Watson11

I think the main error in that last play was Clarry. He was on Callaghan but as soon as the kickin happened elected to run to the Kelly/Jones contest leaving Callaghan free in the corridor. That mistake meant GWS had the one extra streaming through the middle.

From 21-23 when we used the kick to Gawn tactic we were ranked 16, 18, and 16 at scores from kickin? So how was it the most effective kickout strategy?

Jonathan Horn is bullish about our chances. Has us 3rd. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/05/afl-season-2025-ladder-predictor-part-two

There were a raft of changes under Fair Work 12 months ago regarding fixed term contracts. All new contracts after Dec 23 are meant to comply. Maybe a workplace lawyer can comment. But if it does apply then this is likely to become standard. https://www.fairwork.gov.au/starting-employment/types-of-employees/fixed-term-contract-employees A few of the basics listed are: A fixed term contract can’t be for longer than 2 years. This includes any extensions or renewals. A fixed term contract can’t have an option to: extend or renew the contract so the period of employment lasts for longer than 2 years, or extend or renew the contract more than once. An employee can’t be offered a new fixed term contract if the first 3 points below all apply, and one or more of the scenarios in the 4th point applies. Their previous contract was also for a fixed term. Their previous contract and the new contract are for mainly the same work. There is substantial continuity in the employment relationship between the previous and new contracts

Sparrow was below average in lots of things but his kicking efficiency was 59% and listed as “Average” in the stats you posted. In 2023 there was a great article about kicking on the abc website, where they went beyond the normal kicking efficiency to the types of kicks taken and how every player compared that tries the same kicks. The further to the right of the 0 vertical line the better you perform v peers and by that measure (2023 data), Sparrow was also right on average.

Our fitness and medical teams need a breakout year, because since Burgo left our 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons have all had problems. From the start of 2021 to mid 2022 (when we had the 30w-4l run) we were in unbelievable condition. Since then we have run players into the ground so they are about 75% by season end, played them injured and aggravating injuries - missing big stretches of games, or some players have just not put in the same level of work as 2021 for various reasons and look unfit. It will probably be the biggest factor in our 2025 performance.

Yes to free but nope to Pert being CEO at the time. Pert went mid 2017. Which was really annoying because the Pies improved immediately and cost us a finals spot in 2017.

I don’t get why some demonlanders are so hard on JVR. He’s played 41 games and his goals kicked at this stage (41 games) is more than Josh Kennedy, Nick Riewoldt, Jack Riewoldt, Tom Hawkins, and Tom Lynch who have about 20 All Australians between them. All except Tom Hawkins really hit their straps around the 50 game mark (Tom Hawkins around 100 games). I think he’ll be a 50 goal forward in 2025, especially if we get it in quickly to create more 1 on 1s.

Couldn’t agree more. He was also so quick he had time for 2 grabs. And Buddy had super confidence whereas Weid had none.

Not always a death sentence. Buddy says hello.

Not all clubs. This club went ok after this. And then Stokes was suspended for 7 weeks. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/geelongs-johnson-suspended-indefinitely-20070109-gdp77a.html

His game was solid except for the end of the second where he had a direct hand in all 6 quick Brisbane goals (3 turnovers and conceding 3 really bad centre clearances that directly led to goals). The first 2 goals in that run were the worst, leaving Daniher alone inside 50 for a goal, then being monstered by Daniher at the next CB who kicked it to Ah-chee for a goal. So it probably doesn’t matter what he did for the rest of the game. That period killed the game as a contest.

This is the Bitter and pessimistic thread. Wrong thread for you!

4 wins in 17 finals at the G since their 2005 flag.

lol. Was that the Swans psychologist addressing the entire swans team at half time.

Expect a cracking game until the 3rd qtr then Swans to get on a run and end up winning by 50+ Phil Davis convinced me of this when talking about GWS in 2019 and how when the game gets a little bit away the winning side seem to go hell for leather with everyone trying to win a Norm Smith. And the GWS run to the GF was eerily similar to Brisbanes…

Questioning our flag is just stupidity. It is probably in the top 3 most legitimate flags in the last 15 years. Flags that should have questions over them Richmond 2020 - shortened qtrs Hawks 2013-15, Tigers 2017/19, Pies 2023 - Won on their home ground against interstate teams. Dogs, Geelong - GFs played in Melbourne against interstate teams. Probably the only flags that aren’t tarnished in some way recently are West Coast and Sydney 2012 who had to beat their opponents on their opponents home deck.

I’m not sure if McQualter was a midfield coach for the tigers dynasty. Xavier Clarke was until the end of 2019. Then Lonergan. But McQualter took on the roll of ball movement coach in 2020. Considering Bassett was forward coach at Port, and watching them was like watching us (a lot of bombing to a pack), I dearly hope he gets another line. Chaplin did a great job with our forwards in 2017 and 2018. I hope he gets another go there.

