tiers

Pivot was an earlier term for centreman before we had "midfielders". At least the change in terminology was not, so far as I am aware, an introduced term from another continent. It was home grown Similarly with mark. It is the pompous commentators who grate the most. Norman Banks, Doug Heywood, Tony Charlton, Harry Beitzel or Mike Williamson never needed to show off. As for non-officiating. If he/she pays a free kick, and it counts, then he/she was definitely officiating.

Why, oh why, does the media insist on using the ugly terminology to describe our position. We are "top of the ladder" as it has been since the dawn of the footy era. We are not "top of the table", an ugly term purloined from overseas soccer. If we finish top of the ladder that is enough to define our success. Again that's how it has been since the dawn of footy. That ugly expression "minor premiership" has crept in from rugby and has no place in our great game. Curse those journos and commentators who use these terms in the hope of sounding fancy and "sophisticated". They don't, they sound like presumptuous prats and bores. Call me an old fuddy duddy but some things we should hold sacred. Our great game and its traditional terminology are sacred and must be preserved. Go dees.

Brayshaw plays his role to fill gaps on his wing so that the oppo cannot walk through his side. He supports the defence and has a knack of intercepting kicks when it counts. The number of possessions he gains is irrelevant to his role. His value to the team as an on field voice is immense. He knows when to wave his arms about to fill gaps. Both he and Langdon patrol their side of the ground to provide support for the inside mids.

1. b) a premiership is a premiership no matter how or where. 2. a) experienced both over the years and losing a PF means we don't get a chance. At least losing a GF we had a chance (notwithstanding that in 88 and 2000 the winners were dominant and we we somewhat lucky to make it.

As he matures and develops he will be known as Jake Bowey, not a copy of any other player. The kid has poise, good decision making, quick hands and knows where to find the ball. The first "bowser".

Febey twins, Andy Lovell, Tassie Johnson just from dees. Could there ever have been a better half forward line - Crosswell, Hart, Baldock.

Who will miss Tassie?

Posted this in an earlier thread on Tassie team. Dated 6 August before Carter. Tasmanians are already committed to existing clubs and the state is too small to host a new team. One the other hand if a Melbourne based team can be convinced/cajoled/coaxed/compelled to move across Bass Strait in the hope of picking up an extra supporter base, then it might work. A joint Victorian and Tasmanian partnership playing home games in Hobart, Launceston and Melbourne. North stand out as the obvious first, last and only choice. When considering whether or not Tassie can support a team on its own, there is a relationship between population (proxy for money) and the number of national tier 1 competition teams (AFL and NFL) that can be supported. It takes minimum of 500,000 population to support one tier 1 team and Tassie barely qualifies. Tier 2 and 3 competitions such as NBL, A-league, netball, AFLW and the multitude of cricket formats are more appropriate. They should stick to the lower tiers. It should and probably will happen. Roos have no fanatical supporter base like the sainters who have a long history of misery to maintain.

His purported failure was entirely due to a coaching failure. In the last quarter of a close game, his first, he was left one out in the goal square against a saintless forward (I think Bruce) who was just too strong and too experienced and was able to score. It was the failure by the coaches that cost us the game. May and Lever and even Petty would make sure that this will not happen again.

Cannot miss out on a top four place. But can we now relax? Reminds me of 1964. Secured top place after r.17 and then got smashed by doggies in r.18 when it didn't count. Good outcome nevertheless.

Harmes gave us run and drive from the centre in a way that Viney never has. His running goal from a Melksham handball started by a Jackson tap upfield in the third quarter was typical. Must be retained in this role and another role found for Viney, which might be difficult.

Even the ultimate reward will be somewhat diminished if Jones is not a part of the team and gets to put his hand on the cup. Rest him so that he is in prime condition and we can be sure that there will be no-one with more desire and effort on the day, if it comes. I vote for Jones.

From a set shot, Maxie should run in for his kick at an angle to the right that will neutralise his natural swing to the left. Not hard to figure out and implement.

A 162 differential over 20 games between doggies and toiges is not acceptable, regardless of how the numbers can be parsed and analysed. In each case the numbers +/- are more than double the next club. Something is clearly wrong in a game where free numbers should balance out over a season. However this works out I would like our dees to drink some of the same Freeade as the doggies to improve our position. Last night against weagles was not a good start.

