tiers

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.

Wing. Running up and down the ground marking and winning the ball on the ground. Back, centre and forward. Langdon's apprentice rotating with Harmes, Hannan and others.

As I have said before in a post, the late Dean Bailey used to say that it takes 70 games played as a group to build the sort of cohesion and understanding needed for success. We are getting to this target - Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw, Salem, Harmes, Gawn, TMac(?), Viney, Jetta and maybe others. It is significant that Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw and Gawn have been prominent in recent Brownlows. MaCartney used to say that it takes 5 years to build an AFL footballer. Combine the two and 2020 was supposed to be our year but it will now have to wait for 2021. With good coaching and leadership it's nearly time for this group to burst out and find success.

A stable team structure with few injuries. Consistent and reliable game plan that secures wins. Fit, match hardened players who play to their capabilities and roles. Two to three match winners on the day. No fear.

Don't know about Libba snr but the year that Teasdale won he was completely dominant across the ground. As I recall, he started the year at full forward (his position at Richmond) and went into the ruck early in the season when the Swans' ruckman was injured. From then on he was untouchable at a time when ruckmen (also known as followers) were the equivalent of our current on-ballers who not only contested ball ups and throw ins but were relied on the take big contested marks around the ground (see also Gary Dempsey, Graeme Moss and Peter Moore who also won a Brownlow). As I said above Teasdale was dominant and his win was not a surprise. That he got injured and could never replicate that form is another story. The Brownlow is reward for that one season only and no win should ever be diminished because the winner could not replicate that form again.

The umpires are always in the best position to vote. They are close to the action and can tell who is working hard successfully and who is not. They can see up close who is winning the ball and using it well in a way that is superior to all coaches and commentators. They have never picked a dud and always pick one of the top fancies. Lachie Neale proves the point as does previous winners Pyke, Dangerfield, Martin, Ablett, Priddis etc.

Woewodin played a great 2000 as an attacking, free-running, left- footed on baller who could run all day, get in front of the pack to get us moving and could score goals. Together with his lefty mates Powell and A MacDonald he made a huge contribution to our success that year. After 2000 he was treated shabbily and prevented from playing his natural running game as the coaching panel sought to make him into a defender playing in the BP or HBF. They destroyed his greatest strength - running. No wonder his form diminished and he ultimately left in an act of extreme bastardry by our club.

When Dunn started he, like Bate, showed enormous potential. Sadly both got weighted down with our poor coaching and development at the crucial state of their careers with the Dees. I can understand why the coaches were not impressed by his reluctance to play within the "system" (too predictable and too many long bombs to no-one in particular) but he was, at his best, the best one-on-one defender we had and possibly the best in the league. No-one could beat him. It is sad that the coaches could not find a way to integrate such a skill in the team when we needed it the most.

The real opportunity lost this year was Frost on a wing. After watching Langdon's effort this year, another hard running wingman could have been beneficial. Frosty's run and effort and, even with his at times unfocused delivery, could have made a difference. We will never know because we never tried or experimented.

Tracca often fills the role of "pappa bear" in the forward line. He is the one that pats his team mates on the head when they come to him after doing something special. That, to me, is a sign of captain material. Let's see how it develops. The last one to regularly fill that role was David Schwarz but he couldn't displace Neita for the captain's job. Watts also filled that role on occasions and it will always remain an unknown just how effective he might have been as a captain for his maturity and footy nous. Before you all pile in I remind you that not all effective captains are always the best player. They just need to be the best leader on the field.

The worth of a running wingman was seen this year with Langdon. If Hannan can be developed in this role then he has the attributes (running, marking, kicking if not yet a tank) to fill this role. He will never get high possession counts playing as a HFF so past performance shouldn't coutn against him. In my world view we need three rotating wingman to maintain pressure, to support the midfielders and to provide a way out for the defenders and a path to the forwards. I sometimes think that Clarrie would be ideal if not for his value in the centre. He does the running anyhow and one-on-one on a wing would see him dominate.

