Dappa Dan

Luke McDonald thinks he's Olly.

Do we deserve to win? Played one good quarter. I think no. Even if we dominate this quarter, I don't think we've tackled hard enough.

Jeez we're getting the tough run from umpires we were due.

Yes. And you have a problem with that too? Not everyone is footy is as resistant to change. Whoever makes finals under the rules put forward by the AFL has the right to a finals berth. Have whatever opinion you like. Won't change the facts.

We miss Hogan more than Gawn. LOL at people saying we have better structure without him.

How much did roos pay the umpires.

And people like you whine and moan about "tradition" that doesn't exist. You haven't said anything that's changed my mind, or made me think differently about the game. And I suspect you feel the same way about thing's I've said. NFL is an absolutely brutal game, and teams make playoffs with 7-9 records. Doesn't seem to hurt their game. Club leaders seem to like the Wild Card system, was their support that got everyone talking. But no, I'm sure the sooks know better.

Sure. If that's your opinion then of course you'll hate it. I don't agree. I don't think it's written anywhere that that's how it "should" be. To each their own.

Says who? That's what I don't follow. If you prescribe to the theory that you have to win more games than you lose to make finals, then sure. But if you set the entire league with the knowledge that 10th is a finals chance, the season stays alive longer, stays interesting. Young teams developing learn more about finals football.

Our KP forwards... Jeez. Just chip it around and long bomb. Only chance.

Easily our biggest issue all year aside from the ruck dilemma... IS INSIDE FIFTIES... Bloody hell we're useless at it.

I reckon our tiny forwards have had their moments bringing the ball to ground against the Roos giant defenders. They're finding avenues somehow.

They are unbelievable those two. Opinionated whiners. And mediocre coaches too. I was thinking about that when the camera went to Goody. So composed. Saves it for his team. Let's the media do what they do.

Just that it was good to see the demons players sticking up for him?

This is brutal to watch. But wow really a fascinating game.

Fair enough. To each their own. I think my point is that the whole sense of entitlement of "making the 8" is redundant once it's not a final 8 anymore. If you're not good enough to make the 6, then you deserve to have to work harder to get to a grand final than everyone else. Also, there is an advantage. It's not complete pot luck. If West coast got 10th, and demons were 7th, we play at the MCG against an away team. How is that not a complete advantage? But yeah opinions are opinions. One man's trash is another man's treasure and all that.

I like these. I don't think anyone will ok a decision where half the teams in the league are in a lower division and have no chance of making a grand final every year. But the division/conference thing I love. You can still schedule in Anzac day, Queens birthday and all the rest... Within divisions you can have the Blues and Pies so they play each other twice every year. We could be in that one too as we have history with the Pies. You put the interstate sides in divisions with each other. Possibly even Eagles, Freo, Adelaide and Port in one division. Then GWS/GC/Sydney and Brisbane in another... Love it.

That's a fair point. On one hand, it's as "fixed" as it's ever been so why fix what's not broken. Likewise, it's probably as pretty as it's been for a while precisely because the rule-makers have gotten aggressive. Roosy and others claim the fans are saying don't change the game. I just don't think that's true. The vocal ones are certainly saying that. But if you asked all fans, the ones who are happy with the changes and encourage modernisation, they're just quiet. Personally I love the change to third man up, and I love the brutal officiating of the deliberate out of bounds. I think they're working, and I always feel the urge to roll my eyes at the grumbling naysayers. As I say though, I know I'm just one person, so I keep Schtum. Mostly. I agree not all American things are great. If they were we'd be playing NFL here. We've picked and chosen the ones that we need though. And done it CAREFULLY which is important. Our drafts and the new system for bidding for Father sons and Academy picks is new to us as well. I wouldn't want to see a lottery brought in, but it has enjoyed success in the NBA. One other one I forgot, the trading of future picks is freaking brilliant. The RG3 one is amazing theatre. Wentz last year vs Daz Prescott taken rounds later. It's awesome. Something I think they might bring in is results dependant trades. So for example... we put out a trade for, say, Sam Day for a future second rounder. But we add a caveat. If he plays less than 10 AFL games, that second rounder becomes a third rounder. You can even project 2-3 years into the future, so you can keep insurance for trades that don't work out. It adds controversy and intrigue. It can be policed easily by the AFL, as they approve all trades. All fun stuff I reckon. But as I say, respect your view.