I didn’t conclude the substance was true as I think who leaked the brand/big club stuff it is important. There could be other reasons Tracc was not prepared to talk to the media. This is hypothetical but there is an ongoing investigation into JS text messages implicating other people that has been hanging over the club for 12 months. That’s a disgrace in itself as it should have been investigated quickly. Maybe Tracc's gripe is around behaviours, management, how it ended up and how it has affected his and every players brand. Morris said the club leaked the brand stuff. That’s important as maybe the leaker framed it that Tracc wants to play at a big club, rather than Tracc is worried about the impact on his brand from other far more sensitive issues. I fundamentally don’t trust leakers as they have an agenda. Tracc can’t and shouldn’t talk to media about that. This all ties into the other leaks to Morris (leadership says Tracc has problem with players, players say Tracc has problem with leadership). I acknowledge my assumptions might be incorrect. It’s just that I choose to look at alternative scenarios and give Tracc the benefit of doubt. I don’t buy the Tracc went rogue argument.

The 2010 coaching against Geelong was pretty revolutionary at the time. They destroyed Geelong in the prelim with a forward 50 press. I don’t recall seeing it before then. Became quite common after.

I suspect if Chris Scott had been a coach at North and Essendon his record would probably be similar to Brad’s (zero grand finals made in 12 seasons). Being at Geelong is a big advantage for him.

This will be my last post on this topic as we seem to be at polar opposites. It was sorry for not reading closely to the bottom but not sorry for having a shot at you. Your post is amplifying the anti-Tracc sentiment that has pervaded most Melbourne supporters based on an assumption that Tracc fed Morris and others the story. It's fact that Morris/Barrett stated people inside the club leaked critical parts of the story. Are you OK with that? Serious question. Just to remind you, we know Tracc had "confidential" conversations about wanting the club to improve as his statement said "I voiced my concerns as a leader, wanting better for our club, playing group, and fans. During this time, I have been in open communication with the player leadership group and club leaders to ensure we can work together to improve as a club. I make no apologies for wanting to better our club and contribute to our success both on and off the field." Everything else written could be leaks from inside the club with some mayo on them to make Tracc look bad and to protect individuals inside the club making them look reasonable. Morris/Barrett stated the Brand Tracc stuff was from the club. It's likely we have multiple leakers. The bits of your post that I strongly object to are highlighted, but every other bit copied below is just amplifying what the media has speculated on and is not a fact, and is mostly based on leaks from the club. Anyway, I'm out on this topic. Hopefully all supporters can get behind everyone in the red and blue and support them next year and stop the divisive sniping at our only Norm Smith medallist. Hopefully the club can also block up the sieve and weed out the people who leak confidential discussions. That will be a starting point to resolve the dysfunction that we all saw. "Tracc fed Morris' his laundry list of complaints, which, combined with inferences people have made from the 'reporting' can be boiled down to, what: - Tracc unhappy with how the club dealt with him post injury - Tracc unhappy the club not more successful - Tracc unhappy being at a club with fewer supporters than the 'big' clubs - Tracc unhappy with the 'culture' at the club (with the inference widely accepted that translates to a party culture) - Tracc unhappy with how clarry was 'handled", before and after his dramas - Tracc unhappy with the 'professionalism' of teamates Have I missed something? Notice the common theme - 'tracc unhappy'. Let's accept that that is how tracc genuinely feels. And let's accept that tracc clearly had an agenda in feeding Morris That's not the same as those issues being real. But of course, it doesn't mean they aren't either - to some degree or other. I can't stand Morris, but don't blame him writing a hit piece based on info tracc fed to him. He is merely feeding an insatiable demand for gossip, and seemingly for information that confirms many dees 'supporters' henny penny complaints. Morris is not a journalist, so has no interest in balance. But it would be great if people did some critical thinking, and rather than just drinking the tracc aid"

Apologies. The facts you quoted I don’t disagree with and hadn’t focussed on them. I was too irate after reading the long spiel where you stated several times that Tracc had been feeding Morris info.

None of your logic around this makes any sense at all. What are the agreed facts. I think what you have decided is a fact and what is actually a fact are two very different things. The point is absolutely not the same irrespective of what source the story came from. According to Morris and Barrett we have leakers inside the club. That is confirmed as they named sources inside Melbourne as the origin of some of the stories about Tracc. Have you considered that when sources inside Melbourne leak confidential information (Traccs brand stuff, ANB leaving etc), these sources are actually dishonest and unethical individuals, and therefore you cannot trust what they say. Morris may be printing what they say, but fundamentally he is printing stuff leaked from dishonest people.

So you are still convinced Tracc or a surrogate leaked the story. I'm convinced it came from Morris's source inside Melbourne, the same source that fed him the "Brand Petracca" stuff. My view is it's likely Tracc confidentially spoke to people inside Melbourne about his frustrations saying he would leave if not contracted, and this was leaked to Morris by his source inside Melbourne. In those circumstances the situation would definitely blow up like it did. But we will probably never know until Tracc writes a book after his career is over.