tiers

Why? Doesn't everyone want more footy?

This suggested fix was posted some years ago. Seems more relevant now. Works for 18 teams so cancel 19. AN ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURE FOR OUR FOOTY SEASON 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, place the teams in 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 play an round robin series of 5 games within their respective groupings giving a total of 22 games for the H & A season. 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. Theoretically, each team vying for finals should have an 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 eight clubs into 2 groups of four – 1,3,5,7 and 2,4,6,8 – to play a round robin series to determine the top team in each group based on wins and percentage. Every game will be important as percentage counts. And then, 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. Cons Finishing 1 and 2 or top 4 might lose its appeal. The argument that the WB benefited from the bye 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 and complexity a bit. That’s why Gil is paid the big bucks. 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 weeks 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.. 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?

Dunn was the best one-on-one backman we had in those days but could not play zone defence or any other fancy model. He was badly treated but at least he managed a few more games at AFL level. Welcome back.

It's not the quality of the kick under pressure that counts. It was the direction to the centre that allowed Hunt to gather the "lucky" bounce and kick long and straight to the goal square. Bang bang a goal!

For years we consistently had more I50s but couldn't convert. Last year we found the magic. This year it's lost again. Where do we find it? Is it all about kicking to the left forward pocket instead of down the guts which worked for the last 2 goals on Saturday? I know we shouldn't compare but in the GF Harmes kicked to the open side and Tracca kicked straight down the guts for the bounce. Is it time to bring out our best tactics? GO DEES

Where is Jake Bowey? He's gone missing. Premiership player, super talent, rising star nominee and now he's nowhere to be seen.

What an appalling application of the law of natural justice. This was sports' tribunal, not the High Court of Australia. Too many lawyers on the panel. The concept of natural justice has been dragged through the mud and forever will be a blight on the AFL who should immediately seek to appeal to the courts.

Because he was the best forward we have had in years. Beaten by some ordinary coaching and game plan. This can be fixed for an enormous talent.

It was a reckless and dangerous attack on the player who was concussed. The AFL should appeal to increase the penalty.

When, if ever, has a team won a flag with a % so low? By the end of the season, % is generally a good indication of quality. 106.3 is the lowest of the eight and less than doggies at 10.

We just tweak our game plan a bit to accommodate for Jesse's strengths. As a second tall with BBB he would be free to roam the forward line and cause mayhem with his strong one on one marking and seriously good footy smarts. Please, please yes.

Since Jack overcame his foot injury and is now playing pain free he has become a much more rounded player able to run and provide drive with ball instead of bullocking and getting caught. He is a much better contributor to the team. But still doesn't offer what Maxie offers as captain. An on field leader, great speaker and promoter of the club, imposing figurehead and all round good guy makes him the perfect choice at the moment. Oh, nearly forgot, Maxie is still the best ruckman in the league. Impressive credentials.

The champions St Kilda got from Ballarat were Lockett and then Frawley. Not much for nearly 20 years. From Bendigo the lolly blues got Southey, Ashman and a couple of others but, from their pre zoning success in the late 60s, they had the money and the George Harris cheek to raid WA and SA sides to collect Kernahan, Bradley, Bosustow, Dorotich to toughen their squad. Nobody wanted to go to the sainters.

Who tagged who? Wasting a player like Aish on a Clarrie tag when the team is getting smashed seems like a mistake. Clarrie kept him occupied and out of the game. OTOH how come the multiple umpires could not pick up the holds and jumper tags on Clarrie at ball ups. A couple of free kicks would have quickly stopped the tag.

Finally some statistical evidence for what has until now been based on anecdotal evidence only. There have been a number of posts on 'Land on this topic over the years but only now are there numbers to support the story. Note that this only covers country zones that were fruitful at the time but the dorks' zone would today be mostly considered metropolitan (Mornington Peninsula, Berwick). It is the main reason that the dorks got ahead in the footy world. When gifted the calibre of players from their zone to the exclusion of all others (not just 100 gamers but 300 gamers) it is clear that zoning was unfair. Lolly blues did second best.

Why is this a topic of discussion in the world of Aussie footy and the mangling of our language by commentators, coaches, players, umpires, supporters and administrators? We all know what is meant no matter what syntactible and idiomatic usage errors they make. It is, after all, our great game and we can describe it however we want so long a we kick sausage rolls and lemon skins.

If this is so, then get him out of the team NOW. But I don't believe it is so. He, like Maxie, is still recovering from injury or illness and will only get better, we hope.

I note that Dogga's form recently has not enhanced his value. Does this affect his re-signing?

Not as much as I had hoped. With a 10/10 start I was hoping that we would have some big wins where I could relax and just watch us dominate and add percentage. Most of our wins have been solid but not dominant. Maybe I got spoiled by the PF and GF.

One of the benefits of being more than 57 years old is that I have seen so many coaching styles and team game plans that it becomes overload. However one theme that has succeeded many times in the past is repositioning a player. If a player who, one the face, has ability and potential but is not succeeding in any position then it is time to either pass him on or try him out elsewhere. Weid seems to lack the ability/drive/positioning/physical attributes to succeed as a key follower/forward. Where else might he offer something? He is tall, has good agility, can mark when on a lead (but not in a pack) and can kick long and straight. I suggest try him as a half forward/wingman with licence to roam and present when clear. Can't hurt.

There seems to me to be a disconnect between the final result and these overwhelmingly negative reports, GOTO's review and JoeBoy's three word summaries. Yes we lost but by only 10 points and had the same number of scoring shots. They threw everything at us, changed their game plan, got the rub of the green from the umpires and and just squeaked home. Could it be that we are still building for the finals both in fitness levels and in returning from injury. We know our game plan will work when we are all fit and well in six weeks time. GO GOODY GO DEES

What I remember most about the images of Goody coaching through the grand final was his calm and consistent approach to each player when they came off for their interchange. He seems to coach a system where each player knows and understands his role and his comments were a reminder that this was the correct approach. That it is not working as well this year is probably attributable to other teams planning against the system and, possibly more importantly, our inability to retain a consistent team due predominantly to the disruptions caused by injury. For me, I waited the full 57 years so I am sated and can take a more relaxed view. For most others, the season is not over yet and there is still time for the bits to come together. GO GOODY GO DEES.

All three are free kicks as, in each case, the initial tackle was high and Kozzie's ducking did not move the tackler's arm to over the shoulder. The test is always where the initial contact was made.

Good to know that they read Demonland.

So now that U has been found, and names starting with V, W, X and Z are too easy, is there a player whose names starts with Y?