tiers

Every year, I always worry about the dees. So what's new? As for the forest analogy, as much as I liked Clarry and Tracca, they did not produce victories the way that they should have and so had to be cleared. We shall see. My first preference would be for Caleb Windsor to be given a more attacking role. No more half back flank but a genuine running wingman.

Hassa's goal was snap from the forward pocket on the north side at the Glenferrie Road end (for those who remember the ground). As it turned out, because we were guaranteed first place, we were walloped by Footscray the next week in the last round. But it made no difference - we beat the filth by 89 points in the 2sf and by 4 points in the gf. I saw both. The joy had to last 57 years.

Tom is listed as the captain of the Power. Being a junior footy captain is a very high recommendation.

Don't include Tassie. It's ony a sop to appease the Taswegians and the wets who are fearful of rugby. Isn't it enough that we subsidise GWS and GC and now expect tassie to spend $1b so that we can subsidise some more? It is a financial disaster waiting to happen. If the Taswegians want real footy, then rotate normal matches through tassie every week just like they do at marvel and used to do at Waverley.

I have posted this proposal before but I deemed it worthy of another posting now that the "AFL brains trust" have decreed that there must be another team from Tassie (huh?) and that there is to be a 10 team final series. Here is my proposal. Stick to 18 teams with an eight team final series. A more balanced draw for the home and away season To balance out the draw, the teams should play each other once over 17 rounds. Home and away advantage (ie interstate travel for Victorian clubs) can be rotated each year. At the end of the round 17, the teams should be placed into three groups of 6 viz. 1,4,7,10,13,16 / 2,5,8,11,14,17 / 3,6,9,12,15,18 or other suitable combination but NOT 1,2,3,4,5,6 etc. The teams should play a round robin series of 5 games within their respective groupings giving a total of 22 games for the H & A season. All points earned in rounds 1-17 carry over. The draw for each group should be made by ballot so that the draw for each grouping will be unique to enhance the mystery. This approach smooths out each team’s chances as no team should play multiple games against top teams or lower teams so that teams at each level have a fair chance to improve but no team gains an unfair advantage because of the opposition or the draw. Theoretically, each team vying for finals should have a more even chance and there would be greater interest in each round. Introducing a finals season A week off after the H&A season gives the players a chance for a rest and refresh and offers the prospect of a finals season, distinct from the H & A season and different to the current finals series. Divide the top eight clubs into 2 groups of four – 1,3,5,7 and 2,4,6,8 – each to play a round robin series to determine the top team in each group based on both wins and percentage. Every game will be important as, win or lose, percentage counts. And at the end, the two top teams play off in the grand final. All four matches in the third week should be played at the same time so that teams can't game the system. The broadcasters would have the challenge to cover all four matches simultaneously using "round the grounds" images and reports. What a dynamic and exciting day of footy. Pros Enhanced excitement and interest in rounds 18 – 22 and four matches a week for the first three weeks of the finals where just winning will not be enough. The margin of victory and its effect on percentage will count as well. Every score will have real meaning. The grand final would then be the ultimate match of the season with both teams having gone through an exhaustive process to prove their worth. Another week’s rest should be introduced to extend the promotion of the grand final and to ensure both teams are at their best. Delete the byes to fit it into the length of the current season or start the season earlier now that the ‘G is no longer required for cricket. Cons Finishing 1 and 2 or top 4 might lose its appeal. The argument that the WB benefited from the bye (in 2017) is correct – but shouldn’t the best teams win, not the team with least injuries at the start of the finals. Injuries can occur in the finals that will test team lists but at least they could all start even. Short notice to make arrangements for the last 5 weeks of the season. So what, arrangements for the current finals series are made on short notice so just extend the time with the extra week’s break factor in the additional complexity. That’s why Gil (now Andrew) is paid the big bucks. Footy Awards Week Brownlow, rising star, MVP, coaches and all other awards to be held in the week between the H&A season and the finals season to be known as "Footy Awards Week", an event in itself with daily functions with the Brownlow as the climax. What a celebration of footy. And then the final’s season of 13 matches without distractions. What joy. Summation What a dream – a much more exciting and interesting season in six phases – a pre season competition, the first 17 rounds, the final 5 rounds, Awards Week, three weeks of round robin preliminary finals (no semis, elimination or qualifying needed) and a MONSTER GRAND FINAL. That’s what footy is all about. Why not?

