pitmaster

What's the source for this comment?

For the historically minded should be more like "Off with his head". But count me out. I loathe those threads about undermining the coach whoever he is.

And Hardwick's laptop played up, ruining his presentation.

Actually, binman, from long experience I can tell you Caro's form is to say "it was right at the time" which is the ultimate get-out for a report that is later shown to be wrong, because as an excuse it is simply unprovable either way.

I'm looking at finishing positions in a competition where there is only one prize. Ten years is a big enough sample to cancel out variables such as a bad run with injuries one year, or an extraordinarily good run with injuries, or close finishes. It is relevant that he inherited from Malthouse a team that had contested the two previous Grand Finals and within three years had them in the bottom half of the ladder where they remained for four years. I acknowledge that only rotten luck and a freakish kick denied him a premiership but that form of 2018 was not sustained. Whatever the variables his record compares poorly with coaching contemporaries such a Clarkson at Hawthorn, Hardwick at Richmond or Scott at Geelong. And whatever the variables it is also significant that he had charge of one of the strongest, best resourced clubs in the game and could not deliver what they wanted. I am not saying I'd be burning a membership card if he is given the gig, but I would not be shattered if he opted for the Tassie Tigers either.

I don't claim to know anything useful here nor would I pretend to know better than any member of the coaching selection panel, but nowhere have I seen any run down of Buck's coaching record, so I checked and it's very mixed. In 2012, having inherited the 2010 premiership side and 2011 losing grand finalist ,he took the Pies to 4th. 2013: 7th 2014: 11th 2015: 12th 2016: 12th 2017: 13th 2018: 2nd (denied a premiership by a poor umpiring decision and a miracle kick on the final siren) 2019: 4th 2020: 4th 2021: 17th (good times) He was coaching one of the best resourced clubs in the comp. It's not a great record. An equal mix of mediocrity and success. If he wins the job I hope he has learned plenty.

Harry Sharp?

They are precious. You are absolutely right. Another example is their outrage whenever N Daicos is closely tagged. They seem to think, and some of the media go along for the ride, that Nicky should be allowed to play the game entirely on his own terms, that is, scouting about off the contest and with a licence to receive the ball at will and distribute as he wishes. He is very effective when left to run free, but what other player is entitled to play without an opponent? None of course. And when a close watch is kept on him, as in both Kings Birthday and Round 24 against us, he is quelled. I suspect Matthew Nicks is regretting little him run free last night.

It was a speak tackle similar to what cost Kozzy three weeks a couple of years back but Kozzie ran passed the ball to lay his hit so that may be the difference.

Adelaide fans are bogans (generally speaking) and they hate Victorians almost universally, so no surprise they'd boo a player from an opposition club for any reason. But the hypocrisy of the Collingwood club whinging about it is breathtaking since they boo players who joke about them (Ed Langdon) or who consider them beatable (Steve May) or who is kicking for goal (any Collingwood opponent of any club at any time).

Reading this morning's Age (Sept 1) where Tim Membery talks about the difference between being at St Kilda (where players talk passionately about ending the club's premiership drought), and Collingwood (where reminders of past glories are everywhere - "it's painted on the walls"), so that "you just feel that as a player being in this environment it's going to be successful", this new base cannot come fast enough. For all our sakes I hope Brad Green, Paul Guerra and Steve Smith make it happen and give us something to see taking shape by the end of 2026. It would make a great marker for a 100th premiership anniversary.

Fair point. He has never had an impact at senior level but has not really been given much opportunity. The sub role has diminished the prospects of a few players. The one who got away and now playing strong footy for the Giants is a similar example. I had given up on Laurie but watching him today thought it may not all be on him.

Possibly a condemnation of Simon Goodwin.

Yeah, but as a kid. He was in premiership sides in his first and second years, so not a senior player or leader. Just a lucky kid, so that premiership record was never particularly persuasive to me, although I love what he did for our club as a coach.

Only Sam Darcy saved his arsey.

Interesting observation if true. I'm interested to know how you know this.

Supposed to share the Burgess philosophy but the evidence of the past four seasons is of declining impact. Selwyn needs to be part of the clean out.

Even the MCC members was chock-a-block B & W.

Exactly so. Sitting on second level northern stand I scanned the rest of the level with binoculars at 3/4 time and could only see b & w. Where I was (MCC section 42) there was a Dee presence but elsewhere it looked totally occupied by the opposition.

Just a word of thanks for fronting up after another deeply disappointing loss. Your weekly discussions have been my primary therapy this year. I am going to miss our counselling sessions. As I noted in the post match thread, that was a game lost not by lack of fitness but by lack of composure. I can't bear to watch the replay and I was at the wrong end of the ground in the last term so please explain what was that kick of Max's that knocked over the pie stand on the second deck about? And how did Trac miss from close in? It's all in the heads isn't it? Trying too hard? How do they fix this? And let's celebrate too how we turned the game in the third.

Please elaborate.

That loss had nothing to do with fitness. I was really impressed with how the Dees kept pushing through the final quarter even as the goal tide shifted. The third term was brilliant: after losing centre clearances in the first half we turned the game on its head with some great work from Rivers running off the work of Oliver and Trac. Fritters' 55 metre goal was a ripper. And while we were a little lucky to be as close as we were at half time JVR and Petty had really showed something early. That same drive was still there in the final term but what cost us was lack of composure in front of goal. One goal from eight shots with five behinds and two OOB was crucial. We needed one of those snaps to go through. I was at the city end but from what I saw Trac did well to win a contest in close but missed from very close in. Langdon sprayed wide. Trac too. Gawn's attempt I'll never understand. From one of those points the Pies played on quickly up the guts and foaled within seconds - a huge two goal moment - because we had not set up defensively for the kick in. We did not make that mistake again. There were several marking contests where it seemed Petty or JVR might replicate that gras they'd taken earlier but it was not to be. Our sixth loss by a goal or less and the third in the past (is it four?) few games: Saints Dogs and Filth. The answer is in the heads of our forwards and midfielders. I hate to say it but that was a brave effort. It showed much more heart than I feared might be displayed before the game. Oh, and May's lazy short pass brain face kick did not help. Is it time Steven?

It used to be the case that players would not rat on one another at the tribunal and would leave what happened on the ground to be settled on the ground. Yet it seems no longer to be the case as Collingwood ratted - "dobbed in" if your prefer - on Izak Rankine. Sydney's Blakey had been similarly insulted but said nothing. Collingwood, with Maynard of all people taking the high moral ground, has driven this. It interests me that no one in the media has remarked on Collingwood's role and the fact that it simultaneously diminishes the prospects of one of its stronger rivals for the premiership. I understand that folks don't want to diminish the sense of wrong here, but surely Collingwood's role and consequent benefit is worthy of recognition. What do others think?

I'd have liked to see Johnson included for some random vigour.

I'm going. It's a long time between seasons and this is the last chance to see the boys this year. But I'm dreading what I am going to see. Hoping to be surprised.