Left Field

Certainly understand its hard to sell our recent history - the club probably couldn't afford the amount of lipstick required to make that pig pretty. Like most here, I've continued as a member through these hard times. And I certainly understand the need for new revenue sources. But this just feels tacky to me. Smells like the new boss thinks we have a soft first 4 week draw. Sorry for the cynicism.

The difference between a rival offer and our matching it (while paying 95% of the SC) is, in the equivilent of a "rounding error". James is entitled to not the see ball come flying into the backline so often and so fast. Must be hard for him having been there for the shyte years. However, leadership is an interesting concept in these truncated careers. If I got only 10 years in my peak earnings phase, as someone coming in with zero assets and plenty of dependencies, then I would look to maximise that. As would most folks if they're being honest. But is leadership in this short context transportable? Does running away from something as one of the better players in a train wreck = commercial value (and does it constitute leadership?) ? End of ramble....

Why is I50 a key stat? Why not I40 or I30 or I25 or any other arbitrary number? Stats are what they are but I50 only exists because there is a line painted on the ground. I'd guess most of our I50's were shallower than the stat leaders. And less well directed in terms of proximity to the coridor. And there were also more contested possessions when they landed. And unfortunately, we probably lost most of those contests on average.

I was initially very strongly against this expansion but now see it as reasonable and indeed prudent given the need to retain our established lead over the other codes through growth. I have been to a few games at the stadium now and you can see how it will work there when the team becomes competitive. Its a nice place to watch the footy, especially on a mild Sydney day (when often it's 4 degrees colder and blowing in from the south in Melbourne). BTW it's not a new stadium, it's a redevelopment of the Showgrounds main arena and has been used by local AFL junior representative competitions for at least a decade. The area itself is nowhere near as bad as is described here by many posters (yes, my house is lower north shore but I don't mind pockets of the west). I agree that the club has erred with their Scully contract but definitely not the Folou one. Here we see one of the greats of league and union completely incapable of competing physically in our great game (a balance of power and aerobic capacity). It's more Izzy's loss I reckon but did not diminish the AFL brand in any way. Yes they could have balanced their list better (is SOS the new BP?) but their young players are very good if they can keep them together. And with wins will come interest. And over time, with interest comes TV ratings, player recognition, memberships, merchandise sales etc. I am certain the AFL would be happy to eat into the Rugby League mindshare out there and to coexist with soccer for the next couple of decades.

Speaking honestly, as a multi-generational white Australian, I'd love to solve the inequity that continues to exist in our society with the Australian indigenous people. I'd love to see how we can close the gaps in health and lifestyle especially, where the average age of indigneous males is close to my current age. You're a good young bloke and no doubt a local role model DD. Liam's story doesn't help. That's my point.

Speaking honestly, what's the fastest you have ever driven a car? Sanctimonious if anywhere close to 140 clicks. Bullshitting if not. .

Not sure I agree entirely. Obviously that element exists (in close to the same proportions in most countries). But in this case, I think we are seeing MFC supporters taking it personally, given the recent investment we have made to provide the workplace for these kids and with almost no ROI as we stand. Liam is part of that story for sure. But the same folks that continue to berate the club for decisions that have led to 7 years in the wilderness; that led to complete recent dysfunction, should maybe consider how well our players would have coped in a healthier system. Liam may have been the same at GFC or Sydney - but I doubt it.

Dazzle. Can you confirm the occupants of the car included his children? Otherwise, why are they relevant and what is your point?

By any definition, Liam is struggling to adapt. But his story of hope is really important if we are ever to achieve a sense of balance in this country. In the absence of hope (sadly, in Liam's case), perhaps we could all try to understand how big the gap is. For a young bloke from anywhere to get paid shedloads of cash and be lauded by tens of thousands of supporters only to fall; I mean how hard is it for the others in his remote community with less sporting talent. I'm sure there will be lots of stories about "how hard {insert name here} had it". I just find it sad that Liam's story will not have a happy ending on this path.

