Previously known as LITD.

As stated I genuinely hope I'm wrong. He could be more handy in a fwd role than a full time mid. His experience isn't questioned nor his elite use of the ball The issue is his age. Mids decline from 27 onwards despite the odd exception. His disposals, marks and goals have declined each year for the last four. That should raise some flags. I'm glad his tackling is still strong.....a good example to the others. And while we have gaps in our midfield I just don't believe he's a good answer. Maybe as a swing mid. He's slowed down a bit. If under a new coach and in a new team we can capture something close to his peak form then great. I have been a big fan of his but his form has dropped a lot. I know because I've watched quite a few Sainters games. Maybe his leadership is needed but we need ball winners first. And I'm happy to admit when he does get the pill, his use of it is very good. Again the issue is in the drop of disposals. This might not be age. It could be injury or dissatisfaction at his club. Who knows. But one can only go by stats. Please explain where I'm wrong on this as I have had some negative responses and I'm genuinely open to and keen to see why I'm wrong. Cheers.

We better be paying him Didley because he's 30 before next season starts and a quick perusal of his stats, show a nice clear and concise linear decline in all fields. I think especially for a mid ...25 is the prime so there's that. It's got a fair bit of the Billings about it but I really, really hope I'm wrong. Stats though, don't usually lie.

No need to see it as grovelling GW. I know you said in tongue in cheek but you definitely make some worthy points. Theat are part of the MFC and deserve more support. I'm sure they put in just as much effort as the fellas. Probably more so as they probably have to overcome bias. I've watched a few games since my daughter was in a relationship wth an Aflw player from sadly a different club. Ive enjoyed and appreciated the skills level from the get go. There is no way in my prime as a mediocre player I could kick the ball as far and as accurate as some of these players. It's worth tuning in if one hasn't already so good thread.

Someone has clearly knocked off his dictionary set from E onwards. Go fund him? I said fund. It's approaching Christmas.

No... simply because like years gone by you've already put in the hard yards to finish in seven and eight and like the teams above you don't need further testing. I mean one could argue for further $ that Fifth has to play 11th just because. Why are the two bottom final two only tested. It just means they are more fatigued, have more suspended players and injuries. It effectively means finishing 7 and 8 under this scheme have fat chance of a flag. And the players are playing enough imho.

Hi L Great to hear from you. I'm not sure what exactly you.mean. Are you in favour of this new idea. My take on it means that finishing 7 or 8 means you haven't finished. You have to play another game to determine where you finish. While the other teams rest. Am I right in this? Isn't it a case of really making a final ten? Just named differently? Please correct me if I'm wrong but does this scheme mean after the h and a games all finals teams rest but for 7 and 8 and need to play again to see if they are actually finalists. If this is the case I suggest that we will never see a team finishing 7 th or 8th before the WC game, win a cup Or just as bad by sheer luck and a few cases of sever food poisoning, the tenth team in 50 years knocking off the minor premiers. It just seems to make it harder for 7 and 8 but nobody else. Or easier if you will for the others in six and above. Does having a final ten in a comp of 18 seem right,? Wildcard is just a fancy name to effectively make it so. And all through the year what would be the point of a ladder revealing only the top eight. It's inaccurate when two other teams are in the mix.

Finally some logically comments. If we finish 7 th and get knocked out of finals by a team in 10 th that had three or more losses than us which will of course happen, I'll explode. I'm 100 % for it every season we finish 9 or 10 though. Otherwise get rid of it

He's never really exploded onto the scene of you will but to be fair he's never really had a consistent run in the ones. Often used as a sub. Worth a try. If he can lock a spot there it could free Bowey for some cameos up fwd or in the middle. The latter could be a right goal sneak. But I think despite his lack of opportunities this is a make or break year for Laurie. Is he killing it at Casey?

