Dappa Dan

Bigfooty is going to be over-run with repetitive anti-umpiring threads. Even demonland will probably suffer. In many ways, it may just be a long year. On the other hand, whatever changes there are in this regard, at least we can hope they'll apply to both ends of the ground. For every free Rivers or Holland give away, at least there'll be one for Neitz and co.... in theory.

http://emuse.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/13206 I don't usually post videos that aren't imagery to do with footy, but after stumbling across this, I found it stimulated a topical thought or two regarding our own game. Now, I realise there are big differences between ice-hockey and footy. They wear armour, there's no footy, only a puck that I assume moves more predictably, and from my limited understanding there are less stringent penalties for this "checking" that goes on. Also, when a skater knows he's being lined up there is less he can do as there's no studs in his footwear, or nice soft earth to dig them into. No traction = more spectacular hits. As the commentator rightly pointed out this element of their game is not necessarily an "artform." While I agree somewhat, I still can't escape the fact that the punishing aspect of both games is one of the things that draws me to it. I started playing again last year, and just like with any other footballer, there's nothing like kicking a hard-earned goal in a tight match. And if it's the winner, you'll likely remember it the rest of your life. Likewise, a saving mark in defence surrounded by opponents is pretty important too as you're saving a certain 6 points and possibly setting up more for your team. These plays would have more to do with actually WINNING a game, but for some reason I can't remember any of them. I've forgotten many of the happiest moments in my life, and some that I do remember have faded enough for me to doubt my memory's accuracy. As far as I'm concerned there are some feelings that are as vivid now as they were 10 years ago on the day. In every one of those cases I was completely polaxed by one player or another. It wasn't so much the pain, or the kick that I just got off that make those emoments special. It's the getting up. Call me a heathen, but the added ingredient of fear lifts footy beyond being just a skill game. I can recall EVERYTHING about these moments, right down to how much blood, where it was coming from and what I did to control it. And I don't mind saying, I remember all these things with pride. Any contact sport takes courage, and there are many different forms even in footy. The courage to gut-run, the courage to play with injury, the courage to take a risk that you may be punished for by team-mates or your coach (or us!), the courage to overcome the fear of embarrassment (I'd say a 100,000-person audience may get the heart racing), and even as Glen Archer says, the fear that your going to let down your team-mates can be overwhelming at times. He claims that this is his greatest fear, and since he was a kid he's never been able to sleep the night before a match because of it. I have little time for people who call Byron a sniper. The recent rule changes may do enough to suppress players' desire to bring danger into the game, and that, IMO, would be a tragedy. I play and watch footy BECAUSE it hurts. If it doesn't hurt you don't feel as though you've achieved as much. I fear for the path footy is taking these days. But then I'm not Robinson Crusoe. Sermon over.

Great post. Quite a lot of enjotment there for a guy who was only 7 at the time and knew about as much abot footballs as his own balls. Thanks for painting the picture.

This is true.

Good post RR. I tell you what though, I've heard a lot about Colm Begley from the lions. Apparently he's a freak. If the rumours and gossip is true from my sources, he'll be a 250-gamer, and star. Time will tell.

Me too.

Hmm. Bugger. Still, it's good it won't trouble him for that long.

Fair 'nuff. I will say this though. I realise Robbo's year was only hampered (not ended) by his injury troubles, but I thought he was more serviceable than people give him credit for. He averaged nearly 2 goals a game, which is more than can be said for some other supposedly top-line goal-kickers. With Neitz occupying so much space he's always found it tricky finding room. You only need to look as far as 2006 for what he does when Neitz is suppressed. We had one of the better attacks last year, and he was our second-best goal-kicker. Like I say, I'm not as cranky with him as some. Having said that, I reckon I agree with much of what you said there. One of the things that annoys me about him is best described when you compare him to Bruce. "Before2Long" put it best when he said that when Bruce goes up for a mark, he takes them enough of the time for him to win over the space of the whole match, but when he doesn't take one, he keeps his feet and recovers well to reclaim the spoils and run on in better space than his opponent. Robbo is the opposite of this. We all love how much he tries but he'd be a far more effective player if he just kept his feet. Also, when he's on the deck with the ball, he has a nasty habit of exploding out of a group of tacklers hollywood style and handballing blindly to where he thinks a team-mate might be, instead of just looking and handballing. Yeah, Robbo's problems aren't so bad when he's kicking 3-4 goals every second week. But if Neitz has a 60+ year, or better even, I fear Robbo may have to change his game to become less of a goal-kicker, more of a flanker. The first step would be to trim down as much as possible, which it seems he has done.