All this talk about Miers at Geelong and their forward structures reminds me of how ANB developed over the years to cleverly deliver into the forward line when, on the rare occasions, the forwards created space. We will always miss him.

Let's face it. In 2024 and 2025 neither Trac nor Clarrie were dominant in our wins as, for example, Maxie or Cozzie. I believe that Tracca is still recovering from his injury (even if only mentally) and Clarrie is disillusioned because this year they treated him disrespectfully like a spare parts player and tagger instead of the outstanding champion he has been. Trying to get him to conform to team plans might only stifle his game. Time to play off his strengths and let him run free. He is that good. They have lost their respective mojos. While I don't want to see them go out of loyalty, if it allows others to step up and perhaps develop into leading players, then so be it. If they end up staying, I will not be upset but will welcome them. GO DEES

A path to rationalising the interchange and sub rule. Maximum four on the bench with one player each quarter nominated as the sub ie cannot be part of the rotation. If a player is to be subbed out, it must be at a break (QT, HT,3QT). Reduce the number of interchange to, say, no more than 10 per quarter and no player can be interchanged more than once per quarter. That'll slow them down. Further, any player that is subbed out in a match is automatically precluded from playing in the next match (not week in case of a bye) so that strategic subs are seriously reduced if not eliminated. Remember that the cagiest and sneakiest participants in our great game are the coaches who will find a way to stretch and game any new rule. To make it tougher, any player subbed in must play in the next match. That'll mess with their minds. And given that there must also be four different subs (one per quarter) the 4D chess becomes even more complex. Why not? I commend this new approach.

If only he could bounce the ball with his left hand. It is so like Robbie that I nearly weep. Robbie was better than any other player I have seen since the 50s by several orders of magnitude. GOAT does not do him justice.

The last touch proposed rule will be a significant blight and stain on our great game. We already have stupid rules like 50 for on the mark infringements (either stepping on the wrong blade of grass of not having a measuring tape to determine over the mark in the stand position or "insufficient intent" for a sloppy kick that bounces the wrong way). This rule will destroy the nexus between winning penalties from the contest only, not from some stupid interpretation of crazy rules. With now four field umpires on the ground, why do we need this. Scrap it and any other nonsensical idea. There was a time when our great game was officiated to reward the contest. Let's go back.

I recall that there was one year in the 80s where Robbie was leading in the Brownlow count but he missed the last 6 games of the year having broken his finger tackling an opponent who wore a lace up jumper that was fashionable for a time. Otherwise Robbie would have romped in.

Of all the players who ever played VFL/AFL for the dees (since the late 50s) only Robbie could do what no other player in the world (not just Melbourne) could do. In a world and class of his own. He will always be number one on my list. Following I would classify (in no special order) Gawn, Barassi, Schwarz, Jackovich, Oliver, Jurrah as those who were (or are) superior to all others. But Robbie rules.

I have been a demon footy tragic since Dicko was starring on the wing (RIP). Stupid, crazy and misguided tribunal decisions that affect Dees such as this week's May incident and the brutish manner in which Angus's career was stopped have caused me to lose much of my interest and affection for the great game (but never for the dees). Talk about adding a Tassie team after adding the northern teams this century might just tip me over the edge. How much garbage can a footy tragic withstand?

On any given day we can be competitive but we lack the killer skills - the ability to score heavily when on top and the ability to score clutch goals when needed. Until these return, we will remain so-so and no more.

Observations from yesterday against the kangas. I watch from high ion the stands near the wing. The longer they take to line up a kick for goal from a mark or free kick is almost directly proportional to the chances that they will miss. The 30 second wait is a pox on our great game. Watching Maxie, Tracca and Viney stuff up the ball from a ruck contest early in 2Q that we won was laughable. Trying too hard to be cute. Too many of our direct passes are intercepted and too many passes to free players in space end up being contested because the pass is too long or not to the player's advantage. (Langford's pass to Melksham is a notable exception but then HL is exceptional). Not enough players lead to the ball - standing still and waving is not a lead. Ed Langdon is wingman of rare quality who runs up and down all day - why are we wasting his talent by playing him away from the wing? By the way, so is Windsor but he is wasted in the backline. (I know there is a guy named Langford, but surely our coaches can work out a way to include all three). Am I correct that the Robert Flower Wing sign is now part of the illuminated advertising on the face of the member's? If yes, then it is only right for Robbie who lit up the whole ground when playing.