Engorged Onion

Stevo, were you brought up in Colac? Did my initial comment hit a nerve for some reason? If so, I apologise - as I said in a few other posts- I was being flippant - I could have just as easy said Birregurra, or Portland, or Fish Creek. I presume you're an old family friend of the Hodges by how intensely you are pursuing this!

Cobden... What does a Camperdown accent sound like over a forum?

Let’s think about the logic around the notion of If we lose = we therefore are accepting of losing = we don’t have a strong culture. then build that standpoint in to the reality of competing against clubs with better and at times fewer resources than us - week in week out. it is a totally flawed argument.

Ok ok! You’re the second person to call it. Im originally from down the road. It was a flippant comment - you’re 100% it has no baring! *Must remember the literalism of people who read posts.

What's the difference between excuses and reasons @Lord Travis?

Thinking that's a legitimate part of the argument... same could be said mate

I counterpoint Michael Voss. It's reductionist to link those 2 points to his capacity to coach. Besides...he's from Colac....anyways I would much prefer Fagan... who I am sure we all know, came from Melbourne with its lack of sustained success. , with a hiatus at Hawthorn, and is known as a renowned educator, rather than 'coach. Which is all about 'guiding' players rather than 'compelling/demanding' players to do things. Just like you can't demand a 14yo to do homework, similar you cannot do it to players who are learning the game (and every single player is learning/refining their game year after year anyway). Getting some ex player in, because he 'appears' to have been around success, when he was merely ONE single link in the machine is fraught.

Apologies Lucifer - I know you didn't - I was mixing others previous commentary into your post!

Maybe I am a bit ragey this morning, but here is Port Adelaides Ladder position since 2013 under Ken. Now if winning games is indicative of good culture (which is isn't, that is just mythologised and a conceptual way for us to make sense of what drives performance) I highly doubt there must have been some 'magical' cutural changes between October 2019 and March 2020... So if it is not culture, what is it that's propelled the change?? 55% winning rate. 2013 7th 2014 6th 2015 10th 2016 10th 2017 10th 2018 5th 2019 10th 2020 1st (currently)

Until it doesnt. Plenty of examples where that is the case.

Seriously, clubs review formally and informally every. single. week. Also, if anyone is an expert in culture and change management on this forum - walk us through what 'weak culture' is and what are the steps to remedy it. I want to be enlightened.

I had 3 years overseas and came back to this for my first game. I thought Reiwoldt had a lucky game I thought Brad Miller was the new prototype forward.... heh heh heh.

Jahhhheesus @Lucifer's Hero - that's a long bow. Connors was packed off early. You got to remember all players come from all sections of society. There are 38 others and all the staff that are on the north side of being decent, caring, compassionate, passionate people. So I think it's unfair to tarnish others, just because they work for the same organisation. Posters on this site bemoan that we don't have mongrel, that 'we're not hard enough'... that the soft culture is cancerous ([censored] hilarious analogy that one). But on the flip side it's a fine line between prickish or arrogant behaviour, or self belief. We flogged off Jack Watts, Jesse Hogan et al for 'cultural reasons'.... as we're erred on the side of caring for the welfare of said indivduals and erring on the side of trying to curb influences that would poorly affect performance...ie: genuine commitment. The trade off is always individual talent and what that contributes to the team overall, whilst trying to mitigate poor elements of said individuals personality and its influence on others. Ps... if it's in our 'DNA' - then we all understand that we can't change it.... so supporting our club is fatalism at it's finest whilst the world collapses around us

So what, if we're making up numbers - every [censored] team every [censored] year are essentially making up the numbers if they finish 5-8. It's a marker of where you are... Onwards and upwards.

Far from me to tell you what to do, but I've blocked him... and then I open his blocked posts and my confirmation bias is proved right. It's as though he is personally offended that the club owes him something...always posting version of harden the [censored] up, or #noexcuses. If you're angry at someone - 100% of the time you're actually angry at yourself. I've posted it before - but when I read @Sir Why You Little posts - I alway have this bloke in my head 'Hardest man' in the world voice, for the 'hardest bloke on Demonland'

Tbh @Skuit I’ve been scratching my head all day trying to think of what drove the performance last night - it didn’t make sense from a ‘players are mentally fragile’ perspective or the ‘coach is [censored]’ or ‘game plan sucks’ perspective. What you said rings true. context matters greatly - and you’ve provided great context. cheers

I'm taking the cynical view, that it's all scripted for a bumper, edge of your seats, fingernail chewing extravaganzaaaaaaaaaaaar final round against Essendon.

Great acknowledgement there @deanox - the subtleties and nuance of playing your role (vs merely playing on your man, which feels as though you need to think about less) is immense from a cognitive perspective. But also being able to contextualise it to what is happening around you. Now, I don't subscribe to the fact that one error (or even multiple errors) are indicative of the talent of a player - if structures break down up the field (ie: workrate) - then it makes your job so much harder as there is very little pressure applied to the person delivering the ball. As you said here, the problem is essentially if a ball is being delivered easily, it's not the defenders fault, it never was - the fault has already occurred and they're doing their best to remedy it. I would give my left (anatomically correct spelling of 'nut') to have some decent tactical commentary when I watch a game, how it is not a legitimate part of calling the game really upsets me. I also understand the need to appeal to the lower denominator who are viewing... making it 'palatable' -but its to the detriment of the knowledge of the broader communities understanding of the mechanics of the game. I also understand that quite literally in my life time (another 40 years or so hopefully) it will not change. (which feeds me into my only broad stab here, that the conversation in this thread, the depth and richness ALSO seems to interest only some people, whilst others continue their black and white statements in other threads, and thank gawd for that).

Correct - happy to invest in Petty. reliable kicking, pace and endurance - (the holy trinity??) is what we/all clubs need.

I don't normally overtly bleat about umpiring, but I watched the first quarter yesterday - granted I was looking only for Melbourne free kicks paid or not paid, jeez I felt there were a lot of holding the balls not paid, a lot of tackles around the neck slipping down not paid, and even some marks not paid. Is it my bias...seriously, or are the rules not rules, just interpretations these days?

Best thread on here - and loving the fact that is analytical, in depth and free of personal grievances.

Well @binman, if that strategy proves to be correct - May, Rivers, Salem and Omac to get 3 goals a piece then, pinging in from the 50m arc. Omac can kick 50 off a step right? Right!

When I think of Trent, I think of him, on the field, from a first person lens looking down field 100 metres away in the forward 50 arc, seeing ol' mate Jacko's head (chariots of fire style), bounding joyously towards a perfectly placed lace out 55m bullet off the right for the next decade. Time and time and time and time again And it brings a warm glow to my soul

A broad few questions for those upset that we lost the midfield. Is it ok to lose clearances, and win the game? Is it ok to lose clearances from time to time throughout the season ever? Does it mean that there are systemic problems? Is it meaningful from a belief, structure, effort perspective, that we lost the midfield and won the game? Signed Perplexed.