players. Leave it alone and let it grow organically without interference from the AFL or TV bosses calling the tune. Can you imagine the reaction of coaches and the footy world if the AFL had issued an edict to the men's teams as they did to the women. The men of the AFL want to reap the financial rewards of the women's game but at the same time, tell the women how to play the game. They should direct their attention to the men's game, and clean up the ugly game that it has become. If you leave the management of the women's game to women, the game will be much better off. Men will never understand women's sport.

For many of us, its a sideshow and stunt. It's just another example of the way the game is now managed. Increasingly, changes are introduced due to the massive TV and media deals that demand ever increasing advertising revenues and money flowing back to the footy industry. We see a game that increasingly is being influenced by marketing, media, merchandising and branding issues. Everyone wants a piece of the action and a piece of the financial pie. You really do wonder where it will end. I suspect that the women's game is heading down the same path and that the freshness of the game and the joy of the players will soon disappear as the AFL and media squeeze the lemon to extract every last drop. From a playing viewpoint, I can see no upside In regard to the AFLX, Just greater demands on the players and their bodies. We see every year during the off season that it takes many players months to recover physically and mentally from the grueling past season. I fear injuries and the risk that poses for the season proper. I want a team injury free and fresh to go at the beginning of the season.

Ah, Dr Jekyll pops his head up. Confusing Uncle. Back to the Manor to become Mr Hyde.

Thanks, that's very good news on both fronts. We need a fit Jones over the season, not one playing a week at a time nursing injury. I'm afraid Garry lost me a long time ago.

Ron had a track record of only backing winners. And the MFC was one hell of a mess. Ron was a net worker par excellence and I suspect that none of his mates were going to help him sort out with the MFC. I think his passion for footy was pretty lukewarm compared to his passion for motor racing, politics, business and the corridors of power. Footy was probably somewhere beneath his dignity.

Gamble Responsibly !

Far too flattering. I understand that Uncle has gone to ground since the Craig McLaughlin allegations surfaced. Uncle does a very good impression of Frank N Furter, indeed, I am told he was approached to replace dear Craig until the production team checked out his CV and spoke to female cast members about his full audition.

Agreed. Also when fit he is very mobile for his size but not in the same league as any genuine midfielder. Midfielders need to be agile and fleet of foot. Jesse has struggled with fitness and injury concerns. He seems very fit this year but how will his body stand-up once the season gets underway. He will not be much use in the midfield with any tightness or niggles. I always saw Jesse as a roaming forward, a bit in the Wayne Carey mold. A guy who could use his strength and agility to pop up all over the forward line and at times be a diversion for others. Will be interesting to see how he is used but first of all Hogan needs to put together games without interruption from injury.

These two are a real worry. Has McKenna ever been fit and injury free since coming to Melbourne? Another year on the sidelines would see him done, just seems such a waste of a spot at the moment. And Vanders a bit the same although we know what he can do when injury free, but photos suggest he is a long way off. Saty, any thoughts on these two?

"Be part of the journey" An overworked and overused phrase that is used by politicians, bureaucrats, and just about everyone else that has no conviction or passion. Perhaps they could have added ""as we go forward, be part of the journey" And perhaps qualify the slogan by stating that Rome was not built in a day. From a marketing perspective, a big fail. Bleed Red and Blue, Raise Hell or something that stirs something, anything.

Fair enough. And I like your optimism. In addition to an injury free run, which is not just luck, but also very good injury/rehab management from medical staff and physios etc and a coaching staff that took advice with the finals in mind. Its not just treating the injury but how you go about injury prevention. Every professional sportsperson walks a tightrope in regard to injury occurrence. However Richmond had some out and out stars/matchwinners, call them what you like. At the top level-Martin/Cotchin/Rance (at the moment we do not have anyone at this level) Mid range- Nankervis/Riewoldt/Houli (hopefully we have players who can step up to this level). Houli is debatable but his GF performance was outstanding and his season consistent. lower level-Ellis/Rioli/Prestia (same as above).