As an addendum...I see us finishing ninth next year so then again, if the shoe fits😀

Thanks for the tx re my view. I'm so naive about the monetizing of the game. When did it happen? It doesn't seem that long ago or maybe it is when the bloke who would unblock your pishadoo on a Saturday morning would don a Guernsey ( probably a pies one...no I'm not classist...it's bloody honest work) and play at the big one. And it was usually just a small supplement to his work as a plumber. Now it's the other way around where they work part-time promoting energy drinks to new home developments. And these endorsements if smart can supercede their highly lucrative club renumeration. But it's the company that makes the big bucks. Was it all on the cusp of expansion? Or instead of one black and white one hour shorter replay of only one game a week to 24/7 on demand bliss? Or twenty big ones for a beer and pie. Or the ninety dollar AFL logo approved jumper for the grandson?Or Commissioners on commission? Yep that's the one. Got it. Can't pinpoint the time but it's safe to say the trajectory has been exponential. Gotta feel sorry for the 65 something year Olds hobbling on one leg living on one hundred a day, today. Perhaps some reimbursement to players of ye days gone by would be a good thing do to As much chance of Tassie team winning the flag next year. I guess this is why I'm not wealthy. I never see the big picture. I don't think many past players did either. If you ever get a chance to watch the Cricket series Howzat it's a good analogy. Anyway I've wondered off here. It's just hard to think this wild new idea about wildcard finals is not just all about money and doesn't give a rat's for the players well being In a franchise where the seasons get longer, the travel more so, the heat it's played in and as a result the injuries increased..................Most probably to raise their ugly pain in the future it's pretty rough. So I think the players need to push back against this money machine called the AFL and while many are greedy themselves re loyalty disappearing one could argue the are only following suit. And why shouldn't they? There the ones who pay with blood sweat and tears. While the concept at primea facie looks exciting, if dissected without emotion despite the harm to players, I think it adds a significant level of undemocratic undulation. A team seventh at times in close seasons can be only three or four wins from a minor premiership . And ninth can be there or four from a spoon. Who wants that? There must be better ways to squeeze the lemon for the players sake and press the knife into us punters wallets a. bit more. Maybe just water down the beer a fraction more and a tad more gristle in the four n twenties is probably good for another four and twenty grand each weekend. That would probably match the wildcard. Not that I'm a cynic mind you. Probably just more jealous. Cheers DJ. See you in the funny papers. Aka our forward plan delivery playbook.

Can Someone please check me if I'm all correct on this because I'm a little shell shocked.. Tx. But Just wow. This is one of the biggest shake ups to the comp almost chasing going Australian wide. An overstatement ....but it's big news. Now while we ( The grand old MFC) have been struggling to make the mix ,I guess for purely selfish reasons I think I'm for it. Especially since at times we went up to Brissie and bumped of the premiers and also gave the scum a hell of a fight kings round (and lost solely by the worst display from the maggots ahmm sorry... professional umpires, I've ever seen). It gives bottom club supporters hope and it's clever marketing and more ruppees for the money machine that is the AFL And they are bottom clubs because now if I'm reading this correctly effectively we have a top final 10 out of at present 18 clubs. It's not boring that's for sure. But the first clubs to finish the h and a at 7 and 8 ( hopefully not by a big point margins to the two below) that lose out will leave a hugely empty fan feeling despite the huge filling of AFL coffers. It had better not be us. But as old the syndrome that lurks in the dark recesses my footy mind, that no medication or therapy can resolve, I fear it will be. And most likely by the pies with more superb umpiring from those talented champions of the comp. Call me paranoid or a deeply passionate Dee's supporter. So is this a total extra round of two games to determine the final eight? And do the final 7 and 8 determined by this go straight in against teams that have had a week off.............. BECAUSE THEREIN LIES THE RUB It makes is just so much more difficult for the bottom two final finalists via fatigue, travel, injury , suspension and other elements. It dramatically changed the finals landscape. Also imagine a scenario of a club finishing seventh by % only to three clubs with the same wins, above it to, be beaten on a bad day by the ninth team that finished with a possible six or seven losses more. Yikes. I'm not convinced it the slightest fairness or rewards in this shake up, in any fashion. And while it may add hope and excitement it's hard not to see the negatives and be cynical about what makes the football world go around in this day and age. I know player gets compensated incredibly well but they pay a rather hefty tax post foortyw via injury. The season is long enough. There is more strain on players each passing year with travel ...five day breaks...media scrutiny....head clashes and more. Perhaps the finals should be overhauled if we introduced two new teams but at present I feel it works just fine. It's not perfect as it currently stands but it will be much less so with this. Just my two billion two cents worth. Can someone please clue me in as to my understanding of the changes. After the wildcard round and the final eight is finally resolved... Is it back the the usual system? What and in incentive e to make the top six. And while we used to bemoan how hard it was for a club to win a flag from 7 or 8....it seemed the McIntyre plan changed this and made it slightly easier. But now it will head in the other direction so on balance I think I have to say just NO. Can someone please do a poll. I tried but had trouble. I'm really keen for some commonsense consensus. But I've probably come to the wrong place brother...I mean sister. ..I mean all of us. Many thanks.