More running power. Except for Oliver's run and Tracca's strength we get strangled whenever Viney, Melksham or AVB go in the middle. Brayshaw when played in the middle adds run but he is left on the outside too often. Note also that we get throttled at ball ups and boundary throw ins unless Maxie gets a clean hit to advantage and the oppos don't rove to him - not often. For his control of the ruck contests we get little return. - it seems that there is no plan or cohesion between Maxie and the little fellas. It's demoralising how often we get beaten at crowded contests. Too many dees attack the ball and allow the oppos to own the outside perimeter that gives them a clear passage away from the pack. Even when winning we seem to chase all day. It's own occasional good fortune that we have so many players who can convert something from nothing eg. ANB dodging the pack and running free to goal. Hunt whenever he gets free to run. Lucky we have another six months to correct our deficiencies, if we can. Like our forward entries this has been an obvious failing for years but apparently there is no solution. Better coaching and planning would not hurt.

Do we want to? Too much heartbreak there.

Embarrassing performance. Twice in the third quarter Maxie took an uncontested mark in the backline and twice the ball came straight back after he disposed of it with first a kick and then a handball. If we have no plan or strategy to clear the ball from the backline then what hope do we have to plan and kick goals. Oh , I forgot, we have kicked just two in three quarters. Time to watch current affairs or documentaries because they are more exciting and interesting than watching Goody's dees.

Some years ago I wrote regarding the draw up to round 17 and the final five weeks followed by a finals season and retaining the bye before the finals. I believe it still has merit especially after this year. Play a 17 round season and then break up into separate groups for the last five rounds. Groups to be as below to play a round robin within each grouping ie 5 rounds. 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16; 2, 5, 8, 11., 14, 17; 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, The advantages would be that there would be no favourites, no guaranteed finals positions, incentives for all teams to play hard up to round 17 as group assignments would not be known until the end of the round (draw to be made as late as possible to maintain interest), further incentives in the final 5 games for up to 12 teams to progress, less chance of the system being gamed by unscrupulous or creative coaches, maintain interest till round 22 as all teams to have something to play for. One downside - teams would not be able to challenge those closest to them eg. 7, 8 and 9 for the final spot in the eight. it is an acceptable compromise. To enhance this system, there should also be a similar staggered round robin series for the first three weeks of the finals. Combined the potential is awesome. The bye and the chance for a rest and refresh for the players offers the prospect of a finals season, distinct from the H & A season and a finals series. The eight clubs to be divided into 2 groups 1,3,5,7 and 2,4,6,8 and play a round robin series to determine ladder positions at the end of the finals season. The teams that finish top in each group play off in the grand final. They will have earned it. Finishing 1 and 2 or top 4 loses its appeal for the teams. The argument the WB benefited from the bye is correct - but don't we want the best teams to win, not just the team with least injuries at the start of the finals. Injuries can occur in the finals that will test team lists but at least they could all start even. The trade off is enhanced interest in the final round and four matches a week for the three weeks of the finals where just winning is not enough, it's the margin of victory and its affect on percentage that counts as well. Every score could have a bearing. I would also have all four matches in the third week played at the same time so that teams can't game the system. The broadcasters would have the challenge to cover all four matches simultaneously using "round the grounds" images and reports. What a dynamic and exciting day of footy. Introduce another bye in the week before the grand final so that both teams can be at their best The grand final would then be the ultimate match of the season. The bye week before the GF should become awards week for the Brownlow, rising star, MVP, coaches and all other awards to be held in that week which would become an event in itself with daily functions with the Brownlow as the climax. What a celebration of footy. And then the grand final. Or use the bye week before the finals start Why not?

Current: Oliver. A class above the rest. Has the skills, the size and the potential to be the best player in the AFL in time. All time: The incomparable, unmatchable Robbert Flower. Better by several orders of magnitude above all that have played VFL/AFL, not just Dees, in the 60+ years I have watched.