Skuit

LH - any word on potential upcoming father/daughters with us and across the league?

Got a 'welcome-to-footy' heavy dumping by Hawthorn last year and popped straight back up. Some players you know it's probably not worth roughing up as they can't be distracted or provoked and will respond in the stats column. Kid seems to have a pretty unflappable temperament. The opposition would be better hiding in strategically-placed bins.

We've entered a new era of a little less pessimism. The relatively calm response to Gawn going down was testament to that. But the shifting optimism/pessimism balance is just a logical assessment of where we're at and will realign according to future success. See reports of the Crows' forum meltdown.

I like these stories about how people came up with their username. Great to hear the surgery went well. Note that the cancer was removed from the [censored]. My guess - Jesse will be back playing in no time.

This is true but it doesn't always work like that. And the cancer can cause irregularities post-treatment even without removal. Indeed, it can be a predictor of cancer - so there's questions over cause and effect (as the general population don't tend to know their normal testosterone levels before being diagnosed). The reason I brought it up is my closest mate both has/had cancer (of the liver) and works in a senior position for one of the state Cancer Councils. He's said in the past that while awareness and successful treatment has improved for testicular cancer, there remains a post-treatment stigma as to fertility and hormonal issues. As part of this, I believe they were lobbying (or intended to) major sporting bodies for more flexibility. But wasn't sure on the AFL's stance.

Highlights the quality of each media outlet in almost perfect order.

This is true. How quick we forget.

One might have thought that 186 would have been enough of a catalyst for serious change.

Poor kid. Wishing him a full recovery and happy to hear the prognosis sounds positive. No disrespect but curious - does anyone know the current AFL guidelines if this were to result in lowered or irregular testosterone and Jesse opted for replacement treatment? I've heard it as a topic of discussion in relation to sports previously but not sure where we're at. Also not sure if correct, but vaguely recall Alistair Lynch was prohibited from a form of hormonal steroid treatment despite it not elevating him to abnormal levels?

And they should have given Luke Parker's spot to Bernie Vince as an abstract shut-down.

Like being hit with a reality semi-trailer.

This is an interesting read and maybe a partial answer (probably a stretch but intriguing if so). http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2016-02-19/new-cockburn-base-has-best-of-everything Freo's new training facilities include 'a main training oval big enough to replicate every AFL ground and a GPS program that shows instantly where goal posts and markings need to go to mirror venues such as the MCG, SCG, the Gabba, Adelaide Oval and WA’s Domain Stadium'.

I personally think we have close to the league's best coach on our hands. Innovative, confident, competitive, patient and supportive with his ego focused in the right place. Apparently an absolute student of the game and has arguably seen the most playing success of any current coach (for whatever it counts). Chosen by Viney and endorsed by Roos after their first confab. I was disappointed at the time that Nathan Basset didn't get a look in but not any more. (Although would still love Basset aboard - Port Adelaide with Nathan as their defensive coach and an aggressive style are quietly running at least points against if it means anything).

Sorry for the source . . . http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2014-03-27/skinny-flat-meet-the-slimmed-down-adelaide-oval Can just about bunt a ball for six square at Adelaide Oval.

Grand final week will be nervy enough without the thought of Omac lining up against the GWS or West Coast talls.

FB Smith* Frost Jetta HB Hibberd Tmac Hunt C Salem Jones Lewis R/R Viney Gawn Oliver HF (1) Hogan Petracca FF Watts Pedo* Garlett I/C Vince Tyson (2) (3) It’s up to these guys to make a claim on the final spots: Harmes ANB Kent Stretch Bugg Hannan Kennedy. If it were a grand final tomorrow – Harmes, Kent and Bugg. * Smith an unusual selection but there’s something about the balance of that back-six which excites me. Wagner unlucky and obviously we have Lewis and Salem rotating down back. ** Haven’t seen Pedo this year as a primary forward with Hogan, Watts and Gawn around so it remains to be seen if this will work.

I thought it sounded a bit too, er, reflective? for Robbo. It's cliched, but I have wondered about Goodwin and a relation to Total Football philosophy in the past.

His forward pressure was sensational in my opinion. But I felt that he was actually a bit down on touch on the weekend. A lot of near misses with not so clean hands and a couple uncharacteristically poor snaps. Comes with the territory though.

More like a tequila-soaked worm. It would certainly raise the alcohol percentage though.

Would love to see that same break-down against some of the other leading small-forwards of the game. And then send the whole package to the AA selectors.

Did he mean that it resembled 'Total Football' tactically or something along the lines of the complete performance?

Yes, I agree. I've been critical of posters critical of Goodwin in his first handful of games, but I'll never forget my feeling after that Brisbane match. It was clear to me right then that we'd made a huge huge mistake with a mountain of pain to come.

Forget Moloney the player and person. The two things he mentions about overall strategy are spot-on. Neeld tried to institute a dated game-plan, and tried to do so with the wrong supplies. Bailey-ball may have come up ultimately short, but Neeld tore the unfinished, inventive house down and tried to rebuild a different conservative design with the same materials or faulty knock-offs. We ended up having to throw the lot out and start again. I can only imagine the frustration if I'd been on the original building crew.

I mentioned earlier that I'm somehow reminded (as to potential) of Brisbane's middle in the early 00's. A midfield built to win a flag? Jonno would know.

It's what I assumed as well. Who coaches players to be flat-footed at the contest though? I know Neeld was keen on creating fresh stoppages (god knows why - because we were getting killed in them) but I think Moloney's interpretation might be a bit exaggerated. Maybe Neeld didn't want him to commit at speed in one direction - the signature Brent gather and boot forward and forget about defence? Possibly station himself at the defensive side of centre and find a running outlet? It's all a bit confusing - but for some reason I don't feel like watching old footage to see if I can pick anything up.