Engorged Onion

Great links and fascinating reading and viewing @Dee man

Thanks for starting a stand alone thread @binman, I really enjoy this type of analysis. For a bit of context in how I view games, and my lens is slightly different from most I suspect, I'm a psych by trade and have worked in a high performance space across a range of sports - this lens always colours what I write in my posts. Beyond the oft announced commentary from Goodwin, from the media that we are a contested ball team, there are a range of nuances in the game plan that I feel fly under the radar. It's a lot to do with the personnel that Goodwin has brought in in the pre season, namely Burgess and Richardson. Fitness (Burgess) - it hasn't been on show this year due to the shortened format of our game, but in high stress games (read finals) capacity to execute when under pressure and fatigue will come to the fore...BUT not in one preseason. Over 2-3-4 is when we will reap the rewards Age profile (Richardson/development/guidance) - this will also feed into our midfield and some forwards compliment hitting 25-29yo age bracket...which evidenced on experience profile is peak premiership winning time...so we are still 2 years or so away, or still 2 years of development phase. Tactically - The High press/I50's - I still think it's a workable way of operating. It breaks down due to fatigue and poor structure at times, and this is something for the FD to work on... but there is enough evidence to suggest when it works it works... the question most rebut is, it's not sustainable... I'd feed this back into where we are developmentally. Success, Culture is built on relationships. There is a lot of love from Goodwin to the players and players to Goodwin. More importantly I want to see the players taking risks during a game. I've said it before on here but the ability to take risks (and this looks like a myriad of things for each individual)and 'practice' them in real games to have the evidence that you CAN execute when it counts...not just in training. The obvious example last week was for Oliver to finally finally start to accelerate out of the pack once he had the ball. We all know he is highly skilled at handballing, we all know he can get the ball. BUT for Clayton, it would have felt uncomfortable emotionally to test this out in a real life AFL game... yep he has subtle emotions too, it's uncomfortable to do a different behaviour. So I cant undersell how important for Clayton it was to test this and ultimately be BOG... it bodes good things for the future. Risk Taking also looks like Brayshaw on the wing.. playing to role..which sucks for some(him) emotionally, yet importantly contributes greatly to our structures around the ground. The risk is actually all about, what are you emotionally willing to have, in service of what matters. It also looks like Bennell building competence in getting tackled, having body on body and not seagulling the ball..but this will come..he of course is coming back with a lot of trauma (I assume) -that cannot be understated. It also looks like Weiderman - backing himself to kick goals from 50m - he is such a beautiful kick..and he is also developing capacity to have his body knocked around. God knows I don't like it when my 4.5yo punches me when I'm not expecting it, so I wouldn't expect anyone to really really want to have to experience, even if they are competing professionally. Essentially when I watch, I look for positive risk taking behaviour, whether it comes off or not... and Goodwin...like the best across a range of sports, keeps promoting it, empathically.

Essentially details our history associated with universities, big business and accountants (so not blue collar). Details Glen Bartlett's choice to move here for work even though he played in WA Poor drafting choices, contrasts Cale Morton to Lachie Henderson Questions drafting both May and Lever, as they are allegedly similar types Wonders about the influence or lack thereof of Richardson on game style States that everyone knows that the sweat on the gym floor at Aami Park is Melbourne Storm and not the players - ie: don't work hard enough 3 A graders - Gawn, Petracca (when he works hard enough) and Oliver Can't spread Our bodies are not big enough to compete with the best. post script. I'm neither here nor there on Malthouse or anyone commenting on any team. This is such a superficial sense making article, a grab bag of quotes and anecdotes (see comment re: Melbourne Storm) which I believe was from around 5-10 years ago. But it is of course the Herald Sun.

Very very optimistic! I like it!

Looking forward to Jack Watts getting a medallion around his neck.

What will be fascinating is how the midfield go, without the dominance of Max. I genuinely think it's an advantage, because we do have a fantastically hard edge. It's clearly easier (and I know it has been mentioned) for oppositions to set up 'knowing' with certainty which ruckman (Max) will win. They're all 50/50 contests now, and I think we are better suited for it. Watch Brayshaw and Trac when he is in there, come to the fore.