Absolutely. And some pushback about playing Kardinia 30 years in a row.

For once I'm going to be able to laugh at Tracc kicking for goal. Will be most entertaining when he's in different colours. I still wish him the best but his hope of playing fwd for the GCS is amusing.

I get the sense there's a fair bit of hostility by some players towards the club A few have moved on. They were paid exceedingly well so I don't get it. Of course we don't know what's going on but I do know if a player is unhappy it's best to get rid of them ASAP. It's an honour and privilege to play for the greatest club in the world. I'm not singling anyone out but we certainly need as much harmony and happiness amongst the playing group. A happy team plays so much better.

No it's not. Used to enjoy it during the old VFL days but with so many interstate clubs, it doesn't really work anymore It's wonderful for League. I've been a N. S. Welshman for 14 years since moving from Melbourne town and I'm still shocked every year how big s o o is here. But while Nrl may have a few distant club locales it just isn't the same of the truly national game that is Australian Rules. I can finally enjoy NRL but it's not the same as AFL. It's more like soccer. Occasionally exciting. But AFL is much faster and has more skills involved. Tackles.... Speckies ......around the corner goals.....running.....leaping...hand passing. There's so many more skills required and involved. It's more democratic..... Spargo tackling Mason Cox. AFL will always rule and be the number one game and our national sport simply because it's just a more exciting game. Since we have the Eagles. .. Freo... Sydney...gws.....GCS .. lions.....we don't need s o o.

It's had its day.

Absolutely Mr leg. Plus they gave us Grundy who was a dud as a fwd. But they are truly a packet of low life thugs. Moore looks like he belongs as an extra in a Hitchcock film. The Daicos lads are academy award candidates. Maynard needs a muzzle. The fans need rabies shots and I hope one day soon the umps give us just a fair go against them and the playing field is level for once .

Your right but it's sad given who his dad is. But looks like the club is not only prepared to make the hard calls they are to their credit doing it.

I had forgotten about that Indeed a sad day for millions but so too for the club.

Your definitely onto something here DZ. Very insightful post. You don't always say a great deal but I've noticed when you do, it's always on the $. There was an incredible espirit de corps in 2021 . A real team of mates and blokes that had each other's backs. Guys who would celebrate every players acts and seeing them come down onto the ground smiling and enjoying themselves expecting a win was truly a sight for the sore eyes of us older supporters. Almost a distant memory now and we need to get back to that sort of confidence, cohesion and celebration amongst the lads. It won't be easy with leaders like May and Tracc gone. And , as you mentioned... Gus. I think the latter along with Nibbler apart from being solid players were very well liked and their company enjoyed by their teammates. We are almost starting a rebuild with all these players gone and it will be very tough to get back to the morale we used to have. But with Maxy still at the helm and a few others around him, there's still a decent amount of hope. Cheers.

Look it's definitely not ideal he's leaving but let's face it in terms of form, his has dived totally. A few glimpses of the champion of yesteryear this year but again nowhere near the player he used to be. I'm somewhat conflicted how I feel. Part of me hopes a great deal he rediscovers his mojo providing it's not at Cwood or geelong. As a player, at his best his talent is enjoyable to watch probably at times by opposition players. He's not freakish type talent like Kozzie but he is the penultimate workhorse and ball magnet with the greatest symbiotic relationship in the comp with his mate Tracc. I get that since Gus is no longer around that left Tracc not so committed and with Tracc gone the same for Clayton. Shame to lose Tracc though as he still has plenty of good footy left in him and could have been a captain candidate. But Oliver could have handled things differently as the club has definitely helped him out. But it's a two way street. He's definitely helped out the club especially being an integral part in winning a long awaited flag. So let's all just call it a draw and hope good things for him and us. Time to move on and hopefully up.

And so graceful and balletic under water. Big and fat but almost as fast as kozzie heading towards goal.

The club owes him no favours. They have been very patient with him. I don't like the criticism of him though. The media is full of nuffies. Let's just hope the club stands firm and does the best for itself and Clayton moves on and is happy elsewhere. And the moron who was handing out contracts like life sentences is kicked up the ......