Mazer Rackham

Tom & Jesse alternating CHF and CHB, Weid FF, Tom & Weid sharing stand in ruck duties. Lots of variation and a headache for oppo coaches

I have no idea what you're trying to say but what's that little squiggle after the 7 and the 0? Seriously cool! Like an old man wearing glasses or something. Loving it. Anyone know where I can find one?

Mobile with tank, very good reader of the play, good vision, good decision maker, lightning hands, decent field kick, mediocre kick for goal. No brainer that he's a mobile CHF and not a stay at home FF, which does not play to his strengths, and leaves him vulnerable to monstering by at least 1 and usually 2 gorilla minders. He gets no protection from the umps (possibly because he whinges to them so much). Still hasn't really clicked in this team. Hasn't hit top gear yet. Will be something to behold when/if he does.

This is where Goodwin shows what his strength is as a coach. He's shown faith in and got return from Harmes, Hannan, Oscar, Joel Smith. Other coaches might have marked the cards already of Salem, Smith J, ANB, Kent. Even JKH who looked finished was given a chance to shine, and by crikey he nearly did. Onya Goody, and GO DEMONS

No, we need to keep Jesse at Casey as a backup for Pedo. Pedo can't play 5 games a year forever, you know.

I believe Nicholls once gave us a free, to Jock Proudfoot for hacking. Oh hang on, that was umpire Percy Nicholls, in 1927. My error. Ian Chappell told a story about the West Indies umpire Douglas Sang Hue. At a pre-series reception he noticed Doug standing by himself and said, come and have a drink with us. Doug said, no. Chappell said, well what about with the WI players? Doug said, especially not them. I can't be seen to be consorting with ANY player, in case it makes me look like I could be biased. A concept unknown to our umps who pat players on the bum and have club posters on their bedroom walls.

Let's face it. We're pretty f***ing awesome.

Compare the Brayshaw family's demeanour with facebook nuffies who whip up a frenzy if someone next to them on the plane farts. Dignity compassion and restraint in the face of a genuinely upsetting incident. Admirable and a great example.

Treat 'em deranged to keep 'em estranged. Old jungle saying.

They're highly conditioned athletes. Surely you can't expect them to get to their feet without using some kind of leverage against the ground? If the oppo player happens to be under the biometrically optimal location to do that, it would be unfair to penalise the player with the ball. Also the player lying down, by being face down, is not watching the ball and not participating in the play, therefore it follows as a matter of law, that any action by the other player is not "in play" and therefore no infringement can be said to have taken place. I'm getting the hang of this. Anyone know of any openings in the AFL umps dept?

If they paid the "tiggy touchwood" frees, they might be amazed at how quickly the players adapt and stop conceding them. When players are allowed to body surf oppo into the ground and it's somehow not "in the back" ... when they can freely throw the ball ... scrag and monster oppo forwards without penalty ... then just about anything that is in the actual laws of the game does look "tiggy touchwood". Ref it according to the rulebook and a lot of the game's ills will disappear, and the players will adjust quickly. Like they did with the "tough love" deliberate OOB. The AFL can do it.They just don't want to do it.

Referee the game in accordance with the rulebook? Novel concept. Can't see it taking off.

Can someone tell Channel 7 that with no interchange, there will be no need for "boundary riders" and they can save $$$.

Hogan played like a man who knew that every time he went for a mark his hand or arm would give him electric shocks of pain. Because it did. He's obviously injured. Maybe it was not "sensible" to play ... we've seen other players aggravate injuries out of a sense of duty ... but we have many times heard that players should die for the jumper. Putting your hand up to willingly put your body on the line in contest after contest, knowing how painful it will be, does not strike me as culture sapping. More like, setting an example. Go Hoges. (But for chrissakes get better too.) Go Demons.

Channel 7 obviously believe that Roaming F***wit *IS* the entertainment. They've made a call that only losers and sad basement dwellers would enjoy genuine access to players, and that Roaming F***wit is required to jazz it up and make it watchable. Doesn't help that RF drinks his own bathwater. He's about as funny as Ricky Nixon giving a statement to the vice squad. Entertainment factor of AFL is plummeting and Channel 7 are contributing to the problem.

