Engorged Onion

If we transpose this into the EPL -can you imagine for example , Arsenal, Tottenham Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Fulham, Brentford and West Ham, all playing out of Wembley... and all other teams getting their own home ground advantage... Brighton can be Geelong... by the seaside etc etc... It's a little bit hilarious... There is so much nuance in this topic dependent on your point of view. Do you take on board home ground advantage/disadvantage? What about the abilty to recruit players? Does that influence the coaching aspect of coaching? Are Premierships are the only thing that matters, not finishing position? Did you under or over perform dependent on supporters expectations of the year? Did you win the premiership and thus expected a dynasty by some, and thus under performed? Are you good chat in the pressers? 😎

Such a [censored] headline and line of inquiry... https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-12-players-most-under-the-pump-in-the-2024-afl-grand-final-20240922-p5kch3.html

Whilst true, that’s their hope of course, but after a while they recognise where they are at in the AFL ecosystem and mostly just want employment. Hence yearly movement to up and coming clubs… Jordan Lewis to us, premiership tigers to the GCS over the years, Jack Darling this year to North, etc etc

If you agree that Geelong as a club has advantages due to Geelong the city being regional and thus can attract athletes that want the geographical advantages that come with living there, then you can’t unthether that from any coaching record for whomever is coaching Geelong. its been 20 years since it was called ‘sleepy hollow’ pervasively in the media. Athletes want to live there and on the Bellarine and Surf Coasts I lived there then and now live on the Bellarine - generationally (compared to 1,2 and 3 decades ago) athletes want different things and live in quieter places due to the scrutiny placed in them daily/weekly. All in all, GFC has significant advantages compared to Melbourne based clubs when players start having families and want a different lifestyle that Melbourne clubs can’t offer. its their unique selling point and there is no coincidence that that is why the list profile of Geelong ("too old, too slow") is the way it is. *This does not at all take away from Chris and his coaching ability. What factor of advantage, the ability to attract and recruit a particular demographic, is worth considering and mulling over.

Fair enough, I’ve got a enough Brisbane supporting mates to know he has copped stick for years for not delivering on the fact that someone else chose him at a particular draft pick outside of his control…

Disappointed in him? What’s with the chip on your shoulder? Did he run over your cat? Celebrate him mate, he is a solid AFL citizen… just like James Harmes.

Huh? 😇 I mean you don't usually write [censored] on here @Mel Bourne - I think I need to do some research....

Just pragmatic acceptance... you can't get everyone for a whole range of valid reasons.. No point bitching and moaning on Demonland about the myriad of hypotheticals as to why it did not occur, and then to draw allusions from that, about what it means about the MFC post hoc. But what I am gleaning is, that until we land an acceptable player* - MFC is a rabble. *as deemed by the vocal supporter base.

I'm always uncomfortable slagging off other teams, considering the doldrums we have been in for lengthy periods of time. It's probably useful to consider that Individuals within regimes come and go, and the entire edifice of Essendon, particularly post substance use has been reworked from the inside. Carry on though... 😎

But not legitimate enough for some if you have a surname called Jackson...

100% - it's ok for the dead week between the news cycles of end of season and finals anticipation...

Things change, that's called being flexible, both practically and psychologically.

looking forward to dozens of these 'when' he plays us again...

Values and priorities are his prerogative to change at any stage of his life, and with that, there are a range of consequences, both desirable and undesirable, that he will accept, and that's ok. Pursue things vigorously, and hold them lightly.

definitely needed it's own thread...

@Skuit?

Feels like most supporters are ... anyway @The heart beats true

On the subject of Kozzie - would love the stats of how many times he has kicked the first goal of the game and we have gone on to lose the match. Feels an inevitability from my perspective as it seems to occur every single time. He kicked the goal last night and I went 'Ugh....here we go..." Someone correct my confirmation bias please 😎

I'll certainly be thinking of this match mid way through 2025 as a reason for where we are at...😎

Looking forward to some atrocious football* from the 10th to 18th teams. *This may include limited one way running facilitating enhanced scoring.

It's not just that Ted - it's the fact that it's 2024 and not 2004 or even 1984 where players were loyal to their club ie Chris Grant...effectively no matter what. But even the best player of all time (IMO) Garry Ablett Snr and his son changed clubs. Even Barassi, and even Jakovich Now I don't think a player has to be loyal to their club no matter what at all - > but player movement is now a very accepted practice within the industry and supporter bases have yet to catch up emotionally. And that makes sense as well.

That's all well and good - but then if we lose, it's inferred that we lacked defensive structure and accountability.

Checking in from Cairns Airport, fitting as there are a lot of vacant stares, sobbing and crying and a general malaise, waiting for something to end the boredom. Hi @Skuit 👋

Because that's what Demonlanders do! We never should have traded for Grundy for reasons X, Y Z but now that we had him, we never should have traded out Grundy for reasons X, Y Z people are [censored] [censored] on this site.

Breaking News Employee who doesn't agree with management decisions and tired of tolerating certain work place behaviours of some colleagues, canvases employment opportunities elsewhere. Seems like a pretty mundane and appropriate thing to do if you ask me...