tiers

One week at a time.

Luke Jackson is only 19 in his second season. He could be anything but for the time being he plays in the ruck to free up Maxie and runs his opponents ragged. He shows quick and good decision making (handballs to advantage) and has a knack of anticipating and running hard to receive for easy goals. What a pleasure to watch. It would not surprise me if he even ended up as a midfielder.

I was 15 and stood in the open grandstand under the old scoreboard so I watched Neil Crompton's kick sailing directly towards me. What a joy. Who would have thought that I would still be waiting for a repeat performance after 57 years. At least I have my whole family (kids, grandkids) to support me. For them it would all be new. Go de4es.

Robbie was incomparable. He was that far ahead of all others. Clarrie will one day be ranked second, if not already. But never equal or better.

I have posted several times over the years that Clarrie plays his own game his own way. He racked up contested possessions in packs, clearances in the centre and, to top it off, he was right behind Spargs for the goal of the ground and then kicked his own. And he is as good at the end of the game as at the beginning. Others may do some of these but none of the others combine all his talents in one package. In the 60+years that I have been watching the dees, only the incomparable Robbie has a higher ranking. Garry, Ox and Jimmy rank next.

Still works well on its own as a derisive expression. A dropkick can be described as out dated, unreliable, erratic, unpredictable, difficult to execute and should not be attempted except by those who have exceptional skills eg. Tassie Johnson, Bernie Massey and Phil Rhoden. Neatly sums up most commentators.

Remember before the centre diamond or square? Just three circles. Worked for nearly 100 years until Kennedy ruined the game.

The Lakeside Oval (aka South Melbourne ground) was the only ground with lights but they were only good enough for a match so long as there was no tv telecast. Used only for the post season competition for teams that were not playing real finals footy. I believe (although not sure) that the lights were installed for the 56 Olympics.

The McLelland trophy used to be awarded to the team with the best results overall for seniors, reserves and thirds. We actually won a few times in my memory. Dates me, doesn't it. Who else remembers reserves (or seconds) and thirds? And the pink coloured "Sporting Globe" when it was a mandatory read and not a bar. No legal; betting on footy, footy special trams to the games, suburban grounds, no creature comforts but the footy was at least as good. And no pretentious, pompous, pratty, pseudo personalities to cheapen our great game with their dumb comments. At least we no longer have 3LO, 3UZ and 3DB who would fit the footy commentary in between the races at lesser places than Manangatang just when your team was about to score.

And it was the fisherman, not the fisher, who caught the fish to go into the batter before cooking.

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.