I could be wrong here but I believe the general opinion is that Buttifant was always going to reunite with Malthouse (so not available?).. On a side note, to me Buckley seems to have people issues. But Collingwood are better media managers and/or the media are too scared to call out Eddie.

Or that he was contracted and/or there were no candidates considered better options. Blaming the "former management" (or government) only gives the new people one chance to reform and reshape. Especially, I imagine, when the AFL's paying the bill.

I'm hoping that Jimmy Toumpas silences those monday morning quarterbacks who wanted to pick Ollie Wines before him. It's a long race, and he is behind, but he will be a beauty I reckon. I'm also looking forward to seeing Jesse Bhogan and Viv Michie.

So whatever happened to the AGS, including Assumption & Marcellin, who betweemn them have produced dozens and dozens of A Graders? In my last year, I played against Neale Daniher, Simon O'Donnell and from memory Peter Schwab playing in the one Assumption team. Very strong school.

I currently live in Bali Biffo. What are you getting at ????

This douchbag, Campbell Brown, is exactly the type of player that ego-centric commentator's like Brereton use to vicariously connect to their own on-field exploits while giggling (to be fair, Dermott was not as much of a cheap-shot merchant like CB is). What happens when players like CB, with obviously limited life-skills, leave their cloistered AFL environments and join the real world? It's gonna come around you pretend tough guy :-)

In my view, the most readable football writers in Australia are Peter Fitzsimons (Rugby) and Bob Murphy (AFL) although neither of them write much about their code's mechanics per se; more about the things that surround it. I like Martin Flanagan very much, but find some of his articles a bit twee. Leigh Matthews is the best AFL football-centric voice in the media. In the main most callers are ok - vanilla but ok. And I cannot stand Dwayne Russell, Brian Taylor, Dermie and David King ( arrrgh) or anyone else who tries to use a telestrator during the half time break. Complete [censored] that is.

Same process picked Toumpas last year ahead of Wines. Injuries aside, I'm backing Toumpas to be better than Ollie (not withstanding their first year's output). Best player available. "Needs" is secondary.

Your post is well considered and well constructed but I am going to take you up one point. Specifically "He was peeling off contests at Casey in his first few games and leaving teammates battling 1:2 and 1:3, in late 2013 he was still doing it." Being a team game, footy challenges players to pick which contests they will go into versus providing a spread option to players already in that contest. What we have seen for a few years now is that our players have been unwilling or unable to spread - they either stick beside their player so they don't get burnt or add to an existing throng and create a stoppage. One of the biggest challenges for us has been to create options when we have won the ball - as evidenced by players holding on to it a bit longer, waiting for a target only to have to thump the ball long and wide to space or another contest as a last resort. In a sense it takes a great deal of confidence in your team mate at the ball to create a release option for them The best sides do it all the time and they both win those 1:2 and 1:3 contests and have plenty of options to burn the opposition that over-committed to that original contest. Its not lazy, its a judgement call. And it takes more courage than many here can understand. Edit to remove unexpected censoring...

Did anyone else used to call out "Stretch....Marks" whenever the old man caught the footy? OK just be me then.

Ummm yeah I know that's what I said. I'll make it bigger so you can see the added r and struck through S It's Garry Lyons. I admit the bold on the second R didn't work so well. Let's move on.

It's Garry Lyons. Who the hell is Gary Lyons?

Finally opened this thread from Bali. I'm having a drink. My god! How cliche am I - it's a G&T.

Nah RF - seems like this one is strongly built. If equal though, there is no "go home" factor in picking the Victorian so that's where I'd go with pick 9.

I read an article he was quoted in recently. If he was correctly quoted, I'd assess his media performance as a excuse-laden. Maybe its a case of a young bloke, not yet fully media savvy, big fish, bit of an ego etc but he just sounded like he was trying to explain himself a bit too much for my liking. Tall midfielder from WA, composed with good skills, can find it etc - doesn't that sound like someone else we had recently? Freeman for me.

I did exactly the same thing. I too feel better for deleting it.