Hellfire Dub

Thank you for posting this NSC. I think our coach's stubborn mindset and tactical weaknesses were always problems but that Yze quietly brought the skills SG lacked. That may have disguised the problems but they became evident when Yze and to some extent Burgess were both gone. Yze strikes me as a serious and talented coach and I said on here at the time that I wished he had been given the role instead of extending Goodwin. There may be others on here who also wonder if Yze will coach his hollowed-out team of youngsters to more wins than SG and his core of premiership veterans. Could he and would he return?

When I was at yesterday's game it struck me that our halftime scoreline was like what I grew up seeing at a Dublin GAA Match. 2 goals, 9 points. Gaelic football goals (under the bar) get three and over gets one point (and lately 2 from distance). We used to marvel at the 100 plus scores we'd see in compromise international rules or tv reports about AFL. One of my kids under 9s team did better that the Demons full time score by half time today in their first friendly outing this season. And let's face it the kids game was a chaotic rabble. The demons used to pride themselves on restricting other teams to 60 points or so. Yesterday we barely got there ourselves and Gold Coast of all teams got double that. I know people mean well by asking forbearance for Goodwin, but how much will be enough? When the AFL demotes us to Marvel or Ikon Park? When we have 25,000 members? When we win 2-3 games a season? When we lose all major sponsors? When nobody wants to play for us? When we lose out on funding for Caulfield? When we start hearing about mergers or delisting? Please stop apologising for the feelings of a few well paid coaches who have shown they have no idea. Please stop accepting mediocrity and inexcusably bad standards.

I agree with everything you said W, except I stayed to the really bitter end. I don't know why but we did. They had no pride or courage today. I couldn't discern any game plan at all.

Yes. Don't forget to prioritise contest & defence, along with meaningless inside 50 stats and territorial dominance (expected scores etc) over actually scoring goals. Winning the stats but not the game. Simon Goodwin..."The chances are you're about to lose".

I've thought of a fourth positive: This special edition wooden spoon engraved with "Simon's signoff" will be useful to Petracca when he's cooking on Instagram for his Collingwood team mates next year. He can make lots of money selling limited edition replicas

I've spent more pleasant hours in a dental hygienist's chair. On the tram home I've thought of three positives... As we've already traded away our first round pick, no journalists (caro etc) can start accuse us of tanking. So we don't have to listen to that. This one is more of a hope. Soon it will be so bad that the club will be forced to replace Minus Badloss Another positive...When we eventually hit rock bottom we can only get better from there.

That's what I believe. In fact that's what I hope is the explanation. We have to hope some of the players want to lose to force the club's hand. We really have to hope we'll never be they bad again

Shouldn't have renewed that contract. I can't understand why they did that

Longmire has always impressed me with his tactical responses in game and I think he has a good analytical footy mind and a ruthless desire to win (except for recent grand finals!) He had his recent team playing fast, stylish, skillful, exciting football where you know the whole scoring goals aspect hasn't been neglected in favour of pure "contest and defence". I also hear straight talking sense from him and not inane management speak. Players cop a deserved earful from him when they are playing badly and not doing as they've been instructed. He doesn't need to constantly wrap them all up with love like delicate likkel lambs. But he seems to have natural leadership with humour and people skills when required. Unfortunately I expect he's got better options than driving out to Casey fields most days.

Thanks number 31, it's sad to say because he's an English Carlton fan, but I agree with almost his entire rant. I cannot understand how us fans and the club are putting up with this rubbish. I was shocked his contract was renewed and wonder if we'd still be putting up with this mediocrity if we hadn't pulled away from the Dogs in 2021? Does that victory condemn us to suffer an underperforming poorly coached team forevermore? How bad will it have to get before the new executives take action?

