Roost it far

I’m not expecting JVR back for at least a month. Today he took some marks which is more than his AFL form. He’s actually not one I’m worried about. Viney is the one that concerns me. 4 year contract, extended concussion layoff. He only knows how to play one way. I hope he’s ok largely for his sake but also the teams.

The big one for me this year is injuries. We’re as close to full fitness as I’ve seen us for a few seasons now. If we can improve the areas you point out and keep our best on the park who knows what could happen.

May still needs to find form so it’s likely not the best time to rest him. Lever would only be playing if the club knows he is ready, we’re not the West Preston under12’s, we’re a professional sports club with serious and good people in charge of fitness and players health. If there was any doubt he’d be at Casey, especially since the overall health of our list atm. Lever and May need games together and to find form if we’re going to beat the clubs we’ll need to beat to play finals. Personally I tend to trust the club on this. Goodwin even admitted that JVR’s one game reappearance wasn’t what they wanted at the time. He’s now taking marks at Casey and building form. TMac, at 30 odd, will be fine having a week off, he’s fit, in form and is being managed. Clearly the management is working because he is in great form.

Does anyone seriously think TMac gives a rats what the team sheet says. He’s 42 and will likely be playing plenty more football this year.

Because he was dumped, dropped and spat on……he was the obvious out, all is well, we have a little depth atm, enjoy it.

I never felt unsafe going to the footy as a kid. KB in 22 in the MCC members my partner got told “to sit down you stupid c…” The lack of intelligent banter, the overt aggression, the literal frothing at the mouth made for an ordinary day. I love some good natured banter and you still get it but it’s not as common these days.

He’s really gone beast mode now

My mum took me and some friends to the footy at Windy Hill one day. A group of private school boys and their Mum slap bang in the Essendon cheer squad. Surprisingly they were very good natured to us, made easier by a comfortable Bombers win. My main memory is of the guy standing next to me, head to toe in Essendon gear with a thick rubber band wrapped around his head flattening his nose. To this day I’ve no idea why he wore it. These days I like smaller crowds and won’t be going to KB, their supporters aren’t worth the trouble.

I see May as nearing the end but our backline is at its best with a fit May and Lever and I suspect that is the thinking behind it. Lever selected means the club is fully satisfied he is ready to go otherwise TMac would be playing. Plus Swans aren’t tall forward of centre so 4 talls would have been cumbersome. On Culley as emergency ahead of others he’s the Oliver replacement when and if Oliver or Petracca need a rest or get injured. He’s a big strong body with suspect disposal, now that sounds familiar. I’m happy with the selections. The concern is Viney, we really don’t need another player to pay who’s retired.

I’d presume the clubs are in on the lark. Either make them pay with the pick in the same round or get rid of it.

Sydney are never easy to beat. For mine it could go two ways, a really tight hard fought game that could go either way or we really start to click as a team, dominate forward half and win comfortably. I’ll take any win.

A few points on this. I’d suggest there’s plenty of astute ex coaches out there who could provide analysis during matches The Broadcaster already has the vision so that doesn’t appear an issue If the AFL are majority owner of the data then it shouldn’t be difficult to access I think your last point is the most pertinent, they actually don’t need to provide the analysis because they’re doing just fine with boofheads talking nonsense with a heavy smattering of gambling ads in between. The AFL product has stopped getting stronger and that falls on head office. Looking at how they’re operating it’s no wonder nothing changes. They’re a bunch of fat cats holding 4 Aces and they’re happy eating expensive lunches and putting out the occasional spot fire. Basically I see them as a bunch of under performing middle management types who got lucky with the big gig. Like elsewhere in corporate Australia it’s the shocking productivity of these types that see us drifting sideways as a country.

For mine the simplest system is usually the best. I’ve never bothered trying to grasp the intricacies of the points set up. The mere fact they change it so regularly suggests it’s a poor system to me. Seriously how much longer are we bankrolling GC? They’ll eventually win a flag and headquarters will scream success, the other 99.9% of non Collingwood fans will just be glad Collingwood don’t win. Like, no one cares. Did they ever stop to think about that? The fact that making franchises cheapens the comp in every way except I guess monetarily. Being on holiday really allows me to wax lyrical on here, I take it you’re all loving the extra posts

My point is that it’s great clubs develop players from “minority” groups although I think the AFL as a whole is massively dropping the ball on indigenous football and participation. So much of it is being left to local, state and others to fund and develop. Anyway on NGA’a and father sons the system I would propose would be that clubs keep developing these guys, I’d also be adding a strong indigenous pathway to and through clubs. Then when the player is of draft age all clubs can pick him but the club where he trained must use their pick in that round if another club selects the player. So in the case of Mac Andrew GC select him at 5 but then Melbourne say, nope, we’ll take him with our first pick at 15(or whatever it was) If Melbourne had already traded their pick from that round then they would need to trade back into that round to select Andrew. If they couldn’t do that and only had a pick in round 2 then they miss Andrew. That way each club is still paying something of value for every player selected. It simplifies the points system and spreads the talent further. GC’s list is reaching talent overload.

I’m not after a weekly half hour watching 3 stooges analysing 3 set plays and a host of gambling ads. I want analysis during the breaks in games. FFS Kayo often just play a still saying we’ll be back soon.

The interest is absolutely there. They don’t have the personnel to implement it. The Fox footy shows flirt with analysis but there’s no depth. Guys like Hoyne are perfect for it. For mine you don’t need tv performers, you need a person in the back at broadcasts, an ex assistant coach at any reasonable level of footy could do it. They then feed key plays to the guys out front. It ain’t that hard, most of the commentators are reasonably good at articulating facts fed to them.

Are you “I told you soing” us?

Sure but it’s a truly professional sport now. It makes little sense to me that Brisbane can win the flag and then get a free hit at a top 3 pick because his dad played there. Sure if they can outbid a team with their first pick then go for it. Make the team earn the player to help lessen the overt advantage.

I’d scrap father sons as well, the club dad played for can outbid other teams but again only if they hold a higher draft pick.

I find the whole nga thing a bit ridiculous. For mine bar Tassie, as a whole new club, once a player is eligible to be drafted he should join the draft and the club that he trained with should be able to outbid any other bidding teams but only if they hold a higher draft pick. The advantages to northern teams is getting a bit lopsided now.

I’ve taken on the role as supervisor of the training reports. I realise it’s unpaid and largely unwanted but I do it for the people.

👍Because his parents are from another country?

Can someone explain why he’s linked to us

Good heartfelt interview. He’s the kind of professional that could easily be playing good football at 35. Wouldn’t it be awesome if he drag Oliver there as well. That’d really mess with the media’s agenda.