tiers

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.

No, it's not because they are among our best or even most consistent players but because they regularly showed leadership actions that matter. There are times when a quiet word or a pat on the head at the right moment is all it takes to show leadership. It helps that both set a good example by their efforts during games.

Good leaders are those who can lead by bringing players with them by offering direction and encouragement when needed on field. Whilst Maxie is a great figurehead for the club off the field, I don't recall him offering the sort of leadership required on the filed. Neither has Viney. The players who seem to offer on field leadership are Trac and May. Safe and steady when the team is under pressure and able to direct their teammates when needed and lead by example. I keep coming back to the best leadership examples of recent years - they were not generally the most charismatic or best players but rather those who contributed in many ways such as Maxwell, Cotchin, Harley, Wood who are all premiership captains.

Rioli started his career with in a top performing team with experienced players like Hodge, Franklin, Lewis, Mitchell, Roughhead in the team to give him cover and provide him with scope to perform. Kozzie started in a dud season without this experienced core to shield him. If he is good enough we will soon know. The bits I saw last year give me confidence that he has many of the right qualities to progress. Let's all calm own and give him the time and space he needs to develop.

I have advocated elsewhere for TMac and Jackson to be tried as running wingmen. TMac has the tank but not sure about his skills for the wing and Jackson has the size and speed to play well. Let's try them all out including Rosman. I can see it in the practice matches - four wingmen playing on each other in various combinations to find the best combination. Imagine having three (Langdon plus 2 others) in the 22 to rotate and fill other roles such as back up to Gawn. Hard for other teams to match.

Understanding a game plan should not be difficult. However, unless you are at the ground and observing from a reasonable height, it is difficult if not impossible to watch where the players run to receive the ball relative to their team mates and opponents. A game plan should comprise instructions on where to run, when to crowd and when to open up, how many at the ball, a consistent and planned approach to clearing the ball from defence and a structured path to goal. Not an accident waiting to happen. MFC in 2018 exhibited a successful game plan (chaos ball and players at the ball) and the tiggas have developed a manic running plan that suits their playing group. The dorks used to play Mitchell at the back of the ;pack as a distributor and everyone knew what to do when they won the ball. It must cater to, and offer support to, the skills and abilities of the players so that a particular game plan might take several years to become apparent whilst the playing squad is assembled. If the players do not match, either the playing group or the game plan must be altered.

The best kicks were from full back after a behind. Phil Roden was unquestionably he best at MFC, if not the league. Perfect balance, timing and style made his left foot drop kicks lower than most but long and accurate. Worth getting to matches early just watch him kick in in the ressies. Bernie Massey and Tassie Johnson were next best from FB.

Mark Williams has a background in teaching and in footy. A footy teacher is always what we need. I have heard glowing reports on his manner with players and I have seen up close his understanding of our great game and what it means to players and supporters. A wise choice. I look forward to watching his pupils improve and excel.

No one can compare to Robbie. He was in a universe all of his own.

I think that I don't care whether he makes as a ruckman so long as he makes somewhere on the filed. I see him as a potential forward or, even better, a potential running wingman while he develops a body and a tank. In the past there were many top players who started out on the wing eg Hardeman, Roos, Clay, Bourke and who were given time to develop. Let the club and the boy figure it out.

His pass mark is the same as for all coaches of all teams at all levels. He has to show that he can make a positive difference and enhance and sustain our team's performance. 2018 was a good example but unless he can show a similar result, then perhaps he will not be able to demonstrate that he can make a positive difference. It's tough being an AFL coach but that's why he earns the big bucks.

That is why they created the centre square - because players weren't holding their positions so well. Check the history of Kennedy's teams in the 60s. Today the problem is that the play can be so easily held up by mauls and stacks where the umpires are too afraid to pay quick frees. Go back a generation and a single umpire managed to keep the game open and flowing by using the whistle quickly and often. Did not harm the spectacle of the game. Watch black and white replays on Fox.

+1. +1. Good suggestions. One tackler only should be allowed. Eliminate ugly mauls that are a feature of other inferior codes. Improve adjudication of holding the ball. Remove the confusion and just call it incorrect disposal because it was either not in accordance with the rules ie dropped, thrown or it took too long. Why can a player be turned 360 and not be penalised but others get penalised for much shorter possession? Make it a simple decision - players must dispose of the ball by the first option or be penalised if properly and fairly tackled ie retarded, not just touched, as it was once adjudicated without any fuss. If the ball is locked in or there has been no opportunity to dispose, ball up. Fair to everyone and much easier to adjudicate and for the supporters to understand and accept. As for holding the man, when two players are both jostling eg defender and forward, there should be no penalty for arms around or insignificant jumper pulls. They are big guys and let them battle it out. Of course if there is obvious and significant interference in the contest then a free kick can be awarded. But not for tiggy-touch-wood to-and-fro between two big guys.

If the AFL through Shocking truly wanted to reduce interchanges and reduce congestion, they should restore one of the features of the game the old kick in rules to provide extra time for the players to "catch their breath" so asto allow them more time on the field without the need for regular interchanges. The current "pick up a ball from a bag" and start running for often more than 15 metres so as to kick to to the boundary line is not an attractive or appealing feature of our great game. As for the interchange rules, maintain four interchanges but one player, a different one each quarter, must be rostered off so that only three are available for interchange. Or reduce to three with one rostered off per quarter. The number of rotations should be restricted to the equivalent of one per player per quarter ie. 18 per quarter and 72 per game. No player can be rotated more than once in a quarter. If the opportunity is not used then it is forfeited. Together with the other changes above this should provide an easily manageable and attractive enhancement to our great game. Bring it on.

+1. Brown at FF, Weideman at CHF, TMac FP and back up ruck and Jackson on a wing where he can run, run and run and outmark any opponent.

As always, it will depend on the role that he is asked to play on the field. I like the idea of him playing as a "defensive" forward playing on the defence's sweeper and allowing the other smalls to run free. Each team seems to have one player designated as a sweeper to fill the gaps and to provide an extra at contests. Let Jones sweep the sweeper away by negating their influence and role. Any goals he kicks will be a bonus but he will keep the ball in the forward line.