Engorged Onion

Friend of mine Daniel Gucciardi has written numerous peer reviewed articles on 'mental toughness'. Essentially the construct is too difficult to measure http://www.danielgucciardi.com.au/publications.html Personally I could bore you with the process of 'stress inoculation' or 'building resilience' (jargon, jargon)... but essentially its exposure to your own emotional discomfort and 'getting on with things' irrespective of how you feel... that's the learnt behaviour - til such time as the emotional response in of itself is no longer perceived or related to as an issue.

Player Positives Langdon, Petracca, May, Rivers Player Positives with Inconsistency Weiderman, Fritsch Oliver, Pickett, Lever Need Help With Forward Line Pressure Forward Line Entries New line coaches Different mix in Midfield Mitigating Factors (for those who are pessimistic about Goodwin, these are 'reasons' to add to the understanding of finishing 9th and not 'excuses'.) Most Travel of any team (flights, transfers) Most fly in on game day(s) Most change of hubs Team least likely to stay put in one spot (unlike Brisbane, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, Richmond) 12 games in 60 days No bye in that stretch of time.

**Public Service Announcement** If you want to avoid the ‘Head burstingly intense, Jim beam necking, sausage roll throwing, fury fest(tm)’ that is the Demonland thread. you may want to head here with Jonathon Howcrofts ‘ Sedately quaffing Pinot, with cheese and quince paste minute but minute update’ instead. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2020/sep/19/afl-season-2020-round-18-essendon-v-melbourne-live?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

German heritage?

Sounds bloody sensational Josh - photo's out of the smoker please :)

my point is - that outcomes are not preordained.

Martin Pike says hello :) ?

Thanks @dazzledavey36 - nothing to see here then...normal service resumed.

I rate James, and feel he is not been utilised in his best position, sacrificing for the team, as it were. Why then, do I feel it is significant that he wasn't training with the presumed team for the final game against Essendon (ie: not named for the last few matches). I know it's conjecture and we will find out soon enough, I wonder though whether he has requested to a trade elsewhere? Or perhaps I'm just inferring stuff, and Rivers goes in ahead of him and it is a simple as that?

A la Frawley etc, he has been played out of position for a reason, he’s been upfront to the club and the club then move him out of a role that he would typically play so the other players can learn without him... fairly straight forward practice

You don't think he knows how far he can kick?

I know he is on the outer - but why is Polec on the outer?

CD = 1.68m CS = 1.73m KP = 1.70m KC =1.73m LJ = 1.98m ?

Weiderman looks confused at the 'messaging'... he's gone

1.Neale 2.Boak 3. Petracca He has had a fine year Trac, at times he wasn't as effective - but I'd hope he would be 18-22 votes range.

@Darkhorse72 - it feels like such a valid point (that was my first response to this) AND then I thought about Soccer/Football (EPL etc) managers who every single game do the same actions to gesticulate for positioning etc etc. So these are my questions Does this mean there is no true leadership on the field? How important are the 'runners' who now have limited access to set up structures? Is it hard to see the woods for the trees if you're out on the field from a structural perspective? Mmmmm plenty to ponder.

All the alternate opinions on Jadyen, bring to mind the notion of a broader question. 'How much time do you give to a footballer in the system to be developed, before it's decided that what he has to offer does not work for whatever role you give him within your team structure?'

It's beautiful isn't it - how this beloved club allows us to have the full gamut of the human experience, not just year after year, not just round after round annually, not even quarter after quarter, but 6 minute intervals within quarters. I for one wouldn't change that, for the consistent boooooring certainty that you would get with being, I dunno, a WCE, Geelong or Richmond supporter.

How'd you go when you typed it?

Good god man, you've got some intel... :)

I love you folk who have a clear understanding of where we sit with picks and drafting . Thanks for that.

I think Jayden has a range of great qualities, not limited to Can kick a goal Is hard as (I could find a minimum 2 times a game, where if it is his turn to go, he goes hard'. Can run quick in a straight line. But... that's about it. As exciting as those attributes are when he displays them, his decision making AND ability to execute his foot skills let him down and impact on his and our consistency. I loved 'Nippy' when he first broke out, and as someone alluded, the need to 'line break' is different to where it was in 2016 - when every team where trying to get the next Johannisen. I happy to have him as depth - but the fact is, he doesn't have the stamina/tank as Langdon, or presumably - the FD don't rate his attributes enough to play him on a wing. That's why Oskar Baker played there the last few games and not Jayden. If Jayden can get a contract elsewhere - there'd be sadness and it would be him looking out for himself, which is only a good thing.

Perhaps this thread could be renamed "Trent Rivers, Rising Star? Without the Rising Star Nomination".

If only Rusty! 5 weeks without a drink, on the back of covid restrictions, whilst supporting Melbourne.... thought I'd punish myself! In all seriousness, it's one of the best decisions I've made in a long time, and I'm a somewhat healthy 40 something year old.

Amended** When I think of Trent, I think of him, on the field, from a first person lens looking down field at the tall white sticks while a floater off the left from 35 and a never wavering off the right from just in 50 sail through for the next decade. Time and time and time and time again And it brings a warm glow to my soul