george_on_the_outer

Weidemann will stay purely to get games into the kid. Unfortunately, last week he had to take the best defender when Hogan and Watts were not available, and Gawn wasn't there to drift into the forward line. He is far above VFL level and wouldn't learn anything by going back to Casey. He just didn't need to be thrown to the wolves, but we had no choice. Darcy Moore at Collngwood is half the threat as a player this year, because Cloke is not there any more. Last week 5 kicks and 5 handballs 0 goals. But like Weidemann he is getting games for experience. If Pedersen is fit then I would expect him to be returned to take the heat.

I really don't like these statistical comparisons. Age and experience does not equal talent, which is what wins Premierships. Good players stay on lists longer than untalented players. So having a "young" side could mean you don't actually have any talent. And as always, the comparisons made are on averages, or medians. 10 young untalented players in the VFL will do your age profile wonders. 1 Dustin Fletcher really stuffs it up. Hawthorn are at the top of the list because they have good, but older players. Not surprising they have won multiple premierships. But putting older players into your list, just to make it more experienced doesn't produce the results as North found out. Likewise loading up with youngsters, like we tried in the past, doesn't work solely on that basis. They have to be talented. Now which team would you think are more likely to win a premiership? Age: Experience: Western Bulldogs 25.61 97.3 North 25.44 89.8 Similar age and experience, but the difference in talent when you look at the list is what matters. But as others have pointed out, our youth would appear to be really, really talented. If all goes well we will be in that Hawthorn position in the future, with old experienced players who have a couple of Premierships to their names.

Another lop-sided free kick count for the WCE....23 to 8 this time.

What a win does: 21 March Saints 36,906 Melbourne 35,756 29 March Saints 37,767 Melbourne 37,525 They have added 861 while we have added 1769. And that was their home game.

From an article in the Financial Review: http://www.afr.com/business/sport/darwins-theory-of-sporting-evolution-20170323-gv4yuj An interesting insight into why some recruiting methods ( like buying players) don't work, and why other methods do. His theory is based on team cohesiveness and: "It's based on three measures – long-term cohesion, which is the time team members have spent playing together more than two years ago; medium-term cohesion – which is the time spent within two years and finally the in-season cohesion, which has the highest weighting." Importantly the author has identified in the AFL the following: "Hawthorn, Geelong and the Swans in the AFL are high-cohesion units but he says St Kilda and Melbourne are improving and North Melbourne could spring a surprise".

From the Saintsational site: picture of Etihad surface as of 21st March !

.....I coached Lachie Harris for a couple of years. Brilliant footballer, who is the youngest of the Harris boys, and a nicer kid you couldn't find. Had to work really hard in the backyard to play against the bigger brothers, so he knows how to get the ball. Has grown a bit but still small by AFL standards.

And don't forget before Footscray he was at Geelong as an assistant developing players like Johnston, Ablett, Scarlett, before they won their series of Premierships.

Here is a compilation of previous years membership tallies for comparison, courtesy of great work by It's Time. The table will be updated as the data becomes available. 2017 Progressive total in Red Actual dates in Blue Membership Year Approx Date 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 Oct week 3 19,026 21 19,026 22 19,026 26 17,625 25 Nov week 3 26,064 18 21,794 26 20,509 26 20,223 25 - 16,287 11,922 Dec week 1 27,914 9 24,402 4 22,433 3 22,105 11 21,616 20,100 19,656 Dec week 4 29,426 23 26,217 22 24,097 23 23,542 25 20,623 20,166 Jan week 3 30,200 20 27,027 19 25,112 23 24,558 21 21,873 22,402 22,396 Feb week 1 31,141 3 28,013 3 25,647 1 25,416 4 22,962 8 23,422 23,457 Feb week 2 31,537 10 - 26,290 12 26,039 12 23,650 12 21,448 12 Feb week 3 32,137 17 28,759 17 26,639 18 26,641 17 23,650 18 24,195 16 25,253 17 Feb week 4 32,679 24 29,450 26 27,066 26 27,736 26 - 25,277 Mar week 1 33,520 3 30,524 7 27,619 4 28,582 4 24,801 5 26,023 27,806 Mar week 2 35,080 16 32,623 16 29,510 16 30,421 15 26,751 14 26,791 14 28,068 Mar week 3 35,756 21 - - - - Mar week 4 37,025 28 35,117 26 31,035 26 32,324 28 - 29,588 31,087 Apr week 1 38,554 7 35,535 1 32,001 1 - - 32,235 33,359 Apr week 2 39,005 14 36,157 8 33,301 9 33,175 14 - - 33,753 10 Apr week 3 39,281 21 36,731 20 34,548 20 Apr week 4 39,634 28 37,597 30 May week 1 40,083 7 37,766 6 34,223 1 35,205 5 - 34,489 35,205 May week 2 40,380 14 38,102 13 - - - 34,961 May week 3 40,549 21 38,479 31 June week 1 40,934 7 Jun Week 2 41,022 14 38,653 14 - - 35,403 Final July 31 42,102 39,211 35,953 35,911 33,177 35,435 36,937

I think Mike Sheahan tried to find him a couple of years ago for "On the Couch", but couldn't get a lead from anyone where he was.