Good idea DH. And wuss, Weetra 2nd?!! Do you know something we don't? 1. Newton. Already flagged by ND. All he has to do is kick a few in the NAB and he's as good as selected. 2. Frawley. Same as Newton. Could be number one, but it depends on what gaps need filling. 3. Petterd. Has impressed early. A running defender with courage and poise is exactly the tonic we need from a backline with many small defenders with minor but exploitable faults (Bell's decision making, Ward's kick, Brown's unaccountability). 4. Buckley. Only because he's ben on the list for longer than some of the others and isn't a rookie. Early on ND said he was looking forward to giving him a go. Hasn't been lazy in the off season either. 5. Hughes. A fraction ahead of Neaves as the most likely rookie. Can fulfill a lot of roles. Plenty of talent in many different skill sets, just a bit small. 6. Neaves. Will play eventually, but he's pretty much only a ruckman. Not a CHF/ruckman like 426, who pretty much waited 4 years. Having said that, if PJ does another shoulder (touch wood) it's come on down Shane! 7. Hayes. We're not exactly blessed with mercurial small crumbing forwards after Davey and Byron. If we have another double hamstring blow, you'd think, if there was room, Hayes might get a go after Hughes. 8. Garland. Only if all the other forwards miss for one reason or another. Stranger things have happened. Look at Bartram. If he impresses enough, why not? He's had some senior experience and done some damage. 9. Weetra. Not enormously likely in 2006. Most have said he's a speculative investment. That means 2008. 10. Neville. Is saved from last spot only because he's listed, not rookied. Nothing against him, but he's up against it. SO many small defender/wingmen before him who are relegated at the moment. 11. Bode. Will need a heeeeuge turnaround or he's gaaaaaawn.

I heard about Trav's toe on demonology, but there was some debate as to whether it's true. Some say that's what he said, others say there was no plaster. It'd better not be on his right foot, I'll say that much. We don't want him to do a Green and suddenly become a shocking kick for a season.

Correct. For 2007 at least. I think it was a small operation on his elbow or shoulder from memory. He said to various fans that it was minor surgery and that the sling would be removed quickly, and that was the case. But unfortunately he wasn't with the main group for a long while there, and was in recovery for what seemed like an eternity, along with Moloney, Bartram, PJ, Whelan and others at various times. On the positive side, I've heard PJ and Moloney are almost back to their best. If Colin has followed in their footsteps perhaps we may see him at least play unhindered, even if he hasn't had time to develop any lasting changes to his game.

And has done for what seems like an eternity. I can't remember a time when I wrote down our best 22 and haven't started with "B: Whelan...." Agreed on Rivers. I'd suggest he will certainly end up at some stage being a true CHB, but it'll only happen when he becomes the size of Carroll. His close checking is among the best in the AFL. If ND, or whoever is coaching us for the next ten years, wishes it he could be played like the next Fletcher, taking the second tall. I'd advocate that at this early stage, assuming we always have a Chopper in the team.

Is it worth suggesting that having a bit of time on that ground will benefit us this season? Or will there be no difference at all. Better than nothing I 'spose.

Whoa whoa whoa! Robbo? I can see it with Ooze and Davey, but what's wrong with Robbo? Is it his knack of hitting the deck at every opportunity? Lack of forward-line pressure? No-one's perfect Old. I've always admired his attitude, but I'm sure you have a good explanation. Have at it. Look at Chooper squeezing out his guns in your new Avatar. Subtle as a sledgehammer.

I was just thinking that. Good to see a player who's yet to debut has fans. Even if it is his Mum, or himself.

(whispers) ... lucky son of a *****...

