Engorged Onion

I'd also like to think that no one who is 'pro-loading' thinks it's the only contributing factor to losses. Those same folk who are pro-loading probably recognise that we had injuries in game post our 10-0 run. They like to ask questions around, how is it that we got to 30 points up and then got comfortably reeled in by Freo in quick time... what contributed to that... and then don't just dismiss it by 'poor form' or 'not hungry' or 'drinking-bathwater'. They recognise that Chris Scott (other coaches etc) and the FD did some things around midfield set-ups that we were either unable to or didn't counteract. The recognise Goodwin constantly talking about 'connection'. Serious question. What are the factors that contribute to the unoperationalised notional phrase 'poor form in your opinion? I for one am not a person to look at a bunch of matches and explain it away as 'merely' poor form. For me it is an overarching phrase that is ultimately meaningless. Players don't lose their skill all of a sudden...nor can they keep effort and pressure up every single game for the entire season... and what things impact on effort and pressure? Things such as health, fatigue, illness, psychological factors of willingness, being aligned to your values....what the other team brings on the day themselves in relation to the 5 things just mentioned. This thread ultimately isn't focused on outcomes of matches. It's a 'sense making tool' of how things have come to pass. It's using objectivity and science and the reality of what occurs within the industry. Loading wasn't spoken about pre 2020 when we'd be inconsistent as ferk, or at least consistently getting rolled by teams. The fact that we've had two years of 10-0 starts, slumps from rounds 11-19, (11-16 this year) is markedly different from years ( 2005-2018) when by round 10 we would probably 4-6 if not 2-8. So it's useful to start to inspect things and be curious. Things have changed, unless of course two years of 10-0 are explained as being lucky and or a fluke (maybe due to the draw?)...so then I become curious as to how did the 10-0 come to pass? It's good to be curious about how humans perform under scrutiny, particularly in extreme athletic environments. 🙂

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Pretty sure Brad Miller wasn't reported when old mate Tom Lonergan had his kidney removed!

What are the possible reasons for the FD to be so seemingly rigid on this approach? What advantage is given to the team? What risk is reduced? Any thoughts?

Aged well...

For those (not necessarily you @DemonWA) that are dubious about loading somehow being an insignificant factor in performance, and label it as a theory. I'd argue it's about as theoretical as Charles Darwin's 'Theory' of Evolution...

I wonder if Goodwin and Co felt it had the same meaning?

@von, on a completely unrelated note. Whenever I see your name, I can’t help but think of the first album Von by Sigur Ros and this ripping song.

Please explain (I just enquired about that in another post).

I love this level of analysis. For me I am curious about about coaching decisions (or non decisions). Is there inflexibility and a steadfast refusal to change certain tactics - ie: cover the extra number? Is it simply - our system will hopefully beat your system? or in marking contests clearly spoiling the ball very long vs at the feet where our smalls set up or, say with Petracca operating more forward (thus removed from clearance situations) (doubly showing there is flexibility to choose to do something different) why aren’t these alterations done during the game? Is it Goodwin and co not seeing it as it occurring in game? Or is it optimistically the myth of, seeing their hand and keeping your powder dry?

We looked 'off' from the word go last night... I was at the ground and in the final quarter, I was pondering a comment made by @binman during the week in reference to Brisbane playing us at the MCG - they were presumably loading, and perhaps felt the % of a win at the G that night was 40/60% best. Thus, let's do some loading. I wonder from a scheduling perspective whether that was not dissimilar from our FD's perspective. It is worth the risk to be 'flat', within a 5 day window, and if we lose at Kardinia Park, then so be it. As a supporter, I don't buy into the need to make 'statement's, that's just emotional responses to either feel good, or feel quite [censored] as it justifies the weekly proposition that you are only as good or 'bad' as your last game. Goodwin (and all coaches) have been in and around the system and are shrewd enough to understand that Round 1-22 is merely the pre-season. The real season then begins. What feels like a more accurate reflection of what we can achieve from a performance perspective? Was it the games vs Saints/ Brisbane or vs Freo/Geelong. I'm either optimistic, or blindly naive. The question as always is why was our pressure and execution down....when there is plenty of evidence that we can perform a particular way. It certainly aint attitude.... If you like rudimentary graphs... here is one I prepared earlier (that's a nod to Gabriel Gate who did the menu at the presidents function). Scoring shots per round for the opposition.

What does he as an individual owe 'us'? He didn't pick himself to come to the club in the draft. We've got a premiership due to his (and everyone elses) efforts...*throughout the entire year. Fly free big unicorn guy...fly free.

Get the train to south Geelong, go to the pub, Barwon Club or sawyers Arms… maybe grab a burger at Kardinia Cafe for a ‘cultural’ experience. celebrate the win long and hard, fall asleep in someone’s flowerbed 👍

Corporate box tonight at the Presidents Dinner, dress code = Melbourne Demons Tie from the late 90's adorning my suit.

Feels like a triathlete question. Each person has a weakest leg... no matter how strong their other legs... Same for the Dee's. I have zero other insights aside from this this parallel.

Great straightforward analysis, thanks @Vipercrunch

Culturally, whilst they're interesting questions that us as supporters have no real idea about, it would seems very strange for any of these things to be accurate ,considering he is now back in the side at Adelaide. In other words, how could one club get it so wrong, if he was so egotistical, wasn't humble, hadn't learned, and have some sense that the world revolves around Tex... I just feel that is a poor assessment. I remember Lleyton Hewitt came across via the media, as all those things as an 18-24yo that you have mentioned... and then he grew. As much as people riff on Adelaide about rednecks and poor culture (it seems all supporters assume most clubs have poor kul-cha, if they're not in the top 8) Matthew Nicks is a considered person, and there would have been many decision makers and many consultations to choose to welcome Taylor (who is a human) back into the fold. If they have... then I can't see why we as a club, wouldn't take Taylor if he (and may others within the club) felt he could fit in.

x

It'd be less spooky if the fixture was fairer and the home ground advantage wasn't permanently Geelongs..

there you go, is that helpful?

Really? It's punitive Demonland roulette....spin the wheel! There is such a vibe of harking back to 1987 on this thread...."I weally wish the key forward would still kick 7 goals a week like Pig Dunstall and Tony Lockett on Scott Turner and Danny Hughes each week, and if they don't! Well, they're pathetic!! It doesn't seem to matter how many times people with knowledge try to educate others who watch the same game... the education is rejected. Old mate Benny doesn't have the luxury of Tmac, who plays significantly differently to Mitch Brown or Sam.W within the structure... T.Walker wouldn't be a bad fit, if you're looking purely at the on field optics.

Hmmm, if we win the premiership this year, does Sam's contribution come into it? Or Bedfords? Just like 2021? He played his part...

Pondering if the delay in an announcement/signing of contract (whatever it may be) is an orchestrated maneuver, as all parties are part of the payroll/accreditation of the AFL... The populous are hungry for clarity... 'click' 'click 'click'* *Kevin Carter reference

For tears right? Tell me they're for tears...🤢

Not that Jason Dunstall is the bellweather for the Brownlow, and when listening to the commentary in the last quarter, it's the first time I have legitimately heard him (and thus the rest of the commentary team) genuinely laud Oliver. If you're a believer that the AFL and the media are all nicely connected... 3 Votes... Clayton Oliver said about 12 times I suspect on Brownlow night.