tiers

We tend to overlook the value of the role players. If, as ProDee states, he had a new and defined role and he fulfilled the requirements of that role, then he was worthy of a top ten finish in the B&F. Petraccattack's stats are impressive - 15 goals and first in goal assists - suggest that he is more than a "battler" and is a real and consistent contributor to the game plan and deserving of his place. If he plays his role and every other player play theirs, then we will be successful.

It's not how many goals Pedersen can score in the season. It's whether or not his contribution to the team, wherever he plays, could add more than the alternative selection to our number of wins and percentage over 22 games, either by scoring or defending. Given our percentage mishap this year, more wins and greater winning margins will make a difference. And given his form this year, he deserves to be considered in any discussion on best 22 and his claims should not be so easily dismissed. Watts is gone, Weideman is still a work in progress and AVB is not yet fully recovered. There is a need for another tall to support Hogan.

In an earlier post in another thread I had nominated Nibbler as one of our four most valuable players who consistently beat their opponents one-on-one, win the ball and deliver to advantage. Green-machine's observation that Nibbler has better vision and twenty metre execution than everyone on our list excluding possibly Petracca (by foot) is spot on. He developed an ability to find space, stop, look, pick a good option and deliver over short distances. In the forward line, this is a most valuable skill to set up teammates for an easy shot at the goals. I hope our players are being coached to offer themselves as targets to take advantage of his unique skills..

The late Dean Bailey used to say that a team needs 70 games together as a group to achieve success. Brendon McCartney says that it takes 5 years to develop an AFL footballer. Both happening now and not long to go. I will bide my time until their predictions synchronise.

Yes. Freudian slip as I still miss Lyndon.

Our most important players are those who can deny possession by the opposition, win the ball and dispose of the ball to advantage. Hence our most valuable players are Oliver, Petracca, Neal-Bullen and Jetta who consistently beat their opponents one-on-one, win the ball and deliver to advantage. Depending on the day, Jones and Viney as grunts and Harmes and Dunn as line busting dashers are valuable but not as consistent. Maxie gives us a huge advantage but the combination of Pedersen and TMac provide cover and leave us no worse of than many other teams. Hogan also gives us a huge advantage but a combination of Pedersen, TMaca and Petracca provide some cover. The real risk is if we were to lose more than, say 2 of this list, so that our ability to provide cover is stretched. On the other hand, we now have a wider group of play makers and contributors who, if they all stepped up, would lessen the loss. As always, injuries and the ability to cover count more than is appreciated. Richmond in 2017 had next to no injuries, Footscray in 2016 had plenty but had a coach who was shrewd enough and sharp enough to develop and use a wide spread of talent to cover the injuries. I believe that we are building a Footscray model but hoping for Richmond season.

It is time to leave Colin alone and hope that he can find a way to deal with his problems. The contract between players and clubs is a two way street - the player agrees to play to his best ability and the club agrees to provide an environment where the player can develop both as a player and as a person. Sadly, in his time at the club, our club was racked by poor performance and poor leadership and failed to provide an environment where Colin could develop both as a player and as a person. He was not the only one who was adversely affected but he seems to have attracted the most publicity and comment. He deserves to be allowed to mature without our commentary. This thread should be closed.

Daisycutter, you have done well and deserve praise. Clicking on the time works both when signed in and anonymous. Thanks.

Demonland, thanks.

Daisycutter, thanks. It's not that I don't know how, it's rather that I prefer not to be logged in so that I am not tempted to respond or comment unnecessarily. It's too easy and I prefer to limit my comments to those topics and instances where I believe that I can add to the discussion.

Thanks for the advice. I am not always logged in so this will not help me. And given what I complained about some posts, going to the next unread post will not help me either. Perhaps when the site is updated next time, this issue can be considered for both logged in and anonymous readers.

I have posted on this issue before - that there needs to be a sensible and easily manageable way to separate fact and observation based commentary from abusive, perjorative and time-wasting comments. The training reports should be split into those that are factual and informative (like Saty's) and those that are not. Let the two threads run concurrently so that those of us who can't be there, and don;t care about petty feuds and jealousies, can rely on those who can be there for information throughout the long, dry season when we are starved of real footy. I no longer want to be forced to trawl through the dross to find the gems. It's simple - any comment that is in any way abusive or perjorative to players, coaches, club or other posters should be sent to the dross list. Separate now. While on the subject, is is possible to reverse the order of the posts to make last post first so that I don't have to scroll through pages of previously read posts. If there is a mechanism to change, please do.

