tiers

FWIW Caleb Windsor is a wingman of the highest order - he can run, kick, win the ball, crash through tackles and, like Eddie, runs up and down the field to win possessions and assist in the backline and forward line. Playing him in the backline reminds me of Robbie's time under RDB. How to ruin a champion. Let's not ruin another talent.

FWIW. We are losing games this year even with more inside 50s and more scoring shots. We can argue till the cows come home about whether it is the backs, mids, forwards or on baller who are culpable, but the fact remains that this has been going on for years and years and we have a coach and coaching panel who cannot fix it. Time for a change. Head coach, assistant coaches or boot studder. It does not matter - there must be serious change. If Goody can't show us he can fix it, then he might have to go. Sad but true.

FWIW there was in the 70s a forward at toiges who did not prosper and was traded to the swannies. He still did not prosper until he was switched from FF to the ruck. He ended up winning the brownlow. His name was Graeme (Graham?) Teasdale. Why not try?

If only we could get Jesse back as well. If only.

Maxie has said that it is done and dusted. I believe him. He is my captain and I support him unconditionally. So should we all.

No no no never. Getting free kicks from an accident is grossly unfair and detracts from the beauty and spirit of the game. Change boundary throw ins so that there is an even, competitive contest that is not ugly. No wrestling.

The boundary throw-ins are a disgrace. The ball is tossed higher than they need be which diminishes the distance traveled and takes too long. How often are the ruckmen required to run in tio reach the ball above ground level? Its ugly and destroys the spectacle and purpose of boundary ruck work. Toss the ball lower, further and quicker and change the rules to encourage ruckmen to avoid the ugly wrestle and return to the days when the ruckmen ran in and competed in the air.

One thing that stood out yesterday against the swanettes was the return of Eddie Langdon's running game. He seemed to be everywhere on both sides of the ground. I have always thought that his running game was a big part of our 2021 success. Go Eddie go. GO DEES.

Taking 30 seconds to set up for a shot at goal is ruining goal kicking. Watch the old replays - guys like Wade, Hudson, Lockett, Ablett, Jesaulenko who all kicked 100 goals in a season did not need a long lead time. Get on with the game and stop looking at the screen for seconds remaining. Practice quicker set up time and forget about the clock. Kicking for goal will improve, just you see.

For the first time in a long time I noticed that Maxie was jumping and not just wrestling. He was running too. A fit Maxie who can run and jump is worth two of any other pretender to his position as the premier ruckman of this era. Fascinating article over the weekend about class ruckmen from the past eg. Nicholls, Farmer, Dempsey. They used angles and their leaps to tap the ball to their rovers. So much better to watch than two monsters wrestling, pushing and shoving to deliver the ball to a heaving mass of players.

That he has no football club experience is of no matter if he has the backing and direction of a committed board who do have this experience. His job is to get the job done as directed, not to invent the wheel. Both Jackson and Pert had good management backgrounds (albeit at unlikable clubs) that worked for us. Let's back him in and offer support to our CEO, board and club. GO DEES

Many times I have made this suggestion that I believe will cure his problems forever. He kicks a left hand hook shot. Not much but just enough to miss from straight in front. Maxie should be encouraged to skip to the left before the run in and run in at a slight angle to straight. The hook kick will then sail through the big sticks. Easy. Just do it.

The recruiting might have been OK but it is the development that has let us down. This has been an ongoing issue for all this century starting with Brad Green and Cameron Bruce who, after 2000 finals were expected to be dominant, remained good players but whose careers did not develop much more. Players in other teams seem to have a breakout period and then go on. Our players, with the exception of Maxie, do not. Captains such as Grimes, Trengove, Jones did not become dominant (i know injury intervened with Grimes and Trengove, but still) and now Oliver and Petracca have not improved but remain stuck as really good players but rarely dominate as they should. We have a chance with Bowey, McVee, Rivers, JVR, Windsor and, perhaps too late, Sparrow to develop a new generation of dominant players. But are we up to it? Is it coaching or game plans, I don't know. I occasionally get the feeling that our game style restricts the players innate abilities. Letting Langdon loose to run and run and run in 2021 worked. Let's try more such experiments. Sadly I do not consider Goodwin a development coach so he will need some help should he remain. But it has to start now. And by the way, Neal-Bullen would have been the best tutor for the young forwards.

I recently watched the match v dorks from late 2023. Three things stood out. One. Angus Brayshaw was there where he was needed. Just got to the right spots. His loss (to the thuggish attack) in the first minutes of the first game of the finals was probably far more significant than we understood at the time. He was indirectly worth goals in every match he played especially when we lost two finals by small margins to inferior teams. A great loss to the team and, in my view, was the most compelling reason we failed to win the flag in 2023. Two. Alex Neal-Bullen. Understudy to Angus and played in similar fashion - he was there where he was needed to win possession or retain possession. Also a great loss to the team. Three. Maxie was leaping in ruck contests, not wrestling with the unworthies who are sent to negate him. Get his bounce back and instruct him to avoid wrestling. If he leaps he will outreach and defeat any opponent. Lose all of the above, and our performances fall off. Helps to explain 2025.

A letter like this should never be necessary. GO DEES.