tiers

My only nagging doubt is that, even when we smash teams in the metrics (thanks for the right words ProDee), we still lose. The worst metric is inside 50s. How many times have we lost games when the difference is 20-30 entries? We equaled the record (83) in a game this year but kicked only 20 goals and not 30. Why? 2020 can't come soon enough.

Jesse's best role is as a moving tall target with licence to roam to positions where he can present and distribute. For him to be a "front and square" crumber is a waste of a huge talent and punishes the team who lose his exquisite skills up the ground. The only time he should be near the goal square is when he is running.

Not the worst comment he has made. It is true that we don't yet have the right "balance" but, like all emerging teams in the recent past, it takes both personnel and time playing together for the right combination to arise. I believe that we have the personnel - the challenge is for the FD to find and develop the right combination. 2020 is looking better all the time.

Find an undercover seat in the stands, wear multiple layers and bring hats, scarves, gloves and warm blankets for your lap. With these precautions, if mum is from East Gippsland, she will be warm and cosy. Of course, if we are leading and playing well, you will not feel the cold and then none of these precautions will be necessary.

The only reason to have four umpires on the field at the same time is to find more infringements. One of the most beautiful features of our great game is that the rules should not be rigid and inflexible and not be applied as a strict liability (compare with the whistlethon that is netball or basketball or the sport destroying off side rules in many sports) but should allow for some discretion based on circumstances eg who can tell which player started the jumper pulls at marking contests, when is a nudge a push, how long is 15 metres and what is prior opportunity. What we supporters rail against is the marked inconsistency of decisions and four umpires can only make it worse. The best consistent umpiring I have seen in recent years has been in the ammos with 2 umpires. They blow the whistle quickly and often for ball ups when the ball is in dispute to both clear the play and protect the players from scrums. Their decision making is at least as good as senior umpires when the differences in their training and the speed of the game is factored in. Go back to 2 umpires on the ground and, if it is too taxing, then introduce umpire interchange to rotate the umpires as well as the players. What would really help would be to codify the rules to allow for better decision making and fairer play. But I fear that the footy intelligence of the powers that be is incompatible with good decision making for the benefit of our great game.

The late Dean Bailey said (paraphrasing liberally) that, for success, a team needs to play at least 70 games together as a group. Brendan McCartney believes that it takes 5 years to make a complete AFL standard footballer. As long as we can keep this group together, I reckon that 2020 is the year when both threads come together. I am prepared to be patient even though I have been waiting since 64.

The only insight that stats can provide is in comparing individual players performances over time. For example, do the number of possessions go up or down, number of tackles and similar actions. Being generic and universally applied to all players, they are not useful for matching actual performance with potential. Maybe what we consider to be his "potential" is not the same as the coaches thoughts? Tracca has never been a high possession, dynamic player like Gus or Clarry. His ball winning ability in close , his one-on-one marking and his long kicking into the forward line - stats that are not recorded - might be more valuable than some generic stats that might not measure his strengths. I expect that the coaches know his value.

Where is there a definition of all the stats that are collected on footy. For example, when is a possession "contested"? And why is it considered more worthy than an "uncontested" possession? How far back the chain is a "score involvement"? When is a disposal "effective"? What is a "clanger"? It seems to me that there is a push to "statisfy" our great game, a game that is anarchic, frantic and chaotic at most times so that historical stats are worthless and where a single extraction from a pack and a long kick to advantage can be more valuable than a multitude of ring-a-ring-a--rosie short kicks or handballs that don't advance the ball forward. We all know who the great and effective players are who both dominate and influence the outcomes of matches so does is matter how many possessions they have? Is 40 better than 30? Why? Why bother? Our great game is not suited to stats and over-analysis. It is contested sport at its purest and finest. Leave it alone.

It's obvious we haven't played West Coast yet.

Game styles and levels of discipline are a cop out and typical Robbo or Eddie dumb comment. Over time these should also converge. The notion that a game style (first to the ball, in and under etc) makes a difference over 22 players over a season both ludicrous and prepostorous. Think about how many "first to the ball, in and under" players get pinged for holding the ball or incorrect disposal. The reasons goes much deeper than superficial comments.

Re: blue colour. Notice that emergency vehicles now all use both red and blue flashing lights both day and night. Red might be the traditional signal for danger but blue is more readily visible by the eye. Check next time you see flashing lights. Re: number of free kicks. In a game some years ago against WC in Perth the free kick count before half time was in the order of 20 to 2 in favour of WC. Naturally we were beaten badly. I don't recall ever seeing a proper investigation into this glaring imbalance. Perhaps some one can check. The non-calls are a serious issue as they confirm in supporter' minds the inherent failure of the rules and the implementation of the rules. Too many obvious free kicks are completely missed but silly little tiggy touch wood frees are paid for no apparent reason, frequently to the wrong team. Ask Maxie.

My limited knowledge of statistics suggests to me that over a period of 15 years the numbers and the surplus/deficit balance each year should converge. WC and NM are consistently ahead whereas Swans and Dorks are consistently behind. For once, the dees are not the worst although more often behind than ahead. That they have not converged is a worrying trend and deserves a deeper study by the AFL and the umpires. This is not a simple issue of venues and crowds but a persistent and unrealistic concern for the integrity and fairness of our game. Could it be that 6 out of the top 7 teams (excluding filth) have the colour blue in their jumpers whereas the bottom 7 do not? Who knows but it needs to be investigated.

