waynewussell

Over-analysis! We are over-analysing... 'See Ball, Get Ball' = Viney (when available), Oliver, Petracca, Jones, Jetta, Hunt, Gawn, Hibberd ... Just need to add to the list. I suspect Lever, Brayshaw (when picked), Harmes, Vince, Lewis, Tyson (when picked) also have that factor... then there is 'X-factor' = Fritsch, Hannon, Hogan, Garlett, followed by Faithfull Servants = T Mac, Pederson, Melksham, Bugg... next... Developing/Emerging = Salem, O Mac, ANB, Wagner, Stretch. I could go on... 'Shown Something', 'The Sky's The Limit'... whatever! This is a good list and these guys are going somewhere great together. Round 1... lost round 1 to Cats in 1964. Now is a time for belief, not half baked analysis that will disappear into the ether by round 4 (my prediction).

On the basis of the one competitive game I have witnessed so far in 2018 I make these slightly premature observations (by comparison to 2017) Petracca has gone to the next level Fritsch is a handy replacement for Watts Lever adds an important layer in the back half Harmes continues to develop into a significant contributor Oliver has maintained the lofty standards he set in 2017 ANB is on 40+ goals pace Wagner played a Hibberd-like quarter in round 1

Wagner critics should do themselves a favour and take another look at the 3rd quarter... one word, "inspirational".

Just worked out why Lewie was so upset with the umpire on that free kick to Parfitt... Parfitt tripped himself, right foot behind left calf, at the precise moment that Lewis laid a hand on his hip.

Point of clarification... feel free to enlighten this genuine inquisitor... 16. DISPOSAL FROM MARK OR FREE KICK 16.1 STANDING THE MARK AND TEN-METRE PROTECTED AREA 16.1.1 Standing the Mark When a Player is awarded a Mark or Free Kick or is Kicking into play after a Behind has been scored, one Player from the opposing Team may stand at the position on the Playing Surface where the Mark or Free Kick was awarded or where the field Umpire otherwise directs the Player to stand. The position on the Playing Surface where the opposing Player stands is known as “the mark”. 16.1.2 Protected Area The Protected Area is a corridor which extends from 5 metres either side of the mark to 5 metres either side of, and a 5-metre radius behind, the Player with the football, as illustrated in Diagram 2. No Player shall enter and remain in the Protected Area unless the field Umpire calls “Play On” or the Player is accompanying or following within 5 metres of their opponent.

Why were the Cats allowed to have four men on the mark for Gawn's last shot at goal? Careless umpiring... in my view it should have been a 50 metre penalty with the mark repositioned on the goal line... Try missing from there Max!

I went to the game. My summary... it was ours to lose! Great contest... so much better to watch than several other round 1 games. All of the critics here need to take a breath and think what they would be writing if Max kicked the goal. I didn't see a Demon player who didn't contribute in some way. There has been so much stupid stuff written here that I don't have time to make the corrections. Our 2018 campaign is off to a healthy start with a lot to look forward to. Fritsch proved he is more than a goalsneak... Lever had the same sort of influence that gained him a reputation at Adelaide...Max, Ollie & Trac were superb. Bernie showed why he is a favoured son on many occasions... none better than when he rode the bump that left a Cat sprawled in his wake... Hogan was creative and hit the scoreboard in his normal manner. Harmes, Hunt and Hannon lifted in the second half to bring us back into contention. Wagner is all bustle and bash... what he lacks in finesse and finish is made up for in fearless attack on opposition bodies. ANB continues to bob op with deft touches... Jones got us going in the first quarter (those that thought he was ordinary need to watch the replay)... Pederson continues to be a wonderful contributor who is now showing that he is a cool head in a crisis (that kick to Max instead of shooting for goal was centimetre perfect!... Mind you, I have seen Pedo score from that position). Neville was playing hurt and may miss next week. I would expect Brayshaw and Tyson to come in to contention... but I certainly wouldn't be making more than one or two changes. Congratulations to the coaching panel for preparing such a fit and motivated team for the beginning of 2018.

I had Tyson and Brayshaw in my best 22. The explanation that Brayshaw is coming off op (infection common with Wisdom extraction) and Tyson slightly underdone are the most plausible explanations. Don't agree with the Wagner haters... he competes in the air and on the ground... he gets to contests... he plays his role fearlessly (no wonder the Cocka loves him). I see it as a positive that we are going in with a different team than the one that rolled over in round 23. Maynard tackles hard and tackles often... when he feels at home in the seniors he will accumulate big figures!

I'm not finished yet... the commentary is atrociously anti MFCW... Throughout the first half the male commentator continually gloated that the Bulldogs only had to win to make the GF (that alone was not entirely true)... seeming to ignore that MFCW only had to win to make the GF!!!!

