beelzebub

11 minutes ago, SPC said:

I thought we looked pretty average. There was certainly a more aggressive mindset and our defence suffered. Don’t think I can remember having so many opponents getting free out the back like today. 
The media are probably right about us, we are intriguing this year.

Not sure what we will offer. 

'Intriguing' is way too kind.

Suffice we didn't give away any "secrets" today but certainly camouflaged any improvements. 

We're about to see a lot of teams fly past us if we dont bring to bear all the "lessons" from today.

All the effort of flash 'reels" and colourful media is moot....... if you can't  kick or mark.

Not thinking those Lygon St Louts will be much worried.

Crossed fingers and toes we are much better than today or it will be a long long season.....without worrying about a straight sets exit.

There's trackwork......and there's reality.

Need to sharpen up some.

Go Dees

41 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

I’m sure they called the equivalent game last year, “match simulation”. What’s the difference between that and a “scratch match”?

The difference  ??..  well as you ponder that you might scratch your head .... and there ya go ;) 

The fascinating  ( and for mine annoying ) dilemma that is Harrison Petty.

I've nearly always taken an impersonal view when regarding players.  I've even suggested , to the disgust if not chagrin of some that in terms of a team compliment they all essentially widgets of one form or another.....just as chess pieces are.

They are paid servants of the club. They're there of their own volition and a bonus if there's an added passion beyond the desire to simply play the game and at its highest level. ....and do so for Melbourne. 

I precurse my view of Petty with the above caveat. He's just one bloke. Yes, he CAN play.....yet seldom does....( able to ) 

You would need to be a special kind of blinkered [censored] to want form your forward planning ( both inventions there ;) ) around Petty.  That would be a very poor bet.

Imho we were mugs not to have taken the Adelaide deal.

Clever clubs know when to hold...know when to..... etc etc.

Why am I reminded of the meme with Carey wincing " so there's still a chance?" 

I wish Petty well...as I would wish anyone.

But im not about all the luvvy duvvyness of football...and players. 

We don't need him.   We need to build an offence that works to a system and becomes embellished by the adhoc talents of those out there rather than the other way around.

Sorry to be petty but Petty does not offer good value.  An unreliable asset.  That's just reality.

Go Dees

Those with knives and barbs form an orderly line >>>>>>>>

On 21/01/2024 at 14:29, daisycutter said:

fishermans bend development hits a snag

FB is essentially a quasi Utopian development  canvas. Lots of U beaut ideas...at the cost of the public purse...maybe not directly but bet London to a brick all the  "constraints" will require subsudies.  I can only imagine certain Architectural wankers are salivating at the idea.

F.B. is and always wil be about 'new social building guidelines'.  Anyone thinking a 'Elite Sporting Entity' should hold sway....sorry...

3 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

There’s ways of saying things and there’s ways of saying things. If I take issue with the manner in which someone chooses to express their feelings about one of our players, am I not entitled to my opinion, just as much as they are???

 

Of course...and you just validated theirs.. 

Cheers

48 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

 

It’s one thing to criticise Nibs (which imho is unwarranted) but if it has to be done, does it have to be in such a smart-[censored] way? Yes, I know, everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but ffs taking disdainful swipes at him is so unnecessary, and definitely not funny (as I’m sure the posters were thinking). 

WCW ..we truly value your participation and commitment, connection with the lads.

But guess what... they're there collecting huge coin to do a job .  Now that often doesn't sit well with those close to the boundary...sts.    I personally dont care in that regard.  Yes we're  all human but if you take on the role of AFL player you WILL be under scrutiny...especially of basic skills... kicking being one.

It's a hard gig...player.... they sign on the line.... that incurs expectations. 

Happy families is about participation... AFL is about WINNING . Professional Sports...is only ever about winning. That is after all the nature of competition.  

No one questions Bullens efforts...  but kicking....meh

A lot of good work on grounds/ courts can be laid waste by sloppiness.

I for one agree with George....be good if he kicked it to our lot , not theres 😉

Go well ...cheers

2 minutes ago, Lexinator said:

JvR almost taking Roach-like marks excites me!

TAKING  them would excite me more ;)

Thanks George..   Informative and quite sobering.

Brave man venturing down the road....was certainly a s@#! morning.  Still, got me out of cutting the grass....

I can't help but feel we'll need more than our share of luck starting off this season.  Not likely to have the best 22 to hand.. so patching cracks from the get go.  One has to hope these opportunities lead to one or two stepping up....and not necessarily anyone we'll expect. Footy can be funny that way.  Chocco needs to "whisper" kicking improvements ANBs way... 

I think TMac will play magoos mainly and provide insurance.

