Skuit

Circle-work perhaps?

This is where I was headed in my next paragraph but thought I'd leave the floor open. I do however believe that a good coach can instill this same sense in a player or squad, and I do think Goodwin is a very good coach. But there is certainly no harm in using the technique of mindfulness in conjunction with other methods of positive reinforcement.

Mindfulness isn't a catchall for meditation. But I believe both can be beneficial for everyday life. How these practices would translate to a football-field though, especially on game-day in the thick of action, is always going to be tenuous or unquantifiable (although, again, I think they would be of some benefit). There are a few paradoxes at play in terms of mindfulness and professional football - was Goodwin's favourite phrase toward the end of the year - that it only matters where you sit on the ladder after round 23 - mindful or unmindful? Is his disregard for our past hurtful or helpful? These are broad strokes of course. More acutely, does living in the moment produce some calm approach to your actions in play, or does it deflect from the singular goal of winning and only caring about such? And where would the correct balance lay?

Yes in that you didn't place the conditional clause first. No in that every club will be fighting for and driving up the price of our discards the following year. Perhaps that's why we kept JKH, Kent and McKenna around for 2018.

Only two games this side of 2000? Ouch. If these are the two selected however, I got greater joy from beating the Hawks last year.

I sadly agree. Slow decision-maker, and . . . doesn't run the angles in space right. Seems to often collect the ball goal-side of attack but facing square in the wrong direction and can't burst away. The latter, which can be corrected, may be causing the former. If so, then perhaps he still has a chance. He's still young and has been re-contracted, so the club sees something and fingers crossed they'll be able to get the best out of/find the right role for him.

I thought he was pretty good when he was back there originally (particularly in regards to contested marking) - except painfully slow to move it on. It was different times, but it's kind of the opposite of what Goody is looking for. I personally think we need to look at the strengths and make-up of our key forwards (inc. the medium-talls) and work a forward game-plan to fit the personnel.

Some bloated casual reading with context (albeit 100 games from the last 50 years): http://mfcdemonblog.blogspot.nl/2013/05/demonblogs-100-greatest-mfc-wins-1965.html http://mfcdemonblog.blogspot.nl/2013/09/demonblogs-100-greatest-mfc-wins-1965.html http://mfcdemonblog.blogspot.nl/2013/12/demonblogs-100-greatest-mfc-wins-1965.html

Red hair or white pants and black loafers without socks? Either way the future looks bleak.

Try 'nick' instead of 'knick'. It's more gooder English.

To say nothing about whether Ryan tackles or not, it's not entirely uncommon that tackles are left off the highlight reel. Unless you're the PAFC and putting together a propaganda package, in which case some poor intern has to sit through nine years of footage to piece together a minute's worth of cuddles.

And all reasonable responses. I think we have just set our scopes a little differently. The jump up to the absolute top eschelon for me is a huge one in terms of both making that leap into rarefied territory and then the level of impact generated from such a player - so it in a sense from my perspective distorts the categories - a potential 100% improvement from Oscar would constitute a high scope but in my mind so would 20% from Viney and Oliver. I'm probably one of the few that thinks Viney is capable of more than the best we've already seen from him (not just in terms of achieving his best consistently - which would be massive in itself if he can). I'm also probably one of the few who believe Hunt's poor disposal is overstated (although he did nothing for my argument in a couple matches toward the end of the year). As to Vanders, I'm aware of my own likely delusion, but I am rock-solid in my thoughts on JKH simply not having the physical attributes to make it. I won't mention Oscar as we all know where that discussion leads. Lastly though, I should clarify my thoughts on Stretch: 2017 was a genuine disappointment and I do think he has a decent scope for improvement as an AFL player - but I've come to the conclusion that he may not have the speed of decision-making and disposal required for the Goodwin Hot Potato Game-plan (and the pressurised frantic atmosphere it creates along with the unorthodox movement when the opposition seeks to break our press in response). I think that it may ultimately hamper his development and limit the scope of his improvement with us.

Who are you expecting to slide jnrmac?