I said that for a number of reasons and I'll describe them here. It's not a personal affront because I know you and others love Goody, but apart from the flag I don't think he's infallible and above reproach. 1. Disconnect Between Training and Game Day. Simon keeps saying we didn't play the way we trained. That’s a worrying admission. Either the players aren’t implementing his instructions, or the coaching isn’t working. Both are red flags. --- 2. Lack of Tactical Response. There’s been minimal in-game adjustment—like failing to respond to repeated marks by Comben or our centre clearance losses. If Max is under siege, coaches need to intervene. The lack of visible action on obvious problems must leave players feeling unsupported. --- 3. Forward Connection & Scoring Issues Our midfield-to-forward connection has been poor for a long time. We dominate territory but don’t convert, constantly bombing it in and hoping to lock it in. It’s like playing rugby in their 22 but never scoring tries. Meanwhile, we get cut open going the other way by interceptors running into space. --- 4. Player Body Language & Usage. Watch the players—Trac looked miserable on Sunday (and maybe unwell). Fritsch looks checked out. Petty seemed lost last year. Kozzy is a weapon we're not using effectively, and JVR hasn’t looked like he’s enjoying his footy. Even Max, our captain, looked exhausted again this week, and in games last year he was trying to carry the team. --- 5. Player Departures & Rumours. We’ve seen a steady stream of premiership players leave. Some may be unhappy. There are persistent rumours about others wanting out. It’s easy to cite homesickness or family to exit gracefully, but it still points to cultural cracks. --- 6. Impact of Underperformance. Losing corrodes morale. After the drama of last season, players probably just want to enjoy their football again. Playing dour, defensive, grinding football isn’t enjoyable—especially when we’re slipping behind the likes of North, Hawthorn, and even being embarrassed by West Coast or Freo. I've played on teams where a coach could politely be described as deficient. Often a good captain can partially compensate but still they can't see and decide or direct everything. I think Simon's good at many aspects (morale, defence, interpersonal) but tactically and offensively I think he is deficient. I think a number of the team believe that too and that must be demoralising. --- From the outside and for the reasons above, it looks like at least some players have a disconnect with the coach. I just want us to win flags, or at the very least be proud and competitive. Lately I'm getting more sympathy than abuse from friends and rival fans about the Dees and that's embarrassing. I've held this opinion of SG since before 2021 so I would love him to turn around our fortunes but he's failed repeatedly and this season might get uglier. Based on all this I would prefer a change of coach. Thanks for reading and debating this.

I know you love him, but if we keep underperforming and losing badly and playing a terrible "brand" then those two and many others will want to go.

You're talking about this effusive reaction?

A lot of the midfield aren't that old and they're good enough to play a different game style. The big change would be looking up first, having a step then lowering the eyes.

I get criticised for suggesting the coach should be held accountable for performance but who else makes the plans and never reacts or learns from his mistakes? Who else is responsible for preparing and inspiring a team when it doesn't show up and mostly seemed lost? I know it's the first five rounds and strange results occur, but from early on that game looked dodgy and we weren't trying very hard. We were missing tackles and North's inaccuracy kept us in it. We showed no pride. They're professional players and they want to succeed and win so if we're sick of the same ould shyyte they must be too. Then again it was the midfielders not the coaches lofting high kicks to an an outnumbered contest with a dominant defender. But who let them persist with that and didn't get them to spread or even the numbers? It was the coach and staff. Forget all the lovey dovey stuff, we can only judge by what we witness and it's really bad.

They won't be, but how we played is unacceptable no matter what side we were facing. Where was the pride?

Many of our important players don't believe in him. Nibbler left. Clarry almost left. Trac wants to. Kozzy wants to leave. I reckon Fritsch is sick of being there. They're just some of the ones we know about.

So demoralising

I know it's MFCSS but those are the games I always dread, where we should win big but don't, or worse still, lose them!

Yeah Cox never seems to get punished for being such a filthy sniper and loves the Collingwood method of leading into people's kidneys with his knees

Is anyone else enjoying the "footy act" that caught Coxhead in the eye? There's only one nicer bloke on that team it could have happened to. Pies fear worst for defender, Lobb 'punch' under scrutiny - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1283038

I got offered that for my oldest kid this year. Is that the whole league or just that club? I refused it outright, despite the free game. No way I was helping the Saints, you can Kildat idea dead right now

I thought it was just me. Empty posts with a blank space. I'm using Samsung Internet on S22.

https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/foxtel-s-new-owner-welcomes-saudi-dollars-in-deal-20250218-p5ld8e.html Wow What What, you weren't joking

What what I don't think I'm allowed say What What I really think about billionaire oligarchs ruining our world. And having suffered under their coercion it's safe to say most people with Irish origins don't love monarchies of any variety, British, Saudi or otherwise. It will be a happy day for me when this becomes a republic without the butcher's apron in the corner of the flag. Sorry (Ducking my head back behind the parapet). I love just about everything else here, but don't feel that it represents me or probably plenty of others either.