Go Ds

Can't you guys see the irony? Suddenly 7th and 8th are much lesser achievements. They need to win 5 matches, miss out on a bye and even can have the ignominy of losing a ' final' to a team that managed only 9 or 10 H&A wins. Fifth and sixth will often have a cushy opening final now and they go into week two ... now week three against an opponent that had an exhausting ding dong battle with a top two side. If you change your perspective that it's really the final six now suddenly the complaints of mediocrity disappear. Now you need to come in the top third of the ladder. None of this is perfect (extra advantages for 5th and 6th and two Mickey Mouse finals). But it ain't the end of the world at all. Now.... back to Sesame Street and the Scon...the Biscu...umm that monster that eats baked goods. 🙄

At best?!!! Speak for yourself!

Like I said it's not that bad. But imagine a state of origin-type game instead in that pre-final bye spot with the best players from the also-rans. It's recognition and valuable experience in an almost finals environment. It may have worked. You'd get two very talented teams and a great spectacle as a lead into rhe finals proper.

I'm sure some are a plane flight away. But it'll interesting how many senior players turn up to make a good first impression (or even can't wait for team and/or their own 'redemption'). If you (Demonlanders) get there today have fun

Hmm, now it'll be 11th that could be the hard luck story. Now there'll be a two-tier finals series. Now too many teams play a final. (Actually it may turn out we end up with a defacto final six.) Honestly I'm not too fussed - there'll be a few more interesting late-season games. But really this is AFL looking to do something and well, they'll make plenty of moula with two bonus finals.

Hmm 2 or 3 years ago Tracc was the obvious choice. Im sure when the vacancy appears there'll be someone the right age with leadership qualities. They dont exactly need to be All-Australian standard, just in the best 18 or 23. I'm sure every club always has someone in the wings. Tasmania don't even have one player yet. But I'm sure they're not panicking about who's their leadership group let alone captain.

And did he do this when he met you? 😁 (Seriously, i love how devoted some fans are, including you.)

Im reminded of David Schwartz. When he was about 8 he witnessed his father's murder. He ended up an eleven out of ten problem gambler. Thankfully he ended up working his way out of that (which probably was connected to his childhood trauma.) Us older fans remember how amazing he was late 94. He was mercurial in our two winning finals and looked to just about overtake Carey as the best in the league. Unfortunately after that he needed knee reconstructions which dulled his game. His sister was a netballer whose knees were also a problem so I guess they had some unlucky genes. If Schwartz had rivalled Carey over the rest of the 90s we quite feasibly could have won a flag, such as in 1998, when we were so close.

I kinda agree with you. But I'm not sure the OP has nothing else to enjoy before then. I haven't been to training since the last session before the '88 grand final at the Junction Oval so it's not as exciting as it will be for trackwatchers. To rephrase it I've been excited about each season probably since Roosy came along. But, yeah, it's extra exciting with a new coach etc. The main thing I hope is that we go into 20-27(!) excited; next year could be quite challenging. Right now Im more looking forward to the Ashes.

Huh?

Well yeah. I was more thinking about 2025. But if all 3 were still playing like in 2022 and without off field issues we wouldnt have been anywhere near 14th

It would have been so hard to play well if arguably 2 of the main 3 players were causing so many problems.

Yep! I did mention that he mentioned Tracc. It wasnt like an acceptance speech at the Brownlow where you mention anyone and everyone. Gawn said he's close with both guys BUT Oliver lived with his family for months making that friendship just a little stronger. Maybe he's furious with Tracc. Maybe he's furious with Green & co for sacking Goody. But who knows. As annoying as it is hearing vetted stuff if he admitted the above about Tracc or Goody and we're 1-5 next year as always the media would tuck into Gawn and the team's morale/culture.

He won some BS award for most valuable tall sponsored by a company that sells tall timber. Everything's new at the club so hes excited about next year. We probably havent developed enough of our youth - if Geelong won the recent GF maybe 14 of their participants would be new premiership players. The league has talented ruckmen and ruckwork evolves. Gawn loves sports, especially cycling - all he can gain from it is improving fitness techniques. He's doing a lot of running at home. Wnen he retires he'll probably run a marathon. My final memory is that Trac and Oliver were such a big part of the club. He's still cloae with them, especially Oliver, but concedes they needed a new start. Hw hopes Oliver regains his form and wins a Brownlow. (So nice enough stuff but hardly "must-listen")

Yep, Exhibit A 🙂

A long enough interview - even with 3 minutes of blah blah blah from a sponsor. We all love Gawn but I get the feeling he's as well-trained as a politician to stay on message and never blurt anything out.

Our new coach until a few months ago was mainly considered a Geelong person. I'm guessing thus we'll play his old team twice, orbat least continue the yearly 'tradition' playing at Geelong with crowd hoping their team beat their former alumnus.

I tend to agree with those not desperately hoping for a soft draw. Admittedly sometimes due to harder matches the eighth best team comes tenth and watches the bottom team in the eight get a shellacking in their elimination final. Actually maybe that'd be better for Melbourne who I dont think will be a real contender next year. But for those that are the ones that are 8-3 against the top 8 sides is both better prepared and probably a better standard than those finalists who had less hard games and comparably are 3-6.

Yeah, that MF couldn't bring it. 😁

He just went round at Melton harness. He was 1.20 (for every dollar you bet you'd get a 20c profit ) , so very short. Maybe it was fitting but he only came 4th and never looked like winning.

It was also amusing that weeks after moving Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis on the Hawks recruited Mitchell Lewis.