@george_on_the_outer  arguably hard to discern much as you allay but did it look like we were trying to do anything different going into the front arc ??

thanks again 

3 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

What's so special about the cheese eaters?

Ahhhhhhhhhh    ;) 

2 hours ago, Redleg said:

Herald Sun today has an article on bananas, calling them a superfood.

Just proves this thread is also a leader in foods and nutrition.

We have known how good bananas are for years.

We've always known we're the more informed/advance of our people ;)

16 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

@beelzebub, good points.  We have made 2 significant changes that should help,  McQualter in as clearance coach, and Chappy as defensive and Transition coach.  Both are going to make a difference.  I can also see elite ball users being favoured.  My hope is you will see the manic whole team defence with manic whole team attack!

One can only hope...   Who's tasked with forward craft ?

It has to be rem... the line coaches etc are only there to do Goodwins bidding.  He ultimately must change how we play. The assistants only follow the game book.

10 hours ago, Macca said:

The biggest difference from 2021 has been the crowded forward lines we now have to cope with.  And that started from early in 2022

Couple that with our slower ball movement along with less corridor football and the crowded forward line gets even worse

And then last year we started getting injuries to our first choice forwards so we ended up with a makeshift forward line trying to function in a crowded situation with the ball coming in, in a bombing style

We're asking our forwards to stand underneath those bombs so what chance have they got?

Despite all that we won 16 games in the season proper in both 2022 & 2023 (stellar defence, excellent midfield, accountable footy, a zone defence that operates well and a terrific contested style) 

So we need to get smarter up forward and with our delivery to the forward line.  Certainly with the speed of those inside 50 forays

We need to change because we have to change.  That's where having some fresh ideas from McQualter can be invaluable

As previously stated elsewhere, I'm confident that we'll see a different game style that can really hurt the opposition

You have just perfectly described the mess aka our game plan.

For those following at home who still persist in suggesting this really ISN'T  our game plan....but just a less than stellar equittal of what is 'supposed' to be our methodology I'm affraid that's  not the case.

What is...IS

We've essentially been playing slightly altered variations of this style for quite some years now.  If it was supposed to be anything else it would have been amended by now. That is hasn't,  that this dross and criminally wasteful durge continues  must suggest it's by design...i.e it's condoned therefore...IS .

We'll NEVER win another flag unless we stop this stupidity and play with more direction, more verve, more flair and more skill..   Need to play clever footy

Hopefully we may get glimpses of something different leading into season 24....   if we don't.....meh....god help us

33 minutes ago, rjay said:

It's very poor...if they can't get this right you have to wonder what else is going on behind the scenes in managing our club.

We're distinctly amateur hour at times.... bit embarrassing for an elite level club I'd have thought...

14 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

 

Well I can’t just give it up easily now can I?

A group of famous overweight pelicans have had a good Huntin’ and might make-a-bee line for their piece of the heartland to host some games 

Well... im thinking Pelicans might have a "Storm Boy" reference 🤔🤷

3 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Not seeing many guesses!

Can i ask... we are talking an afl rival ? 

12 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Robbie played the Members Wing…

You do realise its a two way game ??? 

He wasn't on THAT wing all the time SWYL..  just more memorable when he was ;)

6 minutes ago, Macca said:

Yes, we're in furious agreement bub but let's not forget how well we played in 2021

Our skills throughout that finals series were seriously good

But since then nearly every team has flooded our forward line at all opportunities and we haven't countered that (yet)

2 years of long bombs hasn't worked for us

I'm convinced that we just move the ball too slowly and we play the boundary line too much.  The first thing I'd do is switch the wings so that the boundary line is not a friend to Langdon & Hunter

If I recall correctly, Flower played the wing position where the boundary line was on his left.  Do you recall? 

 

7 minutes ago, Macca said:

 

If I recall correctly, Flower played the wing position where the boundary line was on his left.  Do you recall? 

 

Geez Macca, that's got me thinking 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

Turning the key on the wayback machine ... you might be right ...about left.

But he was a "modern" player and crossed the mid line to follow the ball.   He coukd kick seemingly as well either foot.

I miss Robbie....  went to Soooo many games to watch him.

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

 

Well I can’t just give it up easily now can I?

A group of famous overweight pelicans have had a good Huntin’ and might make-a-bee line for their piece of the heartland to host some games 

Ok.... im ready for the next clue... lol

3 minutes ago, Macca said:

Our disposal skills needs a fair bit of work coupled with the speed that we move the ball

And way more corridor football is needed.  We've got an excellent list of players with a stellar defence so why aren't we taking more risks

Skills

And

Gameplan..