Do the research! We've lost several close games because opposition teams win free kicks in front of goal! Its running at 80/20 over two seasons. I refuse to dump on the coaching panel when it is blatantly obvious that we are playing with an unfair handicap. I want women only to umpire women's games! Male umpires seem incapable of making difficult adjudications against women who are bending the rules! Jumping on backs... legitimate handballs... dragging the ball in... etc etc... Daisy is mauled every game... protection factor NIL!!!

I've watched all our games and I don't have any criticism for female umps.... but my God... male umps are atrocious!!!! Two goals from dubious free kicks in front of goal seals the deal! Free kick count was 11 to 3 in the first half, after that I knew who would win. I congratulate the Demon women for being able to score a couple into the wind. If we had received one dubious free in the forward 50 we would have won and we would be playing in the GF. It must be difficult for the players to accept

The fifty meter penalty was also a very poor piece of umpiring. The Dees player was 10 meters from the player who took the mark and as she had quite a bit of ground to cover to get to the mark, the umpire incorrectly interpreted it as running over the mark.

Reluctant to criticize the AFLW game... until now... Not the players... the umpiring is atrocious! Unbelievably inconsistent... and I don't mind saying the Dees have drawn the short straw. Unless the AFL acts, a women is going to be seriously hurt from head high tackles (which go without penalty) and the running over the top of players who are bending down to pick up the ball (which goes unnoticed). Now, here is my big gripe... the commentary is unbearable... yes, women make up the majority of the commentators, but the bias toward some teams is off the scale... and the tendency toward sensationalism is sickening!

Lewis was the victim of a crude tackle from behind against Roos which was dangerous and went unnoticed. I wouldn't be surprised if he is suffering from that more than a 'calf'.

Just a note on Sean Wight: He mastered at least 3 codes... Soccer, Gaelic and AFL (VFL)... He was in the top 10 most courageous of all time (watch his games on a bigger, uglier, VFL icon, Plugger!)... I was at his pre-wake at the Bentleigh Club (Jimmy spoke for him, even though he was also diagnosed at the time) ... His athleticism was stunning, considering his knee reco in his first (maybe 2nd) year... to top it off, he played with authentic Brownlow values (like The Tulip)... consider some of the bullying thugs who have won Charlie!

I'm really glad AFLW is back.... Like a new GOT series, sometimes folk are disappointed with the first episode, but the final quarter was magnificent! Those that continue to express the need to compare it to the men's game are lost in a time warp! The whole competition is crammed full of inspiring young women; at the summit sits Daisy... a wonderful role model, for all genders! Go Dees

SUNSHINE COAST DAILY by Steele Taylor 24th Oct 2017 10:20 AM additional dates courtesy of club sites AUSTRALIAN RULES: The Sunshine Coast's reputation as a pre-season destination for AFL teams has been enhanced, with Carlton to train in the region during summer. The Blues will hold an open training session on Sunday 17 December at the Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex... Richmond will hit the Complex for a pre-season training camp, where fans can view the AFL Premiership Cup at their community open session on Monday, January 22. The Western Bulldogs will host an open training session on Sunday 28 January, closely followed by Melbourne, as AFL clubs confirm they will have camps here.

Just a minor point of clarification... the Maroochydore Open Day was on 16th January in 2016, according to my iPhone pics.

I have attended the past two Maroochydore Camps and it usually takes place a little earlier in January. Several AFL clubs compete for times at this facility and it may not have been possible for MFC to get the dates they wanted. Also, Qld Term dates are earlier than Vic schools, so the Qld kids are already back for Term 1.

Got down to Gosch's today for about 80 minutes... observations other than those already mentioned, Bernie's predicted demise was premature! His ball handling and kicking to position in the conditions was of the highest quality and he was up to speed in the sprints Ditto Lewis Impressed by Filipovic's increased bulk, athletic running and sure hands Jetta terrific in man on man defensive rebound activity Oscar McD consistently effective at spoiling in the arial contests Tom McD had the safest hands in the marking exercises I watched Petracca bustles like a bull and gets what he wants Bugg is looking like best 22 again Lewis an unlikely dead-eyed-dick on the day Oh yes, a bloke called Clayton continues to make the difficult look easy

Ok... he may be next up!

Interesting that the Cocca didn't mention him in the latest list assessment...

This may be a little petty, but I note that Harrison and number 35 have disappeared off the listed players on the official site... has he been seen recently?

Fabulous outcome for very obvious reasons which Max referred to in his press release. Any detractors on this thread would be better suited to scouring the JFK files to find who it was on the grassy knoll... fair dinkum!

This thread certainly identifies which posters I'll bother reading in the months ahead... for that I am grateful