Gawndy the Great

Bad kicking…. I think the behind mentality has set in. Hard to break in game.

This is what it feels like to be a Doggies supporter

[censored] nervous AF.

Wasn’t going to be anything else 😃

I listened to Dyl and Friends of which Brayshaw was a guest last week. I would genuinely be shocked if he left. He said everything you want to hear with exception to the saying the actual words / or signing the paperwork. It seems to be a formality of waiting for the new CBA.

Hard to play our brand the way we play it. Requires dedication which Freo appear to have but time will tell whether they have the fitness and depth. Will be interesting to see this side once Fyfe comes back. They could make a run for the top 4 next to the Lions and Cats. There isn’t anybody else left (not sold on Saints and Doggies will struggle) I think that could string the required number of wins. Blues and Sydney will likely take 5 and 6. I think spots 6-14 will be separated by a maximum of 8 pts and % based on the even spread of the average teams in the Comp.

As much as I’d love McKay in our forward line, he is quite injury prone. I can recall half a dozen games in the last 12 months where he has looked very proppy or playing hurt.

I’m lost why it isn’t discussed more. I don’t think the media are in fear of losing accreditation. With what Hardwick and Weightman said this week, if there was ever a time to discuss it, it would have been now.

Blues Not looking as potent out of the middle with a team defensive style of opposition. The hype on Dockers and comparing to the Dees turnover game is a bit premature.

I think there is some truth this. I reckon they deliberately train in how to draw a free. Don’t get me wrong, I mean it’s fun blaming the umpires, but in all seriousness it’s probably more the Doggies style that draws the free. I just wish the AFL umpiring dept would catch on already and pay attention to the disposal, lowering at the knees and falling forward. On the flip side it must take away from the required mind set to win games and we are seeing the transpire in front of our eyes.

And another one. Umpiring is a joke.

How was that not holding the ball against the Dogs…

I reckon I have seen half a dozen arms up from the Dogs. No free. Just waiting for the unlucky Crows player to get a reversal or 50 go against him.

Well for what its worth, i don't think we need him down back given the depth and better options we have in J Smith and Tommo. I disagree regarding the agility. The main attribute you require on the wing is not agility - its endurance. With TMac he has the added benefit in being able to take a contested mark and play a defensive role (if he is on the defensive wing). However, JJ is probably doing the role well enough to hold it and tbh it makes more sense in his development given where he is in his career and as stated the most likely outcome is Dunstan, J Smith coming in to fill in the Viney/Lever roles. The question is whether BBB comes in and then who goes out as a result.

I think J Smith comes in and will take one of Riewoldt or Lynch which will free up Petty to take on Levers role. He is just ahead of Tommo based on athleticism but Tommo is definitely an alternative option. TMac could move into the wing which will allow JJ to rotate through the middle and cover Viney leaving Weid and BBB in the forward line. But I think the more likely scenario is Dunstan in for Viney as a straight swap and TMac/Weid for BBB.

Goody pulling a Beveredge?

The 300k pa will solve the 6000 umpire shortage if development pathways were to exist. Let the cream float to the top. Better way to attract umpires than the arms up nonsense Not sold on the idea of umpiring zones but not against it either. I think the solution is still missing some form of technology in the game. Just need to look at how Tennis evolved overnight with linesman and Hawkeye tech.

I think BBB / Weed are more a like than either player is compared to TMac. Having both BBB/Weed in the same team in my view probably diminishes our forward line structure as TMac is more athletic and fitter and gives us a bit more impetus in the forward defensive setup. He also has a bit more skill with the ground ball and is able to setup goals as well as score himself. Using a golfing analogy, If BBB / Weid were the Driver, TMac would be the 3 wood. Unless you Phil Mickelson at the Masters, you wouldn't carry two drivers in your bag.

The real stat relating to frees, which isn't measured as far as i know are scores as a result of a free. 3/7 GWS goals on the weekend came from frees/50m penalties. Also the Carlton practice game had about 4-5 Carlton goals as a result of dissent alone. Add in the winning margin and i reckon there will be a game every 2-3 rounds where you would have a story to tell about umpires influence on a game. Its a bigger problem than the media and the AFL let on.

Poor fella. Navicular stress factures can be life-long injuries ala Viney, James Hird and also career ending like Trengrove. Its not the injury you want at any age let alone at the start of your AFL career. Lets hope that he is properly rested, allowing the injury to properly heal. I wonder whether research has uncovered any new treatment and prevention measures given the prominence of this type of injury in all forms of sport.

Seriously is anybody surprised at this verdict ? Just pathetic.

Should have been a darker blue sky to avoid any potential similarities to the Doggies. Not a bad design, but not our best either. Personally i would have had either the eagle or boomerang. Not both.

Was writing a paper for work regarding upcoming technology trends and how to pivot towards these and it occurred to me that in the not too distant future we will probably have done away with human umpires and have the game fully officiated by AI. I think one of these will solve any issues with player dissent. 😄

Remember it was Hunt that got injured and made way for Bowey and couldn't get his spot back last year and we all were a bit worried as Hunt was playing quite well in the backline and we had all discussed how he may have finally settled on a suitable position. May, Lever & Petty are our starting talls. Tommo is the next best in line but form and/or opposition forward structures can get him back in the squad. I think Tommo is probably better one-on-one than Petty, but Petty is all round a better defender and is able to read the game a little better. Bowey, Salem, Rivers are our starting med / smalls. With Hunt , J Smith next in line. Both Hunt and J Smith are versatile and can play small - tall Bench is then out of these 3 plus Hibberd with Brayshaw also potentially pinch hitting. As i said, form and opposition structures can dictate the final side, but i think that 6 is probably our best team we can field. Boy have we got some quality depth. May is probably the only key player we can least afford to lose, but J Smith / Tommo can fill the void, probably just not as well. I think this will probably be Hibberd's final year and I wouldn't be surprised if one of Tommo / Hunt / J Smith actually request a trade at EOY given the competition for defensive slots.

Hunts weapon is his explosive pace off HB. Given our current game plan focuses heavily on defensive transition and scores from D50 he gives us an alternate scoring pathway to Bowey/ Salem who use kicking. not saying he is best 22 but food for thought.