tiers

My most abiding memory of training during the 1987 finals (we attended all Thursday sessions) was the joy and excitement amongst the fans and the camraderie and confidence of the players. And then we had huge winds against north and south. It was a great time to be a demon.

Read the whole post. Tracca was not a lesser known player. We always knew he was good but needed time to mature, to find consistency and to build a team around him that would allow him to shine.

In 1988 we won three tough finals in a row to get to the grannie and then we played the dorks at the peak of their zoning induced form (in the day it was joked that they could play their seconds and still be good in the days before salary caps, drafts and limits on squad numbers). In 2000 we only had to beat beat a cocky blues (on the back of one of David Schwarz's greatest games, especially the last quarter) and then a weakened roos to go up against a team that had lost only one game for the year. Both opponents were dominant in those 2 years and we stood no realistic chance. As to which team would win, any demon squad with Schwarz and Neitz would have to be respected but the 1988 team had too many out and out demon champions like Lyon, Wilson, Johnson, Viney, Stynes, Wight and Healy even though it was not enough for a flag. I went to both grannies and I declare a diplomatic draw. Proud of all of them.

I have long advocated for TMac to play the traditional wing role - up and down the ground assisting defence, offering a leading target out of defence and holding the ball in forward. He has the motor, size and the skills for this "energizer bunny" role on one side of the ground and he is taller and stronger than most likely opponents. Until the FD coaches for this role then it will not work. Like all planned mismatches it needs to be thought out and trained into the team. And will take time to bear fruit but when it does, if it does, it will be worth the effort. Let's see if there is any vision in the FD.

It strikes me that over many years there have been no examples of lesser known players having both a break out game and then progressing at that higher standard. Weideman had such a game against Geelong in the finals but, notwithstanding a bad run of injuries, does not appear to have maintained that form. Others like Brayshaw, Spargo and ANB exhibit good passages in flashes but do not maintain that form either within a match or over several matches. Those that are identified early like Oliver and Petracca reach a high level of performance quickly but never surge above that level although that level is maintained. There seems to be a "class ceiling" that hovers above our team. Better coaching and development is the only answer. Let's hope the addition of Yze and Williams injects the required coaching expertise.

I attended the 50th anniversary of the 1964 flag in 2014. Most of the players were there but they were looking old and some were frail. Suggest that a 60th of 1960 might mean that many could not make it. Perhaps its too late.

With Friday night, Saturday afternoon/night and Sunday afternoon/night three games can be accommodated at the MCG on that weekend. The AFL tossers should leave us alone and work around us. If Freo can't go home, then tough. It's not our worry.

Players can only be judged in their respective eras. Robbie was many classes above any Melbourne contemporaries and several classes above any other VFL player from his era. None of Maxie, Neita, Garry or RDB, brilliant as they were, would ever be considered to be that far above their contemporaries in the VFL/AFL. They were as good as the best but not that much better. Robbie was that much better. No debate.

It seems that the brainiacs at the AFL read this forum. I read today that the rules will prevent Buddy and others from abusing the latitude of the previous rules.

Correct. But only if the umpires are correctly trained to call play on as soon as the player with the ball moves of a straight line over the head of the man on the mark. No more Buddy curves, no more B Brown long run ins (how can the ump be sure he hasn't deviated from the line), no more feigned give offs to passing player (in fact there should be no passing team mates), limits on banana kicks (strict interpretation must be that player has moved off the line) and no doubt there will be many more absurd examples of when a man on the mark has stood on the wrong blade of grass. The 30 second rule should be reduced to 15 seconds when having shot for goal - how unfair would it be for the man on the mark to have to stand motionless for even 15 seconds. S.Hocking should be made to stand still for 15 minutes as punishment. 50m penalty is outrageously harsh and should be applied to the AFL administrators who thought up this nonsense (if off field than should be $50k per time). Our great game (not their's) is a dynamic game of motion and movement and should not be restricted. If this does not apply beyond AFL then I might spend my time watching the ammos where the game is the game.

If we can come up with a workable, competitive midfield sans Tracca (from Viney, Gus, Harmes, AVB, Jones, Hunt, Melks, Salem, Langdon) then he is my nomination for a FF type role. I wonder if there is a defender in the league who can match up with Tracca one out His marking, one touch ground play, reading of the game, footy smarts and ability to kick long goals and bring others into the game can make him unmatchable, Worth a try. TMac to play a mobile CHF role around the 50m arc. Fritsch, Kozzie, Spargo busy bees around Tracca and TMac. LJ and Max to provide mismatches. Good imaginative coaching is a must. Go dees.

