tiers

In the GF ANB,at least twice in the 4Q, ran up to players after a goal was scored to give advice/instructions/boost etc as a leader would and they acknowledged his actions. Has always been value. Why the club asked him to consider his options at the end of 2020 is hard to fathom but maybe there were other unknown trades that could have been made if he left. Who knows? But there seemed to be no hesitation to keep him on the list in 2021.

Multiple top 2 picks might not be enough. He has so much potential. I believe that we may need to implement a campaign based on the old doggies "keep Chris Grant the the club" by asking 10 year old kids to write in to him. He wouldn't be able to resist. Would he?

+1.

Several years ago ANB discovered the short attacking pass and became a more valuable player. Whilst his running ability is properly lauded it is his ability to use the ball to advantage that makes him so good. I now expect each kick to be deliberate and damaging, a skill that is now being adopted by Spargo in the forward line and by Jake Bowey in the backline. Instead of counting possessions and metres gained, I watch for their clever little "dinky" passes to advantage. GO GOODY GO DEES

What is often mistaken for luck is taking full advantage of favourable situations eg. a ball bounce, an unexpected kick off the ground, being in the right position when a mistake is made by the opposition and many other scenarios. Potentially fortunate situations occur frequently, but only those who are alert to the chance and are able to take advantage are considered lucky.

We are 30+ year members (Mr and Mrs) and have not yet received an email but know that it will come. Rather than an afternoon tea with other old fuddie duddie members, we would prefer to attend a couple of training sessions where we could meet and talk casually and informally to the players like when they held open training sessions in mid season. I recall one at Prahran and another in East Malvern. Preferable to a phone call or an online video call that puts unnecessary pressure on the players and coaches. They were fun and the kids (grandkids) could run around and meet the players. Jack Watts was a favourite. In any event, success is it's own reward for long term supporters like us and, personally, we want and need no more. GO GOODY GO DEES

Three cases. Three errant decisions. And sadly, our Neita is on the panel. The AFL must appeal to overturn each decision or the rules will mean nothing and there will be no precedents. Can you believe using a Reiwoldt mark as a defence and Sloane using his own former eye problems as a defence? Ludricous reasoning by all concerned. Robinson was standing still and was hit by a head. Is there not a duty of care owed by the owner of the head to the player?

Apart from Salem and Lever the replacements are like for like. Not to worry as long as May is there to direct traffic.

I attended the 1964 grand final so I have 57 years of misery to expunge from my memory. I also remember the lost years of 61, 62 and 63. Easy wins by large margins to win a flag helps.

Let's be careful where this might end.

It is time for this "digital" assassination phase to end. Private recordings of unsuspecting and off the record comments, no matter how unpleasant, should remain private. So long as the victim performs their public duty responsibly and professionally what their private thoughts are is irrelevant. If leaked, then the leaker should be found and hounded. The victim should be counseled to be more careful and to not trust anyone but that is all. We are all entitled to our private thoughts and expressions otherwise the world becomes a madhouse with malicious leakers seeking to destroy reputations and careers without any accountability.

Harmes and ANB are serious contributors to the team whereas most of the doggies are merely accumulators who play their own games. No wonder we have won the past two matches. GO GOODY GO DEES

Having watched round 1 I think I will keep on watching the Grand Final replays. More exciting, better standard and we win by so much more. It will take something really special this season to change my preference.

For those of us lucky enough to have attended the final training session at the Junction Oval before the 88 grand final, we remember how, at the end of training, Grinter led the final lap of the ground to the cheers of the supporters. Rod always led from the front on his own with his chest pumped out. A great leader and inspiration.

Time to apply the old adage - don't get mad, get even. The oompa fired up the dees to record a massive victory and, as has been recorded in various post here, his actions directly contributed to many dees goals (eg who scrubbed the kick that led to Angus's goal, who kicked into Clarrie that led to TMac's first goal). That's called getting even. Next time let's remind him of his folly and its cost and invite him to repeat his misadventures.

Every Heart Beats True was the journey. Momentum was the climax. Both great. GO GOODY GO DEES.

I agree. Hawkins moved too much. Maybe the rules do not allow for further penalties after the siren. However if this is so, then deliberately running over the mark could become the norm for after the siren. This should be clarified by Scott.

The oompa laid a sling tackle. Maxie was spun around. To blame Maxie because he was unbalanced is fatuous. In any other match or situation it would likely have been a free kick or even a report. Imagine Maxie doing it to the oompa. It is not the outcome that counts, it is the deliberate action. That Maxie was unbalanced or hit his head because of his own movement, it was still a sling tackle and a free should have been awarded. IN retrospect, not awarding a free might have been the beginnings of our momentum change. Conterfactuals are hazardous so I will say no more..

Never watch them. Start my replays at the Gawn sling tackle. Then 7 goals straight ending with Clarrie and Bang! Bang bang bang - the finest bit of footy commentary ever.

His foot should not have been raised at all nor extended after taking the ball. Feet should not make contact in any way. Minimum 2 weeks for raised foot making contact.

Well it wasn't the guy on the ground. I was surprised that he only got 2 weeks. Doesn't matter where it hits above the shoulder or with what part of the arm. It was a late, reckless, head high, swinging arm contact. If they are going to protect the head, then 4 weeks minimum.

I heard from a good authority (ie close family member) that Norm Smith's disgust at the committee resulted from their failure to support him in legal action brought by an umpire. Norm obviously felt that the club should support their coach in any football and match related issues and was naturally disappointed that the then committee would not. The committee failed Norm and all the supporters. It was never the Norm Smith curse, it was always the curse of the faceless men that doomed us to 57 years of misery.

Two comments about issues raised in the doco. 1. Some of us at the ground clearly heard the siren before the umpire paid the penalty forJimmy's infraction. The noise of the crowd was so loud that it is not unreasonable to accept that the umpires did not hear it but it still rankles. On the other hand, facing the lolly blues the following week in high temperatures without Robbie might have been too much. 2. The merger did not go ahead because not only the the dorks did not agree but also, and more importantly, Joe Gutnick came aboard and promised money to keep our club afloat. Otherwise, according to the advice we received from a club legend and committee man, the club was financially stuffed and had no future. Overall the doco was highly enjoyable and, for those who are nit picking about the content, there was only 90 mins and I believe that they filled the time wisely.

Watch ANB in Q4 of the GF how he speaks to the other players after Fritsch scores both his goals. It seems to me that he was reminding them all the the game wasn't over even with such a big lead. Worth developing his on field leadership.

Abuse directed at an umpire at any level of footy must be penalised. However, in the AFL where they are all adults at the peak of their profession, the abuse must be seen to be clearly addressed to the umpires by looking at the umpire whilst gesturing or talking so that the direction is unmistakeable. A normal human reaction such as Tomlinson's expressing surprise or disappointment after watching a replay on the big screeen is not abuse. What if Maxie's reaction to the sling tackle in 3Q of the GF was considered abuse? What about players expressing frustration or even regret at their offence? Surely that cannot be abuse. As for a delay in returning the ball, there are situations where the identity of the offendee might not be clear (either through misunderstanding of the decision or umpire's call not being audible) so that the umpire's discretion should be applied. Time for adults to show their maturity. Gil, for all his outstanding success at getting the past two seasons finished, also needs to grow up.