We just need tweaking eh 😉

27 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

 

Well I can’t just give it up easily now can I?

A group of famous overweight pelicans have had a good Huntin’ and might make-a-bee line for their piece of the heartland to host some games 

Alrighty....  it's riddle time...  lol

8 hours ago, loges said:

Not really much different from last year, it's very even, every side will struggle if they're not switched on.

I think it is... the opening half dozen games will define our season.  Its not a lay down misere.... its more like a bogey 6.

There is Soooo much talent on  tap with the list...it ought to be all-comer- conquering...  it ought to be. 

So why do we dither.....  

Goodwin is a Holistic coach. ... am.sure he has his vision of how he'd like to play football....all well and good but invariably theres 17 other teams with differing views. He hasn't seemed to click that either he hasn't the skills to play HIS game or HE hasnt the game to beat other teams.

He's also not a game day tactician...which tbh i find odd as he has had some interesting ideas ( YES ...im saying he has some clue....it just doesn't carry through )

Ooze did Goodies game day bidding.... ( im concerned that this cluey bloke now has no legirons or handcuffs )..  who now ?? 

I really hope we click.....could be anything...

If we clunk..... we're out of the eight.  Some will laugh.....hope you do..

We play dumb footy....by DESIGN ....thats always worried me...

We're good at talking...oh yeah...oh yeah...  we know what's wrong.... we nail podcasts and blogs...yeah....yeah..... we're wickedly on trend.....    coz that's how you win a flag ?

Not a ball bounced or kicked in anger. The year can be anything.... haven't lost a game yet.

May we continue that trend...

......go Dees

Not confident  Jan......

38 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Surprised no one else has mentioned the rumour I've heard about our competition for use of the Caulfield site. Given the demons membership base I'd imagine it would be a conflicting choice for some members.

And that rumour is........

44 minutes ago, dpositive said:

Impressive looking presentation and indicates a pretty large investment.

Has the benefit of consolidating the racing footprint which does release space for other ventures, ie Footy grounds. So certainly plenty of potential.

Id like to see someone with drone skills do a similar presentation over Fishermans Bend/ Port Melbourne or Williamstown. Im pretty sure you could see similar potential. The FB board does have some pretty impressive visuals on their website and an apparently measured and structured development program.

Caulfield certainly has public transport and access over FB/PM or W but again FB particularly as a greenfield site has great potential to curate transport services to a new space incorporating entertainment/ sports /retail and corporate services.

Similar concerns to others about the racing industry involvement as they have never been seen as a benevolent partner with competing bodies. While others are seeing some mutual benefits they are based on MFC being an attractive list. Not sure Id like this as a business model going forward. 

 I will be interested in the answers to my questions to the board which will provide some clarity to the discussions past and future.

To me here's  your conundrum re FB...

At Caulfield there's a huge tract of land that's been underutilised.....for a while.

It has very limited roles suited to development going forward. Rediscovering this acreage as a sports mecca is its ideal new persona.

Over at FB ?? The most expensive use of land in any redevelopment is as open recreational use. Any developer will only ever allocate the barest of minmums according to what ever overlays and caveats applicable.  $ for $ anything at FB will be horrendously expensive as compared Caulfield.  

I can understand some might look at it...but to be frank FB has no logic .

The very same reason Waverley disappeared... it was worth more as housing... FB is same same. 

The ONLY thing the inside of CRC is suited to is Sporting and low rise event use.

It's a no brainer imo

50 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Disagree, I think Geelong, Adelaide, GC and Fremantle will be a significantly greater threat to the top sides and Essendon and Hawthorn could easily win as many as they lose. I think the comp is in for a super even few years.

To state the bleedin' obvious every team , every game will need to be switched on. Blink or stall at start and it's catch up footy.

We've been notoriously bad starting many games...    I don't see this panning out well unless we address the simple faults.

I think your overview is pretty spot on.

Go Dees

( from the bounce....or go home)

16 hours ago, picket fence said:

You must be joking??! CLAYTON OLIVER is a superstar! Like Dusty is to Richtank, Bont is to dishlickers, Cripps is to Carltank..... 

He is our most influential player since Robby and RDB. Controllers use pawns? Yeah right but Oliver is the King! He also has not made it that way, and unless you know for a fact what issues he is dealing with, your comments are conjecture! Yeah I get the fact he wont play for a while BUT HE AINT IRRELEVANT....NEVER!

Youre comprehensive powers are failing you.

Hes irrelevant because hes not an if or a maybe. Very likely to not play this year the way it's pointing...  He didn't play a lot or to his previous eliteness  last year either.. Grass still grew ...and we move on.

What IS relevant is what you CAN do....not what you can't.