Engorged Onion

Just a little post to acknowledge, that I love that when I think about Alex now, he is forever a premiership player. I get a warm little glow.

Are you a closet Fiver fan? Is anyone a closet fan?

***Me being a broken record. Stats are not the correlation to form. (I'm not sure you are actually saying that is true either). In some sense, there are some players who's role is the 'negative space' , which amplifies the positive space. I see Tom's role like this. When he is on - it is clear, taking marks, being an objective threat. At other times, he is the subjective threat, he is the 'negative space.'

And, that is ok.... just because you have the genetics of an athlete, doesn't mean you want to be in the environment. And... people will keep taking a punt on you... because you have the genetics of an athlete... and YOU will keep in that environment because nothing quite pays so well, so why would you give it up. As Paul Keating once said... ‘In the race of life, always back self-interest — at least you know it's trying’

I get that @loges - I flip it on the head. He is there to help Bayley get under the guard, whilst being a strong mark himself. Although both are reliable kicks for goals, Tom just aint quite sticking the marks. In the previous post, I was going to write something analogous to Luke Jackson not sticking marks - but 'that' is only ever appropriate early in your career from a spectators/supporters perspective. Not for Tom though... BUT it's beyond that output.. it's halving contests, and his ability to run and run and run...not quick.. just [censored] consistently as tall bloke. Personally, I love Tom, but it's an unconventional love, I'm 42 - and when I was in my teens - all my mates fantasied about Pamela Anderson, they had Baywatch posters on their wall...I fantasied about Waimea Bay...and Brooke Satchwell.

That's one take. My take is he does his role really well. He crashes packs, he has had innumerous 'almost' marks, and he gets up to the wing and motors back. He's doing a fine job, of creating space and distractions for BBB and BF. In all genuineness @loges - What do you think his role is? (as your take is that he is having difficulty filling it, and or unsure of what's expected)

Just a gentle reminder for some, not to get too caught up in form, or what it means that we look 'flat' for the first 2 months of this season. This image would look a bit different, if you played right up until a Grand Final the year before and had a delayed preseason due to general all around awesomeness. Based on this... I wouldn't expect us to hit our straps 'physically' until post the bye.

doesnt get enough of it....

Granted - this post should appear elsewhere. I'm just not sure where. Now, I am a simple person on so many levels... and I've just turned on Garry Lyon asking a question about whether Essendon will tag Lachie Neale (mid way through the 4th). Now... I recall last week - Nathan Buckley talking about how teams want their system to work, and how by tagging it takes a person out of the system. Old mate @Axis of Bob does a great summary of this. Matter of fact the game really hasn't tagged in the last 5-7 years. Why the [censored] do commentators keep discussing things that were relevant 10 years ago, when they could be disecting things and informing the public of the current status quo. Cause I am assuming Garry is not as simple as me... I am presuming that part of the commentary contract is to not discuss each teams *ugh, vomit*...'IP' during a match I just want to know, was Garry being sardonic?

Shout out to a certain P McCartin. I’m raising a glass of whatever to his persistence tonight.

Then we wouldn't have had the glory of Tom McDonalds after the siren goal in the Grand Final. (surely a trivia question this year at your local pub trivia...)

arghhhh! Facts, facts facts! I want cognitive biases!

@Clintosaurus . sorry clint...all sorted.

Is this the thread to come to if I am after assurances, or for for conflicting info and wild guesses?

It's high art on here when Bjork s quoted.(I have a strong affinity for many things Icelandic) i Anyway... perhaps these lyrics are apt for Luke's relationship towards Tom... The opposite of love isn't hatred...it's apathy! 😍 "Shhhh, Shhhh It's, oh, so quiet Shhhh Shhhh It's, oh, so still Shhhh Shhhh You're all alone Shhh Shhh And so peaceful until... You fall in love Zing boom The sky up above Zing boom Is caving in Wow bam You've never been so nuts about a guy You wanna laugh ,you wanna cry You cross your heart and hope to die 'Til it's over and then..."

So the evidence continues to build - for supporters, but more importantly, the players and FD, whereby we can 'allow' teams to have momentum, to put on 5-8 goals, and for it not to affect us in starting to play safe (be it as a team, or as individuals)...moving us away from roles and structures. This team, just keeps grinding and going, and committing to what it knows, giving itself the best opportunity to win matches, irrespective of scores and scoreline . It is seriously impressive.

Good to see TMAC taking some marks down back in the later parts of the game. Also good to see he still kicks flat punts into the back of players heads...

Not sure if I have missed it in 2021 - I am loving having the indigenous names of the locations of where the grounds are in the AFL Round by Round guide. Bout time.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention!

So I am wondering how quick the hand wringing begins if we lose the match tomorrow? Or will people be more at ease with the context of injury impacting continuity and thus performance? (unlike people's reflections on the 2019/2020 seasons)

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It's like James Brayshaw has ripped the heart of out of Bob Murphy like Kano in Mortal Kombat!

It's about the mechanics of the machine getting fine tuned, not the outcome. Personnel getting exposure to systems and their own stress inoculation. *must remember this myself if we lose.

I'd laugh mate, but the link was a bit effed.