tiers

His ability to take contested marks even when he appears to be out of position is remarkable. His kicking to position is excellent. Watch how he finds a target and how often he delivers to the spot. Very rarely beaten one out at ground level. Good pick up. PS No hope for Brownlow because history tells us that only one fullback (Fred Goldsmith, South Melbourne) has ever won. Although based on Saturday's form there must eventually be a Brownlow winner who dominates through his ability to win one on one contests and does not just accumulate possessions.

Offensive to Robbie. There will only ever be one Robbie in all of footy histoy. No one that I have seen in over 60 years comes close in skill and outright ability in a body that was not made for footy. Even more so that Robbie, unlike all the others, played in a poor team whereas the others named all played in powerful, successful teams that won premierships. They each had plenty of support where Robbie had almost none. As for Petracca, the others named could regularly win matches almost on their own a stength that Petracca, although dominant at times, has yet to master. When it comes, then we can talk about comparisons.

Decision to be made by club doctors to avoid exploitation. I can just see club doctors being encouraged to decide on whether or not an injury, no matter how it was acquired, would impact not only on this game but also on the next and subsequent games. The introduction of this rule is laughable. It will be rorted and gamed without end because no one will be prepared to challenge the doctors "clinical judgement". I posted earlier on how gaming and rorting can be reduced. I stick to my prescription over the AFL's invitation to cheat.

According to a news report, the sub rule will apply to more than concussion injuries but until detailed rules of operation are released, it will almost certainly be a system open to rorting. Let's wait and see..

Having been at the GF in 1964 my mind is starting to falter. You are correct - it should be 56 years still = zero.

Where is Picket Fence when we need him. Photos are great for the pr department but we need analysis of their movement.

No exceptions for next season. Too easy to game. Let's not find "outs". If this is to work it must be tough and strict or it will be gamed. If the substitute player cannot play the next match, for any reason, then the team does not get a substitute. Simple. Tough. Fair. Just. Equal. Sensible.

So knowing why doesn't alter the stats. 66 years still = zero.

If it is to be introduced it must be simple to administer and verify. It should apply to all types of contact injuries that have occurred in the game ie. not soft tissue type injuries that will take a player permanently out of the game in any of the first three quarters. No last quarter substitutions to be allowed. One quarter with a reduced bench should be considered normal. Substitute player is restricted to playing in the last quarter only to prevent coaches gaming the system ie. must be on the bench during the first three quarters and only join the 22 at 3qt. The injured subbed player must not be allowed to play the next match (not next week because could be gamed by the bye or finals). The 23rd is a to be real substitute ie. capable of playing a whole game and not a player recovering from injury who needs limited time. Substitute players must be selected in the 22 for the next match and no substitute player can be a substitute more than 2 times a season. The same strict liability approach that applies to man on the mark breaches should apply to any coach who transgresses who should be substituted for at least 2 games ie not on the bench, on the ground or in the box. No defences accepted. Seems fair and restricts opportunities to game the system. I commend it to the AFL

Opinion vs fact. I'll stick with facts. 66 years = zero.

The only stat that matters is premierships.

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.