Ripped doesn't mean aerobic capacity, strength, footy smarts or natural footy ability. Let's see him play. I can remember when Plugger Locklet decided one season to get "fitter", lose weight and improve body shape. He became a dud because, although he more than his fair share of footy smarts and ability, it was his weight and strength, not his running, that got him results. Please, do not look at body shape as a marker for performance.

He doesn't wear his helmet at training. Lighter mass overall.

Too often, the lament is that there is not enough money and, for this reason, lesser outcomes are inevitable. It is about time someone from the AFL or the clubs stood up and stated that we don't need more money but what we need is a change in structure/arrangements/process/organisation that will encourage development (note that this is a common failing in society generally - assuming money will fix all). Assume that not only is there no more money but in fact there will be less. Make it work. If you can't, then get out of the way for someone else who is ready to try. Whingeing and whining is no longer acceptable.

I read that Indian cricket is organised on a similar basis. Lots of cricket at club and representative level without elite squads. Seeing as their second XI beat the aussies, their system might be worth considering. Junior clubs connected to senior clubs and more representative competition at a higher level (say U18s allied to AFL clubs with multiple TAC cup style intrastate competitions and deferred drafts) should be considered and tried. It's not a great recommendation but they cannot do worse than the current system.

There was a time, in my lifetime, when then VFL clubs had seniors, reserves, thirds and fourths (last 2 age based). There was a structure and a path if you were good enough. The old VFA was a separate competition and had its own structure. It is time that the now corporatised and money hungry AFL (who somehow believe that they own OUR GREAT GAME) created a similar structure to accommodate junior and senior footy development. If not, then they should get out of the way and let's find someone who will.

In the 90s, before they had big nets behind the goals, it was fun to retrieve the footys at the scoreboard end while the players were having goal kicking practice. Sort of kick-to-kick with the boys. Great fun.

Only those who have finished their careers and whose whole body of work can be assessed should be considered. Current players will have their chance next time. Neitz, Schwarz are definitely in. Toss up for any others who, unfortunately, would have to displace premiership players from our successful eras.

+1. For full time midfielders in the heat of the action they cannot be bettered in our team. For pure class ball winning ability Clarrie is the best I have seen in 60 years. It is a pity that the team has not been coached to take better advantage of his abilities to maximise the value of his disposals.

Too many mistakes over too many years any one of which would have caused anyone other then Eddie to be sacked. Has cheapened footy with his numerous conflicts of interest as a caller and commentator and his uncontrolled mouth. No loss.

Mark Williams made a similar move in his amateur coaching days on a day when past players were invited to come to a match and were invited to join in the circle when singing the club song after a great victory. After celebrating premierships at the same club this was my best day ever at the footy.

I don't believe that young men should be subject to greater scrutiny and held to a higher standard than mere mortals just because they have achieved a measure of fame from their playing ability and their earning capacity. They, too, should be allowed to grow up at their own pace and, so long as they cause no harm other than to themselves, leave them alone. Envy and resentment have no place in our footy world.

That difference is the issue. Is it fair? Not to me.

Over a long period of time I have noticed that reports and comments about the alleged mis-deeds of young footballers are increasingly tinged with elements of envy and resentment that the young players earn too much money for playing sport. To me it is grossly unfair to hold them to a higher standard of behaviour just because they are perceived to be both overpaid and undeserving.

Love the training report because it discusses what they are training for - the new player on the mark rule. Two major flaws in the rule are readily apparent. The rule should be amended so that the player with the ball must kick directly in line with the player on the mark otherwise it becomes a farce. A player with the ball could walk up to the line of the mark and, so long as he remains more than an arm's length away from the player on the mark, he can immediately take off and gain up to 10 metres for his kick. Not in keeping with the spirit of our great game. A 50m penalty for standing on the wrong blade of grass is offensive, obscene and outrageous. Our great game has evolved so that, until recently, a penalty had to be earned in play, not by the umpires interpretation of some inane, idiotic and infantile rule. (S)hocking should hang his head in shame at the damage he is causing to the spirit of our (not his or the AFL's) great game.