Engorged Onion

Probably worthwhile to pin this to the top of the threads? ❤️

If that was Cyril Rioli, he'd be lauded 🤩

Like clockwork eh 😇

Can someone please re-post the link whereby you can listen to the radio in synchronisation with the tv :) TIA

Bloody hard this one @Demonstone . Coincidentally I went for a wander around the little town where I am at the moment, and I did see an ADF bus/coach with all the paraphernalia. Wondered if they were recruiting school kids :)

Would you want your product, associated with the ire of supporters around the country whom you are supposed to be courting? But in the end I guess the marketing take would be - don't care about the 95% of people you [censored] off, care about the 5% you convert. Are there any marketing guru's on here?

Yes, but doctored for a reason? Or failing my cynicism, if not that, fatigue won't be mentioned by the AFL sanctioned media, when Carton (and I suspect they will) win comfortably.... and then we get in the death spiral comments of 'our season is over' 'we're not really a contender' - 'Is Goodwin the Right Guy (tm)' hand wringing... which makes sense, because it's anxiety provoking, and failing to take on board the context of each teams training, matches and other load/fatigue (can I join these together??) related factors...just looking at pure outcomes without understanding the relationship to why the outcomes occurred in the way the occurred, because you know EO, it's a [censored] outcome industry. I'm already emotionally accepting that Carlton will win... and that's ok - it's not relevant to finals - but geez, it feels like it should eh!

Huh :) that counters your entire treatise - I'd reword it - Shocking performance, for which there is not but an excuse but a reason.

It’s almost as if The AFL as an entity can’t see/refuse to see the link between player health and thus the best exponent of their ‘product’ in display. Or at least are happy to wear the cost of disregarding it in favour of tv rights 🤑. I’ll never forget Andrew Dimitrous condescending comments around High Performance Managers being ‘phys-Eders’ in the public domain. Granted that comment was about other happenings in another context, but I wonder whether it’s a pervasive way of thinking, detached from the the realities of the game

It's not coincidental that both Melbourne and St Kilda looked exhausted from the first quarter of their third match after consecutive 6 and 5 day gaps. That's accumulative fatigue playing out right there. Not heart, not effort, not game plan, not coaching, not personnel.

Andrew has led an interesting life and likes to challenge the status quo... hence the willingness to not tow the line... Does great music reviews as well :)

From the lovely guy that is Andrew Stafford in The Age "Spare a thought for Petracca and Oliver. Both were far below their best, with 38 possessions and just three clearances combined for the match. But the Dees were playing their third game in just 13 days, after backing up a narrow win over Port Adelaide on March 30 with a 15-point victory over the Crows on April 4 for Gather Round. Both games were Adelaide Oval. Is it any wonder they looked flatter than the Nullarbor? The early start to the season – with eight teams playing opening round and byes everywhere you look – has resulted in some deeply iniquitous scheduling. Collingwood also played three games in 13 days after a shortened pre-season. They will play another three in 13 after their bye this week. The fixture is contentious enough already without placing such insane demands on the athletes, who need adequate time to recover between half-marathons. Moreover, the staggered schedule means it won’t be until the end of round seven – when all 18 teams will have played the same amount of games for the first time this year – that we will truly know where clubs sit on the ladder. In an attempt to compete with the NRL’s Las Vegas adventure, the AFL has only succeeded in further distorting the fixture picture in a way that serves no one except broadcasters."

Agreed. Brisbanes midfield is very very good - if else we are going to be objective as a supporter base. Other teams may have the ideal of a blueprint just not the athletes to actually pull it off. We’ve been very very fortunate to have the players we have had in the midfield perform exceptionally consistently over many years now. This one (whilst consistent with trends/themes around clearances in 2024) felt like one out of the box.

I'm accepting that we will never be as good (in the context of what it was) - as this. ever again.

