pitmaster

this is the year, right here. all done.

The consecutive wins Rnd 22 and Elim Final 1990 were special - stopped their run for three premierships in a row. Like Paul Simon's boxer, I take some comfort there.

Aaah music, sweet music.

It was fine work, but his highlight reel is something else. I consider that play covered by my comment that he is coming into the pace of the game and making a contribution but have you seen his highlight reel? If he begins to replicate that demonland will go through the roof.

True. He hasn't done anything that warrants adding to his highlight reel but he is still a positive contributor finding space and working within the pace of the game. It feels like he is building to something special.

Horse [censored]. Woewodin had one brilliant year and deserved his win. That he could not back it up, or forgot what his strengths were and did not want to play to them any more is another story.

I don't think any close observer doubts the wisdom of allowing Jesse to return to WA when we did.

So true.

And Garry's book...

And two more. I am surprised no-one has mentioned Garry Lyon's book ghost written by Andy Maher which as footy books go is pretty good. Another interesting one is Footy in 1960s. What sets it apart is that there is a chapter on each of the 12 clubs written by a fan rather than a footy identity necessarily. Russell Holmesby (AFL Encyclopedia) does the St Kilda chapter, Stephen Cummings of the band The Sports does the Fitzroy chapter, Tim Costello does Essendon, comedian Brian Nankervis does Collingwood and journos do the Dees, Cats and Dogs etc.

I think he means this one...

Probably not going to get close. Maybe he will return for a few games later this year but even a farewell appearance would be pointless if there's no crowd to see him off. In the unlikely even he gets another year he would probably get there but the niggles suggest the body is giving out.

The fact we had no changes for Richmond speaks for the fact Goodwin is trying to settle the list and I expect that's what he will do this week after a solid win which showed some improvement in decision making. TMac is the only likely out with Brown coming in. To say there's something wrong with him because he was delisted at Essendon ignores the fact that he is a fit on our list. We saw little of the two tall forwards this week. I'd like to see Brown take some of the heat off Weideman who was actually better than some credit him. He was out bustled a few times but he also created contests and brought the ball to ground against up to three opponents. I'd also expect Nev to improve and adapt to the pace of the game with more time out there. Lockhart did not win a lot of it but he is part of the future. Expect to see him stay. Aside from Brown for Tmac if he needs a rest I don't see much need for change.

Agree.

I just want to join in the Anthony Hudson bollocking. He was so turgid for Rankine that he seemed to forget completely Bennell's story and what his goal represented. But it's not just a misjudgement as others have noted. It's part of a pattern of commentators bagging Melbourne for "over-celebrating". Remember that crap in past years? Win a tight one and apparently we're supposed to shake hands, offer a 'well played old man', and shuffle off to the showers. Hudson was sneakily having a shot and completely off target. He's in the frame now.

Pity CP5 did not nail the follow up centre clearance by hitting up Weed, but instead went too deep and gave us an example of what everyone had been complaining about, but yes his work was that of a beast. On May, interesting to see in the stats that he led - by a long way - metres gained, ahead of CP5, Clarrie and Viney.

Nicely thought through but there is no way Viney is going out. He brings the heat that has us winning contested ball and is too senior to be dropped without being given a chance to lift this group. Agree with 1, 2, 3 & 6 but as I wrote elsewhere I'd like to see Salem brought up for improved forward 50 delivery. Jones is good for grunt but he is a bomber like the rest. He spent much of last year passing to the opposition.

We need to Bring Salem into the play as mid-half forward to improve inside-50 delivery. With Bennell and Kozzie - assuming Harley stays fit - we would have serious ground level potency. Probably need to play one of Weideman or Brown for more marking targets as well.

Yeah I winced too when he said that but we have Jackson who is only two years behind King.

Lyon I think nailed it when he said we try to play too fast. Too much 'red mist'. When the players picked their way through the Tige's defence in he third term they did it deliberately and they hit targets. There's too little of that play and too much frantic hand passing back into contests. On The Couch showed a classic bit of footage in which Viney turned it over with his second handpass in a series of them, one of which was back into the pressure zone when we had a player outside able to be released. At the least I want to see a cooler approach to the play on whenever you can style which is exciting but beyond our skill level.

Defence is not our problem. Stop agonising over it. Our problem is lousy decision making* and lousy kicking into the forward 50, combined with our forwards' laziness or inability to read the flight. Salem as a mid appeals because that would improve our disposal instantly. More movement from the forwards would instantly improve our responsiveness in the forward 50. We outdid Tigers for inside 50s as we outdid so many opponents last year. The issue is how it gets in there and what happens when it does. *I agree that happens in the back 50 too: think Rivers and Gawn first quarter, but still...

Spot on. One more thing which isn't about skill but is about concentration. Rushed kicks into our forward 50 that land in a no-man's-land space are always marked, if marked at all, by the opposition. This happened repeatedly against Richmond where those under pressure, looping kicks found space it was always a Tiger running into it to mark. What I wonder are our forwards taught about concentration and anticipating the flight? They are constantly behind their opponents, by a couple of metres.

Ouch. Well that's better than hypocrite.

Umpires wearing black and white. Disgraceful.

won (just helping you know?)