Both the Saints and we have about 35K members, all of whom are filled with hope and expectation . The capacity is 50K minus the Medallion club. Level 3 might be for walk ups, but there sure won't be many available and the queues will be catastrophic ( as usual at Etihad). We have bought reserved seats, but not many available at all.

Last night Reiwoldt 7 marks, Bruce 6, McCartin 4, Membrey 1. Contested marks Bruce 4, McCartin 1 Reiwoldt and Membrey 0. They aren't all that good. Reiwoldt plays off the bench and wing. Can't run like he used to. All we have to do is stop turnovers.

Hogan should have a day out if Carlisle is playing on him. Their next best defender is Brown. If we get the ball up forward then like Buddy tonight it will be easy pickings. Just have to stop Stevens. No-one tagging him tonight. Hickey is the one to worry about, 16 contested possessions as a ruck. Max will have his work cut out.

Rance hasn't trained since before Christmas, I think. While I only watched on the TV I think he was off the ground for most of the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Certainly looks overweight and slow. Nothing to worry about both the toiyges and pies...a very ordinary game. If Reiwoldt and Cotchin get injured they will be bottom 2. But if the pies hadn't kept giving them the ball the game would have been a complete whitewash.

Enough. Training finished.

Forecast top temperature for Thursday is 32. The later start may still see the game played in difficult conditions. No doubt the AFL will be aware of this: http://www.theage.com.au/wa-news/young-perth-footballer-dies-after-midgame-collapse-20170305-guqzzf.html

I hope we have learnt from the last time we played the Aints, and with what we have seen in their JLT games.....just stick someone on Stevens!.....someone....they don't have anyone else of any damaging ability in the middle, so sacrificing 1 player to stop their clearances will win the game.

Well they didn't have any clout as it turns out: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/supplements-saga/essendon-supplements-saga-push-for-senate-inquiry-rejected-says-greg-hunt-20170303-guqeyl.html

For the younger ones who may not know about ..."clearance Clarence"

Caro has come out this morning telling them to move on: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-20170224-gukxno.html If that isn't a message from Head office, I don't know what is. But listening to the tape it became obvious that the fools at Essendon thought they had a deal with the AFL, and they probably did. Trouble was ASADA is the prosecuting and penalty authority. If this was their "leadership" then all....players, coaches, supporters and sponsors have been severely led astray. And this was the same leadership who got them into the situation in the first place.

Thanks SWYL...this was soooo much better than the original commentary, and it made viewing this for the ( insert number here)th time just so much more enjoyable! What I particularly liked about this sequence of play was the outstanding contributions through a wide range of individuals, who when called upon, actually delivered. Watts with his passing and critical intercepts when Hawthorn were attacking. Hunt running down Smith to stop a near certain goal. Brayshaws mark on the wing in a tough one-on-one, that kept the ball moving forward. Stretch's swift hands in tight situations, not to mention his running when others would have stopped Pedersons ability to hit packs and provide a target when there were no others Vince's calmness when all around was a storm. Petracca and Vandenberg just bullocking the ball forward when the contest was critical Omac who while not finishing his effort all that well, had run the length of the ground to provide an option for others. Bugg popping up all around the contests and finding space when there was none. I could go on, with Oliver, Tyson, Viney and Gawn all making major contributions when needed, but I cannot remember a game in recent memory where we had so many contributors in what was a truly tight and epic clash.

Or zones. They put in a centre square to stop congestion. Something like minimum 6 players in half the field is simple. Emergency umpire is doing nothing for most of the game, so they can administer it. 16 a side just means 32 players around the ball instead of 36. Problem not solved.

Sorry, I don't know what is the problem? The surface at Casey is simply first class. The conditions for viewing...similar to the same as at Box Hill, Footscray, Princes park, Holden centre, Punt Road etc. These are 2nd level locations for the 2nd level ( VFL) sides. Environment....dependant upon what comes from the sky...there is no such thing as a rain belt outside mountainous areas. What's worse? Try North Ballarat in winter, or Williamstown on a windy day, or North Port after a storm.

People still streaming through the gates. Cars banked up outside. Will be chockers by first bounce

Most honest and interesting interview from a coach in a long time. Highly recommend you listen to it. The rap on Petracca is something. "some of the things he does...you just go wow!" Also I was heartened by this video from the club site: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2017-02-01/training-day If there was any doubt about the stability of Petracca's knee then look at 29-40 seconds.