buck_nekkid

North might be clearing the decks for some big spending. Preuss May be squeezed out - a mid level player they can manage without, and making salary cap room on the way through. dont let the rookie list be a judge of where he is now. Rucks develop later, so rookie-ing them is actually good policy unless they are bone fide top shelf.

I think Neeld should have held on until he earned the 10 year badge. Going early was a sign of things to come. Understand the Gazza pin, but why leave the vintage scarf on the platform? Has his train (integrity or whatever) left on the midnight train?

Do we back our system or try to stop theirs - or a measure of both? I think the biggest risk is being cut up with legspeed from Impy and Smith, and not making contests. I beleive we match or better them in the midfield, and with Billy Ray Haircut out with a hammy, they are going to have to rejig to cover our forwards. Sicily should go to Milkshake, and Creepy Crawly Frawley to TMac. Leaving the Weed to worry about. I think we can cover Gunston and Roughy, and their other forwards are not 'talls' but play a bit that way. Big Boy Macavoy will need a bus pass to keep up with Max. I think we match up pretty well, and since the team did not play this weekend, the form line comes from previous games in the VFL. Has Smith done enough from his return to play a full game, under finals conditions? I think we play smashem-up derby footy in the first half, open the game up and control the contests from there. Expect them to come out hard in response to last week's (lack of) effort.

A canny VFL pick up. Mitch, Bayley and I wonder if we have one in mind this year....

I love the drool he knocked out of him!

Problems in El Rancho Nekkid.. Senorita Nekkid has us booked into a dinner and a show. Somehow it dropped out of my diary. Tickets to the footy secured, and one diablo senorita to make happy. Think, on balance, correct actions were taken....

I would be seeking clarification from the AFL. If he uses the leg, can you attack it? When is it a kick, and when is it a fend? If you grab it, is it a tripping offence? Can we now use this in ruck contests as well as marking contests? I see it as a weak dog act. Should be outlawed when the foot is intentionally raised to make contact with the opponent. Should use his body or his footy smarts, not be Mr Miagi.

Goodwin seems big on ‘systems’. He coaches primarily through setting systems and backing his players to deliver it. Seems like he holds his nerve and maintains a ‘system’ in each game. He will shuffled players around to maintain the system for that game. That’s my read, anyway. I wonder when he would throw a system out and in game (perhaps at a quarter or half time break) change up what we are doing?? So far, he has been relentless at hanging on to a system. I think the way we have based our game on contested ball and hard ball wins allows each game to have a ‘system’ of play based on this. Our fundamentals set the stage for the in game strategy. The EF seemed like the system worked, so no need to change. The real coaching masterstroke was the way we destroyed the 3 monkeys. We didn’t have a plan for Kelly, and he was perhaps the one that got away. Our defensive system and offensive system looked good, too (although inaccuracy was a sign of rushing and pressure, rather than system failure).

Just watched the replay. There was a lot to like, but I reckon that there is a lot of stuff that can be ‘cleaned up’ to make us even better. Absolutely loved the attack on the contest. When we were smashing in, and looking to move the ball with speed, we looked like world beaters. There were moments in the forward 50 where a fraction more composure would have translated into goals. The marking of TMac an Weids was a highlight, as was Max’s ability to get back or forward to impact contests. Special mention to Lewis and Salem. Critical in our win. Against Hawks we need to stop outside spread and uncontested marks. Do that, and I beleive they will have little answer to us. IF we allow them uncontested possessions we put ourselves at risk. The game style on Friday night will hold us in good stead. We need to take our chances and take the game on from first bounce to last siren.

Can this be merged with ‘the last time they met thread’?

Ok. Strong coffee and a few panadol to kick off the morning after. Flickering Awesome! Some observations: Dangerfield is a top footballer. He was dangerous all night, but I loved how he was smashed by Weids in the tackle on the wing, and when he went forward he was owned like a prison [censored] by Jetta. Brilliant. Not a backward step was taken. Rioli has on his wristband ‘run and chase’. Our boys dont need wristbands, ferocity and tackle was in their souls. Petracca very fumbly. However, when I watch the replay, I bet he did a bit of good, as well. Almost full time on ground for him, Frost and OMac. We may have played the ‘dream team’ midfield, but I reckon you just saw the changing of the guard. I hate Chris Scott. But I admire him a fraction more after that presser. I hate mid strength beer. So does the old duck in front of me who got a beer shower when Jones nailed that goal. Apologies were not gratefully accepted... I didn’t know that taking a slash on some random person’s rosebush at about 1:30 in the morning tunelessly whistling “it a grand old flag” for the thousandth time could bring a bloke such pleasure. I thought we would win by 25, we could have won by 60. Onward and upward, demons!

Not nervous, just freaking excited. Reckon the nerves will kick in as the team run to position. So hoping we can give a great account of ourselves. Dees by 26

He would have gone 7, but we father son bid. Best #26 evah!!!

As you say, It also does not account for the two walkovers the cats had, versus us playing 2 top 8 sides. Looks too close to call....

Nah, he’s only there selling the Big Issue

I remember (painfully) when the cameras went into a pre game speech by Nield. It was dreadful. So uninspiring. Was not a coaches arch ole. He can say what he thinks, and Beamer and others can shoot back. These were all dark days indeed. I, for one, am happy to leave all of this under the rug until we win a flag. Historians can then open up this can of Shyte and wallow away. Until then, listening to this toxic toad and others who want to rewrite history and claim a hand in the success of today is not on my agenda, and they can all go and suck the big ones.

Richmond lose nothing but salary cap. Equalisation should involve the team they go to losing something in the process. Otherwise the top teams lose nothing and gain everything, low teams lose experience and gain a risky selection that may or may not work out. the current system has no equalisation built into it.

My kids want to be late to school tomorrow. Can I get Gill the Dill to call the principal and sort it?

Small mercies....

Trust the boys to have a final ready when you get back....

We undid them in the VFL by ditching the Mitch and running Smith and others against the ruckman to give better numbers at the contest. May they might use Biclavs in the same role? If they set up that way, I would put max forward for large chunks and ruck Weids against him.

Hey, Jackaub, my hope is that they have already covered this off, and everyone knows that the best response is on the scoreboard. Going the biff often has the reverse effect - it might unsettle for a few minutes, but it shows real game weakness and if it came, I would have the boys feed off it as a weakness of character. There are few on the Cats list that would scare me, but VDB, Viney, Jetta, Lewis, Jones, Harmes would be serious 'first responders'. We should look after our own, feed off it, and smash them on the scoreboard. We dont want to lose anyone moving forward.

Great piece. There have been massive changes at MFC. Seems like a place people want to be, and a place where people strive together to be their best. Can't ask much more than that (except a premiership, perhaps....)

I was there. It was awful. I still have a twitch.

And yet, when you get away from the chains, the local pizzaria is likely to be a gem. Found a local near my place that is half the cost of Crust, and 3 or 4 times better. Agree on Domino's - awful. May as well eat the box.