Very minor changes from a personal perspective and almost not worth bringing up (in the hopes of avoiding a pointless derailment) But, personally, I think: Viney has some serious development still to come (forget perceptions of a limited skill-set - with a clear run at it this kid will be Brownlow material - the question being will he ever get a clear run at it?) - High Scope Oliver - ditto on the Brownlow material. Despite how great he has already been, and how I don't actually give a toss if he handballs or kicks it, I think when he does kick it more often, and when he starts moving forward a bit more, he's going to have a massive impact akin the the very upper elite of the comp - High Scope Hunt - is more of a gamble but he strikes me as just a kid still - a late starter with some serious and unique weapons. Can also see his role potentially changing over time to make the most of his abilities - High Scope Frost - Somewhat similar to the above - Medium Scope Omac - I don't believe is set for great heights but I would be happy if keeps improving - Medium Scope Vanders - I have somewhat blinded vision for based on one live pre-season sighting where he looked ready to bust open the comp - Medium Scope Kent, Stretch, and JKH are all hovering very close to the divisional margins for me, but - Low Scope

That was essentially my point. We finished 9th this year by a narrow few percentage points. We can't account for injuries next year, but there's serious scope for improvement (to whatever degree) from the majority of the list on this year's output - with the hope that a handful will hold their form and only few will slide (with those not massive contributors this year anyhow). Upside is huge. The improvement of other teams is of course a factor, but I think we have most of the league covered in this regard. *I forget McKenna exists on our list. I have no idea what he even looks like.

Problem is not consistency. It's role and fit. Pedo isn't a natural KPF and not a starting ruck. But he plays his best footy when he's primarily involved and moving toward goals. Yet he's not a wing and not quite a roving CFH either. He is a very good utility.

Nice work P-man. I would argue three of four assessments but this is a great model of categorisation and you've fairly well nailed the majority of slots.

This conversation was enjoyable until the checklist of numbers turned into letters. Grades are fixed catergories across a spectrum of performance - arguing over their subjective margins into shoe-horned definitives is a waste of everyone's breath.

Interesting OP (with the naturally expected quibbles as to player catergorisation). I keep a similar mental list concerning an overall idea of expected improvement - divided by individual gains, holds and decreases in form (based somewhat on proven potential and previous form). If the majority of the following occurs we'll be sitting very pretty. Players who it's not unreasonable to expect an increased output on last season (including effectively 7 top-ten draft picks with quite a number of combined years in the system): Lever Viney Hogan Petracca Oliver Gawn Salem Brayshaw Hunt Omac Frost Maynard J.Smith Hannan Vanders Players who it's not unreasonable to expect will hold their most recent form: Jones Hibberd (AA) Jetta (AA) Tyson Garlett Pedo Tmac Melksham ANB Bugg Harmes That's 26. Plus some wild-cards like Weeds and Balic as well as our draftees. Go Dees!

For anyone who couldn't be bothered reading the article, it also mentions Lindsay Thomas is expected to join Port as a rookie. The Power strategy is like the highly speculative crypto version of money-ball.

Ya. The above-difference being that they were all on the list but couldn't get on the park together. I tease the Bulldogs about their Bernie Quinlan curse - always looking for forward saviours from elsewhere - but boy do we certainly have our own forward curse when it comes to unfulfilled brilliance.

Not enough Richmond.

There was a brief brief period during the 2014 trade week where we picked up Garlett early, Mitch Clark wasn't yet definitively out the door, Jurrah was apparently sniffing around for a return, and Petracca was increasingly looking like he'd be ours. I had dared to imagine a forward line of the following sort and have never quite gotten over what could have been: An absolute excitement machine. Garlett Hogan Jurrah Howe Clark Petracca * with Watts and Dawes in reserve. I'm really not sure how you would go about matching up on that lot.

Wait. I vaguely recall that someone on here was perhaps professionally involved in design and had been sending ideas to the club . . ?

A pretty low bar. You could send the team out in Hawaiian shirts and most people would be happier than this year's effort.