It’s a really well written and considered piece, and explains what we see is evolving before our eyes🙌🏼. *I’ll add some further thoughts later

Thanks for your input as always @Sir Why You Little 🙂

I understand your desire to see Melbourne keep 'building' and attract top talent. It's definitely a key to success, like how Richmond rose to dominance through strong internal development. To be honest though.. I'm not sure explicitly what you mean by' keep building...' You and I both know that winning the premiership every year is impossible and so is the feted dynasty once you've won one. Melbourne's been a top 4 team for several years now, building a strong foundation. However, the AFL is cyclical. The draft and equalisation measures ensure a competitive balance, making sustained dominance very challenging. And players and coaches know that... (that' you'll be up for a max of 4 years and then drop) With Geelong's (perhaps Sydney and Brisvegas) unique situation, their success isn't solely based on attracting top-tier talent from elsewhere. They've nurtured their own young players brilliantly, similar to what Richmond achieved. Melbourne has a talented young core too. Focusing on their development alongside strategic acquisitions, not just a rigid "build" mentality and keep winning is the path to longer sustained success or at least competitiveness (see Geelong). However, the AFL landscape is complex. While recruiting from within the top 4 is ideal, it's not always feasible. Salary caps, player loyalty, and a limited player pool, especially for Melbourne teams, make it tougher. Geelong's position is unique, their strong culture and geographic location can be very attractive to players, creating a situation most Melbourne teams can't replicate. So, essentially, focusing solely on "building" can be restrictive. Sometimes, strategic acquisitions from outside the top tier can be the missing piece. Melbourne should prioritize getting the most value out of their draft picks and develop them. They seem to do that well... and like all clubs, some are hit and miss (and how much falls on the selection policy, vs the player or development structures remains to be seen)... Ultimately, the right player will want to be at Melbourne, regardless of their current team's position. Building a strong culture and competitive environment attracts talent (that it exclusive to premierships) pps... your demands on the recruitment staff... it's a bit old school don't you think??

I imagine we have already done our 'very best' - merely general exposure daily to our culture, the people and the relationships. If he still needs convincing, he is not the right person for the club - and that in of itself - is absolutely fine, when we as a club (or us as people) meet someone where they actually are 'at' for all the valid emotional decisions they make at any given point in time. I'm a lover of Ange - here is a recent link to a press conference - a few days old, about the perceived need for Tottenham to make the Champions League (coming at least 4th, potentially 5th overall in the premier league) and how that allows a cash injection, as well as signals to potential athletes that Tottenham are now worthy of being recruited to. It's about the players wanting to be at the club, irrespective of where the club is at position wise... I'd have the same approach to any athlete pondering coming or not coming (or staying) at the MFC...

Bobo, presumably you are a fan of Radiohead. I assume you have a critical lens when you look at the world. I think you know the answer to your question 😊 On a side note - this morning, I was reading about the death of 'music videos' and the art the goes into making them. I'd suggest that the music videos for the OK Computer singles were some of the best of all time as a combination.

It's interesting, I thought he took short steps too, but to be honest - 5 years a go, I would have thought 'he heard footsteps' - now as far as I am concerned - it's just duty of care these days. But you know... a narrative is just a narrative. You can't stop water from being wet, and nor can you stop Dermot from being...

Reading this thread, I feel there is an undercurrent of understanding how much supporters are acclimatizing to the notion of a 'squad' mentality for the entire season, rather than weekly putting out your best and allowing certain players to reset depending on where they are (and the context of the season and injuries) in their personalised program. It's a great cultural shift, and also helps supporters makes sense of 'potentially' some FD decision making.

Except when it's Melbourne and you'd interpret it as an easy kill and in no way useful for the following weeks match-up...🤷‍♂️

Demon Fans Watching All Remaining Matches of Gather Round...

And yet we still engage with it 😎

I'm on school holidays and now have a cold as well... who'd take their kids on an interstate road trip when you've got work? 🫠 *connected culture outweighs any illness