tiers

Even harder to find.

I have just read the report on Nathan Jones speech to the club this week. It is full of class and humility in line with his playing career and demeanor over the years. Given his outstanding career and contribution to our club when combined with the incomparable Robbie's contribution is seems to me that the number 2 belongs in a special place. Accordingly, number 2 should be retired permanently and elevated to legend status in the pantheon of our club's icons.

Firstly, because there was once 12 Victorian teams so if you hated all opposition supporters there was no one left to be friends with. Secondly, no matter how one eyed and fanatic we might be, we all love our great game of footy first before we become partisan supporters.

Whilst many people talk about our "premiership window" developing young players for the future is the surest way to prolong the so called window. Goody on the club.

I understand from your text that you are upset. Are you?

This has nothing to do with playing swannies at less than full strength. It has all to do with the integrity of the AFL rules and tribunal and, in some respects, the future of footy. For him to get off would be a bad look and would severely diminish the reputation of all concerned. Here's hoping.

Sam has had his chances to show what he can do as a forward. I still rate him as a player but, like many other forwards who failed to "click", would like to see if he can make it as defender facing the oncoming ball rather than having to wait for it. Swans McCartin is a current example and footy history is replete with other examples. The rest of the year at Casey beckons.

For the statistically minded posters, there are now 12 teams (/18) with a percentage above 100%. Has this happened before because, as I understand the maths, percentages should cancel out over the 18 teams.

Gawn and Jackson would overwhelm Keating. If we add Langdon and Brayshaw and allow them to add Akermanis to complete the sets then it would be a contest of the bests v the bests of each era. The dees should be better through weight of top class numbers.

A good system relies on talented players who can exploit the system. As stated above, we have both. Plus we have no obvious gaps or weaknesses that can be exploited by the opposition. One week at a time.

10/10. That's all that matters.

Absolutely, if there is a spot available. No matter how perfect we believe our list to be, things can change quickly and, given our recent success at draft picks, we should top up with a tall, if available. Although having Daw, Tomlinson, Smith and Weideman in reserve would ordinarily be considered a luxury by most teams. Medium size players we have in abundance.

Those of us who concentrate with our tongue out always know when to retract to avoid a bite. An instinctive, intuitive and instant self preservation technique, not dissimilar to avoiding tackles.

A simple NO will do.

Could it be any more complicated and controversial? Time to try a different approach.

One week at a time.

So what? That there are grey areas and teams and coaches can try to game the rules to their advantage should not affect the principles embedded in these rules. For example, why should a minor insignificant jumper pull in a marking contest be penalised if the affected player is still able to make the contest? The umpires should be instructed to look for the affect on a fair contest and not the trivial, strict interpretation of obtuse rules. It's the contest that matters, not applying the rules. Another example. High contact (a dreadful expression) should be seen as a "coathanger" round the neck infringement, not a fairly applied tackle that slides up the shrugging arms of the tacklee. A fair tackle made into "high contact" by the actions of the tacklee does not deserve to be penalised. Similarly ramming one's head into the body of an opponent does not qualify for a free kick. There are many more examples but there is a rules committee who should and could fix these problems. Get rid of the overly legalistic language and the overly technical wording and footy could become fun again just like it was when we were at school in the good old days.

I have posted before that the rules we played with when we at school were the simplest and the best. The main criteria are 1. to protect the players 2. to ensure an even contest and 3. to make the game attractive. The rules under 1. should include: round the neck (high dangerous tackle and NOT gentle hand on shoulder); in the back (a shove NOT a touch); trip in any form; kicking in danger; sling or forceful tackle into the ground. The rules under 2. should include: throwing the ball; holding the ball when tackled or restrained (longer than needed to dispose of the ball ie prior opportunity); dropping the ball when fairly tackled or restrained (incorrect disposal); interference in a marking contest that severely disadvantages an opponent (NOT just pushing and shoving and jumper grabs); The rules under 3. should include: bounce every 15 m; interference in marking contests not allowed unless there is a genuine attempt or a mark taken; hip and shoulder bumps to the hip and shoulder. Eliminate all tiggy touch wood frees and overly technical garbage like stand, deliberate and 50m penalties when the kicker is not inconvenienced or affected. That's all for now. The classifications can be adjusted but the 3 guiding principles remain intact. Let's get on with our great game.

It has been said that teams do not win premierships in May, June.July or August. 10/10 with a high % means that there is time to improve and iron out all the kinks before September. Let's be patient. GO GOODY GO DEES

Of course it was a dangerous tackle. Ed was driven into the ground. If he had hit his head it would have been at least 2 weeks c/f Kade Chandler's penalty for much the same action but different outcome. Will the AFL ever realise that a dangerous tackle is always a dangerous tackle even when the head id not affected? I have serious doubts that they will.

And he is ours. We get to watch him every week. Happy happy joy joy.

Who is going to keep him out of the forward line? Will never happen. As for his kicking, it appears to be a function of the ball drop and the desire to kick the ball out of the ground. Tracca's great skill is to use his positioning and strength to get the ball, evade tackles and deliver the ball to advantage. In time, his fine touch ball handling will catch up and he will be a more complete player.

Remember it is one game at a time, one win at a time and one year at a time. 4 points is what I am after.

Not only did NM not pick him up but they gave us BBB. Is this worse than MFC's dark days?

Twice in the last quarter ANB addressed the players. It was telling how influential he was to the players around him. They stopped and listened. An on field leader of great value to our team.