Set ups, running speeds, zone defences all sound great but what we will need more than anything is a player to replace the role that Jack Watts played in more than a couple of close games last season - to act as the long stop for the zone defence as the last man in the goal square to deny the opposition an easy goal. Needs cool head, match awareness and a defensive posture. It's more to do with positioning himself to best advantage and then becoming an "arm waver" like the lions aged recruit. He will be too busy to set up at balls ups and boundary throw ins and these should be the responsibility of the immediate players and the province of the coaches. Let's free up Hibbert, Jetta, Dunn, Salem and Lever to run and play attacking football.

In October 2016 I wrote, in a response to others matters regarding Jesse's style and role: Watch his awareness of his position on the ground and his willingness to look for and often find good options to deliver. If handled correctly and coached appropriately he will become a great moving forward playing around CHF. The mistaken impression of Jesse is that he is expected to be a big, tough, strong marking forward operating from the goal square. Even the great David Neitz struggled in this role. His greatest strength was his leading and the ability to kick long goals. Jesse's greatest strength will be his ability to move around, win the ball and bring others into the game. His football smarts are exceptional. It seems that it might finally be happening - Jesse as the mobile forward and no longer the static and vulnerable target. Without Watts to act as the linking player, Jesse will have more scope to fill that role as a mobile target as well as control the forward line. I can see our small forwards, properly instructed and coached, prospering from Jesse's activity. As for Maxie, if he has also trimmed down then he can perhaps build a bigger tank and get to and dominate more contests as a marking tall. Hit outs to clear advantage from ball ups and boundary throw ins have become less relevant to game plans as the mauls around the ball prevent players running to receive on a regular basis. If the umpires were instructed to blow the whistle quicker and fewer players could arrive to form a pack then Maxie, with his fitness and ability to get to the contest, could become more influential. Needs a supporters' campaign to force the AFL to reduce congestion on the ground.

John Lord is still seen in the Brighton/Bentleigh area and great supporter of the club. Wore no. 4 with distinction at CHF (not CHB). Still balding on top.

1990 was the first year that we had a real chance of a flag since our resurrection began in 1987. In 1987 the lolly blues (think jumper colour change as a promotion for lolly manufacturer sponsor) were waiting to smash us even if we had got over the dorks. In 1990, I recall that we had to play the dorks in the final round and the again in the first week of the finals. Two weeks in a row against the reigning premiers. Tony Campbell at full back (for those who remember set positions and man on man contests) beat the gorilla both weeks which made a major contribution to our successes. The drawn final between the filth and wet toast caused us to lose any momentum and advantage in that finals series. Not for the first, or the last, time did over confidence seem to affect our game and we lost to the toasts and were eliminated. The other years where we real chances were 1994 and, especially, 1998. In 1994 we had Schwarz and Lyon firing and, after smashing lolly blues and doggies, we had to confront the toast in WA at a time when they were dominant but still vulnerable. We ran out of puff. In 1998 we beat the black birds by eight goals in the first week of the finals but did not get another crack at them after losing the prelim final to the marsupials due to being out-coached on the day. In both years our team was good enough but couldn't last the four weeks of the finals. Since then we have struggled to put together a team and coach combination likely to contest. Things could be changing.

To RalphiusMaximus It is the other way around - the rule changes are adversely affecting the umpires who are forced to apply some of the most ridiculous interpretations. How many times have we seen free kicks awarded for a "jumper pull" when both players have been guilty and it should be seen as a part of the contest unless one player is adversely affected. Even worse, in most marking contests, the mutual so called "pulls" have no effect on the contest and yet much more severe pulls and pushes in a ruck contest are ignored It's become a strict liability issue contrary to the spirit of our game - see pull, blow whistle. There was a time when minor, insignificant infractions between a forward and a defender were accepted as a test of strength and positioning. We come to see real contests - not over umpired dinky free kicks. Same applies to the "hand in the back" - unless there is a push as well as a touch, leave it alone. And so many other ridiculous rules. I understand that there is a belief that umpires need to be able to rely on simple markers for infringements that minimises discretionary decisions. But when they offend the spirit of the game and reduce umpiring to a "tick box" approach, then it's time for those of us who own the game to protest.