ANB was a major factor in 2018. His ability to get the ball in tight situations, steady, look and deliver to open players was evident then. He, like the team, lost it in 19 and 20 but regained it this year. Valuable understated cog in the forward line.

What has not been mentioned so far is that in 2001 Neale tried to convert our damaging, Brownlow Medal winning, running midfielder into a backpocket/hbf that ruined his game and made him tradeable not only for salary cap reasons. Might not have happened if he had been left to play in his best role. Poor judgement and decision making by the coaches of the day.

Tony Campbell's finest hour. Kept the chief under control.

18 teams can be made to work by adopting the following format. Each team plays every other team once (alternating home and away each year). After 17 rounds the 18 teams are divided into 3 groups of 6 teams along the following lines: 1,4,7,10,13,16; 2,5,8,11,14,17: 3,6,9,12,15,18 to maintain relativities. Each group then plays a round-robin 5 match series and the wins and percentages are added to the ladder after 17 rounds. Because the groups are similar in composition, no one team should get an advantage in the race for the finals. Introduce a bye after 17 rounds for the the draw to be sorted out, another bye after 22 rounds for the annual awards such as Brownlow, MVP, rising start and coaches. A further bye before the grand final will give teams the best chance to be fit and rested. Total so far is 25 weeks. With a March start this should be doable. The finals should also be enhanced with two groups namely 1,3,5,7 and 2,4,6,8. Each team plays a round robin over three weeks (4 games every week) to select the top side in each group based on wins and percentage in the final series. My preference would be for all games in week 3 to be played at the same time so the results cannot be gamed. It's a major change but can be done and will provide much more interest and excitement.

Tasmanians are already committed to existing clubs and the state is too small to host a new team. One the other hand if a Melbourne based team can be convinced/cajoled/coaxed/compelled to move across Bass Strait in the hope of picking up an extra supporter base, then it might work. A joint Victorian and Tasmanian partnership playing home games in Hobart, Launceston and Melbourne. North stand out as the obvious first, last and only choice. When considering whether or not Tassie can support a team on its own, there is a relationship between population (proxy for money) and the number of national tier 1 competition teams (AFL and NFL) that can be supported. It takes minimum of 500,000 population to support one tier 1 team and Tassie barely qualifies. Tier 2 and 3 competitions such as NBL, A-league, netball, AFLW and the multitude of cricket formats are more appropriate. They should stick to the lower tiers.

Given that the AFL already support GWS and GGS who operate in large markets, how can anyone realistically suggest that the AFL should also support a team in Tasmania that has a small population, divided major cities and no large corporate entities to sponsor a footy team. It is a pipe dream (it's like Tasmania can now wear long pants without growing up) and should be shot down at once or the other 18 teams will be bled for years.

Why is there a high half forward but never a low half forward? How is a lead up forward different to a leading forward? Why is a ruck-rover neither a ruckman or a rover? Intercept defender? Ground ball getter midfielder? Lock in forward? Clearance specialist? Could be anyone. It seems to me that there is a competition between expert commentators (so-called) to come up with new names that reflect the roles that players fill as well as the positions and that, whereas in the past a position came with an image that tended to define the player who filled that position, today with interchange and zone defence and chaos attacks the old rules no longer apply. For those who can remember, what would Alf Brown have done? He used to write a match analysis in Friday's Herald (afternoon paper) based on fixed position one-on-ones eg half forward on half back. At least the footy can still be great to watch especially if the sound is on mute and teams play in the corridor and stay away from down the line.

The name missing in this discussion is Brayshaw. Got lots of Brownlow votes in this role. Trouble is that he is perhaps too valuable as a wingman playing up and down the filed and strong intercept marking.

Teams that succeed have momentum going into the finals. At the moment we have none. Time to crank up the momentum.

The topic of on field leadership has been tossed around in this thread and, whilst we may have some reasonable suggestions here, there remains the need to appoint someone of the coaches choice. It's like Kennedy's injunction to his team to "do something". We can only hope that the coaches get the message and "do something".

Chunk has been a great and deserved leader by his actions but, to me, has never shown the ability to direct play. That's what we are lacking around the centre line and forward. I recall Angus once showing on field enterprise by waving his arms and barking instructions. It does not have to be the captain just someone who can think.