Skuit

Who-hoo!. That wasn't the original but a copy-cat. Fantastic.

At least Tomald won't be in Harmes' or anyone else's way.

Perfect conditions for a spot of wadlopen.

My guess is AmDam is talking about here: (It makes me feel a little bit better anyway).

This, by all rights, should be an absolute thumping. We crumbled under pressure last week, but in the two games we've played against teams in the bottom half of the ladder we've looked a genuine class above - with good ball movement and scoring nous. Throw in a winless team on a short-turnaround and with eight changes and a 50-point plus win should be on the cards.

There's probably an element of confirmation bias here - as I had been concerned about the four day break leading into the match (and had quietly questioned our approach) - but within about two minutes it looked exactly to me like a completely flat team against one which had had a longer break. It's a sport of such tight competitive margins. But I get why everyone is angry. It looked like the same stuff we've served up in the past. It was. But partly in my mind because the short break exacerbated our obvious issues. Such as poor skills. We also made it worse at the selection table - another reoccurring theme. And we've definitely had games in our past where the players have showed zero effort. The reason I'm accepting that the short break had an influence however was because effort hasn't been one of our recent issues. Our structure is shot and almost all of our senior players haven't offered a thing. But I don't recall a lack of effort being spoken of once this year. People can be [censored] at those other things - but I feel anger towards the players is unwarranted.

I don't know mate. I don't know how many teams have had the four-day break so far. Finding it hard to watch. It's obvious everyone wants to be grumpy at the MFC. And I've made it clear I'm upset with the AFL scheduling and don't think the condensed rounds are cool at all. I'm still annoyed with our series of six-day breaks and travel and accumulation of injuries in the back half of 2017. But in saying that I also think it's too simplistic to look at the number of soft-tissue injuries across the league as a measure. Some players are more susceptible than others. Gawn has had soft-tissue issues before. The AFL has increased the risk to those players. It's okay to say toughen up but football isn't the EPL or NBA. The players also don't have the regular experience of backing up from short breaks.

Is that our first soft-tissue issue for the year? Right on the back of a four-day break? The AFL is putting livelihoods at risk for the sake of cash.

"Selecting coaches is the toughest job of all," Lyon said. "I won't apologise for the decision ever. That is life. Unfortunately it didn't work." Translation: "My decision and the selection criteria were perfectly fine. It was the other guy who was crap."

As to the above posts. Just in case anyone missed it - the NT gov declared COVID hot-spot status for greater Brisbane yesterday and I doubt it will take much to add the Gold Coast. It's going to make fixturing games in Alice and Darwin somewhat tricky now.

Is it possible that Clarry is a bit exhausted? He's now into third in the AFL for consecutive games. Plays high minutes. Huge contested numbers. Rarely gets rested on field out of the middle. Goodwin said recently that he was the hardest worker at the club. Would have to have one of the heaviest work-loads in the AFL over the past three years and he needed to work harder on fitness than most coming into the system.

Soccer players don't get slammed into the ground multiple times per game - although it does appear they cop the occasional sniper fire to the legs. Love Burgo (if I was Nick Kyrgios I would have him on the phone) - but I just hope we're being as tactically smart as can be.

Does Richardson now hold the record for the most AFL clubs coached?

Such a quirky sport that we all love. A number of rules where the umpire has to determine the intention of a player. The onus on the opposition to execute a skill in returning the ball following a penalty. Sometimes to a player running back from the mark. Who doesn't have to try in receiving the ball. We can't even kick it to our own teammates properly half the time. Fritsch was pinged because he transferred the ball from his left to right hand while getting up. He was expected to handball it back while off balance and on his back. Like Fritsch held the ball out twice. Bailey could have taken it and didn't make the effort. I'm also always amused when the umps award a free and then says it's Jack's ball e.g. How many sports where it's incumbent on a player to know all the names of opposition players?

Foolishly missed the game and haven't watched a replay (the highlights were frustrating enough) - but going by what has been said on here I think sometimes having such a dominant ruckman can be a detriment, especially when we have an elite extraction crew. Raised the same point a few years back when Gawn was sidelined and we had a good run with Pedo. I would back us in to win with equal caliber ruckmen and a 50-50 split on the tap. But when teams are certain they will lose the hit-out they can plan negating tactics. Didn't say it at the time but I felt Stef Martin going out wasn't a good thing. We set up as if we are assured of ruck dominance - not being reactionary is a mark of Goodwin's coaching - but it means we're constantly subject to defensive tactics such as sharking etc.

Off the top of my head 1) 1987 2) It's an open AFL secret.

Also appreciate your game-sense Jaded. Thanks for the run-down.

Hey Gonzo. I actually really appreciate your game-sense. I expect that you are frustrated but where did we lose this one?

That's a given.

Me usual or the Demons?

Lol. I spent the whole day waiting for footy and got too drunk and fell asleep just before first bounce only to wake up with one minute left on the clock. Who wants to explain the game to me in one hundred words or less?

I should have mentioned I'm averse to cold and fond of water. But whereabouts in Russia? Is it easy to get a visa for an extended stretch (I have dual Oz and Dutch citizenship)? Georgia is intriguing.

I'm scouting time-zones where I can wake up at a reasonable hour, make coffee, and then watch the footy. Turkmenistan here I come.

Damn. Even if we cleared Nat Jones and TMac off the books it wouldn't add up to Cameron.

Until getting trapped in Oz I've spent most of my adult life living in time-zones west of Australia. I thought getting up at 5am in Europe to watch the football was a drag. But having to wait until after 5pm is much worse.