I really should pay you a fee to be my editor.

Nice post. I have to ask though, why is the Wild Card thing a joke? Allowing for more finals (that's what Wild Card week is, essentially)... Who does it hurt in the end? I always liked the fact that the top half of the ladder play finals. With GC and GWS being in, now it's 8/18... And I think we're missing a trick there. There's no hard and fast rule saying it HAS to be half. It could conceivably be 12/18. I realise of course it won't be. A team that loses far more games than it wins shouldn't be able to play finals. I have no idea why everyone seems so attached to the top 8. Especially as there's now more teams in the comp than there was when the final 8 was brought in. The history of the finals 8 system is very short. You have to put in the finals system that's appropriate for the amount of teams in the comp. Absolutely agree with the scheduling thing. Eddie Everywhere I think still stamps his feet and acts like a petulant child and everyone in the league lets him have his way. That's the big area the comp needs to improve. Every person running a club should be expected to act like an adult, and part of a collective. Eddie's been a blight on the game for years, and teams like us have paid the price. I'm not anti-Gill. I have time for anyone doing what's essentially an impossible job. I think in truth he does as much or more than can be expected for a guy who's role isn't as powerful as people think. He's not the most powerful person in the AFL. The broadcasters and club bosses have way more clout. Good stuff tho Chris.

The draft and Salary Cap, as suggested above. They were brought in because they saw the success in other sporting leagues. I like the free agency thing, though I expect again I'll be in the minority. And I'll explain why. Every NFL season that comes along, you're always one maybe two offseasons away from being competitive again, due to how coaches and players can distribute themselves evenly, and are often playing one season contracts. Most AFL fans hate it cos they want to draft a kid and see him be a one team player, so on this one I realise while I like it, most won't. But being an avid NFL follower, I always watch on each season and wish it could be the same at the demons. We had ten years there where we were at the start of a five year plan. That rarely happens in the NFL. Draft and Salary Cap alone are massive inclusions. And while the NFL didn't come up with it, the success, interest and intrigue of the NFL draft is attractive to so many codes. My "gushing" acceptance, as I suggested in my first post, is just one person's view. I'm not expecting others to agree. In fact if we did one of those polls above, I feel like I'd be in the barely 10% that say they love it. my point though, is that with every change in the rules, every punter in the AFL, commentators included, whines moans and [censored] like their opinion matters, and without doing their homework. Lots fo changes have come in to the AFL, and most have been great. Of course it doesn't follow that all things USA are great. I didn't say ALL things USA are great. I think they go too far at times with the business side. The sexism is rampant. The homophobia terrible, but improving. The concussion stuff has been a blight, and they've been lazy. The spousal abuse is extraordinary that it still is allowed to happen (google Mixon and prepare to have your mind blown). On the flipside as well, the AFL has the father son rule which I'd never want to see removed. Some things they do that we should do is the draft age being way later, allowing for a College competition. If we brought that in, as usual the GP would whine like mules, but the comp would be improved. If we add more teams to the comp over the next 20 years I'd love to see them work in a division system. It's great. loved by 100% of NFL followers. And I'm certain AFL punters would burn their memberships one year, thgen 3 years later say they loved the format.

Kennedy though they did get Judd, so they won't lament it too much.

Think about that all the time. I have fond memories of looking at the paper to see where we were at on the ladder and what we'd need to do in the next 2-3 weeks to maintain our spot. It's been that long since we were able to do that seriously. So I'm loving it this year.

I felt like this in the Cats win two years ago when Max broke out. We were clearly improved, and improving. The next season I loved the look of the list and expected 10 wins which we got, including the Hawks win. Then this year Adelaide win... It's all up and up. My only question now isn't are we going to be ok... It's what's the ceiling. Brayshaw + Trengove really hurt, as they're both great talents. And Will Jesse stay... Haven't been this excited to follow dees in my life.

I picked it!!! Pumped. Queens Birthday... if we won both the next two... would be such a big get. Spence back around the same time too.