Depends on what you call a key back. I agree he's far less a KPP than Carroll, but he's been given jobs on the likes of Reiwoldt before.

Thread of the off-season so far. Finally some indicators of how some have trained, albeit only for a short time and only in a soft hit-out. Thanks to all who've contributed here.

Thanks for that CTD.

Rivers? Perhaps not a key back, perhaps too early to tell? I reckon Jared's already our most important defender, perhaps with the exception of wrecker. Interesting.

Yes you do. Brock does it regularly. Back on topic, if what you're asking is who needs to lift their game, then it's kind of like saying who's going to be the smoky that's going to come out of no-where and surprise everyone, because effectively it's the same thing. For mine what I want to see is, yes, a few young guys cement places and start doing some of the less appreciated work with good solid consistent seasons (Bate, Bell, Jones), and yes, one or two surprises (Bizzell, Yze, Buckley, Neaves) and yes, a couple of returns from injury or poor form (Robbo, Beamer, PJ) but most of all, there are a few individuals (more than I'm comfortable with, actually) that hold it all together in a number of ways. If any of them have sudden, dramatic and permanent form slumps, or are badly injured, then we've got big problems. These guys are: Neitz - we need his 60+ goals and presence. I'm not so certain he can be banked on like he used to be. I back him in as always, but every year he's a year older... White - It's not going to get better for him, only worse or exactly the same. If anything should go drastically wrong, I have little or no confidence in Jamar and PJ as full-timers. Carroll/Rivers - though an ever improving tall defence, we're still one major injury away from being torn asunder. We could afford injuries to the Biz, Ferg and Big Al in 2006, because, let's face it, they were never going to come out and tear the competition apart. It's their backups that don't fill me with confidence. That and the fact that the two of these guys worked so hard last year. Any one of Trav/McLean/Bruce/Green/JMac. These guys are just about the only ones who I haven't yet mentioned that are matchwinners through the midfield. We need 30+ possession players, and if you're not one, you'd better be like Trav who can do as much damage with 20. Once again I worry when their backups are either young, or basically crap. Like everyone says we have no stars, but a lot of players that share the load that a star would need to bear. Just like a team who loses a star, if we lose one of these fundamental parts of our setup, I fear for us. Or at least our chances for a flag.

Jeez that makes me angry. We left Wrecker at home despite the fact that he's been training, why not do the same with the flash? He's too important. The worst thing is he'll probably play against the Hawks in 2 weeks. If he's got an ankle, rest him until the Saints match I say. We had a number of players do things like this last year where they had complaints, but looked to recover and keep getting up week after week. Lo and behold at the end of an indifferent year (or worse) it's discovered that player X injured himself in pre-season training or in some exhibition, or even in the early rounds. If Aaron shows any signs of being hindered in a fortnight, I'm gonna be [censored].

Back on topic, my computer doesn't seem to want to load that article. Is there any mention in there of Miller's fiance? I know she's from another country, perhaps one where Spanish is one of the preferred languages? Speaking of his fiance, if I could have an avatar of her I would. Impossibly stunning young lady.

90+ kgs? That's not too bad, though you wouldn't know it. If that's right (and why wouldn't it be?) then that's encouraging.

I reckon this will be THE hot topic for 2007 on ology and land, for the purists. My only hope in this regard is that the board don't make a decision after round 11 or 12. By then we will only really have a rough idea of how we're travelling as we'd have only had a few matches away from Victoria, and the G. I think it would be reasonable for ND to expect the board to see some food on their plate regarding late season fade-outs. ie, when we get to the mid season break, I'd imagine the board would want to see what happens in the second half and ND would not be surprised given the team's form in recent years. The same can expected if the situation is reversed. What if we're only 6-6 by mid-season? Neale would hope for the opportunity to prove his worth in the second half, and should get it. You can never know, and my feeling is the board may play it week by week, but you'd suggest post round 22 would be the ideal time. If things are too hectic, then perhaps a couple of rounds before the end of the season, and if Neale resists because of coacing restraints, post finals. It's a hairy thing to consider though, if the board were forced to wait until then, another club may pounce. At least he realises he's been in the job a long time and still has a fw points to prove.