If you are going to suffer an addiction, then this is as good as it gets. Self limiting and uplifting at the same time. Looking forward to the day when you can replace the recordings with new ones.

What is the AFL doing to our game? A "stand 1 m apart" rule is just another added burden for umpires and players. It's the rules that are destroying the umpires, not the players or the coaches. As I mentioned elsewhere, go a view matches from the 80s, especially finals in 87, and see how easily the umpires controlled the game. A quick ball up as soon as the ball is trapped and no need for the umpires to notify an exit path, determine who is contesting or ensure that they are 1 m apart. A quick ball up does not allow for the wrestling matches to start. There used to be a time when free kicks were awarded for infringements in a contest. Not any more - stand in the wrong place and you are penalised. Reminds me of the absurd rules in other grossly inferior sports. I suggest that the umpires be instructed to ball up as soon as the ball is trapped and eliminate the stupid other rules at the ball up. It's time to simplify the rules to enhance the spectacle of the our game.

Re Maxie's ripping body. Many years ago, a St Kilda goal sneak named Lockett got fit and lost weight. Like Samson losing his hair, Lockett lost his strength and was a lesser player. If Maxie is to become ripped, then he should rely on his height, leap, speed and tank to dominate his opposition. Engaging in wrestling matches could see him rapidly becoming less effective. This was Jeff White's undoing.

No. No. No. And no again. I love our dees, and only our dees, and could not care less about the other sports and the other teams. In such a group we will lose our identity and be forced to feign an interest in inferior sports. No. No. No. And no again.

I have been watching our game, aussie rules footy, for over 60 years and I will lament the loss of the bounce as a further unique feature of our beloved game is abandoned in the pursuit of some supposed benefit. One of the most endearing features of our game (and note to the AFL - the game it belongs to us, the people, not them) has always been it's unpredictability arising from the bounce of an oval ball. Umpires throwing a ball in the air removes that wonderful element of our game. For those who can, go back in time and watch replays of the game as it was played in the 80s. Not much slower and umpires were quick to blow the whistle when the ball was contested and bounce the ball before packs formed. The game was speeded up without the ugly rugby mauls and reluctance to blow the whistle. If it must be, then let's at least ensure that the umpires learn to throw the ball for the benefit of the game. Straight up and with some decent height so that the ruckmen have a chance to run at the contest, not just stand still and engage in an ugly wrestle. Many of the ball ups this year were little dinky throws at odd angles. Bounces were straighter and higher. I want to see Maxie jump over the top of his rivals. I fear for our beloved and beautiful game.

Re Pettracattack's support for Todd Viney. My criteria in selecting the team was to include those players that I considered to be skilled, courageous, attacking match winners. They had to possess both magical footy skills as well as the ability to win a match "off their own boot", so to speak. While Todd Viney was undoubtedly courageous and attacking, I never saw him as skilled or as a match winner. More tenacious and determined. In any event, there were only 22 positions available and someone had to miss out.

On 23 October I posted this comment: The very best team of the past 50 years must include the following (excluding current players whose careers have still to blossom): Alan Johnson, Steven Smith, Sean Wight; Brett Lovett, David Neitz, Gary Hardeman; Stan Alves, Greg Wells, Robert Flower; Garry Lyon, David Shwarz, Adem Yze; Gerard Healey, Allen Jakovich, Jeff Farmer; Jim Stynes, Shane Woewodin, Brian Wilson Int Gary Baker, Steven Tingay, Alan Obst, Glenn Lovett Skilled, courageous, attacking match winners. Unfortunately, the month of October coincides with the end of the footy and the onset of daylight saving and I reserve the right to review all decisions in that month. How could I have forgotten Travis Johnstone? His inclusion would make this team infinitely better as he would have the delight of playing with his peers and we would have the joy of watching his smooth, silky skills being used to advantage. Imagine Travis passing 50 to Jako. Apologies to Glenn Lovett - great player but not in the same league.

Steven Smith was a champion. Unfortunately had to play full back at a time when our team was poor and clubs were not restricted by the draft and the salary cap.. He deserves to be In any of the above teams where he would make a great contribution. Danny Hughes was all guts, strength and effort but not the same skill as Smith. Both deserve to be considered.