pitmaster

Bugger. This thread is turning me into Accuracy Cop! Sorry MD but one of the lesser reported elements of the Info Night was that in addition to the interrupted and inadequate pre-season preparation there was one other major factor affecting performance through the season - the weekly injury toll. Every week there were at least two forced changes to the team due to injury or illness. While Brisbane had six weeks with no forced changes, we had none. This related to your points in this way: the football department said they knew we'd be in strife, or would struggle through the first two months of the season. But they hoped to be in a position to build fitness from there. They hoped to win enough games in those first two months to be able to build into the season. As the injuries continued weekly to disrupt the team's preparation and the players had too little time to implement systems within a stable unit this did not happen. From their account they did understand the scale of the problem but the strategy they had to overcome it was never able to be implemented due to the recurring injury toll. No-one has to accept the explanation but that is what they offered. It is consistent with accounts we have heard of Misson briefing the board that the early rounds were going to be a tishfight.

I am not wanting to be personal here but I must ask: were you not at the information night? If you were there, or if you know what was presented, how could that not change your opinion?

It was Jordan Lewis who had done the most work - arguably the least important of the midfield group being highlighted. Max was the only other individual to have done more than half the prep and I think you're right about it being 80% or so. Also correct that no other player had done even half, Oliver was around one quarter! Melkie I think was at zero.

I renewed on the 8th December and was told at the time that they had finished their pre-Christmas mail-outs so I don't think there's cause for concern.

Wayne Johnston asked for a clearance to Melbourne while playing for Prahran. Unfortunately Alex Jesaulenko, then coaching Carlton, insisted on seeing Johnston in action before clearing him. So close.

I have never bet on football figuring I lose enough emotionally let alone financially. But one time I did think I should have a go because I had a good feeling, so I resolved to put $100 on us to make the eight. That was pre-season 1998. We'd finished last 1997, but Neale was just starting out and we had finished the end of '97 on a high. It just felt right for recovery. I didn't put the money down in the end, to my regret. I say back your instincts.

Hugely missed last year. On his 2018 finals form he would be transformative for our forward line defensive pressure. He is one of several "new recruits" - like a fit TMac and Brayshaw - who could give us a memorable year in 2020 and beyond.

Last night I dreamed Saints pantsed us in a practice game, sinking membership sales. Does this mean I have MFCSS?

Luckily I do have a backlog, but the plastic pockets have a limited shelf life. Officeworks my next stop.

I'll take those wins and finals as fair exchange for the loss of my very handy former lanyard. To explain, as an MCC member you have to display your membership when you return to your seating area from the bar, sunny, food concourse etc, so being able to hang the thing around your neck saves hunting through pockets. I have the MCC card back to back with the MFC card (which I almost never use) so the lanyard and plastic pocket are about the only useful things in the old members' pack. The calendar; never looked at it more than once, the stickers...the choice of design was nice but most went unused, the plastic envelope was also next to useless. It would be great if the letter included an explanation for the cutbacks, especially if they were taken as a matter of principle for reducing waste. I suspect, however, that it's a cost cutter only and a reflection of our financial standing.

I didn't suggest it as a dare. I was trying to be constructive. Tell ya what...I'll go and ask for you. Assuming nothing unforeseen intervenes, I'll come back to you. (I was intending to raise the topic anyway, but if someone else put the question first I wasn't going to grandstand.)

I share some of your concern, but we have invested the proceeds of the pokies sale so it's not like there is nothing else there. There are income streams. And pokies have a bad smell about them. It's interesting that Geelong announced this week they are abandoning pokies, too. Maybe go to the AGM and put your question, then you might learn what the financial strategy is.

I see we are not the only club hyper-sensitive to an onfield downturn. The Swans with just one finals miss manage to head into the red. From their website... "The Sydney Swans have reported a net operating loss of $509,625 for the year ending October 31, 2019. Net assets were $2,201,819. The operating loss is the first in nine years and reflects several factors including increased operating costs and the impact of not qualifying for the AFL finals."

WHAT??? No lanyard? Bloody hell that is tight. Those things are damn useful.

No seems about it LN. Fritter forward was an explicit statement at the members' info night. Saved me putting the question. I thought we all knew that?

An excellent benchmark except that since we don't play north until the last round - and again in Hobart - you'll have your answer long before then.

He did no good for the Sharks so I vote we keep well away.

Geelong and West Coast both aided by massive home ground advantage which always gives them a head start. With their lists they'll still be there you would reckon although a lot of the Eagles' best are ageing. I am hoping, not yet expecting them to drop quickly. Richmond and Giants both good enough and hungry enough to be right in it. Lions had an amazing injury-free run but even without that they have built a very good list and I expect them to be back. That leaves Collingwood, Essendon and the Dogs. Essendon are in strife and are most likely to miss according to notables like K Cornes. As for the other two, I think they are both vulnerable depending on injuries and results in close games, but the Dogs moreso. The Woods consistently over achieve. So two or possibly three places up for grabs tops. It doesn't leave much room for error but anything less than finals would be a big disappointment.

So let me guess, you think the Weed needs to do more to justify his place? I could buy that argument but I think he needs persistence. That prompts an interesting thought: must a Best 22 be the best side you can field on any given day, or could it be the Best 22 you can field today while developing for the long term. If it's the latter, then Weid is, in my humble op, in that team.

Also indicated Weid and AVB ain't...and that ain't so. They are best 22 if everyone is fit.

It would be easy to under-estimate the importance of this announcement. For a club that has struggled to retain sponsors for much more than a couple of years - think Primus, Hankook, Webjet, Kaspersky, Opel, Asics (I think) - this , and Jaguar backing up, is a very good sign. Compare our record to ordinary clubs like Norf (Mazda for ever) and the Dogs (stole Mission from us and have retained them for seven or eight years) and you realise it's long overdue for us to build some relationships that stick. So well done Pertie. Now get us a home.

P***head might though.

Thanks for that. The full table (30K in the first week of December) suggests we are 2000 behind last year. And it's too late to buy them as Christmas presents, so...it might be slow this time around.

Well said Ernie. Just re-committed for myself and several others. I was told the current number is closing on 28,000 so the positive they are putting on that is that more than half the members from 2020 had signed up as of this morning. Anyone here know the pre-Christmas total last year?

Agree on NicNat (finally, but for years he was for me limited to a highlight reel. His impact on games when fit now is excellent). Not so much on Kreuzer. He has never dominated they way big blokes are supposed to and it's been a long time since the K Cup. (We weren't even tanking then! They were.) Meanwhile Buckenara (far from my most favourite person) has Jackson at 17 in the Hun today, although it's unclear if that is how he rates him or where he thinks he will go. I think it's the former. Maybe he's setting us up for a bagging when we pick the kid. I don't pretend to know better than those who watch these kids for a living but LJ makes me nervous. I'd be happier if he was a Victorian or Tasmanian, or even from SA. But once with us home is a long way off.