Fair enough, most of us barring the chronic depressives or whingers want to get excited. Most of us, got excited toward the end of last season when our expectations were that we going to play finals. We have to now wait for another full season. So I go into 2018 season with hope and optimism but I will wait until finals time to get excited. Although Lever is exciting, he alone will not make the difference. We need depth and the ability to cover for injured players. We need a consistent forward line and one or two of our forwards to step-up to the next level -Hogan, in particular. We need a dominant ruckman who is fit and playing at his best at season end-Gawn. We need a couple of our younger guns to become dominant, match winning players, consistently during the season and at finals time-Viney, Petracca etc. Having match winners is vital. And we need to have luck with injuries, and be able to grab opportunities over the season. We need to win the close ones against all opposition. And we need a pre-season and season without off-field issues and media dramas that are distracting and dispiriting.

Whateley is doing a Tim Lane. He is probably the closest radio/TV person to Tim Lane, as an articulate and intelligent broadcaster of virtually all sport. He does his homework and speaks knowledgeably about the sport that he is broadcasting, provides accurate commentary on the action and provides analysis on the sport. He does the micro and macro stuff well. Was Tim Lanes move a success? I'm not sure. Probably ask Tim. The listener may have a different slant but none of us can get into the mind of the commentator. From GW's view it is understandable. Age and career wise, and money wise. Things are not hunky dory at the ABC with cuts, cuts and more cuts. Morale is poor and the ABC risks being cut out of some sports or having reduced coverage or reduced broadcasting rights in the future. People talk about the bogans on other stations, but the quality of commentators on ABC has decreased over recent years, presumably due to funding cuts and the ABCs need to reduce expenses. I don't think it will be a big deal if the SEN thing does not work but it will be a stepping stone for GW to take on other opportunities and improve his pay packet.

Just hope that they are so competitive, that all 3 collide at the centre bounce, with game ending injuries. Don't call me bitter and twisted!

The most common word in the English language these days, particularly in the news, is the word '"alleged". Another media bonanza.

Correct Ralph. On-going management and rehab.

I doubt it, we have a vanilla flavoured Pres.

Agreed, and the supporters need to move on. Too much analysis and interpretation for so little purpose. Too much unnecessary negativity.

I think we need to give the kid a break. I am not arguing with your analysis. However, young players take different lengths of time to develop. There a few like Oliver that can impact a game immediately but most take time. We would all expect Oscar to make significant improvement in 2018, otherwise he will be playing at Casey. However, its not just Oscar but a whole team and a coach that needs to take the next step in 2018, otherwise all hell will break loose.

Agreed Lucifer.. Having one person may make it administratively easier for the AFL and simplify decision making, but it will not make it any more objective or fairer. There will still be dissenting views from the media, clubs and supporters, indeed Christian and the AFL will be bigger targets for criticism. I think a panel is fine as long as the panel members are competent and not selected because they are ex-players. Panel members need to be intelligent. They need to have good listening skills and communication skills, and be able to absorb and analyze information. They need to have logical incisive minds and loads of common sense. They don't need to be lawyers but legal training and experience can be an advantage or at least experience in quasi-judicial matters, such as administrative tribunals. I am not sure that Christian necessarily qualifies on any of these grounds.

Not a big deal I would have thought. I think the coaching staff's idea of a boot camp was misguided. And the timing, just before Christmas, after all the work on the track in the heat, was also a mistake. The value of boot camps is debatable. There is a lot of psycho babble surrounding the concept. A whole industry has grown up promoted by a range of people with varying degrees of competency. Many of the so called instructors are earnest, enthusiastic and believe in the benefits, but they are not always the smartest folk going around, certainly not in terms of physical conditioning and psychological expertise. And they do risk injury. Particularly, when you take finely tuned athletes out of their normal training routines and training environments. What is their purpose? They are designed to promote fitness, promote team bonding and team work, test individuals resilience in testing conditions, and so the list of supposed benefits goes on. Personally, I think their value is very limited. It may be of benefit for some but damaging for others. For some, boot camps pose more risk than benefit. They do not suit all people. Professional athletes/footballers and support start should be able to develop and maintain conditioning without boot camps. Several days at a boot camp is not going to achieve anything in the long term. Physical conditioning is a long-term and on-going requirement. I find it hard to believe that individually and collectively, professional athletes/footballers need any additional motivation to succeed. It comes from within each individual, and in team sports, its not until you get a group of self-motivated athletes that are all driven to succeed that you improve and achieve team success. Scheduling a boot camp in the first place and just before Christmas seems unwise. However, canceling the affair given player feedback, seems sensible and an exercise in good judgement not a reflection of weakness or being soft. .