I agree with Petraccattack and rpfc. He is currently playing a multitude of roles that allows him to use his versatility as a tall foward, small forward, inside midfielder, outside midfielder, play maker and all round smart footballer. Whilst his execution is sometimes wanting, his strong contested marking, ability to win the ball in close and make good decisions is making a major contribution to our game plan and success.

Agree with Deestroy All. The goals have been well structured and the result of superior skill and decision making. My favourite observation is the number of goals where there is no opposition player between us and the goals and the number from the goal square. Watching TMac running into an open goal is dee-lightful.

It's not only how he distributes the ball. In order to distribute the ball he must first win the ball. His ability to both hunt the ball and win the ball in close is exceptional (and remarkably remains unnoticed). In doing so he denies the opposition use of the ball and increases our possession. That he can also distribute the ball to advantage is the icing on the cake. I cannot recall another player in any team who could do all three as well as Clarry and I was there in 64.

What is being overlooked is that Jesse ran to made good position to receive, looked for options, found none to his liking, decided that the best option was to shoot, changed stride, steadied and kicked the perfect goal from that position. Pure, pure skill. No fluke but a considered, premeditated shot from a severe angle while on the move. That's what sets it apart from all the others. It's what we have come to expect from Jesse. His football smarts and execution in his many roles are exceptional.

If Goodwin and the FD's game plan and team structure are correct, then no amount of encouragement will be of any effect. Another player will step up to fill the role of sweeper, spoiler and launcher. The remainder of the backs will maintain their roles and the team should perform as before.

1990 was a real missed opportunity. No standout team but the extra week's inactivity due to the draw caused us to lose form after we had beaten Dorks two weeks in a row (rnd 22 and first final) and we were easily beaten by WC in Perth. Note how quickly the umpires intervened to stop scrums and mauls from developing. Blow the whistle as soon as the ball is trapped and ball up straight away. It has worked for generations to keep the game open until the AFL and the rules committee screwed it up. Shame shame shame.

Reasons for improvement? Building the number of games played together as a core group Jesse released from being stuck as a static target in the goal square to become a genuine CHF with licence to roam and destroy TMac's running ability to open up a forward line The confidence and assurance that comes with success Multiple left footers playing through same wing - Hibbert Lewis Salem Fritsch Hannan Viney Max still growing taller Outstanding high draft picks finally coming good - Clarry Tracca Gus Three talls forward line with speed, skill and flexibility causing mismatches Press up, press down - just winning more contests to deny opposition use of the ball Two adventurous defenders - Lever Hibbert As the saying goes, build it and success will come.

His body positioning is exquisite. Watch how he monstered his Carlton opponent (think it was Thomas) to protect the ball space and then and ran in to score an easy goal. Sadly Lyndon Dunn also had this ability but when zone defence replaced one-on-one he became a dinosaur. Still sad to see him playing for that team.

Players like Mitchell became renowned for their handballing ability when in the clear and could send penetrating handballs to team mates who were positioned to receive. Clarrie is different and a type we have not seen before. He hunts the ball in close, tackles hard, wins the hard ball and delivers it with menacing purpose to a teammate who is generally close. Not for him the luxury of standing at the back of the pack and waiting for the ball to be delivered. He gets it and releases it. As for the peculiarities and perversions of the AA team selection, for as long as he works in close and his magic is not clearly evident (think of Bruce's comment in the 3Q yesterday), he will be overlooked until we achieve team success and the so called experts and commentators get on the bandwagon. For the time being, I am enjoying the private pleasure of watching him play his game while building to team success. We will then be able to say that we knew it all along. Sweet!

bt demon said that she was articulate, intelligent and insightful. I agree, much more than any other female caller. Compared to the other female (and most male) callers and commentators, her voice is more pleasant (less grating and nasally), she is definitely more knowledgeable and able to make concise, authoritative and relevant comments on the game, not on the peripheral issues that seem to be attractive to most of the boys (BT, Bruce etc).

From one who saw the Teddy Whitten inspired "flick pass" phenomenon come and go, Clarrie's handballs are nothing like a flick pass. He obviously has the most flexible, rotatable wrists that ensure that the ball is struck by a closed fist each time, not by an open back hand that was the feature of flick passes.

Watch Maxie destroy Jacobs. Numerous hit outs to clear advantage and has contributed to Chunk's renaissance and the our dominance at clearances. If the AA selectors need another influential ground level midfielder, we have plenty to recommend. But leave the ruckwork to Max.

Why has it taken so long for the so called experts to realise this simple fact? It was apparent from the start. Clayton plays his own game unlike anyone before. His vision, awareness and football smarts are outstanding but, in addition, his ability to win the ball in close and distribute quickly to advantage set him apart. His tackling, running, contested marking and strong kicking would almost be enough even without his extraordinary talents. I have noticed that his "don't blink or you will miss it" hand passes are catching on amongst his teammates who have improved greatly in their disposal. It also helps that when we are winning players are willing to run to good positions to receive.