Spargonicus

Or, Xavier is from 1923, carries around a Tommy gun in a violin case and wears a pair of wingtips.

Looks like our trademark final quarter fade has kicked in.

Goal kicking killing us. should have been easy goals to: Sharp Windsor Fritsch It really starts to make the opposition feel more confident. Nothing to lose / no penalty.

I’m a little bit nervous before a game again. I’m taking that as a good sign…

me too - he had a few great moments last night. But clearly still coming back. A dynamic player. In the right mix of teammates / balance, can be devastating. So good at following up the groundball after rucking, and setting up a teammate with a forward space handball.

I remember when after winning the Brownlow, Woey was asked what had changed that year for him. I mean, he did have a breakout year. He said, amongst other things, that before every game he wrote in black texta on his arm: "run, run, run".

Just don’t confuse it with ‘the clap’. That’s the last thing he needs.

Free parking at Gosch’s paddock, free city loop tram - unlimited journeys, corrugated iron beach hut on Port Phillip Bay.

Yep those two are such quality players.

It is hard to believe just how bad we were for rounds 2-5. Not saying that’s totally in the past, but it feels like it. We were horrendous.

My fave player. Still a bit awkward moving, but has some great skills and endurance. We all thought he was cooked when he went through some ankle trouble - couldn’t seem to turn. We were calling him a straight line runner. Just shows how much effect injuries have on a player. legend.

Yeah I think all this is pertinent. There’s potentially a role for a silky, gold-laced opportunist like Fritta - I mean, he’s a joy to watch in full flight when brim-full of confidence, but most teams are so good at bouncing out of defence and running the ball to the other end in audacious chains, that you do pay a price to include a player like that. Where’s the threshold / risk/reward?

He’s been a bit like that lately…

VFL thoughts after watching: Laurie: classy/silky, and generally a decent decision maker, but a fraction slow - in running and being aware of what’s around him JvR: back to his physical / athletic best. A good kick for goal too. Billings: good all round player who is a class above at VFL. But lacks one or two key strengths that would set him above at AFL (and a little slow with a shorter kick) Taj Woey: like Laurie, but even more so, too slow in decision making and not aware of what’s around him and the urgency required sometimes

Could JvR be a half forward in the mould of Carey? (A stretch at this point I know, given current form, but marks well, decent mobility, good kick)

Do you recall the original ‘Wired World of Sports’ ? After a crash: “…and at last something is happening. These bloody cars have just been going round and round and round…”

Look I hear you but this is better than leaving poor ol’ Roo alone as a tall in the forward line.

I agree. The mental / cultural side is where the magic is. System and gameplan is important, and for the players to believe in, but without the trust in each other and joy, it’s a slog. that 15 mins in the third quarter we saw it, just briefly. Melky’s mark, Bay running to the 50 and dobbing it, Petty getting on the end of a great chain. but then Essendon slowed it up and we reverted to the ‘system’ again. I mean, none of this is straight forward, but the players have definitely lost the heart and team spirit.

Ditto, and 5 flasks of top shelf Armagnac please.

Just devoid of hope at this point. It’s like in trying to adopt a new gameplan which doesn’t suit our players, we’ve forgotten all the things we did well. Now we don’t do them, and can’t do any kind of gameplan. very dispiriting to watch.

Marginal gains is a good point. You do reach that, where it takes lots and lots of detailed practice to improve minutely. I also thought of the golf analogy. Also though, of course the mental side is huge. Eg kicking for goal. It reminds me of putting. If the mental approach is flawed, it will massively impact technique. We see many professional AFL players miss dollies in front of goal. Part of that is the shape of the ball, part technique, part wind conditions - all in varying degree, but the mental element is big.

Sure you have, mate. Sure you have.

Eewww

I texted and got a reply. They’re trying.

I’ve let them know