Strawberry Fields

I spoke to a friend last night who is high up in the Lion’s camp management. Said he be very surprised if Daly left as he is very imbedded in their club.

Clarry is almost back 💪🏻. Great game from him.

Nice one. I have written on other threads about my doubt in the idea of the "modern game". In short I don't believe there's much happening in the game at the moment that hasn't already been done. It's just the current "fad". I do wonder if our gameplan and team of 2021 would be top four this year. I think it would. Now I understand our players may be older and less effective, however that doesn't invalidate the effectiveness of the gameplan we had. In my opinion we threw out the baby with the bath water.

This is my point though. I’m not buying “the modern game…” idea. It’s all been done before. Our 2021 team and gameplan would be top 4 right now.

I feel like I’ve gone back in time 10 years. When Roos took over the team his focus was on defence. We had the best defensive system for a few years and we trashed it. In the best part of 5 decades I’ve come to learn the dangers of “group think”. In this case, I think we got sucked in to the “group think” of fast transition football being the new way, as if it hadn’t been tried before. We got sucked in, by that I mean the coaches got sucked in, changed our game plan and this is where we’re at. We finished top 4 in 2023… Crazy. Our defence is a shadow of what it used to be. We have the players to be able to execute the structure. Time to bring it back I say. Better to go out in straight sets again then watch this rubbish.

Jordan was basically describing Buckley as the man for the job when he was talking “hard edge…”.

Great pod guys. I look forward to it every week. Be great to hear your thoughts/stats on how the backline functioned yesterday considering May and Lever out, Adams Debut and the relative youth (apart from T-Mac). I thought they gave a good account overall considering how open the game was and the strength of their talls. Also I felt Trac is really putting in, and even had a good burst of speed for his goal. A little bit of silk and he dominates areas of that game. I fell it's coming. Thanks fellas.

Terrible post.

Disagree. He was a little bit of silk away from mastery. I’d hate to lose him. And he’s playing a team game.

I have to take you at your word HG and doing so I like that the club has pulled lead on this. It actually shows me the club is being ruthless. I’m guilty of putting emotion into AFL when at the club and playing level it is a profession results driven sport. I have also noticed Buckley has been very pro Dees this year in his analysis of our games. I’m keen on Buckley. I think he’s our best chance of shorter term success.

Forever thankful for Goody's part in the Premiership. I agree it was time for the club to move on. I have the upmost respect for Goody, especially after watching his presser. Very classy response. Thanks Goody, Go Dees.

I was with you until Sunday and you make valid points. But unfortunately it is the coach's responsibility to get the players organised, motivated and playing well. That doesn't absolve the players from responsibility and I am super disappointed with our senior group, however after Sunday decisions need to be made. Can't sack all the players, so unfortunately Goody has to go. It's what ruthless clubs do.

I’m putting my rose coloured glasses on and reading between the lines. He’s preparing the battle space for a big decision. I’m quietly confident… But rarely correct.

They are privately owned but clubs still have a salary cap. Structure of trades and free agency is actually similar as well.

I've tried to be positive with Goody. But I've come around to the need to replace him ASAP. Even with the financial penalty. I follow the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL. Last year, they replaced their coach during the season. They are ruthless in their pursuit to get results, particularly making sure the club is successful enough to keep two big names in their lineup. Ended up making the Stanley Cup finals two years in a row. It's time for us to get ruthless... I don't think our list is as bad as some, just need a better focus. I sat through the Grand Final in 1988 and 2000. Thank goodness I was overseas for 186, however I'm still gutted from yesterday. Things need to change.

I’ve tried to be positive all week. I don’t know how now. Gutted. Thought the young fellas in general played well. Leaders are the failure. I agree that Tracc and Clarry needed to step up and didn’t. That loss is on the midfield and HHFs. Backs couldn’t stop the easy entries. And i hate to say it, because I’ve been avoiding it, but that’s on the coach. Finally, Spargs is a poor sub. He laid a great tackle in the end but he’s too slow, we needed speed and pressure off the bench and I feel he was a step down from a tired Windsor. This will be a tough week.

I get your points Picket and respect them. But those guys are playing… Albeit in the VFL. I think there’s a fair gap between VFL and AFL (most do) and the “play them and see” argument is clutching at straws and wishing for an outcome that is unlikely.

Ok. Which players do you think should be in? Also, over the past two weeks, post match interview players have spoken about implementing a new gameplan. So my guess is they are focussed on 2026. Are you saying Petty isn’t in our future? Sparrow? Howe? I think there’s a lot of dreaming here about AJ and Laurie somehow tearing things up at AFL level when they haven’t in the past. I’m no expert. But sometimes you have to trust the experts.

Fair enough… I guess I try to think of the positives. If Goody is coaching for his career, then I would have thought he’d want to win. For those Goody haters I assume they’d be happy for a loss to hasten his departure. Either way I find the aggressive criticism confusing.

I’m guessing the selection panel don’t believe it’s “deck chairs on the titanic” time. We have lost a lot of games but let’s not forget that apart from a couple of insipid starts we were in most of them… Against some top sides. 2020 we hit our straps late… I’m not expecting the same but I also have a memory. I don’t understand the club bashers sometimes.

I am angry about this. If the club can appeal they had better. The club needs to go in and bat for the players to show them they have their backs. Absolute farce.

Just saw his interview on the MFC site. Honest and humble. Love him in the Red and Blue. Also worth watching as he talks about the new gameplan and how excited he is leading into 2026.

Sounds like you have it in for our BOG. Everyone is different mate.

Is it just me or are the Suns playing our old 2021 game plan. Kick to a contest on the wing, stoppage, grind it out. Seems to work still.

Great Pod... I look forward to it every week. I just watched Goody's presser. I'd like to get the panel's thoughts. He was very clear about the direction of the club (maybe not to those who don't listen), particularly when he spoke about melding the old with the new. In my opinion I think the older heads are working really hard to wrap their heads and skills around the new gameplan and the kids just need a little time. I'm not a fan on bagging a coach and playing group who worked so hard to give us a flag just because we are in a rough patch.