pitmaster

The Pies performance against Rmond was aided by really deplorable goal kicking from the Tiges in the first quarter who could have led four goals to zip but instead made it four points to zip. The Pies always looked up against it, as we did, and worked hard, as we did. The post game hype had more to do with pre-season expectations (and selling the Hun).

It's not hurting Richmond.

Feeling vindicated about this today especially that line in italics: Goodwin is trying to ingrain a method of play that will work once T Mac returns. Of course, we'll only know as the year unfolds but as TMac gains more match fitness I suspect (hope?) those panicky posts about game plans start to disappear. Add Viney into the mix and anything is possible. I am amazed at the lack of recognition TMac's absnce received in the media, most recently from W Carey's piece in the Hun on Friday. BTW bush demon, Clarkson was only an example of a more experienced coach; not for one moment was I suggesting he would come over to the red and blue.

I rate Carey as a commentator. He is articulate and usually insightful, but this article lacks anything but the obvious. He is just going through the motions. There's more to learn about the team from this website than that article, and considering some of the fly-off-the-handle material on here, that's not saying a lot for the Duck's effort.

Pre-season I thought Viney was our biggest loss in the first third of the season, but the past two matches suggest I was wrong. Running Hogan far beyond forward 50 is robbing us of forward structure. It worked last year when T Mac was playing forward even though he seemed to be missed from defence. The strength of the strategy is that both T Mac and Hoges are running machines that can alternate in the forward 50 with the other pushing upfield. With O Mac growing into his role and Lever at his fifth attempt really contributing it's apparent that T Mac as permanent forward is a real prospect. The weird thing is that with our forward line not working at all that we keep playing as though we have serious targets up there. My guess is that Goodwin is trying to ingrain a method of play that will work once T Mac returns. Unfortunately that does not explain why we played down the line against Richmond, but it's my optimistic guess that this season will recover once we regain our structure. Maybe a more experienced coach (Clarkson) would come up with a strong alternative short term approach but I hope what's going on is what I said above...teaching the players an aggressive forward approach that will hold up long term.

Unbelievable what Hawthorn got away with last week. I heard Mitchell rebuked as well. Christ umpiring is third rate. Incidentally, two big differences between our game and North's pantsing of Borethorn were the fine conditions and North's conventional forward structure. I did wonder whether we outsmarted ourselves playing Jesse so far upfield once Kent etc stopped finding the goals. Brown really showed up Frawley and Sicily was exposed for the panic merchant he is.

Dees by 7

Tough on Fritsch who was still trying to make things happen in the final quarter against Hawthorn and who has contributed every other week. No argument otherwise.

Timely for selection purposes. Three year deal if I remember correctly. However I think it was always understood that the third year would see him ease into coaching. That now looks more likely to be sooner. He is far too slow now, broken hand or not. Don't expect to see a lot of him on field in the second half of this year. Trading lesson 101: the Hawks never give much away unless there is much to be gained (such as a rare commodity like a good ruck man).

I think you may be misreading what was Vince's attempt to adapt to the conditions. Hawks played them perfectly: get behind the ball and keep forcing it forward however you can. Punch, kick or just work it forward through hard tackling. Kicking off the ground is a valid adaptive tactic when the ball is greasy like a pig, such as yesterday. I wish more of our players gave up their preferred finely skilled play for some mongrel old-style footy.

Excellent summation although Salem deserves a mention among the best. The defence appeared fragile even in the first quarter when we were dominant. Inexperienced and unknown to each other, we need TMac back and down there rather than in attack where he was headed.

I cannot fathom why we can't at least try to adapt our game to the conditions, but trying to play precise, highly skilled football in the wet is a recipe for disasters like today.

You mean drivel but I take your point. Drivel: nonsense, claptrap, bladerdash, twaddle etc

no one will ever prove you wrong

Nothing wrong with that article. She's right. Season goes well, it will be forgotten. If we show mental weakness (round23) it will come up again.

I apologise. Yes it was somewhat wild but for this admirer of JV this is a scary development. I have read Jack's remarks today and it seems he is still feeling his way through a modified running action. I hope he is fit and raring for round three but I won'd be fully confident until he has been back to what we know he is capable of for a few months. For me a setback was worst case...or at least it left worst case as a prospect.

The Viney story worsens...round three now! http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-03-15/vfl-return-looms-for-injuryhit-dees-star

What's this about scarves? I received none. Don't we pick them up at the G? PS: enough with the whinging. Membership is a duty.

Saturday's forecast is 23 degrees with 90% chance of rain...gotta love Hobart. And the game is even farther south towards Huon Valley. At least it's a taste of the place for the real season - since we're always sent down there.

Yet that is how Ian Ridley sold it to the past players. I contacted one of them, since I knew where he worked, and I remember him saying that Ian told us it was a takeover. Only on those terms did the past players swallow the scheme. Those of us at DB Hall that night know what the real members thought, as opposed to the board with its dodgy proxies. Young supporters should also know that work had begun on a Supreme Court challenge to the result immediately after the meeting, particularly because of the lock out of several thousand members, although that became moot once the Hawthorn vote was known.

maximum crap, bob. great avatar though.

The dud brother?

Not enough choices in the poll. I voted "love it" but the total truth is that it is better than most of what has gone before it. Always hated the royal blue number in the 70s and 80s though. So it's relatively better than the white number, ok, but love it is a bit too strong.

I just hope we can make this an enduring relationship. Even the Kangaroos (!) can hang on to a sponsor for many years...it's about time we did.

The nature of the allegation and the widespread publicity it briefly received, mean no further comment is not a feasible outcome. I imagine if the woman is unwilling to return to Bali to make a formal, criminal complaint that there may be some attempt at mediation between the parties in order to give her a respectful hearing, even an apology if that is what she wants. (I am not suggesting I know anything about what actually happened - the possibilities range from a grievous assault through to a misunderstanding between two young people as to what their respective feelings and intentions were at the time of the incident.) Even if mediation satisfied the woman's concerns the AFL and the club must make clear how the issue resolved or a cloud is left over too many players. But if the woman returns to Bali to make a complaint then we could be waiting a long time to hear more.