Sack Hardwick, he's lost the players. No plan B, no plan A ,yadda yadda yadda.

Check mate sir

Sack Goodwin.

Great sleuthing Ken.

Saw a show on the ABC about him perhaps 6 months ago.. quite interesting, think it has been resolved now who he was.

Probably the most succinct statement of where the game is at. Bravo. Yet I can't avert my eyes.

Good to see Jurgen Klopp in goal as well.

Quick comparison - Oliver on the left, Dangerfield on the right. Make of it what you will. First is comparing Oliver to Danger (who is 7 years older) for the current season and second table is at the same age.

Imagine if he was eloquent in his interviews rather than throwing out the cliche. He would incredibly marketable and ALREADY be seen as a superstar a la Dangerfield. Alas that ain't his bag. No surfing Fairhaven in his suit for Oliver.

Excellent Win4theAges - beg, buy, borrow or steal a telephoto zoom lens and catapult this man to the status and heights he deserves

the ol classic lose lose scenario.

I'm pleased for Weid, bobs up for 2 goals a game...even in an inconsistent side. Coleman medal form. Imagine if he had decent service.

Where have you been subsequently!

Mmmm north sea tidal sludge.

There you go sir..

Dutch Antilles? Now that would be jaw droppingly good

Thanks @FrostyBeast - I was feeling quite emotional about life this morning. My 4.5yo got his top on... we don't really speak footy all that much in our house. But... I cannot think of any stage in my footballing supporter life, when any win felt like a certainty. We got crushed by Richard Osborne's winless Swans...perhaps 20 odd games they hadn't won... I was maybe 12 at the time. And there have been a multitude of similar performances since, that just reinforces the experience that we are all having before tonights game. What other godforsaken teams supporters at any level, in any competition, in any sport - would come up against a team 0-9 and go... 'yep, not even slightly a certainty.' "Whatever doesn't kill you, causes atherosclerosis."

Just getting his Adelaide Vibe on W4tA...phwark another 6 hours to go... dragging on.

Not sure what all the fuss is about. We know how it plays out, we know that when we can win, it staves of the doubt for another 72 hours.. we lose and it confirms that the team doesn't care. And it feels like all the emotional effort put in is worthless (and some would argue it ultimately is anyway). Ultimately, it doesnt care about 'us', or 'me' Perhaps that's why I get so angry, because really, I am angry at myself. Where else in my life would I tolerate heartache like this...? So here I am on gameday, having an existential crisis. Of all my 41 years of being alive, these memories flood back Crying whilst on holiday into my banana milk shake when we heard on the radio Jimmy had run over the man on the mark... loving Ricky Jackson coming out of the locker and listening on vinyl to 'some forums' theme tune listening to the reserves reports of Darren Cuthbertson wondering how some freak goal kicking, marking machine couldn't get a a run of games (back injuries I believe) the sexyness of Steven Tingay... kevin Dyson thighs guy rigonis hair a hero called Allen, another called Garry. The anticiaption of a dynasty with David and David as the spine. The spruiking of The Reverend, The joy of Brad Green vs Carlton, The sadness of Troy, Brad Miller kicking 5 against the Saints for my first game back from living overseas, thinking, we've got a superstar here! yze goal square hanger in Geelong whilst we failed to win and merely draw The hollowness whilst present to watch 186, the inconsistency of the mid 90's- 2000's. the awful skills of 2010 plus Aussi Wonnameri vs Freo, First round draft picks...none of them superstars. Mark Neelds hard [censored] attitude as the saviour(!?) Jack Watts against Collingwood...as a first gamer Jack Watts against Collingwood with the titanic In bali for the first time, in some seedy bar going beserk when TMAC kicked the final second goal against WCE to start providing some long lost hope Dean Kent in the West Mitch at the G It's my football supporting life flashing across my eyes... and it's my Hotel California, unfortunately, whatever happens tonight.. I can check out, but I can never leave. Postscript... Here is my son..just now. I am still unsure whether I have consigned him to a life of misery..just look at his head...it hangs low. He knows how to do the Melbourne Supporter look well.