Well I hate to burst everyone's bubble but Gil was on SEN this morning talking to Twately, and it turns out that everything's alright with the game, and there are no problems with anything. He batted away everything dear Gerry threw at him. What a relief. So ... nominated ruckmen. Everyone knows the obvious answer except for the AFL. Protected zone. They've [censored] it up completely with a poorly written rule and poor and inconsistent adjudication. Make it that the bloke with the ball, and the bloke on the mark, cannot be interfered with. That was always the intent anyway. 6/6/6 will only ensure that the huge packs can't form for another 5 to 10 seconds. Whoopdy doo. Another brilliant non-solution brought to you by Your AFL. 18m goal square. They cannot be serious. What next, sand traps like in golf? What f*ckin problem does this address? Stupid rule as a non-fix, creating extra decision making for umps, meaning more bad decisions. An AFL speciality, which means it's a given for next year. Rule changes in season, the only comp of any sport in the world that could consider this is the AFL. What contempt they hold us in. They're telling clubs like Bris, GC, Dogs, etc: "your games don't matter. Who gives a [censored] if you lose one because of our screwing with the rules. Apart from your fans, your sponsors, your recruiters, players who might want to transfer to you, etc. No one important." Meanwhile the one glaring rule creating most of the problems, is the interchange. Conspicuously ignored by the brains trust which somehow includes coaches, those well known custodians of the game, and no fans. Get rid of interchange! No more f*cking with the heart of the game. AFL have lost the plot.

Thanks DD. That's good news.

It would seem to be a fundamental skill of the game, and one that if mastered, gives a big advantage over opponents. I have heard (don't know how true it is) that senior coaches tell their players DO NOT kick with your non-preferred. Play the percentages instead. A mediocre kick on your "right" foot is likely to be as good as or better than a good one on your "wrong" foot. That would filter to junior ranks in a jiffy. "To prepare you better for AFL level, you are now banned from kicking on your non-preferred." It would explain why we see so many awkward kicks under pressure. Not a good look. Another area where coaches are harming the game. Not sure what can be done about it though.

Remember when he was gone He copped knocks on the scone Shine on, that Brayshaw guy can Now there's a look in his eye He's set to crucify Shine on, that Brayshaw guy can He was caught in the crossfire Of beltings and king hits Barely remembered his name Come on you talent, you dual-sided star Come on you magnet, you legend You Demon, and shine (segue to screaming guitar solo interrupted halfway by cheesy MFC theme song)

This is a real phenomenon and apparently happens to boxers. They challenge for a belt and win. But then can't hold the belt. They get beaten. Again the challenger, they are dynamite and win the belt back. They just can't hold on to it for some reason. We will drop out of the 8, then we'll throw the switch back to challenger mode. By then it may be too late.

I knew we should have gone for the Black and Decker and not the Chinese knockoff version. Same goes for our imitation game plan. It's falling apart before our eyes. Not even out of warranty.

Caro is not a football writer. She is a gossip writer, specialising in the world of AFL. Big difference. She has good sources and can and does get "scoops" but it's still firmly in the murky territory of "maybe it did and maybe it didn't".

This must be what it's like to be a big club. Are we becoming a big club? A tall poppy? If so then I welcome attempts to cut us down. We must be doing something right. GO DEMONS!!

At least minnows like Italy and Holland will have a chance to show their wares on the world stage.

Disappointing but not that surprising. After the first two games it was clear we have a major weakness in scoring. Only two in 3 games and both from penalties. And the most conceded goals by a far shot. Also, Peru are higher in the FIFA rankings than Denmark. Now we're into the hands of Graham Arnold which does not inspire. Two things are now obvious. Bert is a better coach than Ange. Bert had us looking dangerous. Compare that to qualifying where we stumbled and bumbled and managed to leave it to the last leg of the last tie over 4 years to lock it in. Other thing is, we need a striker and how! Fozzy on SBS is crapping on about how we could have and should have done better, we had plenty more to give, etc. How Ange had us on track but then we make this dramatic change (Bert) for the last part of the tournament, why oh why? Foz ... where were the goals going to come from? And if Ange was in charge would we have even looked like scoring at all? France already through were not going to try hard against Denmark. And Denmark's only incentive -- knowing a win or draw would see them through -- was to stop France scoring. So no surprises there. Back to the drawing board.